pedal noise,driving me wild!!

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

what is the quietest steel linkage??and sugestions on how to elimanate some.sho-bud clanks over my amps,got to try to calm it some farris

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The newer Sierras that I played were awfully quiet. When I was playing an LDG some "slider foam" made it a little quieter.

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Thanks BOB,hadn't paid much attention,until tonight,sitting here playing my pro3,and i said man at the noise.i know i stomp pretty hard,but got to put a silencer on it some!!
If i had been taping,it would have been loud and clear. farris

J Hill · From: Colorado, USA

That's a great question. I thought maybe when I move beyond the Carter-Starter I wouldn't have to deal with pedal noise. But the other day I heard 3 pro-players on some great pro-steels and I couldn't believe the clank-clank-clank. That surprised me, I'd think exta-curricular noise problems would be something the Steel makers would have solved by now. I can see how the noise might be covered up by a band, but there was nothing to cover it up when these guys were soloing.

Leila

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

If the pickup is becoming microphonic, it will pick up any vibration on the guitar -- not just the strings. If the pickup is old this may be the cause of the noise.

'Potting' the pickup is one solution -- sealing the pickup in wax (I believe I've seen some folks use an acrylic resin as well) can cure this problem. Guitar shops often offer this service, usually to six string players.

Replacing the pickup is another possible solution.

Mechanically isolating a microphonic or noisy pickup will only decrease or muffle the noise but may help in some cases. Foam rubber is sometimes used.

Not all pedal steels transmit pedal noise through the pickups. Neither my 35 year old Emmons nor my new Fessy make any audible noise through the amp AT ALL. All pedal steels I've played make some mechanical noise, but it is not acceptable for those noises to be amplified. Sometimes, e.g., if someone is playing at VERY LOW AMP VOLUME, the noise of the pedal rods or pull train under the guitar may become audible but should not pass through to the amp.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 27 January 2005 at 09:31 PM.]

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Ditto on what Mr Bell said.

I happen to like them slightly microphonic, but it does raise hell with recording. Try talking into them loudly with the pedal pegged, and it's evident why it's called that.

EJL

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

If you're playing live, no fear. If you're (I'm) recording, I simply make sure my amp is a ways from my guitar so the mic doesn't pick up the clatter. I remember that too, when I took my first lesson from Butch Cornwell and heard all the racket coming from his steel. I was like, "What the heck?"

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Thats interesting Eric. I too prefer slightly microphonic single coils. I think that they transmit the vibrations of the guitar better. thats what I hear. Farris, try wrapping some foam around the linkages. I found that it usually eliminates any noise.

[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 27 January 2005 at 10:48 PM.]

[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 27 January 2005 at 10:49 PM.]

Ivan Posa · From: Hamilton, New Zealand

Farris, you are playing too quietly. Turn up your amp!!!!!

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David Langdon · From: West Bridgford, Nottingham Notts, United Kingdom

Sounds as though I'm lucky. I've had to do a couple of radio sessions live around the presenters desk. All vocals and instruments totaly acoustic, apart from my little amp. I think they just put a few mics in the air. My steel makes next to no noise, and there are quite a few steels out there that would have blown those jobs. Of course, I built this guitar and noise isolation is designed into it. Dave.

Brian Henry · Posted 28 Jan 2005 3:48 am

Farris I used to have a Shobud LDG . It looked so good but the pedal clanking nearly drove me crazy. I tried foam and all sorts. In the end I sold it to Bobbe and switched to an MSA which has silent pedals and so smooth action.

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

You Guys are good!yep,i moved into a small back room out of shop,cold out there.in shop just mash the pedal more.but got me to thinking how would it be in a studio!pickups are fine,its just that rattletrap linkage,clunk clunk!!think it's time to do some expermenting!my pro3 stops are steel to steel,thinking of putting some delrin or hard type material in for stop blocks.lots of ideas to try.i'll be playing around see if i can help!!Thanks for all the helps.
farris

Lee Bartram · From: Sparta, Kentucky, USA

I have a D-10 Carter that is really quiet. I believe thay use something called delrin someway to quiet things down.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

My Carter is a VERY quiet guitar,as were my MSA's... Old unrestored Buds are sweet sounding,but some are a little on the clanky side. I never found ANY of my steels to be objectionably "clanky" even my old Buds.. turn it up!!! bob

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

my 74 Sho-Bud makes clanking sounds when I A/B. being so new to PSG I thought it was normal. the clanks donot transmit through the p.u.
they just sound like like Forrest Gump in leg braces.
when I turn up I dont hear the clanks as much as my newbie sour notes.

