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Topic: My idea of a good change for tone....maybe |
Kevin Barber
From:
Marianna, Florida, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2014 7:34 pm |
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Well, after a LOT of searching the forum, internet, private messaging and aggravating other steel players on this forum, I have really been thinking about the following changes in my setup.
I have a GFI Ultra, Goodrich L10K and Nashville 112. So far the changes I am seriously considering doing is a Telonics 409 pickup replacing the GFI II pickup, the Ken Fox mod for the 112, and replacing the stock speaker in the 112 with a Telonics.
It won't make me play any better, but the mistakes I make will hopefully have a more pleasing tone. lol!
It's a good bit of money for me for now, but I was wondering if in addition to all of this if a Lil Izzy and maybe an external tube pre-amp would improve the tone even more, but this would be a little later on, unless I need to do some of the latter before the former in any combination.
(I know, I know, "tone is in the hands", but obviously at least some of it is in the amp and pickup) |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 2 Oct 2014 9:37 pm
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A cheaper alternative might be to get an EQ pedal.
I use a Boss GE7 EQ pedal occasionally (when I'm struggling to get an acceptable tone) |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 2 Oct 2014 10:07 pm
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I'm really digging a V8 octal through a bone stock Nashville 112. I'm also using a PF Steel Dream. Which has the best delay and reverb for me. We all have different ideas about tone. So your mileage may vary.
For and example of what I think is good tone. Click here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZoPTJNmiCw |
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Ken Campbell
From:
Ferndale, Montana
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 3:49 am
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| Sarno Black box - Nashville 112 w Fox mods and an Eminence EPS -C 12. I took Tommy Whites advice and I have to say my guitar has never sounded better..... |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 4:05 am
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My experience, with the NV112. Either the chip mod OR the speaker replacement but not both. I experimented and settled on the less expensive chip change. I sold the Eminence EPS-12C.
This is not a knock on the Eminence speakers. My main gigging setup is an MB200 amp and an Eminence EPS-15C speaker (and I could get by with the EPS-12C speaker instead of the 15"). |
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Roger Francis
From:
kokomo,Indiana, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 5:01 am
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I just added the Sarno V8 to front of my already GOOD sounding nash112s with the telonics speakers and fox chips, and with the telonics pedal little izzy and wet reverb things are sure sounding sweet even though the chips aren't doing anything set up like this. Playing the first gig Sat night with the V8 and if it sounds as good on stage as it does in the music room im in for a real treat. The first thing i noticed besides the tube warmth was the sustain and sensitivity of picking the strings -----"in a good way"
Kevin, after the speaker and chip upgrade by adding the izzy was another leap forward for me, but i guess its all in the ear of the beholder
_________________
Rittenberry SD10, 2 nashville 112s with telonics speaker, behringer EPQ450 power amp, 705 pups, Telonics FP-100, live steel strings, mogami cords, wet reverb
Last edited by Roger Francis on 3 Oct 2014 5:12 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 5:09 am
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I would have a player who has a tone you like come over and play your rig before deciding what to do. I would also check out other brands of steels before modifying anything.
_________________
Bob |
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 5:20 am
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Hi Kevin,
I don't want to do a shameless self promotion. (I borrowed that phrase from Brad Sarno) We've all chased that elusive perfect tone. Can you define the tone that you are seeking? Where is your present tone compared to where you want it to be. Sometimes the sound of a steel guitar can be moved from here to there with great improvement, and without much difficulty or cost.
Kevin, when you find your perfect tone, please let us know how you did it. We're all trying to get there.
Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792
cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com
C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024
_________________
"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name. |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 5:23 am
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How does your Steel sound to you when you go directly from the Steel to the Amp with a good cord?
Can you describe what you think is wrong with your tone?
Just curious.
Maybe you can post a clip? |
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Kevin Barber
From:
Marianna, Florida, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 5:51 am
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| Bobby Boggs wrote: |
I'm really digging a V8 octal through a bone stock Nashville 112. I'm also using a PF Steel Dream. Which has the best delay and reverb for me. We all have different ideas about tone. So your mileage may vary.
For and example of what I think is good tone. Click here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZoPTJNmiCw |
Bobby, now THAT'S what I call a GREAT tone!!! Of course I know he has the tone in his hands, but holy cow, that is awesome!!! |
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Kevin Barber
From:
Marianna, Florida, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 6:01 am Tone
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Hey guys, thank you so very much for the responses and suggestions. I have heard the v8 and it sounds good, but it's a little (no, a lot) out of my price range right now.
I did watch a video of two steel players playing together, one had a GFI like I have and the other was playing an Emmons. To me, the Emmons had a much better tone, to my ear anyway, than the GFI. I heard the same tone with the GFI on the video as what I am hearing at home with my GFI. I love the GFI, don't get me wrong, just need to adjust the sound.
