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Topic: George L's 10-5 |
James Collett
From:
San Dimas, CA
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Posted 10 Jun 2008 4:00 pm |
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Any particular reason why this pickup shouldn't be used? My teacher has one, and it sounds pretty good, but I'd heard somewhere that they're bad pickups. Is this true, or just someone's preference? Thanks!
James
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James Collett |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 10 Jun 2008 5:20 pm
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Without knowing the source of the negative comment, it's impossible to assess its usefulness. I have a 12-5, the 12-string version, in a Sho Bud, and I think it sounds good. It's humbucking, so it isn't noisy. To me, if a pickup sounds good and isn't real noisy, it is good.
I, personally, tend to believe my own eyes and ears over the rumor mill. Just because someone (including me) thinks they're good or bad doesn't mean you will agree. My opinion, of course. |
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James Collett
From:
San Dimas, CA
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Posted 11 Jun 2008 12:12 pm
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Thanks Dave. I don't remember where I heard/ read that, but there were a bunch of reasons why not to get one. Oh Well- I'll probably be gegtting one soon, for some reason the Carter-Starter pickup just doesn't sound good, no matter how I adjust it.
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James Collett |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 11 Jun 2008 1:35 pm
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Try changing chords from your steel to the amp and even try different volume pedals. George L chords with the George L jacks as short as possible are a good choice. Try playing from the guitar directly into the amp with no volume pedal. Also, try the above without any effects pedals in line. Experiment with the above before changing a pickup.
With that said, I have several guitars with the 12-1 pickup and they sound very nice nice. |
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James Collett
From:
San Dimas, CA
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Posted 11 Jun 2008 7:19 pm
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Len--
Done, done, and done. I've tried everything- direct into a mixer, straight into an amp, etc. The only way I can even get it to sound the slightest bit decent was to eq it with barely any mids or lows ad lots of highs around 5k- gave it a thin, bakersfieldesque sound.
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James Collett |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 11 Jun 2008 10:23 pm
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| Quote: |
| Done, done, and done. I've tried everything- direct into a mixer, straight into an amp, etc. The only way I can even get it to sound the slightest bit decent was to eq it with barely any mids or lows ad lots of highs around 5k- gave it a thin, bakersfieldesque sound. |
I would measure the resistance of the pickup in your guitar with an ohmmeter. Perhaps the coil has opened up or shorted. That could produce a very thin sound like what you're describing. For example, when the coil opens up, the resistive impedance is essentially infinite, so what you hear is the effect of the coil capacitance, which passes only high frequencies. |
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Roger Edgington
From:
San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 12 Jun 2008 10:18 am
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| I'm still using the 10-5 pu that came in my Zum 10 years ago. Guess they haven't been too bad. |
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James Collett
From:
San Dimas, CA
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Posted 12 Jun 2008 6:53 pm
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Dave- the pickup itself doesn't sound thin, but that's the only way I can 'Q it to make it even resemble a pedal steel. I've checked the resistance- an even 17.5 Ohms.
Thanks everyone,
James
[EDIT] By the way, Mike, Some cool stuff on that page!!
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James Collett |
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James Collett
From:
San Dimas, CA
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Posted 12 Jun 2008 7:28 pm
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Click Here to listen Here's a link to a file of a raw recording- nothing but my guitar and the interface. Click the hyperlinked title, "Pedal Test 1" then click "Save As." Sorry, it might be painful (I've only been playing just shy of a year and a half)
Also the pickup is VERY microphonic- don;t know if that has to do with my problem.
I've tried it through several different amps, I've had my teacher sit down and adjust the amps, etc. and no matter what it's midrangey. I then reduce the midrange and I end up with a thin, almost sterile sound.
Thank you all!!
James
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James Collett |
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Ulf Edlund
From:
Umeå, Sweden
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Posted 13 Jun 2008 2:40 am
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I had a starter in for service awhile ago and i was actually surprised by the tone. The pickup was microphonic but i played it beside a Franklin, MSA and a Legrande III and liked the tone.
That, however, is not the same as saying it sounded like any of those guitars 'cause it doesn't.
It has a "midrangy" sound much due to it's construction, wood neck etc. I got a nice fat, slightly Sho-Buddish tone out of it.
