Furthermore on the jazz front, between Bb6/Eb9 and E9/B6, consider how many jazz tunes are in Bb or Eb, especially if you're playing with horns. While you wouldn't be down there all the time, I think I find myself wishing I could get in the way low register in Bb or Eb, and boo-wahing down to the low G firmly in bass range.
D10, E9/B6, Bb6, or E9 Extended ? - The Steel Guitar Forum
HELP,,,Bb6 Copedent,,,DAY Set up : The Steel Guitar Forum The Steel Guitar Forum
Why use Bb6 for a universal tuning? : The Steel Guitar Forum
I have zero interest in talking anyone else into playing Bb6, just as I have zero interest in playing E9, C6, or E9/B6 (which I started with). Maurice could play all of the mentioned tunings and no one could ever tell the difference, he saw the musical goal and used the tuning to achieve that goal.
Ancient Bb6 Copedents by John Alexander » 5 Jun 2012 11:57 pm While considering some changes to the Bb6 tuning on my PSG, I unearthed some variant examples of the Bb6 tuning from various 1970s publications, and I am going to post them here for future reference by anyone interested in the tuning and its history.
The reasons I went for Bb6 were that I got tired of having E9 be the open tuning when the 6th tuning was what interested me and made the most sense to me, and when I mentioned that to Reece, plus deciding to get a guitar built for me by MSA in 2011, he said that he thought I was a good candidate for Bb6 - as usual, he was right.