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Topic: Best amp settings for E-66 pickups |
Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 26 May 2014 10:19 am |
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I have a D-8 Remington with two Geo-L, E-66 pickups.
I am going through a Peavey NV112...and have to set my treble on full clock-wise to get a clear, predominant treble sound. My other settings are straight up "12'oclock" and the shift is set at about 2 o'clock.
If you are using Geo-L pickups, what settings are you using for a good sound? I understand the E-66 are the humbucking type vs single coil.
Thanks for any suggestions! |
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Frank Welsh
From:
Upstate New York, USA
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Posted 26 May 2014 11:19 am
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Tom, I have the same D-8 Remington as you with the E-66 pickups and I have the bass on 12:00 o'clock, the middle anywhere from 12:00 o'clock to 3:00 o'clock, the treble on 12:00 o'clock and the presence on 12:00 o'clock. This is on the Roland Cube 60 on the clean channel.
With careful A-B testing I've discovered that my Fender Deluxe 90 with the Celestron speaker it came with gives noticeably better string separation along with enormous clean headroom and I'm using it now for steel. The settings on the Fender for treble, middle and bass are 3, 5 and 5 respectively for the sound I like - full with enough treble for clarity but not too much. I play mostly Hawaiian and some jazz and pop tunes.
The tone control on the Remington has a lot of effect on the sound and I never open it up to full treble. I usually turn it down to about half way or a little beyond half way, just enough to get some definition to the notes. I am not familiar with the Peavey's tone range so I can't make a comparison.
I think the tone settings on an amp depends on the amp, the room, whether you are playing alone or with accompanyment and a million other things like temperature and humidity, etc. etc. By the way, I use C13th and B11th for my music.
If I played mostly country (e.g. Hank Williams) I would use more treble and probably throw in an E13th tuning with a high G# just like Don Helms did instead of my C13th. |
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Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 26 May 2014 11:36 am
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Thanks for the info Frank. I have a friend that has some Fender amps...I'll do an A-B test with some of his equipment. I realize the E-66 is not going to produce the "bite" as a single coil would...but the E-66 should be better than what I'm now getting.
I'm using an E13 with a high E for country and B11 for Hawaiian material. |
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Frank Welsh
From:
Upstate New York, USA
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Posted 26 May 2014 12:42 pm
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Just a side note Tom...Don Helms used a B11th on his second neck and this is a great tuning for some of those "bluesy" songs that Hank did. Of course, it is also a great tuning for Hawaiian - I do about half of my music on the B11th.
With any of my amps treble turned up and the E 66 pickups' tone control opened up, it's enough to make my ears bleed, so I don't understand the treble deficiency you mention. Naturally a single coil pickup will sound brighter, but the E-66 is supposedly the brightest of the George L series of pickups.
Your answer may well be in the selection of the particular model of amplifier you use. Perhaps your Peavey has some malfunction in the treble tone section? Have you tried, say, a Tele or Strat through the Peavey to see if there really is an issue with the Peavey's treble? |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 27 May 2014 5:16 am
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i personally like the E66. if you want highs like a single coil...then get a single coil.
the thing i like most about the E66 is the percussive feel you get when you hit the string...a very natural loading and compressed "whack'! sort of like the emmons thing he gets naturally with any pickup. you can raise them close to the strings and get a nice saturated sound, but you have to be careful of your attack as it will distort when extremely close. a bit away from the strings is better for all around playing.
the pickup is very quiet also.
all the mp3s of my leavitt experiments that i have put on the forum for the last years has been via the E66.
if you are turning up treble and not getting any, you must be using a transistor amp. get a tube fender with a jbl or an altec. |
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Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 27 May 2014 6:57 am
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I intend to try out some Fender products. Also, I am contemplating installing the Ken Fox chip modification for my NV 112.
The E-66 pickups are slightly over the thickness of a quarter (25 cent piece) from the bottom of the strings to the top of the pickup...so I think I am in the "ball park" for that adjustment. |
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Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 27 May 2014 3:28 pm
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I love my E66 pickups. Bill setup the pickup in perfect distance from the bridge and below the strings. So my fender amp is flat. Any tone can be adjusted on my instrument and playing style.
I don't mess with amp settings as this colours the natural sound of the instrument.
I think your setup may be the thing that needs tweaking. Once you set them up right amp settings won't be a deciding factor. Masking that tone makes steels sound generic as opposed to unique. Just my two cents.
_________________
Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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