The Steel Guitar Forum

I have lots of Jeff’s stuff, but never saw anything about string effects. Anyone have info on this?

He taught us that by using a Jordan Boss Tone fuzz and some amp settings you could get a string section type sound. The procedure is:

1. Turn treble down and bass up on amp.
2. Use lots of reverb.
3. Use the C pedal to raise string 4 to F#
4. Alternate picking string 1 & 4. By slanting the bar to put the 2 F#s out of tune, you get a beating between the 2 notes that simulates the bowing of the strings. The more out if tune, the faster the bowing effect is.

I have used other fuzz boxes with some success. Overdrive won't work.

Using the same fuzz and amp settings, you can get a cello sound.

1. Set your amp the same as the above post.
2. Pick strings 1, 5, & 8 (or 10, can't remember for sure) in succession and repeat the pattern, you will get a note in the cello range.

I did a session in the 70's where they wanted string effects. They didn't care for the violin effects I described above (they played those parts on a synth), but loved the cello parts I played. I gave that record somewhere here.