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Topic: What"s The Best Ways To Get Stereo Sound When Playing Steel? |
Don Christy
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Posted 22 Sep 2015 6:54 am |
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Hi everyone! I would like to know how most of you steel players are getting your stereo sound.... when you play your pedal steel.
There are lots of small and large electronic devices,amps ect. out on the market these days.What are you using or doing to get the stereo sound when playing your pedal steel?
Many thanks guy's! I appreciate your help!
Don
Last edited by Don Christy on 23 Sep 2015 6:49 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 22 Sep 2015 7:26 am
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| You cannot get real stereo from a single sound source like the pickup on a steel guitar. However, you can run the signal through a sound system where you can split the signal into two channels and send it to two separate speakers. I do that with my rack system. My pre-amp splits the signal and sends it into my effects in two channels I think it makes a difference in chorus and my organ/Leslie unit sounds great with the two signals. |
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 22 Sep 2015 9:17 am
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Don, most of what people would perceive as a "stereo" sound is provided by effects after the guitar itself. You can accomplish that with any "stereo" output reverb, delay, chorus box, etc. then routed to two amps, or as many have done, by using a stereo preamp like a Peavey Profex II or Transtube Fex, Line 6 Pod, or similar, into a stereo power amp and two speakers, or perhaps two powered speakers like the Furlong cabinets. There are also systems like GD Walker's "Stereo Steel" units that split the mono signal into two channels that are blended to taste with an outboard effects unit. Years ago people got a fairly wide sound by splitting the signal from the steel (many volume pedals had two outputs for this) and sending each to a different kind of amp, or two amps set differently, or one amp dry and one with effects added.
Nowadays with the variety and quality of fine outboard effects, that would be the way I'd go. I've owned several Walker amps and they're great.
_________________
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
www.musicfarmstudio.com |
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Buddy Castleberry
From:
HAWKINSVILLE GA USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 22 Sep 2015 12:15 pm
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or do like john hughey did for years ,
with his rack system put one of the speakers out of phase, that sounds more like stereo than anything
then u have to cut the highs and add a little more bass |
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Don Christy
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 7:08 am
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Thanks for your information guy's. I have never had a stereo sound yet after playing at home now for 8 years.
I'm on a fixed income retirement right now and would like to know how to get set-up for stereo sound on a budget of $300.00 or less. It sounds like I need another amp or power speaker to get the stereo sound.
Is it possible not to go through 2 amps or 2 channels to get the stereo sound?
I have a Peavey Session 500, Maxon AD9 Pro Analog delay, Hilton volume pedal and 1996 SD Pre-Royal Mullen.
If anyone has any suggestions for me since I'm on a budget, I appreciate your help on something simple to set-up.
Thanks guy's! |
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George Kimery
From:
Limestone, TN, USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 7:31 am What;s the best way to get stereo sound when playing steel?
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I have the mono version of the Wet Reverb and I absolutely love it. Best reverb sound I have ever had, hands down. They also make a stereo Wet Reverb. That is the way that I would go. It is in your budget.
I asked the question you asked to the Wet Reverb folks and got a great reply. I can forward the e-mail to you if you like. You just need to send me your "real world" e-mail address. I can't get stuff to forward by going through the forum generated e-mail.
Also, as pointed out, you cannot get true stereo unless you have two pickups or maybe a single pickup with two separate outputs, built for stereo. You will also have to have a stereo volume pedal with two inputs and two outputs. Other wise, you are just getting what I call Hi-FI. Taking a mono signal and spliting it into two mono signals. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 7:56 am
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And yes. You need 2 speakers run by 2 different amps. Stereo is 2 speakers, with different stuff coming out of each speaker, for the most part.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 8:06 am
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you may be the only one able to hear it if you do get some sort of "stereo" set up. you will also have to have a stereo PA set up in the venue you are playing and there may be one little area that is able to perceive the real stereo image..
stereo on a live gig is not worth it. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 8:15 am
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| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
you may be the only one able to hear it if you do get some sort of "stereo" set up. you will also have to have a stereo PA set up in the venue you are playing and there may be one little area that is able to perceive the real stereo image..
stereo on a live gig is not worth it. |
AMEN
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 8:15 am
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| Just try playing through two separate speaker cabinets, you can pigtail one speaker to the other. I used to do it that way in my youth, it can add quite a lot. |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 8:15 am
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I can get stereo running my Zoom MS50G in my "organ" mode...
_________________
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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Brett Lanier
From:
Madison, TN
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 8:16 am
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| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
stereo on a live gig is not worth it. |
I've never done it in the house, but you could certainly pan the two amps a little to the right and left but not all the way. Sound guys do this regularly with keyboards and drum overheads and it creates a little more room for lead vocals. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 8:20 am
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| Scott Duckworth wrote: |
| I can get stereo running my Zoom MS50G in my "organ" mode... |
At the final output (amplifier), are you actually getting stereo, or just the hi-fi effect mentioned above. I doubt you are hearing actual stereo. Probably the sum of 2 signals going into your amp. If you are running 2 amps, then yes, you probably are hearing a stereo effect from the pedal. It's still not stereo originating at the guitar.
Scott. How is that Zoom pedal. A friend of mine has one he'll sell me really cheap.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Don Christy
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 8:32 am
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Thank's guy's...there is a lot of great information here.
Are the Hilton volume pedals with 2 outlets made to be set-up for 2 amps or 2 power speakers to get a stereo... like ...sound?
Erv mention to pigtail 2 speaker cabinets together. Does the speaker cabinets have to be powered speaker cabinets?
