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Topic: Intonation problem |
GaryL
From:
Medina, OH USA
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Posted 27 Apr 2014 12:48 pm |
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Maybe someone has had the same experience and can offer advice: I have a keyless U-12 with a lot of honky-sounding mid-range that I cannot get rid of. It is present regardless of strings, amps, settings, volume pedals and has remained unchanged with several pickups. Could the material in the changer be a factor? I have an awesome-sounding keyless D-10 by the same manufacturer, but in years of playing and tinkering with steels, I've never run across this.
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GFI Ultra D-10 keyless
Quilter Steelaire(s)
Telonics rack system, 12"& 15" TT Speakers, Hilton Volume |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 27 Apr 2014 1:30 pm
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What guitar, and what pickup? And intonation usually refers to hitting notes on pitch. You have a tonality problem instead. I'd look at alternate pickups, or possibly a rewind.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
Last edited by Lane Gray on 29 Apr 2014 6:13 am; edited 1 time in total |
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GaryL
From:
Medina, OH USA
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Posted 27 Apr 2014 1:50 pm Tonality
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Lane,
Thanks for your input! I didn't want to diss the manufacturer.(It is a GFI.) I have changed two pickups with the same result. The first pickup was a Lawrence 710 (?) and the second is a George L. Both should sound good. The guitar has a lot of nasal-sounding "honk" with either, far from the tone of my D-10's.
_________________
GFI Ultra D-10 keyless
Quilter Steelaire(s)
Telonics rack system, 12"& 15" TT Speakers, Hilton Volume |
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memphislim
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 27 Apr 2014 2:53 pm
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Have you tried a single coil pickup? I don't use the humbuckers for the very reason your describing.
If all else fails and you have a graphic EQ, just dial down the offending frequencies. I have a 31 band as part of my Digitech 2120 and have had to use it on every guitar I've had except my ZB. |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 27 Apr 2014 5:18 pm
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What amp are you running? lots of complaints out there about honky sounding amps....
What you hear at home practicing by self requires the near-opposite tone as what you require in a band context.
The OP may have the ideal band mix instrument! I have one guitar in particular that could use some "honk". |
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 27 Apr 2014 5:31 pm
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Since you've tried other amps and pickups, etc., I'd ask you if it has ever sounded good? Has anyone done any "adjustments" to the guitar, or is it as it came from the factory?
I ask because things can get real screwy if someone played around with any screws, bolts, or other mechanical fixings on the steel. Screws can be over-tightened/loosened, or unbalanced...especially at the changer.
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Best regards,
Mike |
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memphislim
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 28 Apr 2014 5:05 am
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| To add to my previous post, yes, changer material can definitely be the culprit. My ZB originally had aluminum changer finger caps and when I went to stainless, the tone was way better in the mids. I'm in the process of upgrading my Marlen's changer fingers to stainless because I'm convinced this will improve the weird overtones its producing too. |
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GaryL
From:
Medina, OH USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2014 2:25 pm Tone problem
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I appreciate all of the feedback. To answer a few questions, this guitar was set up in an extended E9th when I bought it, but it was originally a universal. I removed a knee lever and returned it to the universal tuning according to rodding charts supplied by the manufacturer. I have played it through my two Nashville 400's, both of my Nashville 112's and a rack system (Telonics preamp, TubeWorks 1500, Peavey 15" cabs.) I listed the pickups earlier, and neither made any difference. The only thing I changed (beside the copedent) was the 1/4" jack because someone had installed a stereo jack, and there was very little signal at all from the pickups. I own a D-10 GFI keyless and it is bad@$$ though any amp I have! I was wondering if the problem was in the changer fingers?
_________________
GFI Ultra D-10 keyless
Quilter Steelaire(s)
Telonics rack system, 12"& 15" TT Speakers, Hilton Volume |
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memphislim
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 29 Apr 2014 5:18 am
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| What else could it be at this point? Did you try the pickup from the GFI in it? |
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 29 Apr 2014 6:02 am
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So I take it, from your answers, that the guitar has never sounded normal, and that you heard the problem before you did anything to the guitar...Correct?
Have you contacted GFI for advice? Maybe have another knowledgeable steeler, or tech, take a look at it. A second set of eyes can often be very helpful.
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Best regards,
Mike |
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memphislim
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 29 Apr 2014 7:06 am
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Since they're got GFI's Mike suggestion would make the most sense. Gene will know if the changer fingers are a different composition.
In my earlier post I meant to ask if you'd tried taking the pickup out of the D10 and putting it in your S12? |
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GaryL
From:
Medina, OH USA
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Posted 29 Apr 2014 1:05 pm Toanl problem
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The poor guitar never sounded "normal." I bought it used, and there was a spare pickup included (a George L). I installed it, thinking that it might have been the original.(I would have installed a Lace Tonebar, but there is not enough height beneath the strings.) Two pickups, same sound. I changed the high B and G# strings to .017 and .020W respectively, and that helped a little. I also raised the pickups a bit, but that did not matter. I was wondering if I've overlooked something. Maybe I better call Gene. I love the GFI D-10, and use it as my "road" guitar. Thanks for your suggestions.
_________________
GFI Ultra D-10 keyless
Quilter Steelaire(s)
Telonics rack system, 12"& 15" TT Speakers, Hilton Volume |
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