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Topic: Preamp for Lap Steel |
Frank James Pracher
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 6 Jan 2012 8:39 pm |
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It seems I will be playing some paying gigs this summer wich is a new thing for me. It's just a singer with a guitar and me with my lap steel.
Any recomendations on a pre-amp or pedal for plugging straight into the pa. Seymore Duncan Twin Tube? Any other ideas?
The singer has a nice Vox amp that I can use but I am thinking about portablity.
Any advice is appreciated.
_________________
"Don't be mad honey, but I bought another one" |
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Olli Haavisto
From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
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Keith Davidson
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 28 Feb 2012 1:46 pm
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Frank, here's what I use, in fact it was Olli that put me on to the Tech 21 Blonde.
No amp, direct from steel to pedal board and then out to amp. My first gig with my steel was Saturday past and it worked and sounded great.
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Dan Tyack
From:
Olympia, WA USA
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Posted 28 Feb 2012 7:51 pm
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| IMHO if it's just you and a singer/songwriter, take a small amp for the lap steel. A fender princeton is great but there are many other options. If you go with a direct through the board solution, it's going to suck (IMHO). If you have an amp you have some level of controll. |
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Keith Davidson
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 29 Feb 2012 3:52 am
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Dan, if going direct right out of the pedals I would agree.
But I can assure you my setup doesn't "suck", it sounds great. I don't get where you say you need an amp to have some level of control.
Control of what? I have control for my volume, high,mids,bass, etc., that is what the Blonde does - the same as am amp - hence the name "Sans Amp".
Plus the blonde has tons of power.
The big shot mix allows for a clean signal and a natural tone to come through, basically filtering any noise from the effect pedal circuitry and buffers.
I had lots of compliments on the sound of my steel on Saturday night. |
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Dan Tyack
From:
Olympia, WA USA
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Posted 29 Feb 2012 9:40 am
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Hey Keith, I didn;t mean to appear that I was responding to your post (I didn't see it until after I posted). In terms of the tone 'sucking' if you go through the board, I was speaking of my experience with amp simulators like PODs. I should have made it clear that I was talking about my experience only. I have heard that many people have had great results with the SansAmp pedals, but I've never tried them.
In terms of 'control' I'm talking about being able to control your on stage volume and tone without requiring assistance from the sound guy. Most of the singer/songwriter gigs I do either have no sound person or one with questionable skills. Especially the folky festival type gigs with 'volunteer' sound people.  |
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Keith Davidson
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 29 Feb 2012 10:03 am
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Hey Dan, no offense taken.
I started out with a Nashville 112 and just didn't want to drag something else as we have a lot of gear for a duo as it is.
After trying the direct route to the mixer prior to the Blonde, the sound did suck and like you mentioned there was no control.
When I posted the question on the board, Olli recommended the Tech 21 Blonde to me to do the job and it does work great.
It has a volume, mid, bass, highs, character, and drive control buttons and in fact every button you turn on it no matter how slight has a noticeable affect on the volume. It's very sensitive and quite powerful for a small pedal.
So it's easy to add or subtract volume, tone, etc.
I haven't had to use a sound man and couldn't afford one anyway.
You're echoing a lot of posters with the same opinion of sound persons that don't know much about the steel. That would be incredibly frustrating.
Volunteer sound people? I shudder at the thought....lol - what a nightmare that could be. |
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