| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic What OD pedal are you using for PSG?
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  What OD pedal are you using for PSG?
Cliff Kane


From:
the late great golden state
Post  Posted 29 Jun 2006 7:23 pm    
Reply with quote

I'm curious what pedal people are using with pedal steel to get a good tube-like overdrive tone. I'll be using it with an Evans amp. For standard guitar I've tried the Boss Bluesdriver and liked it, and I used a Menatone Red Snapper that I liked a lot, but these were with a Strat through a tube guitar amp. I never really liked the Ibanez Tube Driver, I thought it was too woofy and puffy with the mids. I'm not looking for a Rat style distortion pedal or a fuzz pedal, but rather something with a tube OD tone, creamy and gritty. If I could afford it I'd try a tube pre-amp like a Mesa or a Tone Bone, but I'm looking for a more economical option. I've never tried pedals with a pedal steel through a proper steel amp, so I'm not really sure if my previous impressions of pedals will directly transfer to a PSG set-up. Any recommendations?

Thanks!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Michael Hartz

 

From:
Decorah, Iowa, USA
Post  Posted 29 Jun 2006 8:06 pm    
Reply with quote

Our band did a show last weekend with Rascal Flatts and I got to talk with their steel player, Travis Toy, quite a bit. He plays alot of overdrive in their set and uses a Voo Doo Labs " Sparkle Drive" pedal. It sounded awesome and he said it doesn't change your tone like alot of other pedals he's tried. He also likes it because you blend between your clean tone and overdrive with a knob on the pedal. I'd like to try one as right now I'm using a Danelectro "Daddy-O" and would like a better overdrive sound.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Twayn Williams

 

From:
Portland, OR
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2006 10:19 am    
Reply with quote

Get a Bad Monkey. Go to GC and pick one up, $40, and if it doesn't work with your amp, take it back! I've had that little box bump $300 boutiques off my board.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Stu Schulman


From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2006 10:29 am    
Reply with quote

Ciff..I use the Boss Blues Driver on both my Strat,and Steel,I have to back off on the drive on the steel,I assume beacuse the pickups are hotter.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Larry Robbins


From:
Fort Edward, New York
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2006 10:41 am    
Reply with quote

Me too.

[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 09 July 2006 at 11:48 AM.]

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Cliff Kane


From:
the late great golden state
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2006 11:35 am    
Reply with quote

Thanks for all the advice and info. I just found a Boss Blues Driver BD-2 used for $35. I figured for $35 I can't go wrong......I got it, and it's great on steel, I had used one a few times before with my Strat, and I liked it. This one sounds great, I think it sounds better than the one I used before. It works great with my SS amps (Evans and PV Session). I used to be a pedal snob, I got caught-up in all the boutique sobbery and looked down on the Boss stuff, but this BD-2 is great. It sounds fine in bypass, too.

Thanks again!
Cliff
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Cliff Kane


From:
the late great golden state
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2006 11:44 am    
Reply with quote

[This message was edited by Cliff Kane on 09 July 2006 at 12:44 PM.]

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Darvin Willhoite


From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2006 12:06 pm    
Reply with quote

I use distortion quite a bit and I use a Tube Works tube driver. With single strings, it produces a good synth like sound. Then you can crank out the power chords and slides with multiple strings.

------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording


View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bob Hoffnar


From:
Austin, Tx
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2006 9:58 pm    
Reply with quote

Fulltone II for me.

------------------
Bob
upcoming gigs
My Website



View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2006 3:01 am    
Reply with quote

I use a Boss BD-2, the blue one. But I am considering getting a Voodoo Labs Sparkle drive,as mentioned above. This Pedal is one that Brad Paisley uses often with his DR Z's by the way. My Tele' bandmate just picked one up and it has some very nice additional CLEAN and Drive features that most pedals do not have.

t
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
mike nolan


From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2006 7:50 am    
Reply with quote

Sparkledrive... or Full-Drive II. Depends on what I need, both sound good.... but have different control functions. The comp cut on the Fulltone is cool and the clean blend on the VooDoo Labs is really versatile.... Buy 'em both.
My favorite thing at some larger gigs is to switch in a cranked Blackface Vibrochamp as a distortion box... with a Weber 10"... put a mic in front of it.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bobby Lee


From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2006 9:21 am    
Reply with quote

I use the lead channel of a Mesa/Boogie amp. Here's an example whaere a play a lot of rhythm on steel, but I do get a small solo too: http://openheartsmusic.com/lyrics/on.a.ledge.html

I like sort of a dark "brown" crunch for this sort of thing. Nothing that pierces.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2006 11:33 am    
Reply with quote

Cliff,
In a recent posting, the Bobbster recommended the Boss SD-1 Super Over Drive. I haven't tried mine yet, maybe we can get some comment on this stomp box.
Erv
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ben Slaughter


From:
Madera, California
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2006 8:00 pm    
Reply with quote

I like the Blues Driver or the Boss OD-3
View user's profile Send private message
John Macy

 

From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2006 9:04 pm    
Reply with quote

SparkleDrive here, too, though I also love the Barber LTD Lo Gain Overdrive. I may have a new fave soon, the ZenDrive that should be arriving shortly...
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron