Tone Preference.....Vintage Classic or Modern?

Jay Ganz · From: Out Behind The Barn

Would you rather hear the old "Bud-PP-ZB" type tones
from yesteryear...or a fuller more modern "Zum-Franklin-Carter" type tone of steels made today?
Asking strictly about tone not mechanics.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

I can't draw the line that way. The Emmons push-pull sounds as modern as anything to me. I think that's part of its appeal. It was ahead of its time.

I didn't vote.
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Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Jay, I heard tone is in the hands.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

ZB,Sho-Bud,Russler,Desert Rose.
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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

Sho-Bud Professional with Bigsby (Danny Shields copy) pickups.

Jim Peters · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.

I think my Carter has a very traditional tone, how should I vote? JP
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Carter,PV,Fender

Jonathan Cullifer · From: Gallatin, TN

I can't personally classify the tone by the guitar. I've heard some very good modern playing on the "Vintage sounding" guitars and very good vintage playing on "Modern sounding" guitars.

I'm not discounting the sound of the guitars, but to my ears, a Sho-Bud and a PP don't sound much alike. It's hard for me to group it this way except by the player and the playing style.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I like any good pedal steel guitar, and I have and love some of both types. So I didn't figure out how to vote either.

But I suppose if someone put a gun to my head and said "Either your answer or your brains on that piece of paper", I'd say "Sho Bud". Whoa!

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

People that hear me play tell me I have a modern sound, so brand of guitar notwithstanding, I reluctantly voted that way.
I love it all.

When I think of a vintage steel sound, songs like Satisfied Mind are what come to mind. You don't hear that much today, but that may be due to style changes and recording techniques rather than guitars?

Jay Ganz · From: Out Behind The Barn

OK....look at it this way then. Do you prefer the tone
heard on today's more modern recordings or that heard
on more "classic" country from years ago. There's definitely a difference there.
As Jerry says, it's not necessarily the steel alone, but changes in recording techniques as well.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I had a 71 PP Emmons D-10 (Black) that I bought new. I got my Franklin D-10 (new) in late 81. The Emmons was sold a month later and "I don't miss it".

Colby Tipton · From: Crosby, Texas, USA

The 60's, 70's.
Sho-Bud and Emmons.

I would call the 70's MSA Classics and SS the modern steel guitars of the time period.

Michael Douchette · From: Gallatin, TN (deceased)

Bill Simmons · From: Keller, Texas/Birmingham, AL, R.I.P.

Although I don't personally think the adjectives are accurate in the sound desciptions of the steels, I will vote to have the Sho Bud and Emmons p/p tones. Some of the most full sounding steels have been my ShoBuds...some of the sweetest cleanest tones have been Emmons P/P's

It seems to me that a number of the modern built steels have sought to sound close to either the warmer Bud or clearer P/P tones. The Zum Hybrids are super steels and to my ear, they are close to the Emmons PP tone. Again, just my opinion...
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Rains Steel Guitars

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

What would a Williams be? Classic or modern? How about a Sierra?
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Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Gee, there were a few threads a while back where it seemed the manufacturer's intent was to get all "modern" steels to sound the same - have just one consistent, "typical", "Steel Tone".

If that's the case, I'd vote for ANYTHING that has its own tonal personality, even if it lacked some particular quality. "Clone-tone" bores me, and I don't know abot everyone else - but I don't want to sound just like Buddy, or Sneaky, or Paul, or Cletus playing the bedroom.

See, I like those little controls labeled "volume" and "tone" on a guitar (something ridiculously lacking, IMO, on most new steels), and similar ones on amps. And I like to MOVE the, depending on the venue, to maintain some consistency in MY sound - and I will purposely use them to AVOID sounding like some other player. That's HIS tone. Why do the same thing?
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Its all good of course, ANY steel sounds beautiful, but the old Fender ZB and Bud steels through a Twin was THE defining "pedal steel sound" IMHO... bob

David Doggett · Posted 5 Aug 2007 12:38 pm

Couldn't you get most of the vintage sound even on a modern instrument by using pickups with fewer windings and lower impedance like they used back then? And of course, playing through a Fender tube amp.

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I like all PSG's. Each one has its own flare, so to speak. I'd like to keep seven. One for everyday of the week!

Tommy Young · From: Ethelsville Alabama

I myself didn't vote my catagory wasn't there are was it COUPLE of you that posted here has played some of my modded guitars where do I cast my VOTE would love to hear BILL S. and BILLY C. answer to to where I should vote TOMMY YOUNG

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Cory Dolinsky · From: Old Saybrook, Connecticut, USA

i like it all, as long as it is mixed well within the song, but my favorite is the old school sho bud fender type tone Cory

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I think most of the "sound" we come to relate with comes from the player, and the way the amp is set. The few players (like Lloyd) that play the same guitar they did 30-40 years ago sound nothing like they used to, even when they use the same type of amp.

Rex Myers · From: Risingsun Ohio, USA

I would have to agree with Kevin H, a lot of it is in the hands plus givin all the variables each player has. I think its also interesting how some of our favorite steel players have evolved their tone over time its all relative and fun to talk about Very Happy

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Rex Myers Fessenden U-12, 6 string Lap, Randall Steelman. Fender Princeton ReverbII, QuilterTT12

Carol Johnson · From: Califonia, USA

Waaaay too many variables involved here... Thus cannot really cast a legit vote on this subject...

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