The insanity continues: D13

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 10 Feb 2025 8:35 am

It has been a crazy 6 months, no aspect of my life went untested or unchallenged. Which resulted me in stopping playing completely about 6 months ago. In January, I thought I could begin to play again, but my Rose D13 sounded dull. I decided to change the strings. Then all hell broke loose: After the string change, I ran into problems with the pedal that lowers the 11th string A down to an F#. This led to weeks trying to find someone to repair it. I was ready to give up playing steel completely and just sell everything.

Then things started turning around. Found someone to repair it, picked up a Mullen in a trade, started to get back into D10 because of how amazing the Mullen sounded. thought about changing my MSA order from a S12 D13 to a D10.

But then, in the last 48 hours, I started playing the rose S12 D13 again and....

I fell back in love with the tuning. Man, what an amazing tuning: there is nothing you can't play on it. And after Daniel Stein (thank you Daniel) repaired and set up the Rose, it sounds amazing as well again.

So, I'm back firmly and exclusively in the D13 camp. And practicing for hours and loving it. And slowly I can feel my chops come back.

All this as a reminder: We all go through crazy times from time to time. We all make rash decisions based on temporary frustrations. Sometimes we just need to chill out for awhile until the passion comes back. And eventually it will come back. Hang in there all.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 10 Feb 2025 12:56 pm

glad to hear it, Bill... cheers!

Dave Stagner · Post by **Dave Stagner** » 10 Feb 2025 12:57 pm

I think this year, I want to find a reasonably lightweight instrument I can set up in D13.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 10 Feb 2025 1:06 pm

Dave, can't tell you how nice is it is to play C6 and E9th licks and chords on one neck without having to "think" in two tunings or hold a lever constantly. One neck, one big tuning that does everything I can throw at it. Learning slightly larger grips might be a challenge for those who have been playing nothing but E9th for decades, but since i came from lap steel and the Alkire tuning with REALLY large 4 string grips, it isn't a problem at all.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 10 Feb 2025 3:21 pm

The Rose:

Pat Chong · Post by **Pat Chong** » 10 Feb 2025 5:36 pm

Hopefully your Dr. Rose can help you quell the insanity.

.....Pat.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 10 Feb 2025 5:52 pm

He prescribed Rozac.

John Hyland · Post by **John Hyland** » 10 Feb 2025 8:33 pm

what are every ones thoughts on a min pedals/ knee/string number for a workable D13

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 10 Feb 2025 8:46 pm

12 string, 8x6. Any thing less is a compromise, although Johnny Cox has versions for 7x5 I think.

John Hyland · Post by **John Hyland** » 10 Feb 2025 8:58 pm

Bill McCloskey wrote:12 string, 8x6. Any thing less is a compromise, although Johnny Cox has versions for 7x5 I think.

what would be the 6th lever

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 11 Feb 2025 5:38 am

Fred · Post by **Fred** » 11 Feb 2025 6:01 am

John Hyland wrote:what are every ones thoughts on a min pedals/ knee/string number for a workable D13

There's more compromises but b0b's 10 string hybrid D6 is 6x6 but can work with just 5 levers.

It's more of a full C6 in D with the basic E9 stuff also in D.

https://b0b.com/wp/about-b0b/bobby-lees ... copedents/

Dave Stagner · Post by **Dave Stagner** » 11 Feb 2025 6:54 am

Fred wrote:
John Hyland wrote:what are every ones thoughts on a min pedals/ knee/string number for a workable D13
There's more compromises but b0b's 10 string hybrid D6 is 6x6 but can work with just 5 levers.

It's more of a full C6 in D with the basic E9 stuff also in D.

https://b0b.com/wp/about-b0b/bobby-lees ... copedents/

I've thought hard about trying his 5x5 D6 chromatic, if I can find a 5x5 D10.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 11 Feb 2025 8:30 am

Here is an interesting comparison. I've deleted the skipped strings and transposed. Some notes require a lever or pedal but nothing difficult. All on one neck:

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 11 Feb 2025 8:51 am

Same Chart but including the pedals, levers, skipped strings and Fret number.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 11 Feb 2025 9:32 am

And here is the most interesting part of D13: the fact that root positions on both C6 and E9th line up on the same fret. No more thinking in 2 different tunings like you have to do with both separate necks AND universal tunings. Key of C:

Joe Bill Moad · Post by **Joe Bill Moad** » 11 Feb 2025 10:29 pm

Bill I think you overcame some mountainous situations! Nothing like sticking to your Heart and Let the Good Times Roll!

Respectfully

Joe Bill Moad

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 12 Feb 2025 9:42 am

Bill:

When it comes to steel guitars, I know all about making 'rash decisions'.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 12 Feb 2025 11:44 am

You are my inspiration, Roger. Anytime I think, should I buy another guitar I don't need, I think.."What would Roger do?".

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 12 Feb 2025 11:48 am

You seem inspired again Bill ... That's a good feeling isn't it?!?

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 12 Feb 2025 12:54 pm

definitely Dale. Currently spending the afternoon working on the Jerry Bergonzi structures and marveling at how well they fit on the D13 tuning.

Jim Cooley · Post by **Jim Cooley** » 13 Feb 2025 6:29 am

Bill - You are to be congratulated, sir. I have followed Jonny Cox's and your D13 posts with great interest. I'm tempted, but E9/C6 still confuse me enough that I'm afraid D13 would open a whole new world of bumfuzzledness. Please keep posting.