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Topic: Using high output PSG PUP in amp built for guitar PUP |
Allan Haley
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 28 Nov 2016 8:35 pm |
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| Hi steelers. The 705 pickup in my PSG seems to have much greater output than my Traynor YGM3 is wired for. The amp doesn't distort, but it's ripping loud even at 2-3 on the volume knob. I have been keeping my volume pedal low and opening it up only for swells. Maybe this is the answer. I wonder if any of you have had to mod an amp to make it more usable in terms of input/volume. I am not a tech guy- a menace with a soldering iron. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2016 10:43 pm
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Where do you typically work the volume pedal? Generally, a hot pedal steel pickup will be attenuated a LOT because of the volume pedal use. Then the amp's input sees a relatively normal input level. But some pedal steel players play real hot on the volume pedal. In that case a hot steel pickup can really drive an amp's input hotter than what we want it.
B |
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Allan Haley
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 10:53 am
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I have learning how to better use the volume pedal. It's a skill and art all in itself. I've been keeping it about 60% normally and opening it up only for sustain and swells. That may be my answer right there.
When I hit the strings with the pedal opened up, it's just blistering. Keeping the pedal backed off takes the edge off the attack. |
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 11:54 am
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| I have an opinion on this, some may disagree, and that is OK. I don't think steel guitar pickups are too hot for a guitar amplifier input. What over drives any amplifier input is too much signal, and it won't be the low level signal of a magnetic pickup. What else is in line between the guitar and amplifier? Any powered device in the signal chain, even battery powered devices, boost the (voltage) output level of a pickup. The signal gets stronger depending on the number of devices between the guitar and the amp. Often guys using devices between the guitar and amp do not know how to control these devices. Thus, many of these devices put out more signal than they should. Is your volume pedal a powered device? Are you absolutely sure you know how to use a powered volume pedal? How high do you have the control knobs on your amp turned. May be that you have to set the controls different when using pedal steel instead of guitar. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 12:14 pm
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If it's not saturating the input, it's not too hot.
I run all my amps at about 5, even in the bedroom, even my 6x6L6 Super Twin Reverb. I open the pedal the right amount to achieve the desired volume. The only time it's too loud is when I get carried away.
_________________
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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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 1:47 pm
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| If you are using a tube amp with an effects loop and inserting the volume pedal in the loop, it is quite possible to overdrive the first tube stage with a steel guitar pickup. Most tube amps have a second input that attenuates. In this situation plugging into no 2 will remedy that. |
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 2:36 pm
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| Jim you gave some "good" suggestions. |
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Allan Haley
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 2:41 pm
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Thanks, Keith. I have a passive Goodrich 120 running into a Holy Grail and then straight into the amp.
I think my answer is in the volume pedal. I still am getting the hang of it. I'll take Lane's advice about using the volume pedal as a master volume control while keeping the amp turned up. |
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