The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a very on again/off again interest in Ben Harper's music, mostly because I just don't like his songs. But once in a while he puts out a blistering lap steel performance that just knocks it out of the park. Here's just such a cover of Jimi Hendrix's Red House:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIJDT3cAoQc

His new album, Give Till It's Gone, actually has some pretty decent songs on it, surprisingly - not a huge lap steel workout (though there are a couple of good solos) but worth checking out.

I'm a Ben Harper fan but I'm not in love with everything he's done. I think his rendition of Red House is very soulful and I dig it.

I need to check out the new album.

Thanks for posting it.

That was great. Thanks for posting!

What effects can you use to get the distortion sound he has? I just bought an Asher Jr with the Lollar pickups.

I don't know how old this article is, but it says he uses this stuff:
• Acoustic Guitars: Weissenborn Teardrop (circa 1930s) and two Style 4 (1925 and 1927) lap-style guitars; a 2004 and a custom 2005 National Reso-Phonic Model D Western squareneck; 2005 Martin HD-28VE; vintage Gibson J-50; 2005 Cole Clark dreadnought.

• Electric Guitars: Asher Ben Harper lap-steel; 1956 Gibson Les Paul Special; Fender Custom Shop Telecaster.

• Amplification: Seymour Duncan Mag Mics (Weissenborns); National/Lace Humbucker (Nationals); Fishman Ellipse System (Martin); Trance Audio Amulet system (Gibson); Cole Clark Dual Input Acoustic Pickup (FL2); Radial JDI direct box; Dumble Overdrive Special amps—one 1980s 100-watt 1x12 combo and a 1970s 50-watt head driving a 2x12 Dumble cab.

• Effects: Ernie Ball volume pedal; Vox V847 wah; Teese RMC wah; Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer; Ibanez AD99 Analog Delay; Electro-Harmonix Small Stone phaser, Demeter Tremulator; Line 6 DL4.

• Strings: D’Addario EJ16, EJ17, EJ18, and EJ22 sets for slide guitars; D’Addario EFT16 sets for Cole Clark, Gibson, and Martin acoustics; D’Addario EXL110W sets for Les Paul and Telecaster.