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Topic: Voiced for Steel |
Steven Paris
From:
Los Angeles
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Posted 31 Jul 2016 12:32 pm |
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I have heard the term "voiced for steel" used a lot in amplifier descriptions. What EXACTLY does this mean? Say, in terms of frequency response? +3db at 3KHz? A dip in the 3-400 Hz range? And what components/ circuitry contribute to this "voicing"? Cathode bias in tubes, or FETs in solid-state? I would like to understand how this voicing is achieved electronically.
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Emmons & Peavey |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2016 5:20 pm
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Others may have a different take on it, but I consider "voicing" to be the EQ shaping of the tone. There are other tone factors for sure like tube, FET, solid state, and more, but voicing suggests EQ to me, the use of filter circuitry.
"voiced for steel" is a broad concept. Over the decades, many excellent steel amp designers have had their own take on just how to voice properly for steel. Some early Evans amps had their midrange "voicing" dip down below 400Hz. Webb at 550Hz. Quilter has a fixed mid frequency, but I forget what it is. Fender and the many circuits derived from that have a sweeping midrange dip that follows the treble control. Peavey, Telonics, Walker, and others offer quite a bit of voicing control very adjustable to the player's taste.
Generally the steel-friendly voicing tends to be a dip in that 350Hz to 900Hz range, and a player will adjust that by ear to best match their guitar, their picking "tone", their speakers, their cabinets, their pickups, and their overall tone quality of the electronic circuitry.
Just my view. YMMV.
Brad |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 31 Jul 2016 5:33 pm
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I voice amplifiers "for steel" by increasing the overall bandwidth of the signal. Most guitar amplifiers are designed to enhance a certain midrange frequency, and I like to give my amps a more open sound. Its not necessarily flat, but its designed with a pedal steel in mind and the EQ points are at frequencies that make sense.
I also tighten up the bottom end so its not flubby, and smooth out the top end so its not too harsh or biting on the high notes. This has a lot to do with the power supply and component choice, as opposed to EQ points.
Headroom is important too. A 40W guitar amp design will have less headroom than a 40W amplifier voiced for pedal steel.
There is a lot of finesse in electronics when it comes to amplifier design. No two are alike, and even the smallest change can make a huge difference in the voicing.
this is why there is no amplifier that is "the best"
every amplifier is voiced differently, built differently, and designed to meet different goals. This is why its always a good idea to have a few different ones to play with, as opposed to only one and expecting that one amp to do everything
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Milkmansound.com |
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Carl Mesrobian
From:
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
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