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Topic: Stand-up Steelers: VP advice... |
Jim Newberry
From:
Seattle, Upper Left America
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Posted 5 Sep 2015 9:14 am |
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As NP steelers, we're all stand-up people, of course. Anybody have advice on using a volume pedal? I'm trying out the standing thing, but I'm clumsy enough with the VP sitting, I'm having trouble imagining it working out standing. I don't ride the thing like a pedal steel player, but it's nice to go from backing to lead.
Any tips? I don't think Rose Sinclair uses a volume pedal at all. I'm interested in hearing those who use, tried and gave up, etc. I realize the volume control of the guitar is just a finger width away...
_________________
"The Masher of Touch and Tone"
-1950 Fender Dual Pro 8
-1950's Fender Dual Pro 6
-Clinesmith D8
-Clinesmith 8-string Frypan
-Clinesmith Joaquin
-~1940 National New Yorker
-~1936 Rickenbacher B6
-Homebuilt Amps |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 5 Sep 2015 10:39 am
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You could take your cue from Jerry Byrd ... And use your left foot for the VP ... And keep your "load bearing" leg under your center of gravity    |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 5 Sep 2015 11:00 am
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This does not address your question but it does apply to using a VP standing up.
It is my observation that the old Fender volume pedal I've got (not the V/T pedal) has a pivot point that is better suited to playing standing up than the traditional Goodrich pedal configuration.
I'm not playing my Stringmaster out but if I were, the Fender pedal would be my choice. |
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Jamie Mitchell
From:
Nashville, TN
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Posted 5 Sep 2015 11:08 am
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if you're really just using a volume pedal for a lead bump, i'd probably rather just have a boost box for that, or just use the volume know, rather than a VP.
i'm doing the standing thing a bit, but haven't been using a VP while standing, so, anyways...
j |
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Don Crowl
From:
Medford, Oregon, USA
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Posted 5 Sep 2015 11:46 am
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As a hobby & jam steeler I use the old Fender VP as addressed above. Also have experimented with using a foot lift devise to get the non VP foot at the same elevation so as to balance weight distribution better.
It seems I noticed Basil Henriques on youtube playing with no VP. Not sure my memory is serving me well with that. |
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Jim Newberry
From:
Seattle, Upper Left America
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Posted 5 Sep 2015 12:13 pm
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My pedal is a Goodrich low style. I don't know how that compares with a Fender... The boost pedal is a good idea, too.
Rick, you know that I'm built like an emu, so relying on a single weight-bearing support can lead to radial instability from the floor pivot point.
Maybe the best prescription will be: Use your knob, boy. Use it for good, not evil.
_________________
"The Masher of Touch and Tone"
-1950 Fender Dual Pro 8
-1950's Fender Dual Pro 6
-Clinesmith D8
-Clinesmith 8-string Frypan
-Clinesmith Joaquin
-~1940 National New Yorker
-~1936 Rickenbacher B6
-Homebuilt Amps |
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Jim Newberry
From:
Seattle, Upper Left America
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Posted 8 Sep 2015 11:44 am
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Well, I did my first stand-up gig. Communication with the rest of the band and connection to the steel was much better. The volume pedal was useful only for muting so I could tune! A little sensitivity with pick attack, and I could do without it.
However... I haven't stood in one place on concrete with those cowboy boots before (close to 5 hours). I got pretty hobbled and could hardly walk the last couple of days. Limpin' around like a crusty old ranch hand. Not an altogether undesirable affectation, except for the pain part.
_________________
"The Masher of Touch and Tone"
-1950 Fender Dual Pro 8
-1950's Fender Dual Pro 6
-Clinesmith D8
-Clinesmith 8-string Frypan
-Clinesmith Joaquin
-~1940 National New Yorker
-~1936 Rickenbacher B6
-Homebuilt Amps |
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Joe Burke
From:
Toronto, Canada
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Posted 8 Sep 2015 2:33 pm
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Hi Jim - funny I was just looking into a new way work at the desk and was thinking of standing for part of the day instead of always sitting. I came across this pad. I bet it would help.
http://ca.varidesk.com/varidesk-the-mat |
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Bob Watson
From:
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
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Posted 8 Sep 2015 9:26 pm
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| I tried a volume pedal for awhile while standing up and it was uncomfortable for me because I found myself standing on one leg. I used a compressor for a boost and that was cool but I finally decided to just use the volume knob. After awhile I just started to pick softer when I was comping and harder on solos. I hope this helps. BTW, a friend of mine is in the Seattle area for a few weeks, are you playin' out anywhere? He was the bandleader, singer/songwriter in a band that I played NP Steel in, old style C&W,Swing and Rockabilly type stuff. If you have any tips on where to go to hear some good music, I'll pass it on to him. Good luck with the Steel. |
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Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 9 Sep 2015 4:50 am
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Jim
Sounds like you have your own thing figured out.
