Switch Between Rhythm & Lead Playing

Eldon Cangas · From: Ontario, Canada

Not a Steel guitar question but I'm musing about the following. I'd like to put a spst switch and a POT between my guitar and amp for use as follows.

1.) With switch off signal flows through pot for a lower preset volume for rhythm playing.

2.) With switch on the POT is bypassed giving a hotter signal for lead playing.

I use 2 combinations of instruments on our gigs accordion and pedal steel and Accordion and electric guitar. I have a volume pedal for the steel but I'm reluctant to use it with the electric guitar (maybe I should).

Questions:

1.) Will it work
2.) What POT to buy
3.) Any other suggestions welcome

Thanks!

Steve Collins · From: Alaska, USA

Not sure why you don't just use a volume pedal. Preset volume levels are bad news.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Sort of in reverse to what you suggest, you can use any effects stomp box that has an effect control and level control. Preferably one with true bypass. You can roll back the effect control 'til it has no effect and adjust the level control for a desirable volume when switched in. When you want to kick up to a lead level switch it in. Leave off for rhythm.

I don't like a volume pedal with guitar either, so I have an old Ross Distortion box I use for this sometimes in this way. No distortion effect, just as a volume boost.

There are also stomp boxes designed solely for this use if you care to research them online.

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

As you are probably aware, most folks either use a dedicated accordian amp or run the accordian through a DI into the PA, and many players use different amps for pedal steel and six-string guitar. The tonal needs, pickup impedances and signal waveforms of the pedal steel, electric guitar and accordian are all quite different, and very few folks ever find a single amp combination that works well for two, never mind three, of these instruments. WIth that already in mind:

1) Your idea will require a DPDT wsitch, SPST will not do the job of bypassing or connecting this circuit you describe.

2) If playing rythm and lead on the pedal steel why not simply use the volume pedal? Any additional resistance in-line (your POT is a resistor) will add noise and suck tone, not to mention making your control scheme overly complicated.

3) If playing lead and rythm on electric guitar simply use the knobs on the guitar like a regular guitarist would do. Again, see the above note on additional resitance in the chain not being your friend.

4) As Jerry O. points out, you can use a good stompbox to get what you are looking for and much more, I would second his suggestion that you look into that instead. In addition to providing the gain adjustment you desire, you might look into an overdrive unit that improves the electric guitar guitar tone at appropriate volume levels through your very clean, high-powered steel-and-accordian amp.

Rick Schacter · From: Portland, Or.

Using different amps for different instruments is the best way to go, IMO.

If you can't afford different amps, this unit might be useful to you for switching between your 6 string guitar and accordian:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MLYABY

This unit is good for boosting your solo volume:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MXRM133

I borrowed one of these last weekend. It worked well for me.

Hope this helps.

Rick

Bobby Snell · From: Austin, Texas

A stompbox EQ can be helpful. Set it flat, and cut the volume out and use that for rythmn. Step on it to bypass and have full volume for lead. Can also adjust the EQ a bit if your signal drop affects your amp's tone. IMHO, an EQ stomp used as a cut will color instrument tone less than using boost for leads.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

How large is your band? If you have a guitar playing rhythm, I would just not play if you are not doing fills. "Helping" play rhythm usually just muddies the sound of the band. And silence between what you DO play gives your playing more impact.
YMMV, but just try putting your hands in your lap and watching the dancers. This becomes even more important if you also have a fiddle and/or keyboards.
Took me forever to realize Newman was right.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Joe Naylor · From: Avondale, Arizona, USA

Just had a guy call for an effects box on legs and he is putting a Morley ABY Selector Combiner Pedal in it with 2 volume pedals - plus a seat with a swivel on it - so he can push the button and swivel around grab the guitar and go for it.

Here is an effects box

(no selector switch in the above)- effects case can be built with no legs of course for guitar players

with a swivel seat

swivel seat with Power Strip

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com
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Joe Naylor, Avondale, AZ (Phoenix) Announcer/Emcee owner www.steelseat.com *** OFFERING SEATS AND Effects cases with or without legs and other stuff ****** -Desert Rose Guitar S-10, Life Member of the Arizona Carport Pickers Assoc., Southwest Steel Guitar Assoc., Texas Steel Guitar Assoc., GA Steel Guitar Assoc., KS Steel Guitar Assoc. (Asleep at the Steel) tag line willed to me by a close late friend RIP

Eldon Cangas · From: Ontario, Canada

I appretiate the comments and suggestions. I'm going to try some of the suggestions starting with the volume pedal. Didn't even think that an extra pot would suck up tone. I don't play commercially any more and our gigs are mostly for seniors an hour at a time so I try to balance minimum equipment and maximum tone & quality etc. Once again Thanks!

Bob Cox · From: Buckeye State

you need a a&B switch with seperate volumes that works good

Rich Hlaves · From: Wildomar, California, USA

Eldon,

I would not build the box you suggest. I agree with what was said above, it's a tone suck to be sure. It is also a duplication of the volume pedal you already have in your rig and the volume pot in the guitar.

I assume you are looking for clean leads at increased volume. I use the volume control on my guitar for this. Some of the blues and country I play sounds best with a clean tone, just pickups and amp. I crank the amp and roll off the guitar for the rhythm and crank up the guitar for leads. Same thing on my steels but use the volume pedal.

A clean boost pedal can do the trick too, again using the V/C on the guitar to fit it in the mix correctly. If you have a two discrete channel amp like a Fender Twin or similar black or sliverface Fender you can also use an A/B switchbox and use one channel for guitar rhythm, steel & accordian and the second channel for 6-string leads.

In any case I have learned having the amp cranked a bit and using the volume control on the 6 string to be very effective. I my younger days I was a guitar wide open guy but learned the above to accomplish exactly what you are trying to do. It works well with a dirt box in the signal path too.
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On man....let the smoke out of another one.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

this is too easy..you need an AB box . For Example... In the rack one AB box input is for the Steel the other for Guitars

The gain stomp pedals are not used for the Steel..they are off..signal path is bypassed....the volume/tone of the amp is set for the Steel... the second AB box input is set for the Telecaster,stomp pedals are used for only the Guitar...I primarily use the Sparkle Drive for the guitar but the Boost pedal is there with slight additional gain should it be needed..for either, Steel or guitar..the gain level is set very slight...

IF you want LOWER volume for only the guitar, I would put an EQ pedal in the path, set the overall output of that pedal to the desired level..most good EQ pedals have an overall output level slider...when changing over just don't forget to mash the EQ pedal..

There was a time I carried two amps...those days are long behind me...

Some will say..oh you can't have the same tone settings on the amp for both Steel and guitar.....I say.."why not" ? Who said ? The Twin Reverb is a fine performer for double duty... The Telecaster has a volume knob and a tone knob..they both work... Smile

PS..there have been times that I forgot to turn off the Sparkle Drive with the Steel...well..you wanna rock the house ?
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Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Eldon, a fiddler I once worked with had a box with two push-on/push off switches, each would put a resistor (sorry, I don't know the values; I can try to find them if you need it) in line. If both switches were off (I assume they shunted signal to ground), it was full-bore lead; one on, reduced to backing fill level; both on, nearly off. He played strictly direct, not even a preamp, IIRC
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

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