Hello! and I'm struggling (am I too old to take this up?)

[Tony Russell Davis]

Hi Michael I've read through your post and, in particular, saw that the 9th string is a B, levered up to D. Since your guitar is a 12 string it's probably a Universal tuning; that 9th string change is there to replicate the 9th on an "E9th 10 string jobby
The alternative to a uni. is an "extended E9th" - the 10 string version with a couple of extras.
I have heard of Russ-Ler, they go back quite a time but are not to be confused with Russler which was a new venture by Russ Hicks and Randy Weideman around 2011. The Rus-Ler was produced in USA during (I think) the 1970's. Norm Hamlet played one.

[Michael]

Thanks Danny! Yes i think I need a proper tweaking!

And thanks for the info,Tony! I wanted a flat 7 possibility, but learnt that (apart from that 9th string change) I can move up three frets and engage the LKL.

As I say, I am and shall be a beginner until The Grim Reaper scythes me down.

Best wishes
Michael

[Michael]

Thanks to all who replied to my plea for help! And especially a big thank-you to Ken Byng! Who put a lot of hard work into getting my Russ-Ler 12-string into shape! No more twisted back and bruised thigh on the LKR. Many thanks Ken - you were really helpful and gracious! (And I love your playing on 'Crying'!)

[Ken Byng]

Thanks to all who replied to my plea for help! And especially a big thank-you to Ken Byng! Who put a lot of hard work into getting my Russ-Ler 12-string into shape! No more twisted back and bruised thigh on the LKR. Many thanks Ken - you were really helpful and gracious! (And I love your playing on 'Crying'!)

Michael - you are very welcome. It was nice to meet you and your wife. While your guitar was quite challenging to work on for a number of reasons, it was a first for me as it was a transitional Russ-Ler that had some original ZB parts on it. Tbh, I would have liked to have spent a couple of weeks on it, and stripped all the pull rods out and replaced them in the correct order. But you have a guitar that will last you a long time, and that has very nice tone. The ZB pickup certainly helps there. All the best to you. KB.

[Michael]

Thanks Ken! I love this guitar! I played at a 'hootenanny' on Saturday and it worked well and sounded great! (Though I came unstuck on Sultans of Swing! I obviously can't read someone else's i-pad and look at what I'm doing at the same time. Ho-hum.)

[Ken Byng]

Glad your gig went went well Michael. In response to your original question, the oldest person that I taught to play was 72! He was really enthusiastic once he got into playing pedal steel. I think he stopped playing when he was in his early 80's!