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Topic: Best tone circuit for Stringmaster (wah effect) |
Alex Cattaneo
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 19 Oct 2011 6:58 am |
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Hi guys,
I'm about to rewire my 1955 D8 Stringmaster and I'm wondering what is the best tone circuit to really nail that classic "oooh wah" effect that many great steelers use (Vance Terry, Kayton Roberts, Noel Boggs just to name a few). I currently have a 1M linear tone pot in there and it really doesn't do it for me... but maybe I've got it wired wrong... |
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Jack Aldrich
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2011 12:20 pm
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| The effect is produced by moving the volume knob or using a volume pedal. The volume knob on a Stringmaster is below the plate on the lower neck of my double and single 8's, and I can just barely reach it if I pick close to the plate, below the bridge pickup. It's easier on my Rick S6, because the knob is beside the strings up the neck from the pickup. I have noticed that Jerry Byrd used a volume pedal for that effect. He kept his foot off the pedal unless he wanted the "wah wah effect". |
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Brian Hunter
From:
Indianapolis
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Posted 19 Oct 2011 2:19 pm
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Nope. It's the tone knob. A volume knob would only do swells. A one meg or 500k pot would be fine but you will want audio taper. At least that's how I like mine. For a tone cap, try something dark like a .047. This works really well for me and I read that a lot of the old timers liked that value of a cap. Sounds good!
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Brian |
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Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
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Posted 19 Oct 2011 5:02 pm
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yep...what Brian said..  its the tone knob.
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Twang to the bone! |
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Billy Tonnesen
From:
R.I.P., Buena Park, California
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Posted 19 Oct 2011 6:55 pm
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Use the Tone Control with a POT with a fast taper. Find an old Fender tall knob with the rouqh finish.
This produces what I remember was called the Doo-Wah effect. I think Leon McCaullif used this on some early Bob Wills recordings in the early 40's. |
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Jack Aldrich
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2011 8:28 pm
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| Dummy me! I knew that! The tone pot on a Stringmaster is next to the volume control - still hard to reach. - Jack |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 20 Oct 2011 11:31 am
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Make sure to keep your volume knob wide open when going for the boo-wah effect.
The amp you're playing through will also make a difference. I find the effect is a bit weak with a Fender Blackface tone stack. Something at least vaguely tweedish ought to work fairly well.
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Primitive Utility Steel |
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Alex Cattaneo
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 22 Oct 2011 7:35 am
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| Thanks guys! |
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John Bushouse
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Posted 23 Oct 2011 9:49 pm
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| When I pulled apart my Fender Deluxes from 1946/47, I noticed that the pots were 1M and the caps were 0.1pf, rather than the 0.047pf Brian mentions. This allows you to get a LOT darker of a sound. One of the Deluxes is an "organ button" model, which (if it worked) adds in a 0.1pf cap independent of the tone control. |
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Brian Hunter
From:
Indianapolis
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 2:26 am
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Hmmmm...I may need to try that.
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Brian |
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Charlie Vegas
From:
Tampa Bay, FLA, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 4:04 am
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| Twayn Williams wrote: |
Make sure to keep your volume knob wide open when going for the boo-wah effect.
The amp you're playing through will also make a difference. I find the effect is a bit weak with a Fender Blackface tone stack. Something at least vaguely tweedish ought to work fairly well. |
Mind you I don't have a Fender but I' have no problem getting my Supro steels to do the boo-wah effect regardless of volume setting or amp. |
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Jerome Hawkes
From:
Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 7:03 am
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i just picked up a Ric sw-6 from 1953 - oh my, i dont know what the values are but that is the only tone control i've ever used that worked for the wah thing the way it should - its beautiful - goes to full on at about 2-3 whereas the fenders and others take at around 3-4 - enough difference between easily useable and not - just a quick turn and back with the pinky. it seems like on the fender it takes my entire pinky from palm to tip of finger to get it, verses just a twist of the wrist with the Ric.
i need to pull it and find out so i can do that to my clinesmith.
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'65 Sho-Bud D-10 Permanent • '54 Fender Dual-8 • Clinesmith T-8 • '38 Ric Bakelite • '92 Emmons D-10 Legrande II |
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Alex Cattaneo
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 26 Oct 2011 2:46 pm
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| I tried various pots and caps this afternoon, and finally settled for a 250k audio taper with a 0.022uf cap. It's a standard setup for single coil pickups. Funny thing is it works really well on my lower neck (C6) but not so much on the upper one (E13). I have no idea why, but both necks have a very different tone. Go figure... |
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Danny Hammers
From:
Danny & Patricia of Floral City, Florida formerly of Fairdale KY.
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Posted 26 Oct 2011 5:51 pm
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This is what I used
Go down to the 5th video title "Billy & Lynn Owsley Playing My New Steel Guitar" Lynn setting at the guitar in the picture, on this page
http://www.w4mop.com/my_youtube_channel.htm
Then after you start the video, run the time up to 13mins 30seconds
If you like that tone control let me know and I will send you the wiring diagram and parts list.
I found the knob size maked a big change in the feel.
Good luck
Musically
Danny
Danny Hammers
7122 S. Duval Island Drive
Floral City, FL 34436-2434
Phone 352-860-0155
Web www.DannyHammers.com
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Gibson Console Grand D8 - Weenick DT-10 - Dynalap S8 - TriboTone Bars
Nashville 112s - Vegas 400
Member:
Life Member of R.O.P.E. (Reunion Of Professional Entertainers) , NTSGA, GaSGA, PSGA, ASGA, MSGC, LMSGC, OzarkSGA |
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Alex Cattaneo
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 26 Oct 2011 6:51 pm
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| That's very cool Danny! Very curious to know what your trick is! |
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