EH C9, Key9, Pedal Reviews?

Dennis Detweiler · From: Solon, Iowa, US

I've noticed a few C9 pedals for sale recently on the Forum. I've watched video demo's of the C9 and Key9 and curious if any steel players are using one or both of these pedals effectively? Pro's and Con's? Thanks.
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1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

It's not a C9, but I use a B9 pedal for a few songs. Everyone thinks it sounds great. I believe the only difference is the models of organs used as patches. I find the organs lack rotary sounds. The organ sound I like only has vibrato. It really needs that Leslie sound. Luckily, I have a Tech21 Roto Choir I'm going to add that to the mix and see what it does. Also, when picking, some notes are stronger than others. But I'm sure that's a picking issue and not a pedal issue. I'm going to see if a compressor will make things more even. The sounds are good though. It just takes some attention to how you pick.

I also have an Mel9 pedal. Has some good string sounds. I'm working on using the Cello patch to get fiddle sounds for songs like Amarillo By Morning. Again, technique is the issue, but the sound is passable. The brass and saxophone patches are passable too.

As for the Key9, it's interesting. No acoustic piano sounds which I would prefer, but they are difficult to achieve without some sampling. The electric piano sound sounds great in the demos. Problem for me is, my band does Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue. I really, really hate that song. Our lead guitar/keyboard player had to give up gigging. So, if I get this pedal, I will probably have to start doing that song with the pedal. Mad

I've managed to convince them that I can't play the piano parts, so we don't actively do the song. Smile

I too would like to see some info from someone who uses one.

Forgot to mention that the tracking is good. Latency is low, almost undectectable, and they track pitch bends great, unlike MIDI systems.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Adam Tracksler · From: Maine, USA

I have the Key9 and love it. Honestly, you haven't lived until you've played steel drums on the pedal steel. I'm considering adding a B9 (and most likely a leslie sim)

I like most of the sounds through the pedal steel and all of them with regular guitar. I have been running the suitcase and 88 at a low wetness to add some padding to the steel and I like it a lot.

I think the key to any of these pedals is you have to like the things they are trying to emulate and then you have to play a little like how that instrument plays. Playing huge full swing chords with the marimba patch sounds stupid, but playing double stops is really cool, and the pedals add a whole other dimension.

With most patches, you need to play cleanly and with a consistent attack.

Tim Russell · From: Pennsylvania, USA

Google "Pedal Steel Podcast" -

Bryan Daste, fellow forum member, and awesome steel player, does a good review of the C9 pedal in episode 5 of the podcast.

Bryan, we need more podcast episodes! Mr. Green

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Sierra Crown D-10

Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

I had the B9 first. Then tried a C9. I like the C9 better. You can dial out the key click better for the Hammond B3 settings.
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To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

Dennis Detweiler · From: Solon, Iowa, US

The B3 and Fender Rhodes on one pedal would be great. For Country, a good piano pedal would be a plus.
I've listened to the comparison between the B9 vs C9 and think the C9 is a step up. To settle on the purchase of "one" pedal, the c9 might be more useful when working with a band that mixes classic rock and country into the sets?
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1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8.

ajm · From: Los Angeles

These were discussed in a few posts/topics in the recent past.

For the record, I have a C9 that I use with a six string. In truth, I probably would have been happy with either the C9 or the B9.

There are a few tricks to getting the best performance out of it (signal levels, compression, etc.).

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I am experimenting with the Mel9 at present.
That pedal gives you quite a variety of sounds from full orchestra to cello to clarinet and etc.

Rick Abbott · From: Indiana, USA

Who here has decided to use a compressor with any one of these pedals?

The owner's manual mentions a compressor might even out the response, and remove unwanted noises etc from the sounds.

I pick really hard, generally, so these pedals are a bit unfriendly with me so far. I have the Mel9 and B9. I like them both. They are great if I am very gentle. Maybe I just need to pick with less gusto Laughing

I was taught to jump in and grab 'em like I mean it...
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon

Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

I use a compressor. For me it is a must. A Hotone KOMP mini compressor. Here's my board before I changed over to the C9 pedal:

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To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

Rick Abbott · From: Indiana, USA

As a follow up question: Do you use it before, or after, the B(C)9?
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

Compressor before C9 or B9
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To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

Rick Abbott · From: Indiana, USA

Thanks, Guys!