If it's that glassy Emmons-like, aluninum neck tone you're after you're just not gonna get that out of a CS.
I've listened to your sound clip and can't find anything wrong with the sound OR your playing.
Check out the Bobbe and Terry Crisp CS video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa849ZUO9jA
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1983 Emmons D10 SKH, Carter SD10, Nashville 112, Session 500, ProfexII, Lapsteels, GT-Beard reso, guitars of all kinds...
http://www.myspace.com/ulfedlund |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 13 Jun 2008 3:48 am
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A beautiful sound/tone is (a lot) in the ear of the beholder. My CLR S12 with wood neck has a Geo-L 12-1 in it, sounds good to me, have been told by others that it sounded good so...
If you can find another Starter to listen to in person, and play yourself, and maybe A/B them before spending a lot, or changing anything.
Bill
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Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 13 Jun 2008 5:00 am
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I listened, and like Ulf, I found nothing "wrong" with the sound of your pickup. I'd prefer it with a little more treble and a little less mids, but that's just personal preference (and easily attainable on any good amp).
| Quote: |
| The only way I can even get it to sound the slightest bit decent was to eq it with barely any mids or lows ad lots of highs around 5k- gave it a thin, bakersfieldesque sound. |
That's the way I EQ all my steels! Bass at half or more, mids all the way down (or nearly so), and the treble fairly high.
Note: if you're using an amp with a mid-shift control, that control is extremely significant, and must be set properly to get a sound that isn't nasal or soggy. Also, it's important to have the volume of the amp set fairly high to get it's best tone. (Control you maximum volume with the volume pedal, not with the amp's volume control.)
Often, I do a demonstration, and slide one type pickup out of my guitar and slide another one right in, and most players are dumbfounded at how little a difference it really makes. |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 13 Jun 2008 9:35 am
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| James Collett wrote: |
| Also the pickup is VERY microphonic- don;t know if that has to do with my problem. |
I had one in my GFI, (poked a hole in the bottom finger rest plate to mount the switch) and liked the single coil sounds well enough, but it was WAY too microphonic to be usable IMO.
I've ended up with a TrueTone wound to 12k and it's a keeper!
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Primitive Utility Steel |
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James Collett
From:
San Dimas, CA
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Posted 13 Jun 2008 9:58 am
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Hmm... maybe its just me then!  It just seems that no matter what kind of amp I play it through, I just can't get a sound that's even close to what I'm striving for. I sit down and play my teacher's Deckley, and it's like night and day! I've kind've outgrown my CS anyway, so I guess a new guitar should be in order. I just always thought pickup selection made more of a difference. Anyways, thanks everyone again!!!
James Collett
BTW, Twayn, I was talking about the starter pickup being very microphonic, not the 10-5. I'll consider the suggestion for my next guitar, though!
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James Collett |
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Ulf Edlund
From:
Umeå, Sweden
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Posted 13 Jun 2008 11:10 am
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No worries James, it will come to you.
We've all been there, struggeling with our sound, chasing "that tone".
Sometimes you just can't get what you want from a certain instument. Then you come across it one year later and it sounds just fine.
This is just one of many things steel guitarists have to put up with. 
And as i said before, there's nothing at all wrong with your playing. Be proud.
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1983 Emmons D10 SKH, Carter SD10, Nashville 112, Session 500, ProfexII, Lapsteels, GT-Beard reso, guitars of all kinds...
http://www.myspace.com/ulfedlund |
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James Collett
From:
San Dimas, CA
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Posted 13 Jun 2008 4:57 pm
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Yeah, I'm still chasing that sound. I think I'd be a lot happier with a pro instrument, though. I just can;t get my KL's adjusted right, my C pedal action's too stiff, etc. I think the fact that I occasionally get to see ad play another instrument makes me hypercritical of what I've got. Interestingly enough, I've come to realize that the microphonicity (word?) of the pickup bothers me more than the actual tone. I took Donny's advise and turned the amp up louder (much to the dismay of the other inhabitants of home and neighborhood) and I got a little bit more of a full tone, so that helps. It's just too bad a CS isn't very adjustable and a little uncomfortable to sit at- it weighs and costs a perfect amount! 
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James Collett |
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