Dobro Sound Using a Pedal Steel?

Roger Andrusky · Post by **Roger Andrusky** » 27 Aug 2002 12:47 pm

I was at the Herby Wallace/Steel Jam last Sunday and heard a guy make his Kline sound like a real Dobro (or at least very close). He changed bars but I don't see how that would have given him that sound. I didn't get a chance to ask him. Anyone know this trick? - Roger

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 27 Aug 2002 12:55 pm

Goodrich MatchBro.

autry andress · Post by **autry andress** » 27 Aug 2002 1:06 pm

If it sounded like the real thing it was probably the Super bro by goodrich.
Sure beats carrying a dobro.
Steel guitar Nashville has'em{pictures too}.
Good luck.[This message was edited by autry andress on 28 August 2002 at 01:03 PM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 27 Aug 2002 1:18 pm

It sounds authentic enough that the blue-grass bands that appear on our show regularly ask me to stay on stage and set-in with them. That's a good enough indorsement for the "Super-Bro" for me! www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 27 August 2002 at 02:19 PM.]

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 27 Aug 2002 1:23 pm

We stock this unit, however money is a little on the "much" side. It does have some great advantages though over a real dobro: easier to carry, easier to "Tune", easier to mic., etc, It's a pretty great unit. Doesn't look as good as a real dobro though.
Bobbe
www.steelguitar.net

Sam White · Post by **Sam White** » 27 Aug 2002 4:57 pm

I have Dobro in my Pro Fex II and it sounds pretty close.
Sam White

Don Olson · Post by **Don Olson** » 27 Aug 2002 5:07 pm

When you play with the Dobro effect you have to think Dobro not pedal steel.
Zumsteel Don

Quesney Gibbs · Post by **Quesney Gibbs** » 28 Aug 2002 1:08 am

If the steeler changed bars he is likely to be using an old trick that I use even to this day.

Saw off the top few inches (about the length of your bar) of your wife's broom handle (unpainted of course) and you have instant dobro.

I learned this little trick from a New Orleans player named Earl Ortega before all the gadgets came into being.

Try it....

Ques[This message was edited by Quesney Gibbs on 28 August 2002 at 02:10 AM.]

David Decker · Post by **David Decker** » 28 Aug 2002 2:02 am

It was a goodrich MatchBro that I used last Sunday.

Roger Andrusky · Post by **Roger Andrusky** » 28 Aug 2002 3:23 am

Cool! Sounds like the broomstick idea may be cheaper, though.

David, I didn't get a chance to talk to you - I was, and am, fighting an upper respiratory infection so I couldn't stick around long. Totally, totally enjoyed your pickin! Thanks for coming the distance! - Roger

BobG · Post by **BobG** » 28 Aug 2002 5:09 am

Saw off the top few inches (about the length of your bar) of your wife's broom handle

Hey Quesney! I took your advise and asked my wife if I could have her broom......
She told me "where I could stick it".
...I wonder what offended her ?

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Bob Grado, Williams D10 (lefty), Peavey 1000,
Profex ll.

[This message was edited by BobG on 28 August 2002 at 06:09 AM.]

Jim Vogan · Post by **Jim Vogan** » 28 Aug 2002 5:35 am

I may be able to salvage part of the handle. My wife wrecked hers. Hope she doesn't see this post!

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Jim Vogan Emmons Sd10 Stereo steel Amp

David Decker · Post by **David Decker** » 28 Aug 2002 5:43 am

Roger, thanks for the kind words. I really enjoyed the show, and the chance to play there. Like Arnold said " I'll be back"

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 28 Aug 2002 7:24 am

I have a Super Bro and get a good dobro sound out of it. As to the special bar, the Super Bro comes with a special (plastic) bar. This adds to the dobro sound. When I want the dobro sound, I turn off all effects and use a dry signal along with some dobro playing techniques.
Erv

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 28 Aug 2002 7:38 am

Al Brisco has a SuperBro listed at $990. Canadian. I guess I won't be getting one anytime soon.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 28 Aug 2002 7:43 am

A Phaser or Flanger effect, set on a very slow speed, will give that broom handle an extra bumb in the "Dobro sound" direction.

Ad Kersten · Post by **Ad Kersten** » 28 Aug 2002 2:17 pm

Can anyone advise me how to program a tubefex for a proper dobro sound?
Ad

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Zumsteel S12U

Yo, Man! homepage

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 28 Aug 2002 3:29 pm

AD: Here's what I have on my Tube-Fex.

TB
pre 90
pad hi
post 49
bass 40
mid 20
treb 80
pres +30
->CF
rate 0.7
depth 26%
dly 4.6ms
flange +16
mx +100
+DL
type stereo
L dly 361
L fbk 29%
R dly 361
R fbk 29%
Sim off
Mx +100
+RV
type spring
size large
P dly 30ms
time 2.9s
Damp off
MX +100
+EF
sens +0
freq 51
reson 83
type LP-slo
MX +100

I usually mute the strings with the palm of my right hand when using this program and get a resonable facsimile of a banjo.

Quesney: When John Paul Jones was still with us, we exchanged a few e-mails and one of them was on the broom handle theory. I told him, one night in France, I had a head cold and as I was using my Vicks inhaler, I noticed how much it looked like a minature bar. I used it and got the funniest sound I ever found. JPJ replied that he too used an inhaler but he said he used to dip his in hot coffee !!

Regards, Paul[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 28 August 2002 at 05:21 PM.][This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 28 August 2002 at 05:23 PM.]

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 28 Aug 2002 4:38 pm

Paul, that old benzedrine inhaler was good too! regards, fred

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 30 Aug 2002 2:41 pm

I use the profex ll settings in addition to using the dobro pickup from Zumsteel in front of my stock pickup.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 31 Aug 2002 9:39 am

Two things to remember:

Take your foot off the volume pedal.

Pick harder.

No effect in the world will make you sound like a dobro if you're picking light and pumping the volume pedal.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 3 Sep 2002 11:46 am

You can get a reasonable facsimile of a slide b@njo using a piece of PVC pipe. If yoe want to get really deranged, run it through some chorus, reverb and distortion and make like Godzilla.

Bob Hayes · Post by **Bob Hayes** » 8 Sep 2002 5:06 pm

Quensey,
I basicly use the same thing..except from a different appliance. I was "sitting" in my "thinking Room" one day... and I saw my bathroom PLUNGER...with wood handel...And I said to my self...."That IS The Answer".so I hacked off about a 51/2" peice..and now it is with me whenever I pick..It gives a "Great" "5" Sting sound too. The picker with AJ at the OPRY last night used something .and it was a great Dobro Sound.His bar looked like one of those"Red Hot Bars".
GV