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Author Topic:  advice on volume swells with pinky
James Weigel

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 8 Mar 2012 4:20 pm    
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Hi guys I'm a dobro player new to 8 string lap steel. Any advice on doing volume swells with my pinky would be much appreciated! Mostly curious about how to best set the volume. Thanks!
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Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 8 Mar 2012 4:37 pm    
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Switching the vol. pot to a 500 will make a quicker/more immediate throw. But some players like it longer. What are you having trouble with re the vol.?
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James Weigel

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 8 Mar 2012 6:03 pm    
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I guess I'm interested to know if you should leave your volume knob at 7 or so for normal playing so that you have a 'reserve' amount of volume to use for swelling as the note-sustain dies. Thanks!
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Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 8 Mar 2012 7:14 pm    
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It'll depend on the moment and what you wish to musically impart. But a little extra can come in handy should the band suddenly jump over you. Might have a volume pedal used in tandem and set back just a tad for those emergency moments if it's a loud gig.

Swells are a rarely touched upon subject here, it'll be interesting to get other takes on all this. Thanx for the op.
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David Matzenik


From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
Post  Posted 9 Mar 2012 1:15 am    
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Over several years I have tried to get players to comment on this, or the violin effect. It has been like trying to pull teeth. One thing I found is that I need a visual mark on the knob so I can put it back where it was before executing.
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother.
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Peter den Hartogh


From:
Cape Town, South Africa
Post  Posted 9 Mar 2012 1:58 am    
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From the old videos I've seen, it looks like the player uses the full travel of the pot till it stops either side.
When swelling the volume up, it is a slowish movement, and there is a swift movement to get to zero volume between the notes.

Apparently there are pots available that do not rotate the standard 270 degrees, but have a smaller amount of rotation.

I'd better Google that. Smile
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1977 Sho~Bud D10 ProIII Custom; Sho~Bud SD10 The Professional ; ETS S10 5x5;
Fender 1000; 1993 Remington U12; 1978 Emmons S10 P/P; GeorgeB Weissenborn;
Fluger Cat-Can; Asher Electro Hawaiian; Gibson BR4; Fender FS52; Guyatone 8str;
Fender Resonator ; Epiphone Coronet 1937; Rickenbacher Ace; Rickenbacher NS;
Dynalap 8string; Harbor Lights 8string; Aiersi Tri-Cone; Fender Stringmaster
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Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 9 Mar 2012 1:26 pm     Some GREAT EXAMPLES of this...............................
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There are some great examples of this on the JERRY BYRD Fan Club. Jerry was a master at using the volume pedal for his single string solo's both with and/or without harmonics.

You might give it a listen.
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David Matzenik


From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
Post  Posted 9 Mar 2012 5:45 pm    
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Peter den Hartogh wrote:
From the old videos I've seen, it looks like the player uses the full travel of the pot till it stops either side.
When swelling the volume up, it is a slowish movement, and there is a swift movement to get to zero volume between the notes.


Peter, that is very observant of you. Now that you point it out, I see it.
_________________
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother.
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James Weigel

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 10 Mar 2012 9:15 am    
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Thanks for your responses guys, I think I'll spend the day watching some of those old vids!
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 10 Mar 2012 12:29 pm    
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A previous owner of my Gibson D-7 had an ingenious idea. He cut a slot in the guitar, and hooked a lever to a 1 meg pot. Quick throw. Works like a champ!
Sorry for the fuzzy pic,,, old camera.

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Peter den Hartogh


From:
Cape Town, South Africa
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2012 4:18 am    
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Here is a good close-up of Arlen Roth using his pinky for swells.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-AK5Nls57k

It starts at about 0:57 seconds.
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