Jim Dunaway · From: Seaford, Virginia, USA

This was addresed previously on the Forum and someone mentioned self-adhesive felt pads. I found sheets of small felt circles at Lowe's and applied them everywhere metal meets metal or wood and it did wonders for my old Pro1. They must be the very thin ones, too thick and you have to push the pedals very hard.

JimmyD

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

YEP,i hooked up 2 amps.mash the gas,didn't notice the noise.then here came wife with a broom!!oh no!!i'm afraid if i put all that stuff in the guitar it will change the tone,and i love that old Buds sound!well,gotta be a solution to help and keep me out of trouble tooooooo.
farris

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

Get a Zum Farris

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Y'know, we often think about some of those clanky noises as being inevitable, but NOT NECESSARILY SO. I was complaining to Mike Cass about how noisy my S-12 push-pull was (NOT through the pickups, just rods a floppin'). He did a setup job on it that worked wonders on its own -- plays like melted butter -- BUT he also set the pulls up so that the springs that go between the bellcrank and the collar were the right length and properly adjusted. 90% of the noise WENT AWAY. Sometimes problems are not as inevitable as we might think and 'insulation materials' are not the only answer. As far as the 'click' when the pedal hits the metal stop, I LOVE THE WAY THAT FEELS and would never want to change it. You can hear it if the amp isn't on, but there's something about that positive stop CLICK that just says 'push-pull' to me.

Give Duane Marrs a call. I'll bet he has some ideas to quiet some of the mechanical noise in a Bud without sacrificing any of that great tone.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

All my gooooooood sounding pedal steels have single coil pickups on them and are somewhat "microphonic". I think this is a good thing. We are concerned about resonance. If you have it, flaunt it!

Erv

[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 28 January 2005 at 09:28 AM.]

John Daugherty · From: Rolla, Missouri, USA

Farris, in all fairness to the guitar...... IT CANNOT DRIVE YOU CRAZY. The good Lord already took care of that... hahaha
I have a good (quiet) MSA that you can buy CHEAP. I will make you a special deal just to save your marriage (and your broom).
If your wife comes in with that broom again, just say "I see you found a ride to town"...JD

Damir Besic · From: Nashville,TN.

I really enjoy old Sho~Bud pedal clicking for some reason.If I was buying one I would like to have the one that clicks (I wouldn`t call it noise since I like it)

Db

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"Promat"
~when tone matters~

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

In my own experience, all steels make noise, and they all transmit some of it through to the pickup. Normally, the signals the strings make cover it up, but it's there, nevertheless. My old MSA Classic is one of the quietest I've ever played. Same for my old Fender 1000. My Emmons p/p and my new MSA are not nearly as quiet. My old Marlen, before I tore it down, sounded like a buckboard full of silverware on a brick road.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 30 January 2005 at 04:16 PM.]

Jennings Ward · From: Edgewater, Florida, R.I.P.

FERRIS, THERE ARE TWO FIXES FOR YOUR PROBLEM.. 1 FET SOME SPIRIT GUM AND PUT IT ON THE CRANKS AND RODS, SMALL AMOUNT.....OR TRASH AHAT GUITAR AND GET YOUR SELF A PUSH PULL EMMONS,,,THEN YOU WILL BE PLAYING THE BEST......GOOD LUCK.....JENNINGS..... AND I PLAY STEEL FOR THE BEAUTIFULL ANGELIC SOUND OF IT....

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Jennings,i think you must got plenty of money!! me don't got much.caint ford one of them there push pulls.gotta make old budwiser!!i mean quieter!yep,might try some axle grease on her.they say the squeeking wheel gets the grease.well old bud she be squeeking pretty loud!!Thanks my Friend
farris

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