SHO BUD soundin too plain

[John Daily]

I have an issue. I have a steel guitar, a Peavey Renown Series 400 amp w/2-12" speakers, a DD3 pedal. I've been playing in the basement, but the past months I've gotten down on myself. It's not sounding rite compared to what I hear on radio or some of the finest steel players I listen too. I'm missing something to get that distinguished steel sound. I'm askin for some advice on what I need to get or do to get me back in the mood to play again. SHO-BUD 10string, 3 pedal, knee bar.

[Jerry Hedge]

Take thy self out and play with somebody!!!

[Herb Steiner]

Have you changed your strings lately? That does wonders for a guitar's sound.

[Kevin Hatton]

Good advise.

[Richard Sinkler]

Try a different amp? Sounds like you play a Maverick, but it should still sound good. I don't know about the contact paper covered ones, but every all wood one I have heard has had that Sho~Bud mojo going on. May be just your technique too.

[Donny Hinson]

I get the feeling you're very new at this, and good sound doesn't come in a few months, you're probably just lacking seat time. Those guys you hear on the radio have been doing this stuff for hours a day for over 25 years. After the initial infatuation starts to wear off, players often realize that playing well doesn't happen quickly. Yeah, maybe change strings...and get out of the basement. Get some one-on-one lessons. Go out and see other players in person; listen, watch what they're doing. YouTube videos and home-study courses are okay, but you'll never be a good player without being exposed to other players!

[Richard Sinkler]

Donny said:

Go out and see other players in person; listen, watch what they're doing. YouTube videos and home-study courses are okay, but you'll never be a good player without being exposed to other players!

Buy the man a beer.

40 years ago when I started playing, at a time when instructional material was not plentiful, the best instruction I ever got, was going to see other players or watch the great steelers on the country shows on TV, like the Wilburn Bros. There is not a single player I have met that will not take the time to talk to you at break and even show you stuff. We actually get off on that stuff.

But, unfortunately, the newer players seem to think that all the Video lessons and instructional books are going to turn them into Buddy Emmons. Well guys, IT AIN'T. I'm sure if you ask the greats like Buddy, they too would probably go see a live player every chance they got when they were just starting out.

But, unfortunately, these days it is a lot harder to find a band playing with a steel player. So that can be a good reason for not going to see a live player. But I also recommend newer players search to find someone within reasonable driving distance (heck, I've driven an hour or two to go see a player I wanted to see) to go see play and become friends. That's just as valuable as any Emmons or Newman course.

[John Daily]

Being new to this I say thank you all for your advice. I do need to get out more and see others. I was wondering if a Fender Mustang 3 would help or some kind of a pre-amp system for the Peavey series 400 Renown would help. Just throwin more stuff out there. May do some research for instructors here in OK. Enid has no one who gives lessons. Thank you guys for your input. Glad to be a part of a group of people who know what's going on and understand.

[Mike Wheeler]

Great advice given above. I think the best, though, is to take a lesson from a good teacher. Record it, because you'll get enough info that it'll keep you busy for a long time. A good instructor can correct things and give you pointers that might take you years to figure out on your own.

I will re-energize your desire to play and put the "fun" back into your seat time.

[chris ivey]

buddy emmons has used renowns!

[Benjamin Jayne]

Consider posting a link to a recording of yourself(use picosong.com or youtube if you don't have one already). I did this as a newer player at a time when I was unhappy with my sound and couldn't figure out what piece of gear needed to be replaced, equipment tweaked, or what must be missing from my setup that's leaving my sound so lifeless (sound similar?)...and guess what? The folks on this forum gave me some much needed confidence in my instrument, the gear I already had, and my potential as a learning player.

Many even made some specific suggestions for adjustments...but they weren't the type of adjustments I had expected, as they weren't electronic or mechanical...more bio-mechanical . Things like "try to relax your left arm and hand" "try picking closer to the pickup" "try the following exercises to improve your ear" etc.


And what amazes me to this day, was that all of this advice came about from members listening to an AUDIO ONLY recording...there are some amazing, truly altruistic people on this forum that want nothing more than to share their love for this great and challenging instrument, but you won't get any help like that from a stomp box, new amp, or even a vintage or brand new guitar, no matter how or by whom it was made.

That was 18 months ago, and when I listen back to that recording it seems obvious to me now that no piece of equipment could have helped my sound (and boy did I need help!)...but that was a very hard pill to swallow when I spent more time on the "for sale" section of the forum than behind my guitar!

Keep listening, keep practicing, and hang around here for the inspiration or advice.

[Larry Bressington]

The question is a bit vague, with the word 'Plain' it could be a 100 things john...If all else is good and it's just electrical tone, spice it up with some Effects and EQ, Pre-amp, Tone shaper etc, just a thought and not by any means an excuse to cover anything up....Many players have pre-amp's. Peavey was the rage a while back!

I'm with you brother, i don't like straight into an amp either without some form of tone shape device/ digi verbs etc additional to amp but...i use it to cover up bad tone!

[Jerry Overstreet]

I have an issue. It's not sounding rite compared to what I hear on radio or some of the finest steel players I listen too. I'm missing something to get that distinguished steel sound.

Welcome to the club. Many of us are chasing that sound, including myself with 30 yrs. or so in the bag.

I agree with Larry. I see by checking some of your other posts that you are a veteran picker and this is your second time around on pedal steel having played it for some 30 yrs. in the past.

I would expect that your ears and brain are educated enough to tell that you are missing something. Yessir, it could be as simple as old strings as Herb states or maybe you just need a little sparkle per Larry's post. Or maybe you just need to get good and mad and tear into it.

You're not alone in this quest, if there's any comfort there. But you'll get it. I can tell from your writings that you have the desire and determination. That's half the battle IMO.

[Jim Cooley]

From my own "tonequest" experiences, after buying several amps, pickups, speakers, etc. While all of those do affect tone:

A little reverb
A little delay,
Good day or bad day,
Play, play, play.