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Topic: Took the plunge....Need Advice!! |
Tom Enderlein
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 7 Jun 2010 6:18 pm |
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Hello Everyone on the forum!
I must begin by stating what a great knowledge base this forum has been. It's a pleasure to be a part of it. Hopefully I can contribute more as my knowledge of this instrument develops.
Yesterday I purchased a steel guitar on ebay. I figured this would be a good start to the 10 string steel guitar world. It is a Sho-Bud 10 string (non pedal) console steel guitar. Apparently, the owner purchased it and removed the pedals and such so what I have is a stripped down console version of a early model maverick. I think this will be good for me because of my limited knowledge of theory and the workings of a pedal steel guitar. Instead of finding a guitar that is set up for a specific tuning, this will allow me to decide what kind of tuning I need/enjoy.
Since this is my first steel, I have many questions.
1) I suppose I will need a volume pedal to operate this steel since there are no volume controls on the steel itself. Is this optional or a required piece of equipment?
2) If I wanted to use this for blues/rock and or sacred steel, what kind of tuning should I use? E7th?
3) Im assuming that I will need to re-string this guitar, any suggestions on 10 string sets? Is the diadarrio set available through GC a good start?
Thanks again for your help/advice in advance! - TJ |
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Al Terhune
From:
Newcastle, WA
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Posted 8 Jun 2010 6:39 am
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Hey, Tom -- I'm the fellow you purchased that from! You're going to love that new/old guitar. Let me start by saying I've got an extended C6th/Am7th on there, which I've found good for anything, whether it's rock, pop, Hawaiian, blues. They are rather new strings, so if you want to keep them, you won't need to change anything.
As for volume pedals, as has been suggested by many on here, I'd learn without a pedal at first, just to make you more dependent on your technique rather than mechanical compression. Personally, I don't use a volume pedal with lap, though many incredible players do/did, including Billy Robinson and Jerry Byrd.
If you have any questions about this guitar after you get it, don't hesitate to contact me or post.
_________________
Al
My equipment:
One heck of a Wife
The ghost of a red Doberman
Several pairs of reading glasses strewn about |
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 9 Jun 2010 1:11 am
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Welcome
Cool guitar you have there
Volume pedal was the first thing you mentioned. While it is not absolutely necessary, I believe you will find it helpful to continue sustaining notes/chords. The idea is to keep opening the gain(volume) as the tone fades out. You can also cut the volume quickly by backing off. Some call it the expression pedal.
Start with a passive pedal that is smooth in feel and not scratchy in sound.
The C6/Am7 tuning should be fine. This is a widely used tuning. Anything can be played on it.
With a 10 string neck you could consider E13. you will find it in LINKS (above). It has some cool sounds.
Choose your strings with an eye on the future. Figure out which you prefer, stainless or nickel wrap. buy them in sets of 10 for your guitar. I really like the JAGWIRES sold here on the forum. Everyone has a preference.
Same with bars, picks.
Trust your ears, find a good instructor/teacher/mentor asap
Good luck |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 9 Jun 2010 3:03 am
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| If you are looking to play sacred steel style, you will probably want a wah pedal more than a volume pedal. You can go to the Campbell Brothers web site I believe and find out what pedal they use. I've liked the Podx3 with the expression pedal that can be either volume or wah. |
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Ryan Barwin
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 9 Jun 2010 3:40 am
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For bluesy stuff, an E7 tuning would work well...
low to high: E G# B D E G# B D E G#
If you tune the third string up to C#, it's E13, and if you tune both the third and seventh strings to C#, then it's E6. Lots of cool sounds there, and very versatile.
_________________
www.pedalsteel.ca |
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Tom Enderlein
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 9 Jun 2010 7:46 am
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Fantastic Advice!
Al - I was hoping you would be a member of this forum. I'm looking forward to getting to know that instrument very soon. Thanks for shipping it out so quickly.
I will let you know if I have any questions for you.
Ron - Thanks for the advice. Earnie ball makes a well reviewed mono volume pedal. I think this would be nice to have some sort of control over the pickup and I can work on my swells later. Thanks!
Bill - I happen to have a wah on my guitar rig.... I will have to give it a try on the new steel!
Ryan - Thanks for the tuning advice. I think im going to have to experiment with tuning for a while and see what clicks. Ill give the E7th and E13th a try.
Thanks again for the advice guys! Im sure I will have more questions for the future!
- TJ |
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