Hi,
I just finished restoring my '77 MSA. It was a big chalenge for me but I am very satisfied with the result.
The only problem after reassembling the instrument is that now at 12th fret every note or chord sound too rich of sustain and overtones.
It's quite bothering because when playing at 12th the whole instrument have a resonance different from everywhere else on the fretboard.
Any hint about the reason and possible solutions?
Hope I could explain.. my english is not that good..
overtones at 12th fret
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
- Gianni Gori
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 12 Oct 2000 12:01 am
- Location: Livorno, Italy
- Contact:
- David Griffin
- Posts: 453
- Joined: 22 Sep 2009 1:44 pm
- Location: Jimmy Creek,Arkansas via Cowtown, USA
- Contact:
Every steel I've ever played does that,some more than others. You have to really make sure every string is muted behind the bar. But,it can be a cool effect.You can even lift your fingers from behind the bar,cross over & pick behind the bar for a neat chorus effect. Jeff Newman did a great version of Paychecks' "Friend,Don't Take Her" w/ a capo under the 12th fret.Hope that helps!
- Larry Bell
- Posts: 5550
- Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
- Location: Englewood, Florida
- Contact:
Gianni,
Be careful to use the last two or three fingers of the left hand to mute the resonance BEHIND the bar. It's only partially a problem of overtones -- it is actually the same note on the other side of the bar. At the 12th fret the string is divided exactly in half and, for example on the 4th string, there is an E between the bar and the changer but the exact same E will vibrate sympathetically between the bar and the roller and sound a bit like a chorus effect. The same thing can happen to a lesser extent at the 7th and even the 5th frets.
Hope this helps.
Be careful to use the last two or three fingers of the left hand to mute the resonance BEHIND the bar. It's only partially a problem of overtones -- it is actually the same note on the other side of the bar. At the 12th fret the string is divided exactly in half and, for example on the 4th string, there is an E between the bar and the changer but the exact same E will vibrate sympathetically between the bar and the roller and sound a bit like a chorus effect. The same thing can happen to a lesser extent at the 7th and even the 5th frets.
Hope this helps.
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12
- Larry Bressington
- Posts: 2809
- Joined: 6 Jul 2006 12:01 am
- Location: Nebraska
- Gianni Gori
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 12 Oct 2000 12:01 am
- Location: Livorno, Italy
- Contact:
Well, I know about muting strings with left hand fingers... I use to do that.
I was just wondering why it sounds different than before... I didn't notice that much resonance before I restored that guitar.
Maybe it was the thirty years of grease and dust that I removed from the undercarriage that muted this resonance by itself...
Anyway, yes, beyond repainting and inlaying a few thin abalone stripes, I cleaned and polished any metal part, including fingers end bridge, and I repalced all nylon washers and spacers.
The strings are D'Addario stainless steel
I was just wondering why it sounds different than before... I didn't notice that much resonance before I restored that guitar.
Maybe it was the thirty years of grease and dust that I removed from the undercarriage that muted this resonance by itself...
Anyway, yes, beyond repainting and inlaying a few thin abalone stripes, I cleaned and polished any metal part, including fingers end bridge, and I repalced all nylon washers and spacers.
The strings are D'Addario stainless steel
-
- Posts: 2207
- Joined: 6 Jan 2003 1:01 am
- Location: Virginia, USA