From: Jeff Mead <jeff@bayou.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Fender Stringmaster Tunings
Hi Bob,
It was nice to see a web page devoted to the Steel guitar. I was particularly interested in the bit about your Fender Stringmaster. I too play a Stringmaster, but I have the 3 neck model.
I use A6 as my main tuning and a variation of E13 on the second neck:
A6 E13
1 E 1 E
2 C# 2 C#
3 A 3 B
4 F# 4 G#
5 E 5 F#
6 C# 6 D
7 A 7 G#
8 F# 8 E
I am trying to find a good tuning for the third neck. My favourite players are (were) Don Helms (from Hank Williams' band), Speedy West, Noel Boggs, Leon McAuliffe. As you will guess I am looking for another jazzy/swing tuning. Are there any you could recommend? I was also toying with the idea of trying a low bass tuning instead - again any suggestions would be welcome.
I also have a pedal steel that I don't play as much (partly because it is so darned heavy to carry around!!!). It is a Fender 4000 I think. It has two 8 string necks with 3 pedals on one neck and 5 on the other. The pedals are cable operated and there are no knee levers.
I use the 3 pedal neck for some very basic E9 stuff (as I only have 8 strings, I don't have the high chromatic strings).
The other neck I tune to A6 which I can modify with the pedals into 9ths and 7ths etc. Unfortunately, each time I use it, I have to spend some time re-discovering what the pedals do.
Anyway, thanks again for the page. I've put it in my hot list so I can check out what's new. If you get time, I'd love to hear from you.
Keep picking,
Jeff
Jeff Mead ... EMail jeff@bayou.demon.co.uk
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