How can I equalize the volume of high and low GFI strings

Mitchell Blum · Post by **Mitchell Blum** » 1 Jul 2016 6:23 pm

I'm an entry level player. I recently bought a GFI Ultra and I'm beginning to work on 2 part harmony scales and simple songs on the E9 neck. My problem is that when amplified the lower strings are noticeably louder than the upper strings -- where the melody is 90% of the time. My Jagwire strings are practically brand new. Is it my technique or is there something that needs adjustment?

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 1 Jul 2016 6:53 pm

It may be simply technique. If you play with picks and are using a heavy plastic thumb pick and light gauge finger picks (Jeff Newman recommended minimum .025 gauge to his students), that coupled with the fact that more pressure can be exerted with the thumb than the fingers, it may just come down to pick attack. Practicing digging in more with the fingers and less with the thumb should even things out somewhat over time. Experimenting with different types of thumb picks may help also.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 1 Jul 2016 7:17 pm

What David says. You could also lower the bass side of the pickup, but I'd recommend learning to dig in more with the fingers and less with the thumb.

Mitchell Blum · Post by **Mitchell Blum** » 1 Jul 2016 7:26 pm

What are the best picks money can buy for someone at my level? I'm using the second hand picks that came with along with the guitar and the thumb pick seems ok but I can't seem to get a consistent attack w/ the fingers.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 1 Jul 2016 7:30 pm

The best picks money can buy are only marginally better than the basic Dunlop .0225 or .025 at most music stores.
This part of steel was a HUGE PITA for me when I was newnew, and I came from Dobro...

Mitchell Blum · Post by **Mitchell Blum** » 1 Jul 2016 7:38 pm

Will persevere. Much obliged gentlemen

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 1 Jul 2016 8:25 pm

You might try the blue nylon thumb picks (Herco?). They are smaller, lighter, and more flexible than their plastic counterparts. P.M. your address and I will mail one to you...FYI:'Elderly Instruments' carries a huge selection of all types of picks, good opportunity to do some comparison shopping.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 1 Jul 2016 9:40 pm

Another possibility is to replace the pickup with one with adjustable pole pieces for each string. I believe Bob Hoffner has stopped making the tonealigner, but Telonics still make such a pickup.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 2 Jul 2016 3:34 am

I agree with some of the first posts... if you are just getting started, don't adjust the pickup, adjust your playing.

Just to make sure, try to get with another steel player and play their guitar. If you get the same result, it's in your playing.

This is something all of us have had to seal with.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 2 Jul 2016 5:06 am

My wife has a GFI Expo S-10 with the original GFI II pickup. It is as it was built, no adjustment on the pickup. I don't find any unbalance in volume. My wife, who has used this to learn never mentioned any unbalance in volume either.

Assuming the EQ in your amp is set properly, "practice, practice, practice".

Tom Campbell · Post by **Tom Campbell** » 2 Jul 2016 5:30 am

Key words from Jack Stoner "Assuming your EQ settings are set correctly".
Check your mid range setting and treble settings...also your bass setting may be too high relative to your other settings.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 2 Jul 2016 6:15 am

Another item I forgot.

If you are using cheap guitar cords, they roll off high frequencies. Thus the bass is emphasized.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 2 Jul 2016 9:57 am

How does it sound unplugged?

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 2 Jul 2016 2:26 pm

Pick very firmly/hard with all your digits!

Mitchell Blum · Post by **Mitchell Blum** » 3 Jul 2016 6:08 pm

When I play the "problem" strings with my nylon thumb pick I get full and consistent sound across the board so it's not equipment related. The tonal discrepancy only occurs with finger against thumb. Reducing the curvature of the metal picks, strengthening my finger attack and backing my thumb away from the pickup have all helped somewhat.

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 3 Jul 2016 6:56 pm

After 23 years of using the same .015 gauge fingerpicks I only just found out that a .022 requires way less effort to get the same volume. (Derp!!) Trying a heavier pick will be your cheapest solution and hence should be the one you might want to try first.