twin steel effect

Terry Srader · From: Georgia

I've heard on recordings what sounds like twin steels being played. How is this done? What is best device to use to accomplish this?

What does everyone else use?

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

If it's not actually two steels then it's most likely one steel using a "chorus" effect.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Cooper time cube?

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Many artists have done this on many recordings.

I think Sonny Garrish is the one the comes to mind the most.

They just record over what they did.

Perfectly.

EJL

Johan Jansen · From: Europe

On recordings with twin steel I double my own tracks. On stage I use a pitchshifter and delay. Pitch a little higher then direct (1 till 5 %), delay about 80 ms, effectvolume between 40 and 65
experiment with it, try, try, try....

Papa Joe Pollick · From: Swanton, Ohio

If you would like to hear a fine example of 2 steels playing together, give a listen to "Steel Guitar Magic" with Billy Hew Len and Barny Isaacs Jr.
I like to record 2 steels.Did it on Sleepwalk.One guitar panned slightly right with a touch of reverb,the other panned slightly left with heavy reverb.Sounds like one guitar on the front of the stage with the other in the back.The one up front playing lead,and the one in back doing complimentary fills.Fun..PJ

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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body,but rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up,totally worn out,and loudly proclaiming:"WOW,what a ride!"

Dean Batye · From: California, USA, R.I.P.

Russ Hicks & Randy Beavers do a twin set,
and have a new cd out that is as good as it
gets. Saw them in Mesa AZ.in jan. was a show
stoper.
Dean Batye

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Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

I've done versions of twin steel in the studio. Basically your recording your steel once; then recording again on another channel. Sometimes I'll do a harmony part or a exact octive part; as the example here on a Billy Dee song called> [url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/SoundFiles/BillyDee/06%20-%20May%20Your%20Heart%20(Rest%20in%20Pieces).mp3]May Your Heart Rest in Pieces[/url]
In the intro I did a double track on the first half then single on the last half> then on the solo I double tracked the first half; then single track in the middle; then octive double track on the out of the solo.
Have fun.
Ricky

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

What a cool soundin Steel there Rick.

Terry Srader · From: Georgia

Great feedback. So, it's safe to say that this CANNOT be done w/ just 2 amps and maybe a chorus / delay pedal? or can it?

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Well, that depends. I've heard some of the "top-tier" steelers (Jimmy Crawford and Sonny Garrish come to mind) do stuff with double and triple-stops, and it really sounded like two steels playing! It takes a really deft touch to do this, but if you time the notes off just the right amount, it does give the impression of a "twin" sound. Playing with some unisons and octaves can give a similar effect. too.

Of course, as mentioned above, there's always the double-tracking and over-dubbing stuff done in the studio, along with many delay, reverb, stereo panning, and chorus effect combinations that they can use to get a different sound.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 31 March 2006 at 01:34 PM.]

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Well, here's my little trick to getting a ‘twin~steel’ effect! Simply pick on strings 3–5–6 and either think as you would playing on 3–5 or 5–6, but; always pick all (3)-strs. together. Then use it where ever it fits a melody. Try it and let me know if this is what you have in mind. I use this little trick on the second half of the bridge of Ray Price's song “Let Me Talk To You”. Or just send me an E-Mail and I'll send you a 30-sec. WAV-Attachment. It's all on strings [3–5–6] together!

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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
n.t.s.g.a. #90
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment

Raybob Bowman · From: S. Lake Tahoe, CA, USA

The best "twin steel effect" I can remember was when I played lead guitar/2nd pedal steel with Bobby 'Quasar' Lee in 1978. On some songs, especially "Steel Guitar Rag" we played twin steels.

I guess that's something you never see anywhere anymore, 2 steels in a band, except for at conventions or special places.

Raybob

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Sierra U12 8+5

basilh · From: United Kingdom

The effect you are referring to is achieved by overdubbing the second part playing a Different inversion.Mr Hughey and Myrick, are especially adept at this type of colouring.

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Bill Ford · From: Graniteville SC Aiken

Yo Ricky,
It is so nice to hear good country with good steel...super job. For twin steels,Jimmy Crawford, Russ Hicks are the first to come to mind,"Nashville Bar Assn." is a good example.

Bill

Barry Blackwood · Posted 1 Apr 2006 7:07 am

I believe ol' ET used twin steels, (Buddy Emmons & Bobby Garrett?) on an album or two ..
The best way I know how to accomplish this effect is to hire two steelers for the gig.

Sam White R.I.P. · From: Coventry, RI 02816

I have twin Steels in my Pro Fex along with Dobro and it sound just like a dobro.That is one of the reasons I had Ken Fox save my settings when i had him replace the Battery with a Burr Brown which makes it battery less.
Sam White

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

To do it right,assuming you're real nimble with double stops,you need to do what Red Rhodes did. He wound himself a stereo pickup,w/every string having a single pole and its own set of windings. He then summed every other string to left/right busses and brought it all out thru a stereo jack and played it thru 2 amps spaced about 6 feet apart.The pickup ended up being kinda weak because of the limited amount of wire you could get around a single pole and still get it all to sit under the strings right but it really worked pretty well. And the coolest part was that he had it on a modified Sierra so he could slide the pickup back about 5/16ths before it came disconnected - just enough to have the strings switch sides while a chord was ringing.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

In the studio, always double-tracked, using different voicings. But I used to have a rackmount, a Korg SDD-2000. It did all time delay effects. Ya know Delay, chorus, flange et., etc.. On the back of the unit was a knob called "Detune", IIRC. It would detune the delay, and gave a great twin guitar sound in live situations. Wish i still had it! Maybe it's time to chech ebay again! JB

David Wren · From: Placerville, California, USA

I'm with Johan. Pitch shifting used very carefully, both on stage (FX unit), or using recording softwear to pitch shift one track, while leaving the other one normal (record to 2 tracks, or duplicate the one track).
sounds like '80s steel guitar playing (songs like "Drinking My Baby Off My Mind").

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com

Eddie Thomas · From: Macon,Ga.,USA

A good Pitchshifter and 2 amps will give the dual steel sound. Set the Pitchshifter at +10 cents or -10 cents. You are guaranteed to turn heads, looking for the second steel. At one time, JayDee Maness used two Pitchshifters, one for +10 cents and one for -11 cents. Hope this helps.

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