After a few years of focusing mostly on Pedal Steel, and after selling all my non pedal steels, I couldn't pass this up. A D12 Superslide, flight case, stand and the MSA L-Lights installed. It already had Reeces C6 12 string tuning and I put the Extended Alkire tuning on the other neck. Been years since I play an Eharp, and it really sounded like home. The Superslide sounds amazing on both tunings. Last night, I turned the lights out, put the headphones on and played it with the Fret Lights on full and I had to drag myself away to bed at 2am. I didn't want to stop. Why am I carrying these heavy pedal steels around again?
Below a shot of the Superslide and my current setup with my Mullen G2 9x9. I have the Mullen going into Kemper toaster, and the Superslide going into the Kemper Player. Each has its' own headphones so I can just turn on the seat and I don't have to replug stuff in. The.laptop makes it easy to record. I'm set for life ....(this week).
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Bill McCloskey wrote: 31 Jul 2025 10:28 amI'm set for life ....(this week).
Ha! Aren't you the guy who once stated (I'm paraphrasing here) that everything one needed to play could be accomplished on a Dobro in high-bass G tuning? And later on, with a 10-string Electraharp? Some of us may be anxious to learn where will you go after you're bored with the Superslide. (No offense intended; I thoroughly enjoy reading all of your posts!)
I think you mean Eharp. The front neck of the Superslide is in extended Eharp tuning. So, I haven't gotten bored with the Eharp, in fact it was wonderful playing that tuning again, especially extended up with a high F# and G#. I continue to publish Eharp players on my website. But a few years ago, I got interested in trying pedals and it has been a 3 year journey which has now come full circle from when I started this journey 20 years ago exactly, when I bought the first 12 string superslide and the first D12.
As for dobro, I spent 20 years playing dobro and it served me well. Listen to Tom Morrell's Dobro playing and I'm sure you would agree that in fact, everything you'd ever need can be played on an 8 string dobro.
Just because a Ugo can get me from point A to point B, it is sometimes nice to drive a Mercedes.
Under the heading "Nothing is Lost", I've had a few days to play with the new setup:
1. On the Superslide side, I put my extended Alkire tuning and Reece's Extended C6 on the other. It has been a few years since I've sat down to the Alkire tuning and I wasn't too surprised about how much I'd forgotten. But it has allowed me to go back into the Alkire Steps, now that I've had pedal steel experience. It is also lays out nicely on a double neck, since it is E based and so the orientation with my pedal steel E9 and C6 is similar. And falling in love again with Reece's extended C6 and the sound of the Supeslide itself, simply a pleasure to play.
2. On the Pedal side, I have E9th with a 6th lever and 4 pedals, Franklin on the Zero pedal, and 5x5 on the C6 neck, with some special changes. Easiest and best sounding Pedal Steel I've ever owned.
I like the balance between pedal and non pedal, the ease of playing, love playing without pedals and equally in love with playing with pedals...its' all good. and man, keeps me from getting bored.
I know what you mean about being "set for life". Back in 1972 I bought a Fender Super Reverb amp, and the seller told me "this is a lifetime amp". And now, 30 amps later, I realize what a ridiculous statement that was!