To answer the question about my current tone, it seems to be kind of trebly and thin, not full, fat and smooth (the guitar's tone, not me, lol)
I'm probably like some others, one day I will decide THIS is the direction I'm going with changing pups or speakers, then the next day, I will see something else and have to explore that and compare back and forth. It's a vicious cycle. ugh.
Thanks again for all input. It may be a little while before I REALLY make up my mind what I'm going to do, but I'm certainly going to do something. I hate that about myself. hehe. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 6:36 am
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What are your settings on your 112?
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jack Goodson
From:
new brockton,alabama (deceased)
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 6:51 am tone?
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| kevin: you just need to load up your guitar and rig and bring it up to our house, i beleive i can help you with you making a decision before you spend all that extra money. you are welcome anytime, just give me a call....thanks jack |
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Kevin Barber
From:
Marianna, Florida, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 6:58 am Settings
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
| What are your settings on your 112? |
Hey Lane, I have tried all kinds of settings so far, but can't get a smooth, fat, full tone yet, so the settings are changing all the time. |
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Kevin Barber
From:
Marianna, Florida, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 7:02 am Re: tone?
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| Jack Goodson wrote: |
| kevin: you just need to load up your guitar and rig and bring it up to our house, i beleive i can help you with you making a decision before you spend all that extra money. you are welcome anytime, just give me a call....thanks jack |
Mr. Jack that is a very nice offer and I will probably take you up on it in the near future. I will give you a call when I see what my work schedule is. I only have about one full weekend off every seven weeks, but I do have days off during the week most of the time though.
Again, thanks to everyone for your help. Glad I found the forum!! |
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Kevin Barber
From:
Marianna, Florida, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 7:23 am settings
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| Lane, I have searched the forum and have tried other players settings for the 112, but I still haven't found settings that I like yet. It may just be me and my picking skills. Even have practiced without an amp and had to "dig in" more and even tried playing like that with an amp. That did help some though. |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 9:28 am
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Have you tried dialing in your tone with just the Steel going directly to the amp?
fwiw, It wouldn't be the first time a volume pedal ruined a players tone for whatever reason, typically having to do with some kind of tone-sucking electronic mismatch between the pickup, the volume pedal, and the amp. |
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Pete Nicholls
From:
Macon, Georgia, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 11:10 am
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Kevin, the biggest bang for your buck in my opinion is the Telonics 409 pickup. I replaced a George L E-66 with one and it made a world of difference. It sounds good through most amps now!
_________________
Justice The Judge SD-10, 2007
Justice Pro Lite SD-10, 2011
Quilter Steelaire
Quilter Labs Tone Block 202 Head
Roland Cube 80-XL
American Stratocaster - Yamaha Bass Guitar
1 Fender Telecaster Nashville Edition
Ham Call: N4BHB |
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Steve Lipsey
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 11:10 am
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When I had a GFI I dumped the GFI II pickup and that made a WORLD of difference, it is all that was needed...and many others have found the same thing, from what I read on the Forum...it was thin and brittle...
Of course, they make the pickup pocket just a tad smaller than most pickups (!!) so you will have to file the sides of the Telonics (what I put in) just a bit, no big deal.
_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 11:20 am
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Try using the method in the second post in this thread here
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=223731
And try boosting low mids instead of cutting upper mids.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Kevin Barber
From:
Marianna, Florida, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2014 7:13 pm Tone
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Thanks again to all who have given advice to me. I'm going through and re-reading everything and letting it digest.
Lane, I will try to adjust my tone via the link you posted. Thank you! |
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 4 Oct 2014 9:26 am
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| Steve Lipsey wrote: |
| When I had a GFI I dumped the GFI II pickup and that made a WORLD of difference, it is all that was needed...and many others have found the same thing, from what I read on the Forum...it was thin and brittle... |
Funny, my feeling about the GFI II pickup is that it is fat and full but has no brilliance. Different amps, different ears... |
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Steve Lipsey
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 4 Oct 2014 12:57 pm
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I actually have forgotten exactly what was wrong with it....you probably are right. I really just remember that it sounded awful!
_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor |
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Daniel Policarpo
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Posted 5 Oct 2014 4:49 am
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| richard burton wrote: |
A cheaper alternative might be to get an EQ pedal.
I use a Boss GE7 EQ pedal occasionally (when I'm struggling to get an acceptable tone) |
Sometimes I like using an EQ, too. Some days the pickup isn't what you want, or the speaker or amp isn't getting enough low end, or whatever. We hear different things different days and an EQ not only allows for those variances, it provides a way to explore your sound in new directions. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 5 Oct 2014 5:12 am
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Along the lines of what Bob said, I think one priority for any beginning steeler should be to have a really good player sit in on your rig, and show you what it's already capable of! (I'm talking about tone here, not hot licks, or impressing them with some knee lever.) Many times, I've discovered that some beginners don't have the faintest idea how to set an amp, and how to pick and work the volume pedal, and that will vary from one guitar/amp combination to another.
Learning how to manipulate tone without adding stuff to the signal chain is something every pro knows, and it's a skill that must be learned, just like playing and tuning.  |
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