Dobro Simulator

Jory Simmons · Post by **Jory Simmons** » 20 May 2005 11:02 am

Just thought I'd let every-one Know That Steel-Guitar Nashville will soon have a new Dobro-Simulator Avail. I've already ordered mine.It is a pedal( not a clip on like previous units) and comes with AC adapter and Tone Bar. Bobbe says they sound great! Can't wait to get one! Jory

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Jory Simmons

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 20 May 2005 12:22 pm

Here's the info from Bobbe's Tips (April/05) for anyone that's not on the list:

"We as steel players have had another loss that has affected many of us greatly. This was a unit that made our steel guitars sound very much like a resonator guitar such as a Dobro. This unit was produced by Goodrich for several years and although it got progressively better throughout it's lifetime, it got notoriously expensive up until this company decided to cease production on it permanently.

Through much experimenting with available products and analyzing the true sound of Dobro style guitars with oscilloscopes and voice print machines, we have found a way to duplicate this unique sound by doing a modification to an already available product. We here at Steel Guitar Nashville, are planning on making this unit available for less than $200 introductory price."

David Spires · Post by **David Spires** » 20 May 2005 6:10 pm

WOW! I am definately going to be talking to Bobbe about this. I use a MatchBro, and couldn't do Jo Dee's gig without it - and have often worried if, or when, it will break on me...

Heck, for $200 - I'd have it as a backup, but hopefully, the tone would be even better!

Tell me more, and thanks in advance,

David Spires

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 21 May 2005 6:15 am

Very cool, looking forward to checking one out.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 21 May 2005 6:37 am

I would think you could take the Boss acoustic simulator and make a sound like a resophonic guitar without too much trouble.
Erv

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 21 May 2005 6:50 am

With modern electronics, it shouldn't be too hard to emulate a dorbo sound. I've got one factory program on my T.C. Electronic G-Major effects processor that will do in a pinch.

I have one of the original model Goodrich MatchBro's (has the tone control in the bypass) and it works very well and I've even fooled several Bluegrass pickers. But, whatever is made to simulate a dobro, you have to adapt your playing style to dobro. If you try to play "steel guitar" with a dobro emulator it will not work and it will sound terrible. Think dobro and the dobro licks. The amp and EQ settings are another issue, as much as I like my Nashville 112, I find I get a better dobro sound from my Nashville 1000 with my Pedal steel EQ settings (If I change the EQ on 112 it will do OK, but when you are on a job and switch to "dobro" for one song or just to do a break in a song, it's too much of a hassle to reset the EQ).

David Spires · Post by **David Spires** » 21 May 2005 8:01 pm

Couldn't agree more, Jack. I've been toying with a new idea, for me, this year. I'm switching to an acoustic amp model on my Pod XT when using the MatchBro (I have the original that you are describing as well).

By doing that, I also am using different room, and room reverb settings, and I love the results. The only negative I find is that the MatchBro has a lot more high end "hiss" than you hear when using a steel amp. My only explination is that the steel amp rolls off a lot of those highs, so it is not as noticable.

I use the gate quite a bit to help hide this, and it actually makes me use my volume pedal less, more like playing without one - so it probably helps me in the long run.

Just a little side note - didn't mean to hijack the thread.

Thanks,

David Spires

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 22 May 2005 1:11 am

I have a compressor (w/ attack, release, ratio and threshold controls), a 15-band graphic EQ, and a Lexicon reverb/delay unit in one chain of my stereo setup, and with a light bar and some finicky knob-twisting I can get really close. I usually use a home-made 1 1/4" acrylic bar, about 3 oz. Most steel players shy away from midrange for their standard tone and upper midrange is predominant in the dobro sound, to my ear. Like the man said, you got to play dobro licks, too - they don't play 4-note chords with moving voices, that's for sure.

Jory Simmons · Post by **Jory Simmons** » 22 May 2005 3:56 am

As it turns out, price for the Dobro Simulator from SGN is $299...NOT $199..With shipping comes to $313.00.Should get mine tues or Weds( I got the last one they had, but more on the way)I will post results soon after I check it out! Jory

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Jory Simmons

rpetersen · Post by **rpetersen** » 22 May 2005 7:58 am

try taking a "cheapie" 6-8 band EQ
Set the first one to lowest setting, the next to to the top setting and the next to the bottom and so forth - alternate them all - Low cost dobro sound!!!!!!!!!! I saw someone do this and was impressed for the cost of it!!

