The Steel Guitar Forum

I play guitar and pedal steel guitar in a few bands, it seems like the volume of the pedal steel carries alot more than a six string guitar. Have any of you found it just cuts through the mix more or just needs to be turned down some. Just wondering on your thoughts. Thanks.

John, pedal steels have "hotter" pickups, and a good amp will cut thru any other instrument. If you are way over everyone and thru a mixing console try having it Padded to keep it less pearcing. However a louder clean sound is still pleasing to the listener.
Best wishes,
Jim

Thanks Jim, I know people say they can hear it when they walk into a venue, i dont think its overwhelming but carrys more. I know the PSG pups are wound pretty hot too.

So much depends on how you play, higher or lower registers, movement or sustained pads, choppy notes or smooth. Plug this into what the other musicians on the stand are doing, high and low registers, sustained and percussive notes, point and counter-point.

The question is not so much who is the loudest as it is who has the space in the mix within which to be heard, and this factor can change drastically from one ensemble to another, indicating changes in the choices we make from gig to gig in order to be appropriately heard in the mix.