The Steel Guitar Forum

How many can get a decent violin sound out of your steel? Mind sharing your tips?

No matter how hard I try, mine still sounds like a steel.

I can make mine sound like a flute

Terry,
Play the 1st, and the 4th string with C pedal down (both strings are the same note)you can slant to create beats/vibrato when needed and not when not needed.Some used a "Bosstone", or a similar fuzz tone effect. It's something you have to just work at to find the right settings and moves. Weldon Myrick, Sonny Burnette, Hal Rugg were really good at this. Maybe someone will chime in with some settings, and units they have used.Hope this helps.

BF

Terry, I use an old Sho/sound Boss/tone I've had since 1970. Drop the highs, and add more reverb, use two unison strings on the higher registers, slant the bar "slighty" so you hear the "pulse" beat alter. Alternate finger and thumb carefully using your swell pedal so it sounds like a a continous flowing note. And most important, FORGET steel licks!!!....think "violin" and keep it simple.Think what a string section will play. It's quite difficult technique to master, but so rewarding in a smallish line up to obtain more sounds from a steel. Just use it sparing only when needed. It's possible to get Cello sounds too, but that's a seperate issue.

Micky "Mad" Byrne England, land of the Limeys

Jeff Newman had an article called "Fuzzolin" or something like that. It was interesting. Maybe someone can post it?

Terry I use a Boss Tone, and lower the 4th string E to Eb along with the 2nd string Eb open.

Experiment around with it, and you'll get it. Don't use much of the Boss Tone. Just enough for a good effect. But there's probably more ways as well.

Possibly a little fuzz would work just as well. Pick light, and use the volume pedal for the effect as well..

When all else failed, I'd get the fiddle out.

I remember a interview with Gary Morse in the Steel Mag that Tom Bradshaw had out and Gary used a violin bow on the first string and noted the string with his finger by just touching it. I wonder if he still does this. I did get to see/hear Weldon and Sonny playing the string section behind Hank Snow on the Opry in the 80's . Sounded great.

Tony

There's a great album by Ry Cooder, with Gabby Pahinui playing steel. Just a Stringmaster, volume knob or pedal, and an amp. Unbelievable violin sound! I think it's the "Chicken Skin Music" album.

Really appreciate it guys. I have an original boss tone, is there a certain place on the neck that gives a better violin sound. Like the higher frets?
I have a VHS of Bobbe Seymore and Gene Oneal. Bobbe is playing I think, Faded Love, turns to the fiddle player to ask if he wants a ride, the fiddle player says no, so Bobbe plays the fiddle part, and it sounded a lot like a fiddle. Bobbe is using a boss tone. I think I'll dig that ole VHS out and see if I can tell where Bobbe is playing, and how he's playin the notes. Thanks

Terry

You won't believe the Master sessions that were done in the '70s by myself, Stu Basore, and Weldon. But most of all, you won't believe WHO some of these master session hits were recorded for. I did many sessions with the biggest stars of the time and many were "mixed" with real violin sections to add truness and fatness, some weren't. Micky Newberry's greatest songs were done by Weldon, myself and some songs by just me and some by just Weldon.

Now the secret here isn't just the "Boss Tone", it is the choice of notes, and playing what a real section would play, the violin style vibrato and most of all, the amount and type of Echo is the truly a very important thing. Doing this is a skill that is as important as learning to play the steel.
YOU CAN NOT JUST BUY A BOSS TONE AND PLUG IT IN AND START PLAYING THE SAME THINGS YOU WOULD AS A STEEL PLAYER!
It's a whole different language to think in. But it can be done, I bought a nice house with a Boss Tone and an Echo Plex in 1973, (one former wife still loves loves and has it). Keyboards and synthis's put an end to this in the late '70's.
I continued my charade into the eighties with a midi sateel and Echo Plex, but then I started the store and stopped doing sessions for a while. I don't regret any of of it, even the stopping!
I still do this trick once in a while if call on to do so. I use a steel guitar triggered synth now with Boss Echo, but it is even better than using a keyboard as I can slide strings, like a true vilon section, keys can't seem to do this with the realistic effect that steel can.
\ Oh well, that was all yesterday, and yesterday is gone, (isn't it?)

Bobbe

You might try putting some rattlesnake rattles in the guitar or amp. That's what the old fiddle players said you had to do to get good tone.

I enjoy the sound of steel guitar and violin both. To try and make one sound like the other would probably produce a poor example of either one. I vote to leave well enough alone. That's my $0.02.

You might try an e-bow...

I've been doing a lot of this lately at gigs and Micky you're right on. I do it by dropping the 7th string to E to get the Sacred Steel sound. But that gives you strum chords and I'm gathering from this thread that y'all want one-note runs. I've done that also by using no reverb whatsoever on the amp, but use a Boss RV-3. I know they're scarce as an honest politician, but that's what I use. I also pick at the 16th or 17th fret and pick very lightly letting the volume pedal swell out the notes. Use a little slow bar shiver and you're all set. Keep the highs on your amp set low and let the mids and bottom end sound out. Also use an amp with a small speaker rather than a big 15" 'boomer'. Works for me!!
PRR

Thanks guys.

Bobbe, I'm glad you chimed in to this post. I just got your VHS out, Bobbe Seymore and Gene O neal live.
You were playing "A Way To Survive" with Rob Parker singing, and you looked at the fiddle player to ask if he wanted a ride, he said no, so you played the fiddle part for him. I got to say it sounded just like a fiddle to my ears. Any body else have this VHS? I have an original boss tone, but I don't have an echo unit. I just sold a Boss DD6.
Bobbe, what part does the echo unit play in the fiddle sound. I would be very appreciative if you could tell me how to set my Boss tone and how to set an echo unit to get this fiddle sound. I would be forever greatful.
Thanks in advance.
Terry

Terry, for a single "Fiddle" sound, it isn't important, but for a total violin section it is extremely necessary, and how it is set is of utmost importance.

Bobbe

Thanks Bobbe. I just want the single fiddle sound. If I set my Boss tone to get a slight fuzz, and play the strings at the frets you were playin, and get the right vibrato, I should be close yes?

BTW> You forgot to tell me which frets and strings to play. You ain't goin to tell me are ya?

Terry