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Post new topic Sound Set Up: How do you guys do it ??
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Author Topic:  Sound Set Up: How do you guys do it ??
Kevin Raymer


From:
Chalybeate, Kentucky, USA
Post  Posted 1 Jan 2005 11:02 pm    
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OK guys, I'm new to PSG. I've got a MSA D-10 with Lawrence pickups. I'm struggling to get a sound I'm satisfied with.

Do any of you go through an effects processor straight into the PA Board.

I'm a guitar player trying to convert. My guitar set up is a Boss GT-6 foot system straight into the board.

I would like to get something like that going for my PSG, but I can't seem to get it just right.

Another question: Where in the travel of your volume pedal do you spend most of your time. i.e. where's the typical optimum position for most of the playing. 1/2 way, 2/3 ???

Any help would be appreciated on these topics.

Thanks

Kevin Raymer
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Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 2 Jan 2005 2:13 am    
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Keven, here is what I do and I am very consistent gig to gig..

Steel > Goodrich 120 > old Peavey PROFEX > Nashville 400..

Ok, I use the PROFEX only for slap delay approx 290 ms. I have edited out everything else, no EQ, no Reverb, no compression..no nuthin'...the delay gain is usually about 35%.(35 or 40 on the Profex display)

Now, the input gain is set on the Profex to max out on the peak level meter when the Volume Pedal is full..sweeping a full chord...

AS far as the N400 goes, pretty much settings the same as the rest of the planet..strong on the lows, very minimal mids, shift approx 800, hi's and Presence approx 12:00 noon. Reverb as req'rd.

On the gig I may add some low end or pull out Hi's or Presence ..small tweaks based on the room or stage..My amp is always on a stand so that may require a tweak in the low end..

N400 Pre gain approx 11:00 , Post gain almost 100%

I do not plug into the board..thats a
calm before a Tornado...I'll go out on a limb here..VERY few Steelers if any, plug into a board direct on a gig..without using a stage amp. Mic'ing an amp and going direct are two different things...

Sound reinforcement systems/enclosers are very strong on mids and hi mids..this is totally NO NO land for a Steel Guitar .

Steel Guitar amps are not the same as Guitar amps..they are EQ'd for Steel guitars with a ton of headroom and generally use a Speaker which is intended for Steel Guitar use...most commonly a 15"-'er...JBL , Peavey Black Widow and Eminance..

IF you are using your effects system for "ALL THINGS" Id'e be willing to bet all of your money that the mids are set on the EQ patch way up there with the rest of the EQ curve.

My feeling about the volume pedal is that your foot should be sitting basically flat on the Pedal which is probably in the 60% range of the Pedal..you use the extended range of the pedal (full down) for sustain of the chords or notes as the Steel volume diminishes...(natural pickup output)

Electric Guitars love to be a tad edgy or crunchy..Thats a complete opposite to the Steel world where clean / loud /sustain is the ticket .

hope this helps, it's just one point of view...well maybe more than one..

and don't feel to bad, some folks have been seeking gear for a hundred years in the quest for the holy grail tone...just look at the posts on this forum about this subject !

t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 02 January 2005 at 07:13 AM.]

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Bill C. Buntin

 

Post  Posted 2 Jan 2005 5:23 am    
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Guitar, amplifier input (Nash 1000 or 112), Loop Send to Volume pedal, Loop Return from Volume pedal, Boss Delay and Rev. in effects loop. Depending on the gig and sound system, either mic the speaker or use the low impedance line out on back of the amp to go to the house.

I get more expression from the volume pedal this way. AND the full load of the pickup is always present at the amp input. Which too me, provides the best tone.

The only time I ever go direct is if I record.

There are so many different ways to do it right. Every situation can be different. But for my taste and sound that I like, the above is usually the standard that I go by.
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Larry Bell


From:
Englewood, Florida
Post  Posted 2 Jan 2005 6:17 am    
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I use a GT-6 for steel. It's my favorite processor. I record using the S/PDIF digital output or straight to a mixing board and go into a clean amp (Standel or Peavey) for gigs. You'll want to use very little (if any) amp modeling -- the models are just too dirty for steel. I use the preamp model and beef up the bottom end a bit and scoop out the mids around 800 Hz. Add a little reverb and a little delay and it's good to go.

I've never used the Peavey processors, but I've heard many great sounding steel players who do. I like the fact that the GT-6 is compact and not rack mounted, but has ALL THOSE EFFECT POSSIBILITIES.

