B-3 Sounds on Steel

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 4 May 2004 2:52 pm

I forgot my Rotosphere at rehearsal one night and just used a constant left hand vibrato motion. The big trick was to have the bar in motion before I picked the strings, so that the actual landing pitch was unpredictable.

------------------
<font size="1"><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax</font>

Matt Williams · Post by **Matt Williams** » 6 May 2004 1:21 pm

I've seen Dave Easley from NOLA do the B-3 thing as well. Im not sure what simulation effect he used, but I think he had some kind of midi-unit that he was using. Yes, he had his steel set up as a midi-trigger for those purposes (I think). This seem likely to me because in addition to a dirty B-3 sound, he KILLLED us with a trombone solo on his steel. Think about it...having the 'slide' in common made a ridicuously convincing bone sound.

Dale Granstrom · Post by **Dale Granstrom** » 6 May 2004 5:59 pm

I took some instruction from Curly Chalker in 1997 and he showed me what he used to get the B-3 effect. It was a small stomp box that he had gotten from Scotty DeWitt. I don't remember the brand or name. Maybe Scotty remembers.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 6 May 2004 6:44 pm

You don't really need effects to sound like a trombone. It's all in the hands! The 8th string of the E9th is in the right register. Just play trombone parts on it.

------------------
<font size="1"><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax</font>

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 6 May 2004 6:54 pm

To get a tone like a B-3 you really need a midi setup to do it justice....You can run your steel thru a Leslie , or a Leslie effect like the Rotosphere, and get the Leslie simulation, but not the actual tone of the organ .... I'm still trying to find a company that will make good working midi pickups for the pedal steel ...The midi interface for pedal steel is something that has been needed for years, ever since the end of the Steelrider by IVL ended back in the 80's ....Maybe one day it will happen !!...Jim

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 6 May 2004 7:51 pm

The Doppler effect is only one of the characteristics of the jazz or rock organ. This can be mimicked successfully by many fx units. My Boss unit does this plus has some other characteristics of the Hammond's basic tone. I am happy with this sound. As some of you have mentioned, the midi units are the ultimate tool, but as of now, I don't believe there are any new midi pickups or units available for 10 strings or that I could afford these items even if they were. A Buddy of mine has a GR30 and the sax, piano, and even b@nºø as
well as the organ sounds are great.
My goal is find techniques to help the Pedal Steel react more like an organ. Obviously, due to inherent design differences in the 2 instruments, this is a difficult undertaking, the keyboard being linear in design. We'd need 10 or 20 chromatic tuned strings to even approach that.
I'm well aware of the Junior and these other units that do Rotary. I feel the reason Curly Chalker and the others mentioned were successful at this is that they were aware of the Hammonds other characteristics and playing techni
ques as well as being proficient, to say the least, at playing the Steel Guitar. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to reply to my post. JO

Raj Natarajan · Post by **Raj Natarajan** » 7 May 2004 1:08 pm

Hmm... I have to try my Rotosphere tonight with my Shobud. I never thought of that and I have used my Rotosphere with Voce to get the B3 sound.