The Steel Guitar Forum

On a double neck PSG, what is the correct procedure to be able to have BOTH necks on at the same time and get the best possible volume and tone from the guitar.

In the center position at the pickup selector switch with both necks on, I am getting a thinner sound and less output. I do not believe the pickups are out of phase. Would I be better off wiring the guitar with two separate outputs and run into a 2 channel pre.

You've got it right, Bill. When two pickups are wired directly in parallel, you lose some signal and a good bit of lows. Each pickup, going into separate preamps as you describe, would be the proper way to maintain the same tonality when both pickups are on.

Just curious. Why do you want both on at the same time?

Because it can be done, and if it can be done then something interesting will happen.

If the guitar has single coil pickups, both on equals less hum.

Doug Jernigan plays a song using both necks at the same time. That would be a little unhandy if you couldn't have them both on at the same time.


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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

YES he does Darvin. And the tone he gets is to die for.

carl

I play steel guitar on rag on both necks like Tom Brumley did. I find it makes the song more interesting playing it on two necks. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 27 January 2004 at 08:29 AM.]</p></FONT>

I run my Stringmaster with both necks on when I perform live. The additional impedence load balances the tone between the two necks better.

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<font size="1"><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Has anyone ever taken an S-10 and outfitted it for C6th alone? I'm gonna have 3 S-10 axes total in the next couple of weeks and instead of having all at E9th I might wanna rig one for C6th.

It would make playing Steel Guitar Rag on both necks a little difficult but theatrical anyway.

Any suggestions?

Ray, if the S-10 is a standard 3/4 you have 7 changes and that would allow all the changes on a "standard" C-6, although in "un-standard" locations.

I did that on the old S-10 I had when I was debating whether or not to get a D-10. I had never had a pedal 10-string steel in the past, so I set up the S-10 that way (can't remember the exact copedant) for about 4 months to see if I enjoyed using the C6 tuning. I did, and decided on a D-10.

Actually, with careful selection of placement, setting it up on that many knees can reduce the number of "2-feet" combos that sometimes are needed on a 5/1 or 5/2 C6 setup

I get a better E-9 tone with both pickups on.

I'll have to check out the tone difference with both necks on. Thanks for the tip.

I too have experienced this. With both necks on it thins my tone down slightly, and can clean the E9th up a bit. I leave both necks on for a few songs, I.E. "Blue Bayou", played in C. With a three piece group (-Bass) I can do the intro bass on the low C and chimes (C6th), do the solo ala Dan Dugmore (E9th), and add some nice C6th Island slides at the end.
Lefty,
Dekley D-10
Sho Bud LDG
Johnson J-Station<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Lefty on 02 February 2004 at 04:28 PM.]</p></FONT>