Dobro effect

Brendan Mitchell · From: Melbourne Australia

Some people have said they get a good Dobro effect using a standard EQ pedal . Can someone tell me where to start with settings ?

Bob Hickish · From: Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.

Brendan
you might try this

Bobbe Seymour's "Bobro"

This unit is to answer the demand for a small, no maintenence unit to make the steel guitar sound like a resonator guitar. There are and have been units in the past that accomplish this feat, however these units cost several times more and do not sound as good in my opinion. This unit uses a 9 volt battery or a 9 volt remote power transformer commonly referred to as a "wall wart". These are also furnished with the unit. Hundreds of these have already been sold to some of the world's finest players. Regular $349. On sale for ...

Brendan Mitchell · From: Melbourne Australia

Thanks Bob
I already have a Goodrich Match Bro but it chews through batteries and doesn't take the normal 9v power supply .
I have an EQ pedal sitting around and thought I might as well try it out for the Dobro sound .

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Brendan,This works great for me,I use a $30.00 Dano pedal,I put some silicone on so the sliders wouldn't move.

_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I have a Goodrich Matchbro. I have added a power on/off switch. This helps with the batteries as you can then leave the guitar input plugged in and it won't drain the batteries. It is in series with the battery lead that goes to the input jack - both the power on/off switch must be on and the guitar plug must be plugged in for the unit to be "powered on". If either the on/off switch is set to Off or the guitar plug unplugged it is "off".

However, before I installed the switch I didn't have excessive battery "wear". They would still last 6 months to a year. I would just unplug the input guitar cord when not in use - but usually would leave it plugged in on a job.

The downside to using something else is that nothing else currently made will come close to the MatchBro for a dobro simulator.

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

Brendan heres what I use on guitar for a Dobro EQ.
Its a Boss GE-7. The faders are positioned in a football shape pattern.
The far right is the output level.

Clete

Barry Blackwood · Posted 23 Dec 2010 7:16 am

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Barry,You crazy...That's why I like ya!
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I can tell you, Brendan, at least in my experience the 7 - to - 10 band graphic with the sliders staggered like Stu and Clete suggest works much better for me than the simulators. I play with my amp right beside me and feedback was a problem with the MatchBro or SuperBro. I'm using a Boss 10 band and rolling off the bottom 3 bands (up to 120Hz) and the top band (16K) and then staggering the sliders like Stu and Clete show. I start with the 250Hz band wide open, 500Hz rolled off, then alternate. Feedback can be EQed out when needed.

Cool thing about this solution is that you have much more control over the shape of the tone. Sometimes I'd want the EQ to go somewhere the SuperBro wouldn't take me. Use it with no reverb and no delay and a plastic or wooden bar and it's very close -- without the problems you get trying to amplify a reso.
_________________
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

David Hartley · Posted 23 Dec 2010 11:35 am Hi

Brendan, I can't believe your match bro eats batteries, as long as you unplug the input lead during breaks and when not in use, it should last many months. The steel mixer dobro is being bench tested and I will have one in Dallas at the TSGA jamboree. It will be an amazing unit. Also Dave Beaty who makes the Telonics pedal is incorporating a dobro in the MK3 pre-amp. Both Mark Dunn (steel mixer) and Dave Beaty have had their heads together on this so I think it will be an ultimate sounding effect in both units. I am looking forward to trying Marks out after the Christmas holidays, it is basically ready and with 3 adjustable parameters to tweak for different steel guitar inputs. I have asked for a toggle switch as opposed to the 4 position rotary switch currently on the steel mixer remote control to switch in the dobro effect. More information on the steel mixer is at www.steelmixer.com

David

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

That's fine and dandy but if it costs more than a graphic EQ stompbox, it's too expensive IMHO. The prices they put on those simulators is obscene. I can only hope to get back what I sunk into mine. Since I started using the graphic that was sitting in my closet gathering dust, I've stopped even carrying my Goodrich in my pak-a-seat and musicians have remarked at how realistic the dobro sound is waaaay more often than when I used the simulator. And mine eats batteries as well and, when one drains a bit it distorts terribly onstage. No problem with the graphic.

As they say, YMMV, but I see no reason to spend more than the 50 or 60 US$ to buy a dedicated device that prevents me from tweaking it as I'd like. But that's just me.
_________________
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

Barry Blackwood · Posted 23 Dec 2010 2:55 pm

I agree that the price is completely ridiculous. It's all marketing - stomp box EQ $60, MatchBro or Bobro, etc. four to five times as much. What's in a name? I don't understand the eating of batteries, though. I had a MatchBro and had no problems regarding excessive battery use. Confused

David Hartley · Posted 23 Dec 2010 3:03 pm Hi

David Hartley · Posted 23 Dec 2010 3:08 pm **Hi again**

Stu's 'fish & chips' box looks so smart though. It might be a winner at the price as long as it comes with a tube of sealant and some tomato sauce. Very Happy

what makes me laugh Stu is the settings are so easy to remember, but you still had to glue them.... Laughing

Brendan Mitchell · From: Melbourne Australia

Thanks for all the suggestions .
As to battery use , the Matchbro uses 2*9v unlike most pedals so cannot be hooked up in a daisy chain .
I often forget to unplug the unit when I walk away .
I have an EQ unit so I will give it a try .
Jack your mod sounds really good ,if I can't get the sound I want out of the EQ I will try that .

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

David,I'm not as smart as them other guys that's why I glued it!
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Ronnie Boettcher · From: Brunswick Ohio, USA

Thank you Stu. I bought a fish and chips awhile ago, and could never get the dobro sound. Since this thread, I have mine set like yours, minus the silicone. You are right!!! It does work, and the product is inexpensive enough. Thanks again. Ronnie
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Sho-Bud LDG, Martin D28, Ome trilogy 5 string banjo, Ibanez 4-string bass, dobro, fiddle, and a tubal cain. Life Member of AFM local 142

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Ronnie,You are quite welcome,Somewhere I have a song that I played all of the instruments on and I used the Finch&Chips and to my ear it sounds close enough,I think that I have the brain power to send an MP3 out to anyone who wants to check it out,send me an email address. Winking

_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

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