The Steel Guitar Forum

With all the usual caveats about subjectiveness and live vs. recorded tones, I'd like to hear suggestions of recorded tracks that demonstrate good non-pedal tone. I'm interested both in the range of sounds that people are getting as well as what people like the best. And it's tone I'm after here, not simply great players.

So, what are your favorites? I'd prefer recordings that are still available, and if they are obscure some hints about where to find them would be appreciated.

Thanks...

This doesn't exactly answer the question, but I find it interesting that when I listen to Speedy West on the album "Stratosphere Boogie," I sometimes think, "Man, that sounds like my crappy Artisan through my crappy 9-volt Fender Mini-Twin, except that it's Speedy West so it also sounds awesome." Not the whole album, of course, but some of it.

I like Lee Jeffriess' tone on the Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys album "Feelin' Kinda Lucky."

I also really like the tone Al Perkins gets on his pedal steel on the Flying Burrito Brothers' live version of "Six Days on the Road," which can be found on YouTube. Not a tone that works everywhere, but it's perfect for that particular performance.

Anything by Bobby Ingano. Jerry Byrd wasn't too shabby at the tone end, either...

This may not directly address your question either, but do you have a copy of the Forum Showcase CD? There is a wide variety of tone demonstrated there. If you need one, you can order it from b0b at the new store link at the top of the page. HTH.

Lynn,
As far as non-pedal tone, my favorite is Jeremy Wakefields Steel Guitar Caviar
Awesome tone and awesome playing.
It has EccoFonic on the label, so maybe it was recorded by Deke Dickerson?

The Biller And Wakefield album sounded just as great.

Joel Patterson Steel is Real is another good sounding cd-not all tracks are non pedal.

Ja

PS Lynn, I think both Jeremy and Joel are members of the forum and post from time to time....J

Ron Whitfield wrote:Anything by Bobby Ingano. Jerry Byrd wasn't too shabby at the tone end, either...

Hi Ron, I found Bobby Ingano's Steel Reflections and he does get a really nice tone.

Michael Maddex wrote:This may not directly address your question either, but do you have a copy of the Forum Showcase CD?

Michael, I was not aware of this CD so I'll have to hit the store tomorrow.

Jay Fagerlie wrote:As far as non-pedal tone, my favorite is Jeremy Wakefields Steel Guitar Caviar

Jay, thanks for bring this one to my attention. I already have that album in my library (probably because he's playing a Bigsby and I have a Clinesmith).

Thanks to everyone that responded.

I supposed this was inevitable.

I've been listening to Jeremy Wakefield, and while I understand how to get his live sound, I'm stumped by what is going on with the recorded tracks on Steel Guitar Caviar. His recorded tone is rounder and fuller than his live tone.

What kinds of processing might have been done to get the recorded tone?

Forum calling Jeremy!

Send him a PM, he might answer.

Jay

Another thing Lynn,

Ya know, you can't go wrong with an old low power tube amp.

The other part is the hands-it's all in the hands.
Anything that is recorded has went through so much as far as the signal path-you could never really duplicate the sound.
But heres the thing-listen to people that you like and notice how they always sound good-cause it's in their hands.....the hands are key.....all good players sound like themselves, no matter what they use to amplify themselves with.
Off my soapbox....
Jay

I hear you, Jay! I come from an acoustic background and appreciate how much of the sound is in your hands. But I guess I'm still going to need an amp and maybe some other gear, so it'd be nice to get a feel for how it's done.

Do you have any 6 string buddies into old tube amps?
I use on occasion all of the following with different and excellent results:
59 Fender Princeton
early 60s Valco 1606
59 Wards twin 12 (sleeper amp)
Early 60s Ampeg Gemini II
"Earth Sound Reaserch" tube head
Sano 500WC
Gibson GA19T
63 Fender Bassman
Carvin Vintage 33 combo
Roland microcube- ok for practice (great for the $$$)
Kalamazoo Reverb 12 (Killer amp)
Univox U??? 3 12Au&s and 2 6l6s
Carvin XV100 w/15" (100 watt) combo

Look around and see what you can borrow and see if any of them do it for you.
That is the fun part
Jay

Lynn, what amp are you using?

I heard JW used a tweed twin on SGC, I could be wrong though.

A tube amp, IMO, is the way to go. Don't be afraid of a little distortion. Any of the 50's type amps would probably be the way to go.

I have two 50's era rickenbacker amps that I use and am very happy with. I also have a hybrid Standel that sounds great but it's a cleaner tone, more solid in the bottom. I prefer the ricks at lower volumes...bouncier and thicker.

For lower wattage amps for steel, it's really hard to beat the 60s era Magnatone/Estey models, sturdy and exceptional sound, probably way different than any other old amps. I like mine http://www.vibroworld.com/magnatone/M10A.html

Jimmy Bryant liked them, bought them, and used them. His personal amp was the top line Imperial http://www.vibroworld.com/magnatone/M13.html

I'm using one of Ken Fox's 5D6B (4x10) amps and/or a Fractal Axe-Fx. Mostly I'm using the straight signal from the Clinesmith, but with a bit of delay and a bit of reverb added in.

Sounds like you already have quite the tone machine there Lynn.
Is there a reason your still looking for something different, if you are in fact looking?
Jay

I'm not looking for anything different... I'm just trying to learn how to get certain kinds of tone with what I have now.

@Jay Fagerlie

I use a transistor Yamaha 65D with my lap steels and i like the sound.
I also use it with my acoustic electric mandolins.

I don't recall seeing this mentioned, but if the pickups are adjustable you could try raising and lowering them for different tonal variations.

Ron, you get the cigar. I heard from Jeremy that he probably used his Magnatone Triplex on that album. I'd never heard of those amps before this.

Well, maybe just the stogie, they are different amps. Here's what the Triplex looks like from the prior generation to the Estey's http://www.vibroworld.com/magnatone/180.html

I don't know as the TP schematic carried over into the 60s as some Mag designs did.

Howdy Friends,
I wasn't paying attention there until I got your message, Lynn! Thanks again for the compliments; like I said, it helps a lot to be surrounded by highly competent musicians and a great engineer/producer (Deke Dickerson)!
The amp I use the most looks just like the Magnatone in the link that Ron posted. It works best in a live situation, but I've also used it on lots of recordings, including The Lucky Stars, Bonebrake Syncopators, and the Spongebob Squarepants series.
I've also had pretty good luck with an inexpensive little hybrid Epiphone (Gibson-manufactured) amp, it's an Electar Tube 10 like the one pictured here:
http://www.gibson.com/Files/aaFeaturesI ... Tube30.jpg
It was pretty inexpensive on ebay, and has been really versatile as well.
Now that I think of it, after reading Jon Nygren's post above, I MAY have been borrowing one of Deke's hybrid Standel amps..

Didn't Vance Terry use a Maggie 180 with his Bigsby alot? Thats a great tone there(and the hands probably have alot to do with that).