The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a question that might be kinda of dumb.
I am just starting to try and learn the pedal steel guitar. (had about 3 lessons)
I have been told that at min i need to have a volume pedal. I have also been told that volume pedals for the steel guitar are different from others.

The local store has this pedal on sale for $49.00.
would someone take a look and advise me.

right now I have my hands full (pun) trying to find the grips.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CPJ106

Thanks a bunch.

Ron

Hey Ron,
While the pedal looks nice, it may be a little cumbersome under a steel because of that wider base.

Check the classifieds on this forum for a pedal steel volume pedal. For example, look for a Goodrich. They're not $50, but a used one isn't hard to find, and new ones are well worth the money.

Lots of help is available here on the forum.

Good luck!

steve

Ron Adams wrote:...i need to have a volume pedal.

Ive been studying with Denny Mathis here in San Antonio for a while and he doesnt use one during lessons. Another good mentor, Mickey Adams YouTube also primarily deals with hands and pedals/levers, with little or no focus on the volume pedal. Although to achieve certain signature PSG volume swelled sounds you do need one, there's plenty to learn without one at first, IMO,
but any decent working volume pedal will get you started.

Clete

thanks to you all for taking the time to respond to this. I tend to agree that i have a full plate for now.

thanks again
Ron

Of course if you can afford to shuck out the bucks, Hilton is the way to go! Excellent pedal, excellent service.

I had a Sho=Bud pedal go out on me in the middle of a gig. Had to play the whole night without one! Made me realize how Mooney got that sound on Buck Owen's first LP.
I got a Hilton and realized how noisy those old pot pedals can be. Clean is nice.

Al Kentfield

Sho-Bud Pro II
Hilton Pedal
Fender Vibrosonic Reverb

Ron,

I've been playing about a year. I rushed out and bought a VP the first week. I rushed it back to the store the next week. It was too much for me to learn all at once. I consciously waited a full year before purchasing one while learning to play all the other "parts".

Bought a Hilton low profile last week. It was worth the wait to learn the instrument first and then be able to concentrate on the pedal, which is truly a finesse thing. I know I would have developed awful VP habits back then.

Dan

There is a lot to be said for practicing without a pedal. I think it was Reece Anderson that was quoted in the Winnie Winston book as suggesting beginners practice without a VP. Beginners have a tendency to use the VP to cover up mistakes but if you practice without one, you'll learn to correct the mistakes instead of covering them up. I know of a steel player who would slip a coke bottle cap (the plastic screw caps) under the back of a newbies volume pedal to keep them from backing off the volume when they got nervous on stage.