If it matters, I believe one great reason for the volume pedal is for better or controlled sustain. The trick is to keep your amp volume loud but pick softly so that you can get more sustain - getting into the habit of pedaling down after you pick. I think of it as "milking" the pedal.
That way you have more control over the decay of your picked notes.
Last edited by Nate Hofer on 11 Sep 2015 12:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Peter Jacobs
From:
Northern Virginia
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Posted 9 Sep 2015 5:30 am
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Jim - congrats on the first stand-up gig. It's a great perspective to be at eye level with the rest of the band, and the audience likes to see everyone up on their feet.
I use a combination of the volume knob and overdrive pedals for solo/rhythm playing. There are lots of great clean boost pedals -- the MXR microamp (which I have) is easy to find and popular. But an eq pedal with a master volume slider will work, too.
Our guitar player brings a rug to stand on, but I got a four-pack of the interlocking rubber squares that you can use to make a workshop or a gym floor. They're about 1/2 inch thick and very lightweight. Made a huge difference. The standing pad Joe mentioned looks like a great choice, too.
_________________
Peter
---------
www.splinterville.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@splinterville6278/videos |
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Jim Newberry
From:
Seattle, Upper Left America
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Posted 9 Sep 2015 9:51 pm
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Thanks for the comments. My wife has a padded mat like that she'll let me use at the next one. I might have to swallow my pride and wear something other than the boots next time. I think I can do fine with changing the pick attack and using the volume knob a little. And Peter, I know what you mean about eye-level perspective.. Somebody said "now you look like you're part of the band". Huh...
_________________
"The Masher of Touch and Tone"
-1950 Fender Dual Pro 8
-1950's Fender Dual Pro 6
-Clinesmith D8
-Clinesmith 8-string Frypan
-Clinesmith Joaquin
-~1940 National New Yorker
-~1936 Rickenbacher B6
-Homebuilt Amps |
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Posted 11 Sep 2015 9:27 am
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Yes, the visual of standing up while playing is very important, especially as entertainers on a show. Using a volume pedal can become very uncomfortable while standing. Especially for a long gig. Learning to actively use a volume knob can take the place of using a volume pedal. There are some that feel that having a volume knob on full allows for the maximum tone of the pickup to come through, but backing off it a little to allow for sustain enhancement or greater volume for leads, harmonics or louder musical passages can be a good strategy.
_________________
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Sierra Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
"The Tapper" : https://christophertempleton.bandcamp.com/album/the-tapper
Soundcloud Playlist: https://soundcloud.com/bluespruce8: |
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Dana Blodgett
From:
California, USA
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Posted 11 Sep 2015 11:54 am
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Most of the real Hawaiian steelers that I know don't use a volume pedal,whether they are standing up or sitting down. Most have a volume knob nearby though!
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme |
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 13 Nov 2015 7:30 am
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| Don Crowl wrote: |
| As a hobby & jam steeler I use the old Fender VP as addressed above. |
A little off topic, but do you know the value of the pot in the Fender pedal, Don? |
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Larry Phleger
From:
DuBois, PA
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Posted 13 Nov 2015 11:15 am
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| Try using a tall stool such as a bar stool. This will give you the support you need while allowing you to assume a standing position. Both the guitar and bass players in our band do this. The guitar uses a volume pedal as well as an array of stomp boxes, and it works well for him. |
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Don Crowl
From:
Medford, Oregon, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2015 5:16 pm
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Response to Charlie McDonald:
I don't know any electronic measurements of the existing pot in my Fender VP. It just does a good job.
I will credit Tom Bradshaw with kudos when he installed pots in a friend's Fender VP. Tom took readings before & after using pots of different resistence. To my discredit I don't recall his conclusion, even though I was involved in the communications of the effort. I do know my friend was very satisfied with the outcome. I say Tom knows his stuff when it comes to the measurements & value of Pots in those Fender VPs. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 15 Nov 2015 11:29 am
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| just look at the pot. it will say if it's 250 or 500 or whatever. |
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