Standard Effects Used for Pedal Steel?

Steve Howard · From: High Ridge, Missouri, USA

So, any of you guys out there that play modern country (or anybody that use effects for that matter) have any must haves for a nice steel sound.

Compression? Chorus? Delay? Reverb? Distortion?

Any of this stuff help to get a better tone so it doesn't sound as sterile coming out of a Solid State amp?

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I use all of the ones you have listed except distortion. I keep the effects very light, however, just enough to kind of "fatten" up the sound.
Erv

Steve Howard · From: High Ridge, Missouri, USA

What is your delay setting? Is it like a slap back effect. You know, like 25ms-35ms?

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Hi Steve, you might want to check out this thread: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/006217.html

Dave

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Topic moved to 'Electronics' section of the Forum, where it belongs.

John Daugherty · From: Rolla, Missouri, USA

Steve, I use a slight amount of delay. On some songs I add chorus. On some songs I add flange. My effects unit is a Lexicon MPX 110.
I normally use a Nashville 400 amp.

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

I used a leslie,fuzz,etc back in the 70s when i played in the N.W as country wasn't popular up there back then.I must be the odd man out now as i haven't used any affects for close to 25 years.Playing country,pop,jazz or what ever i like the natural sound of the steel guiar.Used to be an old joke on the road 30 somethig years ago that said a guy spends a fortune on an insturment and amp,then spends 20.00 for a fuzz tone to screw it all up.LOL.No offence meant to any one.

Steve Howard · From: High Ridge, Missouri, USA

Tracy,

I definately agree with you to an extent. Too many effects can decrease the quality of sound and take time away from actually playing. But as we just got a "pro" quality guitar player in our band and he worked with me on adding some quality compression and stuff into my effects chain, it made all the difference in the world for my guitar.

Some compression I'm sure would do me good for the steel.

And Dave,
Thanks for the heads up on that thread, good info there.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

basically i prefer just some reverb on the amp
after readin' here on the Fo', i got myself an Lexicon MPX1 in my rack w: my tuner
all i really use are the reverbs , some vibrato, some organ leslie, some delay

Chris Brooks · From: Providence, Rhode Island

Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere--tastefully, I hope!

Chris

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now living in the Ocean State ....

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

Steve,

I agree with you that compression can be a great effect for steel guitar. Some might call it a "band-aid" for poor volume pedal use, but I use a little on my standard setup for each road show. It just helps keep my level a little more consistant.

As much as I would like to have more dynamic range, the FOH engineer is not going to let me be loud enough to "hurt" him. So, if I want to be heard - I have to give it to him at a level where he recognizes what I am trying to give him. I realize this might be overkill for a 5 piece weekend band, but when you are part of a big band, with a lot of parts going on, a little compression can be your friend.

Just my two cents,

David Spires

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Steel Guitarist for Jo Dee Messina: Carter D-10 8&7 / MSA Classic D-10 8&5; Line 6 Pod XT; Jagwire Artist Series Strings; Walker Professional Players' Chair; Peterson VS-II Tuner; and Goodrich Matchbro & LDR Pedal

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Chris,
I love my H & K Rotosphere. The only thing I play is gospel and when I do a number I usually play it pretty straight the first pass and then utilize the Rotosphere the second time through, or at least part way through. I have a two button foot swith hooked up to the unit so it is real easy to access.
Erv

Steve Howard · From: High Ridge, Missouri, USA

Ok, no idea what the Rotosphere is?

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Steve,
The Rotosphere makes your guitar sound like a Leslie Organ.
Erv

Chris Brooks · From: Providence, Rhode Island

Erv,

Good to hear that another player out there likes the Rotosphere, too.

Like you, I switch it on and off during a song. But I have my boxes on a suitcase standing on end beside my steel, so I just reach over and hit the switch.

Yes, it's awesome for gospel! And for swing blues.

Chris

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now living in the Ocean State ....

Eddie Malray · From: South Fulton, Tennessee, USA

Hi! Today I got a DigiTech GFX1 "Twin Tube" pre amp. It has some really great presets in it but what I like about it is that it makes the Nashville 1000 sound like a Fender Twin Reverb.--------------Eddie

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

Another question for you effects guys. Is delay the same as echo effect?
Terry

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Zum D10 /8x5 / session 500rd
steelin for my Lord

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Eddie;
That's funny! I wouldn't try to make my Twin Custom™ sound like a Nashville 1000! [Just playing with your head!] I've owned both and they're both great amps.!

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“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom [X2]
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here

Leslie Ehrlich · From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Overdriven amp and Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man analog delay/chorus. Works for me.

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Terry,

To answer your question, yes, but not necessarily...this is an excerpt from an earlier post in the thread that I mentioned above as regards delay techniques:

quote:
...there are a number of distinct effects available from the use of delay. The basics are:
Flanging - 0.5ms to 3.0ms with a bunch of feedback and modulation (sweeping of the delay time)
Chorusing - 13ms to 20ms with a little bit less feedback and modulation
Doubling - 25ms - 60ms with minimal feedback and modulation
Slapback - distinct echoes begin to be detected between 60ms and 90ms. Too much feedback will not be a pleasant sensation at this length of delay, so give it just enough to where it is pleasing
Echo - after about 140ms one begins to get the true echo sound and you can stretch it out as long as you like from there. Enough feedback for two to five repeats is plenty. A touch of modulation can increase the richness of the sound but can get out of hand with a lot of detuning artifacts getting in the way of the music.

I tend to program several delays on my old Roland SDE2500 or newer TC D-Two - 13ms chorus, 28ms double, 190ms slapback, 308, 420 and 550ms echoes are the main ones for me, right now at least...

Also note that inverting the phase of the feedback can make for big changes in the sound, particular at the shorter settings

Best -- dg
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Dave Grafe - email: dg@pdxaudio.com
PDX Audio
Music

1978 ShoBud Pro I E9, 1960 Les Paul (SG) Deluxe, 1963 Precision Bass, 1954 Gibson LGO, 1897 Washburn Hawaiian Steel Conversion

[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 28 November 2004 at 02:22 PM.]

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

Thanks Dave.
Terry

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Zum D10 /8x5 / session 500rd
steelin for my Lord

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