Intro To Using The Certano Benders In C6 Tuning (CEGACE)

[@BronxCowboy]

Troy. Your lessons help me get at the sound I’ve been searching for. Hank!!!

[@gordonsteeves9950]

Thanks, Troy great stuff. By the way, at almost 75 yrs. (another couple of months) I have finally started building my first 6-string lap steel. I figured if I want to learn to play one I might as well learn to build one (hoping to have it ready for colour in about 6 months) and yes I have placed an order for Certano benders, so after-all is working I will be looking for some instruction :) which should be another challenge. I have been following your youtube site for a few years now and I want to thank you for the great work you are doing here.

[@mikeellis6206]

Hey Troy I have a recording king the fret board incoming up off the guitar any suggestions

[@ryanjones4150]

I recently acquired a 6 string lap steel to play around with, so i was looking at KZbin videos for tuning ideas and such and I came across your videos with the Certano benders, and I am really impressed with them and your playing. I have played the guitar for 40 years and love making music. I feel at some point I have to get a Recording King and these benders, the sounds are so great, and I don't really like country music all that much. Thanks for all this info.

[@TheLonePiper]

Cool. This works better with David's roller bridge. The benders and bridge are sold in a bundle (Bridge "R.R.B.1" with the bender "Le carré" for lap steel).

[@Krunnky]

Thanks Troy for these amazing instructional vids

[@jamesoconnor2753]

Sounds great 👍. I started learning lap steel in C6 tuning.

[@matwhite2937]

I was having a similar issue with the bridge breaking strings & string tension on my SX 8-string lap steel while using the Certano benders, and I have to say after installing the Certano Rolling Bridge it has made a WORLD of difference! Highly recommend it!!!

[@johnsonactivity]

this is the biggest piece of info for me, thanks a bunch. i have just got mine on order and have been wondering if i was going to have many problems breaking strings (did order roller bridge too) installing on my new Gretsch. is there any info on weather i can get a wound 3rd string without sacrificing tone? (the diadarrio nyxl .25) would that be too much thicker than my already .22? only been playing for about a year so still learning little things about the gear and such.

[@deijsselcoatingssverige3425]

Hello Mat, I am just now starting to build a 8 string lap steel and I have recieved the nut, bridge and bender from certano. I am planing to tune it to a C6: A, C, E, G, A, C, E, G. On what strings do you have your bender on your 8 string?

[@dereknolin5986]

I was thinking about getting an SX 8 string lap steel and putting certano benders on it myself, but looking at the picture, it looks like there isn't enough room behind the bridge to attach the benders! How did you manage it?

[@matwhite2937]

@@dereknolin5986 plenty of room on mine, but I did eventually switch the bridge out to the Certano rolling bridge with the more narrow spacing. If I had one piece of advice it would be to get the wider spaced one if you decide to also swap yours out, because slant chords are super challenging to get right with the narrow spacing. At least for my big clumsy hands...

[@NemoNepersonne]

I’ve installed Certano benders and roller nut and bridge and have my lap steel in C6 tuned with with benders raising by a half step, as you suggest. I like being able to go from C to C#dim7 by pressing both benders. It’s a nice passing chord on the way to the IV chord. However, I’m wondering about tuning the benders so they play a FULL step up. Consider this: Your C6 tuning is CEGACE. The IV chord is F6: FACDFA. Use only the 2nd string bender with the C chord and you have CEGADE. There are the 3rd, 5th, and 6th of the IV chord. The V chord is G6: GBDEGB. Use both benders with the C chord and you have CEGBDE. That means you have two 6ths and Root, 3rd and 5th of the V chord. All without moving the steel, you can play I, IV and V chords. Like you, I worry about breaking strings, but if you Tuned your lap steel down to, say, Bb, playing C on the 2nd fret, the full note bend wouldn’t be a problem. This lets the benders work more like the A and B pedals on a pedal steel.

[@curbmassa]

I just posted above and then I read your entry. It seems like we're barking up similar trees. How has your setup worked out for you if I may ask. Has using the benders in addition with bar slants provided any nice surprises?

[@NemoNepersonne]

@@curbmassa , I’ve been doing what I suggested above, and the FULL step up is much more useful than the HALF step up.

[@rednail6174]

I am building a 8 strings lapsteel with certano benders on the 2 and 3 string. What tuning would you suggest to achieve the same advantages which you mentioned (several chords without moving the bar). I am trying to get a pedal steel sound. Chords as played in I Told You So (Randy Travis) or the Blame (David Hartley).

