Ok..I'm asking..and going out on the plank...

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Do you spend more time changing pickups , amps and gear to seek that "TONE" ?

Or..

Do you spend your time actually practicing and improving technique ?

It seems to me that weekly ..some of us are changin' this, changin' that..gettin' a new amp, new speakers, new pickups ,new effects, seeking new tone..the endless journey..

So which is it ?

Me..I spend Zero time changing parts....All of my guitars are bone stock..But I do have gobs of seat time..daily/weekly..I do change sstrings very often though...sometimes I sit down and play without an amp..just listening to the strings and listining to the natural sound of the guitar..

Don't start yellin' at me about tone either..
thats not what I'm talkin' about..'Cause I can play out of 3 different amps and get 3 totally different tones, and when I record direct some of you comment on how nice my "XX" sounds..(which I don't have)

where are your priorities? Swappin' parts or practicing ?

t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 22 February 2004 at 05:21 AM.]

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 22 February 2004 at 05:35 AM.]

norm mcdaniel · From: waco tx

Well Tony, I know what you mean about changes that are made for tone and other stuff. Me? Ive been using the same stuff for at least 8 years and love it just fine. Most people say that my sound is good to great. I sit down to my guitar every day and pick some even if it is for 10 minutes. Its not sound or tone im looking for its that elusive chord or that note that will fit just right in a certin place. The only time I use different gear is when I go practice with some of the pickers that I know and we pick in a small place then I take my Nash 400 and my guitar and volume pedal. Otherwise I take my good stuff. Which is an old Peavey DPC 750-Pro-Fex-11 and 2-15 inch Black widow 1501-4 speakers in cabinets kinda like Duane Marrs makes. Thats my stuff. Thats enough to haul around for sure.Plus my Guitar is a 97 model Sierra Session 12(more weight)but I like it.
Keep on pickin
Norm In Waco Tx

richard burton · From: Britain

I've been using my gigging equipment 17 years without a change:
Emmons PP SD 10
Squire Strat
Peavey Vegas
Boss RDD20 delay unit.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it !!

Fred Shannon · From: Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.

Well, Tony, you've gone and done it again. "There's that word XXXX again!" Oughta' be a song in there somewhere. Get ready for the deluge of "XXXX 'Sperts" posts. But I won't be the one to push you off the plank.

You're 100% correct, IMHO about that word...Heck, I can't even say it or type it. I've used the same equipment for many years, and I moved to the MSA Millennium primarily for it's weight, but with a Wallace TruTone pickup, I got all the goodies I need. We hackers don't have all the 'roadies' or sit down jobs others have so, yes, weight is a factor.

When giggin' i use a TransTubeFex through an Alesis Matica 500 amp into a BW 15" that I've never reconed. I got all this from Ken Fox at a bargain price and it works for me.

I sit down behind the axe for at least 30 minutes a day searching for what Norm McDaniel is seeking, that elusive lick or chord that makes the cold chills run. When, and if I hit it, I write the combination down on a loose leaf notebook. Then I practice using it as much as possible.

I'm still a firm believer that XXXX is subjective item and is nothing more than each individual's taste buds that are stimulated. Go 'head guys the asbestos chastity belt is firmly attached and I have one of those Push-Pulls everyone raves about, firmly esconced in it's carrying case.

fred

------------------
The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real

John Lacey · From: Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada

Some guys end up spending more time playing the "bottom" of their guitar than the "top".

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Yep, you guys nailed it!

Distractions of all kinds can be used as excuses not to practice. Many have never mastered the basics, then get frustrated when trying to do advanced.

No one can purchase skillful hands, at least not with cash. You have to put in the time and earn them.

That's a great equalizer between the rich and poor.

Gotta go practice....

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

I have done a lot more woodshedding than putting on parts this last year.
But each time I did go under the hood was to make the Bud do something I needed it to do for the music I was playing. Or forsee playing.

Chops are coming along, and part of that was tuning in the copedent to match my ears.

Changed one pick up to TT and bought a steel dedicated amp that programs.

David Doggett · Posted 22 Feb 2004 9:29 am

Well, it varies. When I get the guitar, copedent, volume pedal, amps, speakers, and effects I need. Then I'm set for awhile...until something breaks, or gets stolen (which happened last time). Then it starts all over again (ask Buddy Cage about that). I can't afford to buy a new pedal steel with my copedent factory installed. So I end up with someone's reject, with missing parts, too few pedals and knees, or a copedent from Outer Mongolia. Not being an experienced psg technician, it can take me quite a bit of time with the guitar upside down, when I'd rather be playing.

Also, I recently started up playing again, after almost 25 years out of music entirely. When I started I had a Maverick (S10 3&2) and a 6-stringer amp. I got a pot pedal, because I didn't know about anything else. It's action was not smooth. Then I discovered the Forum. I learned a lot here. I think anyone would agree I needed better equipment. I had never tried C6, extended E9, or a universal. I tried them all - each bought used and requiring extensive under-the-hood time just to get the standard setup. Now I've settled on a universal 7&5. That's sort of the minimum for a uni, but I'm gonna live with it awhile.

