Volume pedals and console steel..?

[Tom Brooks]

Howdy folks, lately I've been playing a lot more non-pedal (after 10 or so years of playing pedal steel almost exclusively) as more of the gigs I'm taking are western swing/early honky-tonk, and the more I dive into it the less and less I'm inclined to use a volume pedal - preferring to use my pinky to manipulate the volume/tone controls for swells/boo-wah type effects. I'm also loving the sharper attack when doing Speedy West-style slides/bar slams, I feel like when using a volume pedal the inclination is rely more on the swell and roll off the initial attack.

I'm curious as to what approach everyone else is taking when playing these kind of styles, and especially if you're switch-hitting between pedal and non-pedal - I'm guessing there's solid arguments for both!

[Joe Cook]

Much like you,Tom, I played pedal steel exclusively until two years ago. I have put my pedal steel away for now and only play lap. I started on lap steel not using a volume pedal and find I really can't use it at all. I prefer the sound of lap steel without the volume pedal anyway. I like to be able to use tone and volume knobs for effect. I still love the sound of swells and fades with a pedal steel and volume pedal, I just think of the lap steel as a different instrument with a different set of techniques.

[Mark Mansueto]

I've always admired folks that do a good job of manipulating the volume or tone knob while they play so congrat's for having that skill. In my case, between picking and muting my right hand is busy enough so I use a pedal. That said I really only use volume swells when I'm simulating pedal steel and works well for me.

[Tim Whitlock]

I have used a Fender Vol/Tone pedal for non-pedal steel for 25 years. The music I prefer pre-dates pedal steel sounds with their integral volume swells so I don't try to emulate that sound.

I usually keep the pedal volume at about 90% which rounds the tone a bit and then kick it up to 100% to give my bar slams, doo-wahs and harmonics more punch. I do also use the guitar tone control for some of the doo-wahs, just for show. That always seems to draw a holler or a round of applause from the audience, being more of a physical/visual action, but otherwise it sounds exactly the same as the V/T pedal.

Like you guys, I also admire players who can do it all with their hands and I also have not quite honed in on those skills yet either. Until I do, I'll have to keep using my cheater pedal.

[Tom Brooks]

Cheers for the responses fellas, I really appreciate the insight. The last couple of shows I played I used the volume pedal in a very similar way to your method Tim (which was mostly to do pedal steel-type swells on the more country numbers) which was definitely in the comfort zone. Last night I played a little trio show doing a bunch of Hank/Bob Wills tunes and I ended up leaving the volume pedal in the car, and whilst I didn't have the safety net it definitely helped me get in the zone for the traditional material - I reckon going forward I'm going to try to ditch the volume pedal where I can, it definitely has a stylistic impact on the way I play.

[K Maul]

If I’m standing up to play the volume pedal dictates balancing on one leg a lot. That can get tiring! Depending on musical style the steel plugged direct into the amp is a great sound. I do both.

[Matt Berg]

Yeah, my Ernie Ball VP Jr doesn't get the sudden volume change that folks get with a pinky on the knob, but I can't get the hang of it, even on different lap steels with different positions for the knob...I wonder if changing out the pot on the pedal could make it more sensitive.

[Mike Christensen]

I go along with Kevin. Depending on the music being played.Volume pedal can be very nice for expression. Do both.

[Jean-Sebastien Gauthier]

When I play hawaiian music I prefer using the volume control on the guitar as an effect. I use no reverb and no volume pedal. I like the old school hawaiian music.

But when I play country and western swing I use a volume pedal and reverb.