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Post new topic The pedal steel on "Honkytonk Girl".
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Author Topic:  The pedal steel on "Honkytonk Girl".
Dan Meadows

 

From:
Texas
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2008 8:46 pm    
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How did Speedy West get such an awesome sound from the pedal steel on Loretta Lynn's original version of "Honky Tonk Girl"? I just listened to it again and you don't hear that sound today on recordings. I hear pedal steel sounds every day on newer recordings but not THAT
sound. Is it the amp? Do only early pedal steels have that sound? To my ear that is the ultimate pedal steel
sound/tone. Am I the only one who misses it?
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David Doggett


From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2008 9:42 pm    
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It comes from pickups with low impedance windings, tube amps, tube and analog recording equipment, and sparse instrumentation with steel up front in the mix. There was a similar discussion of this in a thread a month or so ago.
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Paul Redmond

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2008 8:11 pm    
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Note also the lack of reverb. Yes, that sound is absolutely awesome. I wonder if he was playing his Bigsby on that recording or if it was recorded during the Fender years.
PRR
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Dan Meadows

 

From:
Texas
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2008 8:51 pm    
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Thanks David.
I remember hearing that song for the first time when I was probably still in elementary school and it struck me as such a wonderful and awesome sound. It stuck with me and THAT sound of the early pedal steel is still my favorite although I love all pedal steel music.
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