Too much sustain?

Greg Gefell · Post by **Greg Gefell** » 19 Jul 2007 6:31 am

I have a solid body electric lap steel that has oodles of sustain. Normally its a great thing and I wouldn't trade it for the world. On a couple of new songs though I'd like to have a tone with considerably less sustain, more of a resonator or acoustic guitar type sustain. Has anyone experimented with different bars to achieve this,or placed anything under the bridge saddles to achieve this effect?

Matt Johnson · Post by **Matt Johnson** » 19 Jul 2007 6:44 am

I know what you mean, sometimes you want a quicker, more acoustic-type decay on an electric steel. Try using a glass bottleneck-style slide, a light wooden tonebar, or a BIC lighter (

). A big, hollow glass one works well for me for this purpose.

I guess a basic general guide is the lighter the bar, the less sustain there will generally be. But it does impact the tone, for better or worse!

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 19 Jul 2007 7:34 am

You could try wedging a small piece of acoustic foam under the strings, right up against the bridge.

Terry Gann · Post by **Terry Gann** » 19 Jul 2007 9:59 am

A stomp box graphic EQ with one slider all the way up, the next all the way down gives me sort of a hollow, resornator effect. The energy is pulled out of the pickup reducing sustain as well. Anybody use that trick?

Roman Sonnleitner · Post by **Roman Sonnleitner** » 19 Jul 2007 10:12 am

I got a bullet bar made from some plastic stuff (acrylic?) on Ebay a while ago, and with that thing I can get a very "acoustic" tone with less sustain.

Ed Altrichter · Post by **Ed Altrichter** » 19 Jul 2007 10:17 am

BOBRO

Greg Gefell · Post by **Greg Gefell** » 19 Jul 2007 10:38 am

These are all great ideas - I'll try them all and see what works best for me. Thanks

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 19 Jul 2007 11:39 am

In addition to all above, turn off any reverb and delay.

Thanx,
Jim

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 19 Jul 2007 12:54 pm

Danny Gatton used to use an old 6L6 tube.
It gives a very nasal, poorly sustaining tone.
Perfect for certain types of music.
-andy z-

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 19 Jul 2007 1:30 pm

Everything above, for sure. Lower density bar material (lighter weight). Less polished surface. Technique can help, too---lighter grip on the bar and lighter pressure on the strings. This all can result in lower fidelity---as in 'lo-fi'.

Post by **b0b** » 19 Jul 2007 3:44 pm

A glass bar does the trick for me. I use it a lot, actually.

Don Barnhardt · Post by **Don Barnhardt** » 19 Jul 2007 7:56 pm

Try a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe.

Pat Piette · Post by **Pat Piette** » 21 Sep 2007 1:12 pm

An old recording trick for a muted slide is place a strip of cloth first aid tape to a stevens bar. It'll sound like an old fender Jaguar mute. Especially if the pickup is really hot. The other thing you can try is a thin piece of suede.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 21 Sep 2007 3:52 pm

try peanut butter on the strings...

Kelvin Monaghan · Post by **Kelvin Monaghan** » 21 Sep 2007 9:29 pm

Get one of Gary Boyett's Glass bars that will do it for you.They give a nice lite tone with less sustain a more accoustic type tone.Cheers Kelvin

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Too much sustain?

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