Can you run the Session 500 with a powered speaker cabinet or non powered to get the stereo.."like"...sound? |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 8:46 am
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Set up for 2 amps, or 1 amp and tuner. You're not going to get stereo out of the Hilton, or any pedal that is not specifically a stereo pedal.
Pretty much the only way you are going to get a stereo setup, is with 2 amps. There is no other way that I know of. Maybe there is and I don't know about it.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Don Christy
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 8:51 am
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Richard..are you using a tuner now and if you are what brand and model?
What are some of the brands and models that are on the market that sell stereo volume pedals?
Thanks! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 9:48 am
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Don,
You don't need two amps. Just pig tail into another speaker cabinet. I have several amps that have a jack on the back for an auxiliary speaker. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 9:53 am
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
Don,
You don't need two amps. Just pig tail into another speaker cabinet. I have several amps that have a jack on the back for an auxiliary speaker. |
But that is not stereo.
I use Petersen Stroboflip. I don't leave it plugged in when I play.
Oh, and you would need 2 input signal going into the pedal for true stereo. 2 inputs from the pickup isn't going to do it. With 1pickup, you can achieve the same thing with a stereo outs on a stomp box after the volume pedal into 2 amps.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 10:44 am
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That's not stereo either.  |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 10:55 am
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"you may be the only one able to hear it if you do get some sort of "stereo" set up. you will also have to have a stereo PA set up in the venue you are playing and there may be one little area that is able to perceive the real stereo image..
stereo on a live gig is not worth it."
Yup! I had a stereo rack for a couple years. Bunch of effects, Yamaha stereo amp, two speaker cabs. Sounded great to me on stage. One night Jimmy Kline came in, and I got him to sit in so I could bother this gal out in the audience. Didn't sound like stereo out in the club. Switched to a Twin. Lot less to carry and set up. And sounded great.
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Sep 2015 11:24 am
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| Quote: |
| Oh, and you would need 2 input signal going into the pedal for true stereo. 2 inputs from the pickup isn't going to do it. With 1pickup, you can achieve the same thing with a stereo outs on a stomp box after the volume pedal into 2 amps. |
From Erv:
| Quote: |
| That's not stereo either. |
Like has been said, true stereo requires 2 amps. This stereo can be a created by "effects stereo outs" by running a single signal to a stomp box that has stereo outs. This still isn't what I would call "true stereo" where you would have 2 pickups on a guitar, two outputs on the guitar, a stereo volume pedal, a stereo 'in' effects box, two outputs to 2 separate amps, to 2 separate speakers. Not many have, or would go through that trouble. Stereo sound gets lost after a short distance to the crowd. I had a "stereo" rack system. I had it set up in the warehouse I worked at. I was giving a student lessons and he played my setup for a while. I just happened to go to the back of the warehouse to open the door for air, and I could not tell it was a stereo sound. Both channels mixed together. Up close it sounded great.
Although I will concede that we can get a somewhat stereo image with a stomp box into 2 amps by panning the dry signal to one amp and the wet signal to the other.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Rich Upright
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2015 10:07 am
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I use a Boss DD-3 Digital delay, running the dry signal to my main amp, and the wet signal to a small Hartke or Fender Sidekick Switcher. Makes the steel sound very "big", or like a "wall of sound". The 2nd amp does not have to be much more than a practice amp to get the stereo delay sound, and should be placed no more than a foot from the main amp, otherwise you lose the echo effect. Here is a pic of my setup; a Fender Sidekick has replaced the Hartke, on all but the smallest venues.
_________________
A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag. |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 24 Sep 2015 10:50 am
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| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
| Scott Duckworth wrote: |
| I can get stereo running my Zoom MS50G in my "organ" mode... |
At the final output (amplifier), are you actually getting stereo, or just the hi-fi effect mentioned above. I doubt you are hearing actual stereo. Probably the sum of 2 signals going into your amp. If you are running 2 amps, then yes, you probably are hearing a stereo effect from the pedal. It's still not stereo originating at the guitar.
Scott. How is that Zoom pedal. A friend of mine has one he'll sell me really cheap. |
Richard, with the Roto Closet (that name sounds like a bathroom that rotates!) in, I get the full rotary effect in stereo. I normally only use one speaker out of my mixer, but with two, it does sound neat. Of course if I was recording, I'd run it full blown stereo.
As for the Zoom MS-50G, it does have a learning curve, but can be use full for steel.
Here are the settings I use with mine...
_________________
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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Don Christy
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Posted 24 Sep 2015 8:27 pm
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This is real nice information guy's. It has opened up many possibilities for me to try some of these methods.
I like your setups and idea's! Keep the picture's and idea's coming because it really helps.
There is a lot of different electronic gear out there to try, but a person could spend hundreds of dollars or even thousand's of dollars trying to find out what works the best.
By asking you guy's about your set-ups it saves a lot of time and money. If anyone else has tried some new electronic gear or has more idea's, please post and share your idea's and picture, video's ect .
You guy's are great! Thanks! |
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Don Christy
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Posted 24 Sep 2015 8:49 pm
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Ok, here is something I heard the other day and I could not believe it because I'm not a computer wizard! lol!
This steel player said he plays his steel through his computer with no amp, but replaces his computer speakers with bigger and better stereo speakers.
Can a person actually play a pedal steel through a computer without an amp and get recording studio stereo sound these days?
How would you hook everything up or set things up to do it?
Like I said, I'm not a computer wizard and still old school. Times are changing fast. lol! 
Guy's lets here about some of your idea's on this and if you are doing it, give us your way of setting this up.
I really do appreciate all your help guys' That's what makes this forum so great!
Thanks! |
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