Bb6 players?

[Jesse Valdez]

I haven’t setup Bb6 yet, but I’m thinking of setting up my D10 or my Fender 1000 with Bb6/Eb9. From what I’ve heard, those older guys like Bob White and Pee Wee used Bb6 because A6 sounded muddy in certain rooms. Interesting that Reese says it’s was just because Bob, wasn’t Reese a trombone player first? I’m sure the keys lined up for him as well then. The players who play Uni Bb6 seem to be more jazz oriented for whatever reason, which is what caught my ear, as well as Hank Thompson’s band.

[Jim Saunders]

Herb Remington went one step lower, tuning to A6.

[J D Sauser]

Herb Remington went one step lower, tuning to A6.

When you take a tuning down (or up) by half steps, one will reach the point where string gauges change... even change from plain to wound or vice versa.
It's the "same" tuning, but it "sounds" differently and is then played "differently".
It's similar to the piano... it has 7 octaves... but just playing the same chords (same inversions) just an octave above, it doesn't just sound higher, it has a different "vibe" and some chords just don't seem to have the same "honk".
I started out on A6th non-pedals and never found my "honk" on the C6th later... I had to re-invent my playing. Only when I got into E9th that I found it back with pedals (A&B) down.
E6th or E13th players likewise just sound very uniquely "different".


... J-D.