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Topic: Frequencies for Steel |
Guido Hausmann
From:
Gütersloh, NRW Germany
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Posted 28 Dec 2008 6:16 am |
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what are the key frequencies one want to tweak on an pedal steel guitar amp?
and how could a good setting of them on the eq look like?
vielen dank aus germany!
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Sho~Bud Pro II, Sho~Bud LDG, Fender '79 Vibrosonic 1x15 JBL, Fender '72 Bandmaster Reverb + Custom 2x12 Vintage Alnico Cab, Fender 75 1x15", Randall Steel Man 500, Peavey Session 500, Goodrich L120, Sho~Bud Pedal
www.facebook.com/guido.luckylola |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 28 Dec 2008 6:27 am
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| It would vary with the amp and the player. But generally, you want to scoop (reduce) the mid-range, boost the lows slightly, and then adjust highs to your own preference. Pedal steels have tons of highs, so it requires care to keep them from getting them too high, with the result being a piercing "ice pick" sound on the high strings. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 28 Dec 2008 7:19 am
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Try dipping around 800hz.
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Bob |
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robert kramer
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 28 Dec 2008 7:26 am
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| Here are the frequencies Peavey lists in the operating guide for their Session 400 amplifier: Bass=50Hz Treble=2KHz Presence=8KHz The shift control on the Session 400 allows you to cut 0-12dB's between these midrange frequencies: 300Hz to 1KHz. 800Hz is a good place to cut for the steel guitar. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2008 10:51 am
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Yeah, what Bob said.
Brad |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 31 Dec 2008 2:15 pm
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Guido,
Expanding a bit on Donny, Bob and Brad's always excellent advice, here's how I set EQ on an amp:
Set the master / post gain to 3/4 of maximum (or so)
Set the pre gain to your desired listening volume (lower than post gain is set)
Set all tone controls on 'flat' -- usually 12 o'clock
Turn the bass up until it 'woofs' -- you'll learn to hear it -- then back it off slightly
With a parametric mid -- set the frequency to 800 and cut it substantially (you may want to vary the freq between 700-900, just to see, but 800 usually works fine)
Add treble until it becomes too brittle -- then back off slightly
Tweak the bass and treble if needed and you'll end up with basically what Brad said -- boost the low, cut the mid, and don't go wild with the treble
Rooms do vary somewhat. I tend to do this every time I move my rig to a different location. It takes about two minutes to do it.
_________________
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12 |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 31 Dec 2008 7:41 pm
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You will find that what a multi-band EQ with a flat response amp looks like may be very different than what you end up doing with the amp tone controls on many guitar amps.
Many guitar amps are too bright for steel. For pedal steel I often end up with something like: bass 10, mid 5, treble 2. But on my Fender silver-face guitar amps there is so much mid scoop built in that to get good clarity I remove some of it with something like: bass 3, mid 8, treble 3. There's still mid scoop, but less.
Steel amps like the Peavey Nashville series are voiced for steel. So you can just start with the controls completely flat (all straight up 12 o'clock) and be very close. You may only need a little tweaking from that. |
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