A6th EXTENDED TUNING FON A 12 STRING LAP STEEL

[Stanford Lane]

I am strongly considering ordering a Melbert 12 string lap steel from Robert Allen. I am not sure what tuning to use. So, I did a search on the forum for 12 string lap steel tuning. I came across a thread on the “A6th extended tuning on a 12 string lap steel”, written by Dom Franco in 2018. The following is a taken from his thread on the tuning and the string sizes. The video by Mr. Franco shows an incredible number of chords under a straight bar. Any thoughts about this tuning

PITCH GAUGE
F# .015
D .017
A# .022
G .026
E .016
C# .020
A .026
F# .032
E .036
C# .042
B .048
G# .052
E . steel

369_A6th_chart_1.jpg

[Tim Toberer]

I think this is a brilliant tuning, and very practical for chordal accompaniment. Lots of possibilities with 12 strings. I think the re-entrant top end would be a little tricky to navigate for single string melody. Look at E13, extended Leavitt (Bill Hatcher), Alkire, or even just a modern C6. Any way you slice it 12 strings will cover a lot of territory! Keep us posted.

[Stanford Lane]

Tim, thank you for your advice. I’m drawn to the E 13 tuning because of my history with guitar and bass. The 8 and 10 string options that I saw look pretty good. However, do you have any thoughts on extending those tunings to a 12 string tuning. I mostly play single note picking on the EBG# adjacent string combinations.

[Tim Toberer]

Tim, thank you for your advice. I’m drawn to the E 13 tuning because of my history with guitar and bass. The 8 and 10 string options that I saw look pretty good. However, do you have any thoughts on extending those tunings to a 12 string tuning. I mostly play single note picking on the EBG# adjacent string combinations.

E13 is one of the deepest rabbit holes in the forum. I didn't get very far with it, I think the payoff for sticking with it is huge. Sometimes I think it makes more sense than dinking around with crazy pedal steel guitars, which is what I am doing now. I think the Morrell version makes the most sense. It is 10 string, but I see the low E and D to be the spot to extend, play around with it. I would take it down to Low B somehow.

The 10-string Steel Tom Morrell plays is a CW Steel guitar made out of Mesquite and Walnut; Built about 10 years ago.
Tom's E13 tuning is This>

G#
F#
E
C#
B
G#
F#
E
D
E

Zane Beck tuned his 12 string E13th with pedals as:
G#
F#
E
C#
B
G#
F#
D
B
G#
E
B
E