This is another example of pressing the A pedal half way to get a nice slide into a 9th chord. You can of course also accomplish this with split tuning on the 5th string with the B to Bb knee lever as well. Some people have difficulty pressing the A pedal and the B to Bb knee lever at the same. Also using the half A pedal allow for a more complex 3 dimensional sound as the A pedal gradually eases into half actuation and the exact temper tuning of the 5th string can be controlled more precisely.
Feel free to add the 8th string half tone raise to the diminished chord at fret 5 (add to strings 5,6 and 9).