I have a Wampler compressor...gonna go hook it up.
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon

Dennis Detweiler · From: Solon, Iowa, US

Stick a window fan in front of your speaker for a Leslie effect. Plus, it will cool your backside at the same time! Cool

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1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8.

Paul Arntson · From: Washington, USA

Cool idea, Dennis. One time I was trying out a stratocaster and it had wolf tones. I lowered the pickups to no avail and then realized there was a big ceiling fan about 7 feet above me. Off & wolf tones gone...
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Excel D10 8&4, Supro 8, Regal resonator, Peavey Powerslide, homemade lap 12(a work in progress)

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Bobby Snell · From: Austin, Texas

With B9, Key9, and now the C9, IME it's helpful to have the device as the first thing from the guitar, before the VP.

The boxes are all sensitive to how vigorous the strings are picked, with compression or other magic to emulate the sustain for those organ patches, so the usual VP technique of milking sustain may be counterproductive.

Also, I had experienced the 'whistle' when powering from my board power supply, and use a separate Boss-type 9V.

They're all a little cheezy, but fun!

Ben Waligoske · From: Denver, CO

I agree with Bobby, having these types of pitch-tracking pedals as close to the front of your pedal chain as possible (or using a good buffer like a Black Box or etc) helps with their accuracy. I'm not a huge fan of compression with steel but it has its place, and this might be one of them, so I may try that at some point...

Anyways, I have a C9 on my steel board and dig it. I actually tend to use the Mellotron Flutes setting quite a bit, but can also get some pretty convincing Hammond tones out of it when a particular song or part calls for it. I've found that it helps to "think like an organist" when using the pedal, IE, some of the inversions that we normally use on a pedal steel don't sound very natural with a "Hammond" effect on... but if you think about ordering the scale tones of a particular chord the way that a real organist would play them, I think this box gets pretty close (for what it is).

I also own a Hammond A100 and a Leslie 142 and have been around Hammonds for many years, so there's that... but still, nothing beats the audio-physical nature of a real doppler effect on a Leslie cab!

Chris Johnson · From: USA

100% agree with Bobby.

I have the B9 on my rig. I made a weird whistle when powered by power brick but worked fine with a wall wart 9v.

Fun pedal though. Engineers look for a B3 during sound checks.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Do you use the Keeley compressor with it?
Erv

Chris Johnson · From: USA

I don't. The pedal responds to pick dynamics. The compressor before would hurt that

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Most compressors placed before any of the EH organ emulators - or any other dynamically-sensitive effect - will hurt the effectiveness. Others are envelope filters (aka "auto wah"), wahs, most fuzz pedals, and many overdrives, clean boosts and EQ pedals.

Some compressors that are exceptions - if set up properly - are ones like the Xotic SP with a separate attack control. Many of these types allow you to maintain full pick attack and simply use the "sustain" part of the effect.

I use the C9 and it's excellent. The organ sounds are incredibly realistic, down to the Hammond" dirty keys" noise4 (the "click" knob).

But it's not the best pedal steel effect IMO. It sounds great with non bending, single notes on a 6-string guitar, 2 and 3 note chord "stabs" - but doesn't sound right at all with sliding or "bending" notes/chords or complex chords.
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Ron Kassof · From: Las Vegas, NV, USA

The E-H Lester K rotary sim pedal has been getting good reviews lately.
http://www.ehx.com/products/lester-k

David Gertschen · From: Phoenix, Arizona

Agree with Jim, any bar movement with the organ simulators sounds like an over-used pitch bend wheel on a synthesizer.

Speaking of which, Electro-Harmonix has brought out the Synth9 pedal. Can't wait to hear somebody do an Emerson, Lake and Palmer tribute on their D10 Very Happy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qebnkmvjiw

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