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Topic: Rukavina Improv |
Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 13 Apr 2008 8:59 am |
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I recorded a short improvisation using my Rukavina 8 string lap steel yesterday. The tuning is as follows:
E
F#
D
B
A
F#
D
A
It was recorded direct to my Roland 8-track recorder using a Line 6 POD. Here is a link to my Sound Click page. Hope that you enjoy it.
Rukavina Improv |
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Richard Sevigny
From:
Salmon Arm, BC, Canada
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Posted 13 Apr 2008 3:20 pm
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Very Beautiful. Great tone and phrasing.
_________________
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If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.
-Albert Einstein |
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Stephan Miller
From:
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2008 4:24 pm
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Real spacious and pretty....nice use of that chimey 2nd interval on the top string...definitely a song in there. Which amp model did you use on the POD?
Glad you decided to keep the Rukavina, also. |
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2008 4:55 pm
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Good stuff! 
Are you doing string pulls?
What kind of pickup? |
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Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 13 Apr 2008 11:00 pm
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Thank you for the comments. I really appreciate it. I usually use the "classic Marshall" setting on my POD with the gain turned most of the way down. It still gets a little crunchy but it's decent enough for home recordings.
The pickup is a Truetone 8 string pickup. I feel that it has more mids and isn't quite as open sounding as the pickups in my vintage lap steels but it sounds pretty good to me - especially recorded. I've owned the Rukavina since late last year and this is the first time I've had a chance to record anything with it.
I didn't do anything fancy like string pulls on this recording. The intervals were all very accessible within the tuning. I usually use a fair amount of slants but I feel like I'm still learning how to play 8 string (I'm much more comfortable on 6 string steels at this point). The approach I took is very much how I tend to play when I'm working with a vocalist in a support role.
Anyway, thanks again. |
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Stephen Dorocke
From:
Tres Piedras, New Mexico
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Posted 14 Apr 2008 5:27 am
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| Nice! You mention the "Classic Marshall" setting.. I used to have 2 mid 60's Plexi-- model 1959 heads. Fantastic steel amps!! The steel sounds very nice indeed! |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Apr 2008 6:09 am
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Very nice! I really enjoyed both your playing and sound. 
Steinar
_________________
"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Posted 14 Apr 2008 7:07 am
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Nice clip Michael
I have a Line6 Toneport that I use with headphones for practice sometimes. I'll have to explore the Marshall models a bit.
I mostly use their Fender models and the strait preamp model too.
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| ...The pickup is a Truetone 8 string pickup. I feel that it has more mids and isn't quite as open sounding as the pickups in my vintage lap steels but it sounds pretty good to me |
What wood(s) is your steel built with?
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Some misc pics of my hand crafted steels
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Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 14 Apr 2008 7:57 am
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Tom -
Here are the specs that Ryan Rukavina provided:
Body: BUBINGA body w/ASH and PURPLEHEART center strips.
Neck: BUBINGA set neck, w/ASH and PURPLEHEART center strips.
Fingerboard: WALNUT with PURPLEHEART binding & ABALONE inlay dots.
Scale Length: 22 1/2".
Pickup: Jerry Wallace TrueTone-8 . .
Bridge: Hand Made of STAINLESS STEEL and PURPLEHEART ---- 3/8" string spacing.
Nut: Bleached Cattle Bone - 3/8" string spacing.
Knobs: Black knurled metal knobs.
Control Cover(s): BUBINGA
String Retention: -Polished Stainless Steel Ferrules on top & an inset PURPLEHEART strip on it's belly, to receive the string's ball ends.
Tuning Machines: Chrome Mini-Grover's
Output Jack: 1/4" Switchcraft barrel jack; placed near the hip to keep your cable away from your feet.
Finish: Several applications of Tung oil, rubbed out with carnauba finishing wax.
In general, the instrument is very beautiful with a high level of craftsmanship. It plays very well and the string spacing is not too tight. I personally prefer instruments with a longer scale length but I'm getting used to 22-1/2". The sustain is just a bit different than even 23". It took me a while to come up with an 8 string tuning that I liked but this one is pretty cool because you can get some pseudo pedal steel sounds with it.
Regarding my POD, I only really like the "classic Marshall" setting as it is relatively low gain and gets a surprisingly good clean tone. I play guitar as well and find that it has a ringing quality to it that actually reminds me of Vox amps. It is supposed to be similar to a Marshall Plexi. The "Modern Marshall" settings are much too distorted and buzzy for my tast. I have friends who like the Fender settings but they feel strange to me. I wish I could use a real amp for recording at home but I live in an apartment and can't really turn things up very loud. |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Posted 14 Apr 2008 8:46 am
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Ryan does do a fine job building his steels.
Bubinga has a somewhat bright midrange that may be a part of the mid source you are hearing.
I was curious because I have a TT8 for a future project but have no first hand knowledge on how it it voiced.
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Some misc pics of my hand crafted steels
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Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 14 Apr 2008 8:52 am
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| I can easily see how the wood would really affect the tone. I would describe it as a very focused sound with full mids. My main lap steel is a 6 string Supro Comet which couldn't sound more different. It's nice to have different tones available, though. It wouldn't be much fun if they all sounded the same . |
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