I also had to try out amps, speakers and effects. I had never had a steel amp. I tried the Peaveys, but can't stand solid state. I've settled on a Fender Dual Showman Reverb (or a Twin or Vibrasonic chassis in a Dual cabinet) with one or two 15" speakers. I needed something smaller for home, practices and acoustic jams. I found a Peavey Delta Blues - 30 tube watts with a 15" speaker, perfect. For blues and rock, the Fenders are too clean. So I got a POD XT to get some dirt. It got stolen, so now I gotta find something else, preferably cheaper.

I'm still not through experimenting with copedents. I got a used Carter D12 so I can try out a Sacred Steel copedent. If I like it, I will have the SS on the outside neck, and a uni on the inside neck. If I don't like it, I'll dump it and stick with my S12 uni. Then I may be done with experimenting with copedents for awhile. Eventually I'd like to try a Crawford cluster, but that can wait.

So I feel I really needed and benefitted from all my experimentation. Once you've settled into your preferred copedent and electronics, and need no further experimentation it's easy to be smug about lesser players running around spending time experimenting. But it is an essential part of the start up process for pedal steel. A 6-stringer can walk into any music store and walk out with the standard outfit. Unless you live in Nashville or Dallas, you just can't do that with pedal steel. You have to figure out your outfit one piece at a time. It can be time well spent.

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I long ago passed the point where the gear was the defining element of my tone. I've proved to myself time and time again that my right hand technique is the largest factor in tone. When I'm playing well, I'm almost always satisfied with my tone.

Still, I'm a gearhead. I love hooking up different equipment and playing with it. I love to change my copedent around to get different musical emphasis. I enjoy playing with effects to add different textures to the music.

My GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is not related to the pursuit of good tone. GAS is a progressive disease. I've noticed that it's contagious through the Internet. I know of many players who have caught it by browsing the Buy & Sell section of this very Forum!

------------------

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

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

I was reading one of the parts of Jeff Newman's 10 part classic on PSG training last nite, don't remember which part, but what he said was most heartwarming. Basically he said that some days you're gonna sit down to the guitar and sound really lousy (to yourself), other days you'll be impressed. I find I chase tone with parts & knob turning on those days when nothing will work anyway.

You can buy a good golf swing sooner than you can spend your way to good tone...

[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 22 February 2004 at 10:19 AM.]

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

As little GAS as possible. I went 20 years without ONE stomp box, and tried one GL thin repairable cable for ten years until it was down to one foot, and started acquiring enough for all my uses.

Recently I had my Pups rebuilt by JW, bought a Pod xt and a Bullseye bar for my first bar purchase in 24 years. AND I bought 2 SM57s. Also replaced my Peaveey 1501-4SB speaker with a Nice JBL after 22 years.

Doug Jones got me to using two amps on my larger gigs, and I drug out the old Sess500.

I might Dou-amp in the future with a new Nvl12 and my Nvl400, but that'll be next year if at all.

God willing, I should be good for another ten years without mucking with things.

A also just decided to have Duane Marrs rebuild my Professional, and will use Stock Pups rebuilt by JW.

I learned long ago that if you start searching for "that sound", you'll NEVER hear it anywhere but your basement OR live recordings made of your gigs.

Some people drive themselves nuts not realising this.

Some, though, are nuts already, so it's not a long drive..

EJL

[This message was edited by Eric West on 22 February 2004 at 12:29 PM.]

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

"Do you spend more time changing pickups , amps and gear to seek that "TONE" ?
Or..
Do you spend your time actually practicing and improving technique?"

Pretty much whatever strikes me as being interesting at any given moment.

When I got my Sierra with modular pickups, I tried out as many pickups as I could, because it was what was "fun" for me to do at that time.

When I see a good buy on an amp, I'll pick it up and give it a whirl for a while, and if I don't like it, I sell it.
The whole Buy/Sell/Trade phenomanon has been a fun hobby in and of itself for me.

When I hear something that makes me want to play steel, I play steel, and have found the best way for me to learn a new technique is play the style about 2000+ times in a row at home, then start using it as much as possible in live situations.

So in answer to you question, Tone is in the ear of the be-hearer, so whatever blows yer hair back, go for it!

If you're asking this question from a beginners standpoint, then yeah, don't worry too much about tone, for now.

[This message was edited by Pete Burak on 22 February 2004 at 04:29 PM.]

Larry Jamieson · From: Walton, NY USA

All right, you guys, what are you doing reading all this stuff when you should be practicing??? Have Fun!

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

Great topic. It is so easy to get on the wrong path.
I went down the path searching for the "right stuff" for awhile, and caught myself. That day I had left my effects processor in ByPass mode. I started playing and was so excited about the tone, the sound...WOW. only to discover that I was hearing the guitar and amp with ME in the driver's seat.
I continue to look at new things, but I am back to practicing with a purpose. I know I can sound good. I wanna play good.

Ron

------------------
Stringmaster T8, Fender Custom T8, MSA SU12

Joerg Hennig · From: Bavaria, Germany

Well at present I spend zero time on new gear because I can´t afford any! But the good thing is, believe it or not, I´m actually very happy with the sound of my main guitar and amp so there´s no need to change anything. ShoBud #2 will need a set of new pickups some day because the old ones are microphonic, but I know already what to get. And Amp #2 might be replaced some day simply because it is not a good steel guitar amp, distorts too soon etc. But it´s not that urgent since it stays in the rehearsal room. (And I also know already which one will get the sound I´m looking for because I tried it already!)

Regards, Joe H.

Forum Index > Steel Players		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: