The Steel Guitar Forum

Howdy all-

Before I get carried away with myself, heres my set up. GFI Ultra with the GFI II pickup. Goodrich pot pedal. Nashville 112. Sometimes a Dispatch Master for Delay/Reverb.

I really like the NV112, for all the reasons that everyone does. The only thing I'm lacking is just a little bit of grit to my sound. Like a few grains of grit. Something very transparent and subtle. My fear is a thin, lapsteel type of tone, or it being too muddy to play any harmonies.

I'd love to rob a convenience store and buy everything Brad Sarno makes, but I don't think thats a good idea. I'm hoping for something under 80 bucks or so. Anybody have any suggestions?

Have you cranked the pre-gain WAY up and turned the Master gain down to a usable level?
If that's not enough, the Boss Blues Driver can be subtle and affordable.... but I think you could get all the dirt you want from turning the knobs...

I think the dirt pedal in front is the best option. As Dave suggested you can get a blues driver and dial in the amount you want. Turning the input gain up and master down will work but the results of the pedal in front is a better tone in my opinion. And you can switch it on and off at will. Thats how I use mine.

Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive. Has both clean boost and drive controls. You might find that clean boost is all you need, if not, dial in a little overdrive.

You can probably find a used one on eBay on your budget.

It'd have to be something with a flat EQ. I know the Sparkle Drive is a tubescreamer based circuit so theres a midrange hump.

You might want to look into something like a boss 5 band EQ/booster. I used one of those years ago, and it was great at shaping tone, and giving a little boost in the places I needed it, without sounding like a boost pedal which always came with a tone of it's own that I could never quite get used to.

Neal Vosberg wrote:It'd have to be something with a flat EQ. I know the Sparkle Drive is a tubescreamer based circuit so theres a midrange hump.

Sparkle Drive also has a tone control, and if there's a midrange hump, I can't hear it. Sounds good to my ear. I run it with clean boost all the way up, and little or no overdrive for pedal steel.

I'm currently using a Maestro Booster (on guitar) and it has a great sound without too much grit!
I also tried a valve booster, but prefer the Maestro Booster.
I found my original Arbiter Fuzz Face - Far too much (classic) Grit!!! A real Jimmy Hendrix sound.
Sandy

Neal Vosberg wrote:It'd have to be something with a flat EQ.

You just described the Sarno Earth Drive, designed to give a psg some nice transparent, natural grit. Very good pedal.

UPDATE: Sorry, I just noticed you are aware of this but were asking for a lower cost solution... Carry on.

Look for a used Xotic Effects RC Booster pedal. Extremely transparent, has a bass and treble controls, and you can dial in just slight amount of hair if you prefer. You can find them from $80 to $100.

Electro Harmonix Soul Food. With the gain all the way down it is a very transparent boost. You can dial in the amount of gain you want. Also has a treble control to boost or cut highs.

I've had a good experience with both 6 string and pedal steel with the Tone City Bad Horse pedal. Bought mine new for~$50.00 on Reverb last year.

fender tube amp

Bob Carlucci wrote:fender tube amp

"I'm hoping for something under 80 bucks or so."

Would this $80 Fender tube amp go in front of his Peavey Nashville 112?

Dave Meis wrote:Have you cranked the pre-gain WAY up and turned the Master gain down to a usable level?
If that's not enough, the Boss Blues Driver can be subtle and affordable.... but I think you could get all the dirt you want from turning the knobs...

I agree with this as the best place to start. The preamp gain should add some grit, but it’s not going to be much on a 112, especially if you don’t bottom out your volume pedal. I suppose you could try putting the volume pedal in the fx loop. Cranking the gain also affects the tone, so knob-tweaking will be in order.

If you do end up going for a Boss type overdrive pedal, just remember it is going to change the eq. Not much you can do about that except either work with it as a unique tonal variation or put an eq pedal after it.

Lee Baucum wrote:

Bob Carlucci wrote:fender tube amp

"I'm hoping for something under 80 bucks or so."

Would this $80 Fender tube amp go in front of his Peavey Nashville 112?

yep, didn't see that sorry.. If money is an issue the old blues guys took a razor to the speakers,, that might work

Personally, I wouldn't bother trying to find warm grit on your solid state PV- EHX soulfood bass will do the trick- bass version has a very useful blend control- many used online, cheap new as well.

The best hair for the price! American Joyo pedal. Keep the drive low and play with the voice around 9 0'clock.
Around $40 on amazon.
Happy Hunting

Here’s another thumbs up for the Tone City Bad Horse Overdrive pedal!