| Author |
Topic: Touch / Feel |
James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 12:40 pm |
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| I've read so many threads about how various steels sound, and how various amps sound , and there are so many descriptions ....Then you have folks playing the same instrument and having different opiniions on the resulting sound ....This brings me to my title ....Touch / Feel ..... I rarely hear anyone talk about how an instrument responds , or how the instrument feels when being played ..... How many times have you heard the addage " the tone is in the hands " ...... There are so many steels that sound different from one another , and the the feel of these instruments is eqqually as different ..... When I play certain instruments , they just feel RIGHT .....They are just plain sensitive to my hands and they respond well to my touch , and they just make me play better , and want to play more .....I guess I'm wondering how many folks share my feelings on this subject , or how many folks really don't give it that much thought ......THanks in advance for your input .....Jim |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 1:23 pm
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| i agree! |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 3:05 pm
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I totally agree.
After a few years in, you kinda get a sound out of your hands that is "your tone," and to most in an audience, hardly anything you change will make a difference.
Those with discerning ears will notice subtle differences, as Denise heard my sound perk up a bit when I played through Colm's Milkman. Subtle but important.
BUT certain gear reacts better with us, so that sounding like ourselves is just more enjoyable with that gear, and will feel more like "right there" instead of "pretty good."
_________________
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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Ken Campbell
From:
Ferndale, Montana
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 3:17 pm
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| I'm in agreemnt as well. The first time I played my P/P I was astonished at how it felt to play it. Even unplugged this guitar just feels right to me and like Lane said, it sounds like I think..... |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 5:37 pm
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One fact is if it don't feel right to you, you want be as enthused about playing it.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Geoff Noble
From:
Scotland
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 1:58 am
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Unfortunately living in Scotland I haven't had the luxury of being able to try out a lot of different pedal steels before choosing one that just "fits". I've had to tweak my current pedal steel to get it to feel right for me. Just about there now.
Back in the 80's I was looking for a new electric 6 string, so I went to my local music shop and tried just about every guitar in the shop, Fenders, Gibsons, Ibanez etc, until I picked up a Washburn KC70 and knew almost right away that this was "my" guitar.
I'd never really considered a Washburn before this, I knew they were good guitars but was probably more attracted to Ibanez at that time.
30 years on it's still my main 6 string electric. So yes, I totally agree, how an instrument feels to you is key. After all when you really get into it, the instrument almost becomes an extension of your body.
_________________
"Nothing can ever be wrong about music" - D Allman
"There is no bad music, only music you don't like" - Me
YTube- http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFqsA-Ahlgr2Z2sw71WJHGg/videos
SCloud - https://soundcloud.com/just-jef/tracks |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 3:11 am
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And Geoff, you hit on another fact, you have to fine tune your steel to you. Steel height, seat height, pedal and knee positions, etc all play in to it.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 3:31 am
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There is a scientific term for what I am about to explain , but I'm drawing a blank on what it is for now ( maybe a senior moment ? )
When you are shooting an arrow ....the feeling you get when the arrow enters the target .....
Similar feelng when hitting a golf ball perfectly ......
The feeling of a great solid shot in billiards ......
The feeling of setting a hook on a nice fish .....
Last but not least , the feeling you get when your instrument feels just right , and the vibrations of the instrument , and the setup of the instrument just screams out "I'M THERE " ....... Jim |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 4:05 am
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There is a scientific term for what I am about to explain , but I'm drawing a blank on what it is for now ( maybe a senior moment ? )
When you are shooting an arrow ....the feeling you get when the arrow enters the target .....
Similar feelng when hitting a golf ball perfectly ......
The feeling of a great solid shot in billiards ......
The feeling of setting a hook on a nice fish .....
Last but not least , the feeling you get when your instrument feels just right , and the vibrations of the instrument , and the setup of the instrument just screams out "I'M THERE " ....... Jim |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 4:34 am
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| Psycho acoustic feedback? |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 7:24 am
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James, I too certainly agree with you 100%. I've had several top of the line guitars that no matter what I did, they just didn't feel right. It felt as though I couldn't come of A pedal even or couldn't lower the E's to match pedal release. On one of the guitars, strings 5 & 6 never sounded in tune no matter where they were tuned. I once put a set of strings on an Emmons that several had recommended, and they felt like spaghetti so took them off an hour later. I think most are accustom to a certain feel of their instrument. I like a certain kind of feel on a steel and a good set up push pull Emmons is hard to beat.
_________________
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 7:42 am
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| MOST DEFINITELY the way I feel about a Kline,,,I think because of the balanced pulls of a "yoke" system has a lot to do with it,,,and of course,,,,the tone,,,,(that my ears want to hear) |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 11:53 am
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| If you can't make it sound great without an amp it's not going to sound great with one. The hands and the instrument itself have to produce the tone, the pickups and amps, etc. cannot make it up out of thin air. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 15 Oct 2014 1:46 pm
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I think it was Buddy Charleton that once told me:
"When you're buying a new steel, sit down and play it for about 15 minutes. If it doesn't feel comfortable to you by then, it probably never will."
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 15 Oct 2014 3:14 pm
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| scientific term,,,,the "zone",,,,,, |
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Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 20 Oct 2014 2:52 am
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| "in the hands". I witnessed one guy getting up and another sitting down at the same steel...........the tone changed completely. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 20 Oct 2014 3:07 am
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Totally. I once played dobro at an Opry show where the guy played a crossover Bud that sounded like Don Helms (and that was the kind of stuff he played: when he used the pedals he played licks more like 1957 Jimmy Day). He got up to sing, and I sat down at it, and without touching a knob I sounded like me playing a Bud. I bet he'd sound like Helms even if he played a Zum or Franklin.
_________________
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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Michael Hummel
From:
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 20 Oct 2014 5:55 am
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I think the term we're searching for is "gestalt".
Roughly defined, when a thing comes together and becomes greater than the sum of its constituent parts. To the point where you don't even think about the individual parts, just the total experience.
(I wish I had more of these experiences playing pedal steel, but the harder I practice, the more often they happen)
Mike
_________________
MSA Classic 5+4
Too many 6-strings and amps to list |
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