Volume Pedal Technique?

Steve Howard · From: High Ridge, Missouri, USA

Posted here becuase this is more of a technique question than an effects question. Real quick, where do most of you keep your "normal" volume pedal position at? I usually keep mine at probably 60%, however, in my band, that is still pretty low and at that volume you can barely notice me in the mix. When I have a fill I bring it up to about 80% and for solos I might go all the way to 95%.

Now, last night, our drummer didn't come to practice and I didn't adjust my amp so it was really loud but I back off and probably played my pedal more at 35% most of the night and it was a little strange, but for the first time I really felt like I could sustain some notes becaues I had so much more pedal to work with. I have a Hilton pedal so the tone is smooth for the whole action of the pedal.

Where do most of you place your volume pedal at?

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

for me right around what you are doing. I have to say I don't really pay much attention anymore.

I set the gains on the amps the same each week..then I play..if I am too loud (ha!) I back off..If I am not loud enough I may set the gains up a tad more on the amps..so that the reference normal volume is like you say 60 or 70 % of the pedal..somewhere around there I guess...

The #1 thing that has made my volume pedal technique consistent week to week..practice to practice..is that it is now FIXED to the Steel. I have come up with a little fastening system which places the Vol Pedal to the Pedal Bar. It is now in the exact same place everytime I play..this has allowed the greatest progress with V Pedal technique.

Think about it, all pedals and knee levers are in the same exact place..we never really think about where they are, we just know.

I read in the Brain Surgeons handbook to lock down the Vol Pedal too..

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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 04 April 2006 at 04:55 AM.]

Larry Strawn · From: Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.

I do about the same as Tony does, I set my gains the same each night, but I play with my pedal I think around 1/2 way, maybe a little less. If I find I need to get on the bottom of my pedal to keep up, then we are too LOUD!!

Ps. Tony I think you're right about locking the pedal down, I bought a Hilton, and a bracket to go on it, it stays in the same place now, doesn't slide around on me, I believe this has really helped.

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Emmons S/D-10, 3/5, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

[This message was edited by Larry Strawn on 04 April 2006 at 08:33 AM.]

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Probably in the 25 - 40% range for backup playing. 50 - 75% for lead playing. This gives me the last 25% for sustaining notes.

David Wren · From: Placerville, California, USA

Like Richard, around 30%, using the reserve for sustaining notes, or flowing to another chord. I think you'll find most experienced players will fall within this range.

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com

David Doggett · Posted 4 Apr 2006 9:08 am

Maybe I'm in a minority. I attack notes with my volume pedal around 30-40% on, and adjust my amp volume for different venues to keep it that way, so that my foot becomes accustomed to that spot. If my volume pedal ever bumps its maximum when I am trying to sustain notes, my amp is set too low. What's the point of having all that volume pedal throw if you only use the last 20-30% of it? I think this sort of variability in volume pedal use is why some people can use a small amp (their pedal is always 70-80% on), and others of us need a big amp (our pedal is mostly only 30-40% on). That's the difference between a 50 watt amp and a 100 watt amp. Interesting question. I'd like to hear how some of the top pros use their volume pedal.

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Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

I think some are stating ( me as one of them ) 60% to 70% is the normal pedal action level.

I personally think 30% or 40% is way too low...

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I've worked with so many soundmen through the years that I've had to make my preferences acceptable to someone else controlling my volume. I reserve the top 25% of my pedal travel for sustain and I never give full pedal to the soundman during sound check (even though that's usually what they ask for). Most of my fills and chord comping is down with about half of the volume pedal and a bit more than that for solos. When the soundman asks for my loudest level I play at about 75% pedal. It has kept both soundmen and recording engineers pretty happy AND (from what folks in the audience tell me) kept my level up pretty well in the mix.
Works 4 me.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

During most fills I have the pedal open about 50%, up to 60% - 70% for rides. The rest is reserved for sustain.

Maybe I have warped shins or something (the humidity is pretty high here), but I can't play with the volume pedal pointed straight forward. My right foot naturally wants to point at the right front leg of the guitar, so I have the volume pedal pointed that way.

Lee, from South Texas

David Wren · From: Placerville, California, USA

Larry you old sand bagger..... me too (now this site is restricted from access by soundmen right... except Dave Graffe) :-)

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Last place most of the soundmen I've worked with would hang out is the Steel Guitar Forum.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Steve Howard · From: High Ridge, Missouri, USA

I must be lucky, our sound guy has never complained with the volume variance do to the pedal.

Or maybe he is just so bad he never noticed ???

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

When I went thru California on a tour in either 99' or 00' (I'd only been playing for a little over two years), I met and saw Dave Zirbel play, and I was just blown away by his confidence and "attack" with his playing. One of the the first things I asked him was how he worked his pedal, and told me he pretty much kept it wide open the whole time -- I don't remember any ballads. Now, I don't know if Dave still plays that way, but finally, after getting back into pedal steel this year and getting some confidence, I, too, like playing with the pedal wide open, and only backing off a bit on initial attack with slower songs. I used to pump it like you shouldn't, and I'm surprised at how much pumping I hear in tunes on the radio or CDs. That said, I'm a stick in the mud now and only record/play at home now, so I don't have to worry about live situations/soundmen.

By the way: Dave Zirbel is one of the best players I've ever seen live.

Al

David Wren · From: Placerville, California, USA

All of Sammy Hagar's steel players are as good as Dave :-)

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com

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