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Ron Petersen &
The Keep'n Tyme Band
Mullen Universal 12 - 1975 Session 400 - Nashville 1000 - Nashville 112

William Steward · Post by **William Steward** » 23 May 2005 7:44 pm

I don't mean to sound sarcastic but I bought a bottom-of-the-line Regal dobro for about $375 with factory-installed Quarterman cone and added a Lacy dobro pickup I acquired on Ebay for $75....the thing looks, sounds and plays like a real dobro. It even has a rich dobro sound without feeding back too badly. At that price, why bother trying to make a steel emulate one? I garantee it will sound more authentic than any electronic device.....just a thought. It certainly would not be a stretch for any of you guys to play a 6 string.[This message was edited by William Steward on 23 May 2005 at 08:45 PM.]

db · Post by db » 23 May 2005 7:47 pm

A "flip of a switch"!
- VS -
Changing instuments!

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Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A & G3

db · Post by db » 24 May 2005 6:42 pm

"we have found a way to duplicate this unique sound by doing a modification to an already available product"

Care to share what product that is?
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Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A & G3[This message was edited by db on 24 May 2005 at 07:44 PM.]

db · Post by db » 24 May 2005 6:48 pm

I would guess that it is a "Flanger/Comb-filter" set to a fixed "time-shift" position . . .
With a "fine-tune" time adjustment . . . Plus, a tone control.
Am I close?
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Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A & G3[This message was edited by db on 24 May 2005 at 07:49 PM.]

Jory Simmons · Post by **Jory Simmons** » 25 May 2005 9:50 am

Got my Boss "Bro" Pedal today from SGN. It sounds good.I tried going the route of a cheap reso guitar and P/u and when I tried playin it on stage it howled like a wolf!Thank God I sold the whole mess for what I payed! Now I push a button and play "what was I thinkin"!!!!!!Its fast and easy.I don't have to change any settings on my Nash 112 'cause they got that already figured out...No knobs to fool with at all.
Thanks Bobbe!!!!JD

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Jory Simmons

KENNY KRUPNICK · Post by **KENNY KRUPNICK** » 25 May 2005 3:15 pm

Is this one a stomp box made by BOSS called a "Bro" box? I'd like to see,and try one of those.

Post by **Joey Ace** » 25 May 2005 4:53 pm

William,
I own a wonderful Dobro, but on all my club gigs I use the Matchbro (the original model that Jack and David described). It doesn't sound as good as the real thing, but there's no way I could play Steel and Dobro in the same song if I had to use the real thing, and that's what's required of me.

I'm looking forward to a comparsion report of this new unit vs a Matchbro.

Joey

Jory Simmons · Post by **Jory Simmons** » 25 May 2005 10:00 pm

Yes, it is a Boss "Bro" stomp-box.It has no controls at all....A No-Brainer if there ever was one! I play in a 4 pc band and (Like Joey said) steel and dobro in the same song (sometimes)....I had a superbro, and it distorted at loud volumes...granted,perhaps something was wrong...but the "Bro" sounds fine. $300 is a lot to pay,for a Boss pedal.... but that included the nylon Bar and power supply....the Superbro cost a Lot more!! I'm even gonna add a EQ stomp box to my pedalboard right next to it.. so when I hit the "Bro" I won't have to change my amp settings. Three gigs this week-end and I can't wait to try it!!!

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Jory Simmons

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 26 May 2005 11:16 am

Is this pedal produced by the Boss (Roland) Co.? Can't find anything about it on their site.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 26 May 2005 11:26 am

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/007148.html

db · Post by db » 26 May 2005 6:58 pm

What a tease!
Can't we see a photo?
Some "advertizing" literature?
Some "product description" release info?
SOMETHING!
And what is the pricing again?
And how do you order?

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Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A & G3

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 26 May 2005 7:13 pm

We have just run out, but should have more finished next week end. We have run out of the "mod" parts we use in this conversion.
No, you can't get this unit from Boss or anyone else.
Until we can get where we can keep up with demand, we won't be advertising them, this is why I delited my first post about this unit.
Thank you guys, we'll have a few ready every week.
We will also have the Goodrich model soon.

db · Post by db » 26 May 2005 7:24 pm

Gees . . .
Give us something!
Let us "drool" in the meantime!

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Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A & G3

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 28 May 2005 5:44 am

Dan, don't worry.
Soon all these DOBRO sounds and other new sounds will be available in software only. Like the free downloadable sounds for the PodXT. It is just a matter of time.
I'll be waiting

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Peter den Hartogh
1978 Emmons S10 P/P; 1977 Sho-Bud D10 ProIII Custom;
1975 Fender Artist S10; Remington U12; 1947 Gibson BR4;
Internationally Accredited 3D Animation Academy

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 28 May 2005 10:10 am

Now we need a box for a dobro that you can stomp to make it sound like a steel- sort of a "bast#*d stepchild" in reverse...

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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 28 May 2005 at 11:10 AM.]