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Topic: Cabinet drop tuning ? |
Richard Tipple
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2010 7:13 pm |
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Just curious,,how do most of you compensate for for cabinet drop, if at all,,,,split the difference if you can actually hear it ?
Since I have started using the Peterson Strobo Flip, I can see a drop on the 4th string with the A & B down,,, I see it better with the strobe than the old Korg tuner I used to use.
I guess now that I see it better, I am hearing it  could all be in my head I guess 
But anyway,,,just split it even ,down the middle??
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steelguitarguy.com |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 8 Oct 2010 10:01 pm
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I tune my open E (4th string) with the A + B pedals pressed, then, when the pedals are released, the 4th string raises in pitch slightly.
I then tune the rest of the open strings by ear using the 4th string as a reference.
This gives me an on-pitch A chord (when the A + B pedals are pressed, and a slightly above-pitch (but in tune with itself) E chord when the pedals are released. |
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2010 10:20 pm
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Hang on, let me zip up my flame suit:
I have played steel in public performance for 26 years, on one steel only for the first 22 years, on four different gigging steels since then, and I have never concerned myself for even a moment with "cabinet drop", and neither I myself, nor any of the people I've played with, has ever felt that I was playing out of tune enough to matter, except when my bar work was inaccurate, for whatever reason (which has happened, heaven knows!). It's heretical to say here on the Forum, but IMO "cabinet drop" doesn't amount to a hill of beans. Maybe I've just been lucky, but all the steels I've used, while showing different amounts of "cabinet drop" on electronic tuners, have sounded just fine in any ensemble I've used them in, as long as I played them right. Are there steels with enough "cabinet drop" to matter? Really?
To quote Bobby McFerrin: Don't worry--Be Happy! |
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2010 10:31 pm
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| Ok, Brint, but how are you tuning your pedal throws? If you're doing anything by ear like Richard does, you'd be compensating for cabinet drop. I'm just curious- a lot of the guys I've met who say they don't pay attention to cabinet drop are doing exactly what Richard does, and thereby compensating for it, whether they pay attention to it or not. |
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2010 11:27 pm
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Taking Richard's example: he tunes so that the pedals-down chord is "on", but the no-pedals chord is a little sharp. An opposite approach would have the no-pedals chord "on", but the pedals-down chord a little flat. Which is preferable? Is there any objective basis to prefer one over the other? And, as I suggested before, in either case is the difference enough to matter, when most steelers are playing only "barred" notes well over 90% of the time, and a small (with practice) instinctive bar compensation can put everything in tune, whichever way?
(Actually, the "no-pedals 'on', pedals-down flat" would seem strictly more logical, as you could place the bar fractionally above the nut to bring the pedals-down chord up to tune in "open" position, whereas there's no way to flatten the no-pedals chord in open position with Richard's method. But this is really a digression; we all want to be accurate, but how accurate is accurate enough?) |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Eddie Lane
From:
Branson, Missouri, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2010 7:43 am
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If you want to scare yourself,(on many guitars), check the 6th string with the A pedal and F knee lever engaged. That is usually where it will show up the most. However, that can be fixed easily with a compensater rod installed on the A pedal crossshaft to raise string 6 (very slightly). Many times what you think is the cabinet flexing is in the changer or a combination of both. 
Eddie |
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Richard Tipple
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 12 Oct 2010 9:47 am
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I took CrowBears advise and linked up to Jean Yves site. I entered the drop figures into the link and programed the tuning numbers into my Peterson Strobe as per Jean Yves calculations.
I have to admit, I have been using Jeff Newmans tuning chart for years now & never thought I needed a change,,sounded good to my ears, but I couldnt quite put my finger on that little tweak I could hear I needed ?? just that little somthing, I always thought, maybe it could just be a little sweeter somehow,,,
Looks like the Yves site solved my tweaking .
It just sounds sweeter to my ears with his tuning 
I re-tuned to the Newman chart & there is a difference, to my ears.
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steelguitarguy.com |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 12 Oct 2010 12:29 pm
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Glad to know Jean Yves's program worked for you Richard 
i don't really know how many have tried it, but i will add you to those who did & found it satisfactory
Mercy bookoo !  |
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Richard Tipple
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 12 Oct 2010 12:44 pm
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Thank you CrowBear for listing this site
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steelguitarguy.com |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 12 Oct 2010 12:48 pm
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I guess most guitars have a little of what you may call cabinet drop. I was thinking one day it seems this would drive someone with PERFECT pitch,looney as a bedbug.Glad I'm not cursed with that problem.If any of you guys with perfect pitch do things like this bug you  One of my band members has a son with savant syndrome,you can hit any note on any instrument,he will tell you instantly what note it is.I just always thought if you played in a band and someone was just a hair out of tune and you had perfect pitch it would bug the hell out of you.  YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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