Steel Guitar Tone
Posted: 23 Sep 2017 12:12 pm
I am thoroughly convinced anyone can get Buddy Emmons bell like tone out of any pedal steel guitar. However you need an equalizer that is capable of bringing out those frequencies if your amp won't do it. Let me explain. Equalizers have curves on the frequency bands. Some have a bell curve ")" like Fender tube amps and some equalizers like a Session 500 have a midrange pyramid curve "∆" which is peaky if used to the extreme.When you flex the curve it goes from bell to pyramid. The best way I know of to bring out the bell like Push Pull Emmons tone is get a good 31 band EQ to get the proper curve because all steels have different tones and it's gonna depend on your ear to bring it out. My favorite is the little Alesis stereo 31 band equalizers that have Alesis written in big letters across the front. I used old UREI's for decades but they are an old design that uses ring filters. The newer stuff doesn't ring and is quieter. I repeat. You don't need an Emmons Push Pull guitar to sound like Buddy Emmons in 1965. You do need some playing ability, a good equalizer and a good set of ears to know when you find that sound. I can't tell you exactly how to set the eq because all guitars are different but the secret is in the upper mids. Little too far and it gets brittle, too much the other way and it sounds soft and loses the bell tone. You have to tweak and use your ears. Some people would not like to play Buddy Emmons rig just after he got up from a show because they are not use to highs showing all their flaws but that sound is in your guitar no matter what name is on the front you just have to pull it out. Push Pulls are sought after because they get that sound naturally with a lot less work but that sound is hidden in your steel too are may not be hidden. Peace! All comments welcome.