Mr Rusty Levers

[Zebedee]

I received my copy of the steelies magazine today, and reading the article on Tony Davis (aka rusty Levers) reminded me of how much useful information Rusty imparted to this eager newbie

A couple of his tips that I implemented immediately after reading his column, and which have proven invaluable, were to lower the ninth string a semitone, along with the usual full tone drop on the second string (commonplace now, but I hadn't heard of it back in '84), and to avoid having the volume pedal shutting off to zero signal.

Thanks, Tony

[Tony Russell Davis]

Wow Richard, what a memory! Thanks very much for the feedback much appreciated. Tony.

[STEDDIE EDDIE]

interesting! back in the early 90's, when i got my first PSG, a sho bud LDG, i had zero contact with other steelies, and apart from my starter video from Gerry Hogan's featuring how to get started, and which ended up with how to play 'the skye boat song' i was very much on my own, the first change i made was to tune the 9th string down a semi tone from D to C#, it just seemed logical to me on an instrument tuned to an open E, but until now, have never admitted to changing the standard tuning, for fear of incurring the wrath of other seasoned steelies, but the biggest change i made, in regard to everyday playing, was to tune the 2nd string down a semi tone from Eb to D, giving me an open string 7th chord, and i have stuck with this ever since, again it just seemed more logical to me, now after reading Richards post about the 9th string, i suddenly feel vindicated, and am able to finally say, i haven't stuck to the norm, and did it my way, another steelie about three years ago, did castigate me and demonstrated a little run that i was missing out on re the 2nd string, but i stuck to my own tuning, cos playing the open 1st and 2nd strings gives me a nice bluesy 9th added 7th, or is it 7th added 9th? who cares, it works for me,

[Basil Henriques]

I went even further and put the E to Eb lowers on to pedal C, and changed the B to C# raises from the pedal to RKR... And added a C# on string 5, and took out completely the F# on (normal) string 7 and made it an E on string 8 , lost the (Normal) 8th string D and made it a B on string 9, and made string 10 a G#.
In 1970, and have played that way ever since. BTW the copedent is almost Zane Beck's E6th. But I didn't know then.

[STEDDIE EDDIE]

Well then, its no wonder you never achieved anything, messing about with your steel guitar like that! ........................... only kidding................you went a lot further, that is quite a drastic change, mine is inconsequentinal in comparison, but i suppose any change shows that you are thinking for your self and not just following blindly,