[@NemoNepersonne]

@@rednail6174 , with eight strings in the usual C6 lap steel tuning, 1 - G, 2 - E, 3 - C, 4-A, 5- G, 6- E, 7- C, 8- A, to depress the C and A strings, you would need to install the tuners on the 3rd and 4th strings instead of the 2nd and 3rd. Then set the tuners so the C drops to B and the A drops to G. Again, this is like having the A and B Pedals on a pedal steel. Very useful. The G in the 1st string is very nice. It’s one of the glories of the eight string versus the six. It’s like having a full dobro tuning in C of CEGCEG plus TWO A strings for the sixth. It’s fine to put the benders on the third and fourth strings.

[@rednail6174]

Thanks for the quick response. If I set the tuning down to B, what string gauge would be suitable for the 8 strings, with the benders on the 3rd and 4th strings?

[@howardmaryon]

Lowering the bridge and the nut equally would certainly help the benders and lessen the strain on the strings

[@lapsteels8]

just what i was hoping for

[@michaelscott4167]

Have you considered putting a plate under the Certano Benders to kind of raise the levers rather than lower the bridge?,

[@flyme-z7b]

Hey Troy; After being so inspired by your videos I took the plunge and finally got my Duesenberg Split/King. I am so glad I did! I have a bunch of things I'd like to do with it where C6 tuning would be better suited for the time being but I can't seem to find anyone who is running C6 the Duesenberg. My concern right now is to have the best string gauge for C6 on this lapsteel while hoping not break them with a whole or half-step bend from the Multibender. Can you offer a little advice to help me get off to a good start?

[@LessonsWithTroy]

I'd stick to Open D or Open E

[@LessonsWithTroy]

Honestly I would not suggest putting it in C6. I'd stick to Open D.

[@dkerwood1]

Thank you for these videos! Giving me all sorts of great ideas to play with! Kicking around which strings to install the benders on my cheap lap steel. I have two... if I did it on the high E string, that would give me the full 4 chord in that 1 and 6m position, then by extension the 5 chord just 2 frets up instead of 7 up. Seems like the A/Bb bender has limited functionality besides the dominant 7th and diminished chords... any new ideas on this over the last 18 months?

[@MrPatdeeee]

What about string 3 (A to Bb) and string 2 (C to D)? If there is too much tension, then tune it down to a Bb6th? I am going to purchase the King Recording RG-35-SN steel guitar; with the humbucking PU ($229.99 and no shipping cost @ Musicians Friend). I have talked to David about the benders. Can't wait! I have seen a 3 string bender. I might buy this and change the 1st string to an F also. Whatcha thank with a 6th tuning with 3 benders? That would give you a 7th, 9th and a full 6 string 11th chord when you wanted it. Many thanks for what you are doing and sharing with us kind Sir.

[@LessonsWithTroy]

Yeah that could be cool but I’m not sure the strings can take the tension without tuning it down like you mentioned.

[@petergoguen4421]

Love it...just regular c6 strings I suppose

[@saskfarm]

Hey Troy. This is so awesome. I’m really conflicted between open E and this 6 tuning. In your experience, are they really kind of for separate styles of music? Or is there one that’s just as useful for country swing to folk to rock? Thanks.

[@robeggers5560]

Could you mount bender on a maple block ti reduce angle over bridge

[@Spazin0ut]

Can u do a bender chord chart like you did with the D tuning?

[@CritterElectronics]

What’s the trick to buying these benders in the states?

[@curbmassa]

I wonder if using the benders on the G and A strings set up to raise them both a whole step could give you the 1-2-3-4 notes of a major scale without moving the bar. Using the 3rd string bender alone would yield 2 inversions of the III minor chord. It could also give a I Maj7th. Any thoughts? I need to come up with a plan before plunking down the money. Thanks and much thanks for the incredibly useful clips.

[@Tempest19901]

How is intonation on recording King with C6? I have one and have a Certano bender on order. Without adjustable bridge I was afraid to try C6 on Recording King because no way to adjust bridge for intonation.

[@dastinghersi8227]

Hello, could you explain to me how you tighten the strings starting from the standard tuning?

[@LessonsWithTroy]

It’s tuned CEGACE from thick to thin strings

[@iangoodall7228]

​@@LessonsWithTroy you mention about being nervous about over tensioning the strings and about them having better tension in C6 than before.. so I am confused what string set you are using?are you using a C6 set of strings or did you use a re-tuned open D set (whatever that would be jn terms of guages,)

[@robertbillos722]

Can you tell me what string gauges I should use for g and b strings in c6 tuning with certano benders?? Thanks.