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

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Robert Thomas

 

From:
Mehama, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 2 Jan 2005 7:03 am    
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We are all so different that I think it is impossible to set a standard hookup. I set my Hilton Volume Pedal so there is just a little volume in the full off position. As far as my PSG setup goes, I run my Hwp D-10, 8+4, into my Volume pedal and then directly to my Mutron Bi-Phase and from there to my 2 Dan Echo units and then into my Peavey MP-5 plus amp head, soon to become my Peavey M600 amp head, and from there into two speaker cabinets which each have 2-12" 16 Ohm Jensen speakers. I would have to say that my setup doesn't even come close to what most use, so it becomes one of what suits you individually and you have to experiment to find that out.
I sincerely wish you the best in finding your ideal setup!
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Dave Grafe


From:
Hudson River Valley NY
Post  Posted 2 Jan 2005 3:46 pm    
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Hi Kevin, welcome aboard,

You might want to look through the "Electronics" section of the forum, there's lots of info there - quite a few pickers (including myself) like to go direct, though as stated above most prefer to mic the speaker of a good amp.

Check out this string for instance: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/008884.html

Lately some good words have been shared about the Line 6 Pod XT. I haven't used it myself but it seems to be serving at least some folk well.

Good luck with your quest, in the final analysis, that tone you are seeking eventually ends up being in THE HANDS.

edited to correct severe abuse of the engrisch
------------------
Dave Grafe - email: dg@pdxaudio.com
Production
Pickin', etc.

1978 ShoBud Pro I E9, 1960 Les Paul (SG) Deluxe, 1963 Precision Bass, 1954 Gibson LGO, 1897 Washburn Hawaiian Steel Conversion



[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 02 January 2005 at 03:48 PM.]

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Kevin Raymer


From:
Chalybeate, Kentucky, USA
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2005 6:26 pm    
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Gee, Thanks Guys. My mentor is a stern advocate of the Peavey ProFex II with the steel sounds. I havn't aquired one of those yet, but odd are I will..

I own a GT-6 that I use for Guitar..

I'm with you Larry, I love it. I tried a Line 6 POD 2 before I got the GT-6 and the the GT-6 was much better for me.

Larry Bell, Do you use the volume pedal on the GT-6 or do you use a seperate volume pedal before or after the GT-6.

Badd spelers of the wurld untie !!!



Thanks

Kevin

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Larry Bell


From:
Englewood, Florida
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2005 9:23 pm    
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No, Kevin, I use a Hilton pedal and often a black box (for tube warmth) before the GT-6.

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

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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 5 Jan 2005 12:05 pm    
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Hi Kevin, just up the road a piece in Shepherdsville Ky a friend of mine fronted the band in a Hotel lounge. He played a Sho-Bud into a Pro-Fex II straight into the PA.
He had a wonderful sound. He had an advantage in that the mains were kind of 90° to each other and one of them could be heard from his left side. Also, he was the singer and owned the equip. so he was able to put himself wherever he wanted in the mix.

All of these processors were essentially guitar focused but with some understanding and tweaking can be used quite successfully with Steel. I don't know of any reason why you can't program good steel patches on your GT-6.

You're not that far away, so if you can make it up to our Steel Club, you can swap ideas with some guys that have been playing steel for a long time. We'd welcome your input and guitar experience. We meet the 3rd Sun. of each month near Shepherdsville. [Jan. 16 this mo.] Directions can be found by doing a Lou. Steel Club search under my name or feel free to email me if you would like more info. Good Luck and welcome to the SGF.

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David Spangler

 

From:
Kerrville, TX USA
Post  Posted 5 Jan 2005 9:24 pm    
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I use the GT-6 either into the effects return of a combo amp or into a bridged power amp. I have found for loud, clean with headroom, I had to not use the amp models at all. I set the volume pedal for 50% to 100% range. The GT-6 has all Roland's latest COSM modeling and effects combined with the MIDI, pedals, tuner and expression pedal.

I'm selling my GT-6 (see For Sale..) after purchasing the new Line 6 POD XT Live, primarily due to the ability to program and edit on the PC while actually playing.

------------------
David Spangler
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Gerald Menke

 

From:
Stormville NY, USA
Post  Posted 7 Jan 2005 10:59 am    
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Dear Robert Thomas,

Two 2X12 speaker cabinets? You maniac. That must be a killer sound indeed. Hard to find stages here in NYC where they'd even let you in with that much gear, I bet you sound awesome.

Some folks look at me crosseyed when I wheel a Magliner in with my one Diezel 2X12, steel, seat and rack, you've got me beat for sure.

Keep on pickin'.

Gerald
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Robert Thomas

 

From:
Mehama, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 8 Jan 2005 8:29 am    
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I have been a single for about 7 years now and the sound I get is not for loudness, but I call it fullness. I have used these same two cabinets for over 30 years and I cannot stand the sound without them. Prior to going single I have always played with a 4 piece group and we all enjoyed the full sound it gave us without being loud.
Thanks for your summation that I sound like what you might think.
Sincerely!
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