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Topic: Strings- "Balanced" Sound |
Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Posted 9 May 2005 7:49 pm |
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I've seen reference in various posts to a balanced sound among the strings on a non-pedal steel.
I notice on a couple of my steels that the thicker gauge strings produce a much louder sound than the plain ones. To get the top strings at what seems to be the optimal volume level, the mid to bottom strings are resounding way too loud.
Also, the top string one one guitar (I use a .015 gauge) can sometimes even sound a little wimpy (almost like I'm using a .010 gauge).
Is this what a "balance of the strings" refers to...having all the strings ring out at the same volume? |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 9 May 2005 9:51 pm
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I'm guessing it means that regardless of what string you're playing on, you can't tell that it's a different string from the next.
It could also mean balanced tension... they all sag equally when pressed down at the 12th fret, for example. |
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Dan Sawyer
From:
Studio City, California, USA
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Posted 10 May 2005 4:02 pm
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| Lower strings are almost always louder since they are thicker. You should be able to adjust the pickup lower on the side where the wound strings are. That should help. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 11 May 2005 1:12 pm
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| Anytime I talk about " string to string " balance , I am referring to the tone and volume of the strings...Some pickups and steel's will STILL sound out of balance after they are adjusted ....A steel with good string to string balance has no offending strings that stick out like a sore thumb....The volume , and the timbre of the strings are very balanced ...Of course NOTHING is perfect , but some steel's are much better than others..... With a lot of pickup/steel combinations, the lower strings are WAY louder than the higher strings or vice versa ... When a good setup is done on the right steel , it will sound very even top to bottom .... Not every steel will give you this benefit, and the same steel still might not give you this benefit with a different pickup ....You will know the right combo when you play the steel ...Just like you will know the WRONG setup when you have offending strings sticking out making your playing sound like crapola !!......Jim |
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Dan Sawyer
From:
Studio City, California, USA
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Posted 12 May 2005 6:54 pm
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| James, please tell us which steels have treble strings that are much louder than the basses. I'd like to find one like that. |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 12 May 2005 7:38 pm
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| That's easy... a maladjusted Rickenbacher. |
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 12 May 2005 9:55 pm
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A great topic. Many factors.
The strings and their condition: brand, type, new, old, gauge, wound, plain, nickel, stainless.
The pickup factors. Distance to strings, single coil, humbucker, etc.
The amp and its EQ circuit.
All of these factors and more, can affect the "balanced" sound.
Finding the sound in an efficient way is difficult. Our measuring equipment (our ears) is not the same all the time.
hope this helps
Ron |
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