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Topic: How can I equalize the volume of high and low GFI strings |
Mitchell Blum
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 1 Jul 2016 6:23 pm |
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| I'm an entry level player. I recently bought a GFI Ultra and I'm beginning to work on 2 part harmony scales and simple songs on the E9 neck. My problem is that when amplified the lower strings are noticeably louder than the upper strings -- where the melody is 90% of the time. My Jagwire strings are practically brand new. Is it my technique or is there something that needs adjustment? |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 1 Jul 2016 6:53 pm
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| It may be simply technique. If you play with picks and are using a heavy plastic thumb pick and light gauge finger picks (Jeff Newman recommended minimum .025 gauge to his students), that coupled with the fact that more pressure can be exerted with the thumb than the fingers, it may just come down to pick attack. Practicing digging in more with the fingers and less with the thumb should even things out somewhat over time. Experimenting with different types of thumb picks may help also. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 1 Jul 2016 7:17 pm
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What David says. You could also lower the bass side of the pickup, but I'd recommend learning to dig in more with the fingers and less with the thumb.
_________________
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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Mitchell Blum
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 1 Jul 2016 7:26 pm
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| What are the best picks money can buy for someone at my level? I'm using the second hand picks that came with along with the guitar and the thumb pick seems ok but I can't seem to get a consistent attack w/ the fingers. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 1 Jul 2016 7:30 pm
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The best picks money can buy are only marginally better than the basic Dunlop .0225 or .025 at most music stores.
This part of steel was a HUGE PITA for me when I was newnew, and I came from Dobro...
_________________
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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Mitchell Blum
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 1 Jul 2016 7:38 pm
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| Will persevere. Much obliged gentlemen |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 1 Jul 2016 8:25 pm
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| You might try the blue nylon thumb picks (Herco?). They are smaller, lighter, and more flexible than their plastic counterparts. P.M. your address and I will mail one to you...FYI:'Elderly Instruments' carries a huge selection of all types of picks, good opportunity to do some comparison shopping. |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 1 Jul 2016 9:40 pm
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Another possibility is to replace the pickup with one with adjustable pole pieces for each string. I believe Bob Hoffner has stopped making the tonealigner, but Telonics still make such a pickup.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 1 Jul 2016 10:46 pm
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As I happen to play a GFI Ultra (w/ original GFI II PU and Jagwire (L.G. Series) strings) from time to time, I will just mention that I find it well balanced in levels and tone across the strings. It is mainly a question of how and where you pick the strings that matters.
I do alternate between a nylon and a thin metal thumbpick depending on how "boomy" I want especially lower strings to sound, but I do alternate thumbpick when playing any of my PSGs and they all react the same.
My thin steel thumbpick gives an attack-sound more or less identical to that produced by my other finger picks on any string, while the Blue Herco produces more "boomy" and "round" low strings and less sharp high strings. |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 2 Jul 2016 3:34 am
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I agree with some of the first posts... if you are just getting started, don't adjust the pickup, adjust your playing.
Just to make sure, try to get with another steel player and play their guitar. If you get the same result, it's in your playing.
This is something all of us have had to seal with.
_________________
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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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 2 Jul 2016 5:06 am
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My wife has a GFI Expo S-10 with the original GFI II pickup. It is as it was built, no adjustment on the pickup. I don't find any unbalance in volume. My wife, who has used this to learn never mentioned any unbalance in volume either.
Assuming the EQ in your amp is set properly, "practice, practice, practice". |
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Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 2 Jul 2016 5:30 am
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Key words from Jack Stoner "Assuming your EQ settings are set correctly".
Check your mid range setting and treble settings...also your bass setting may be too high relative to your other settings. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 2 Jul 2016 6:15 am
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Another item I forgot.
If you are using cheap guitar cords, they roll off high frequencies. Thus the bass is emphasized. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 2 Jul 2016 9:57 am
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How does it sound unplugged?
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 2 Jul 2016 2:26 pm
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Pick very firmly/hard with all your digits!
_________________
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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Mitchell Blum
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2016 6:08 pm
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| When I play the "problem" strings with my nylon thumb pick I get full and consistent sound across the board so it's not equipment related. The tonal discrepancy only occurs with finger against thumb. Reducing the curvature of the metal picks, strengthening my finger attack and backing my thumb away from the pickup have all helped somewhat. |
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Tim Whitlock
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2016 6:56 pm
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| After 23 years of using the same .015 gauge fingerpicks I only just found out that a .022 requires way less effort to get the same volume. (Derp!!) Trying a heavier pick will be your cheapest solution and hence should be the one you might want to try first. |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 3 Jul 2016 8:09 pm
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| Mitchell Blum wrote: |
| Reducing the curvature of the metal picks, strengthening my finger attack and backing my thumb away from the pickup have all helped somewhat. |
You're on the right track ... it is all about pick type, shape and technique  |
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