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Topic: Eliminating the volume pedal |
Bill McCloskey
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Posted 22 Nov 2021 9:20 am |
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| Lately, I've been playing without a volume pedal. With the eharp tuning, and playing jazz, I just don't see the need for volume swells. Anyone else going really non pedal? |
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Mike A Holland
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 22 Nov 2021 10:10 am
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| I am from the other side Bill. I never use a volume pedal. I bought one a few years ago but just never really get around to using it. |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 22 Nov 2021 12:03 pm
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I use it in Bali Hai, and whenever I want to extend the life of harmonics. Not too many other uses.
_________________
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Michael Stephens
From:
South Hadley, MA
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Posted 22 Nov 2021 12:07 pm
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| I never got in the habit of using a volume pedal with lap steel. It definitely can add an interesting element, but doesn't seem necessary. I can control the volume a bit with my picking hand attack. |
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Jeff Highland
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 22 Nov 2021 12:10 pm
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I put a kick and a snare on my pedalboard, Not enough feet or room for a volume pedal.
_________________
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 22 Nov 2021 12:32 pm
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I made three runs at using a volume pedal but none of them took. I went about it in the wrong direction I suppose .... started with an original 50s Bigsby pedal, went to a 60s Fender volume/tone, and finally, to a modern Dunlop pedal I never use.
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Steve Lipsey
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2021 1:20 pm
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Coming from pedal steel, I really felt I should have one, to get more of the pedal sound beyond just sliding those slants, and that Moyo is just so danged cute...so I keep putting it on the board, finding it a nuisance - hard to use it to just put volume up or down to the same place for solos or tuning, and I don't really do swells much - and taking it off the board, replacing it with a momentary cut switch for tuning...
Solved it this morning!
I have a drawer of effects that I sort of like, but not enough to replace one that is on my board full time....so I made a second pedalboard, will connect to the first, with everything I don't use, including the Moyo....now I can feel like I have a volume pedal, and can just leave the second board home when going to the gig....or take it along if the spirit moves me to go effects crazy...
_________________
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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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 22 Nov 2021 2:19 pm
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| I have my (pedal steel) Telonics VP connected with my 8 string non pedal. I don't use it much, but its there. |
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Brad Richard
From:
Chisago City, Minnesota
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Posted 22 Nov 2021 3:53 pm
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| I use a volume pedal for live shows. I set it up so there's always a minimum volume for when I'm singing and a max volume for solo breaks. Works well for me. |
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Mark Mansueto
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 23 Nov 2021 4:56 am
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| I don't use my volume pedal on a regular basis but some songs I play require swells so in those cases it's important to have the pedal. I actually love volume swells but I limit the use in my own songs as to not sound overdone. Live I use a volume pedal and a boost but my lap steel hero early on was David Gilmour so I may be a bit of an outlier. |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 23 Nov 2021 10:10 am
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I need a volume pedal when playing live so I can make adjustments in my level according to the dynamics of the song. And when playing with a band I use it to punch up my volume during my steel solo or special licks.
In the studio I rarely use one because I want the pure signal recorded with a constant level and because I will later mix the track up/down. The only exception is when I need to "Swell" in or out for a particular effect.
_________________
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 23 Nov 2021 10:30 am
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| Brad Richard wrote: |
| I use a volume pedal for live shows. I set it up so there's always a minimum volume for when I'm singing and a max volume for solo breaks. Works well for me. |
Well over half of my VP use is shifting from “mix†level (when I’m comping or other backup) to “cut through mix†level (for fills & solo), which could be done with a volume knob if my steel had one. The rest is for the swell from nowhere and the occasional long sustained glissy thing.
Jazz single-note line playing, definitely no VP required. Might come in handy for imitating horn section swells though, if you were so inclined. |
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Peter Jacobs
From:
Northern Virginia
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 23 Nov 2021 10:38 am
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I have always used a foot volume control in all my many years of playing, non-pedal and pedal both.
I started out with an old DeArmond pedal. 
Erv |
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David Rattray
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 23 Nov 2021 1:45 pm Still use mine...
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1950 deArmand works as new..pics won't load...  ... |
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David Ball
From:
North Carolina High Country
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Posted 23 Nov 2021 4:57 pm
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I have a couple of C6or A6 tuned pedal steels--I never use a volume pedal with either. I consider them to be more like lap steels in how I play them, and I like to use both feet on the pedals. I have a volume control pot on one of my guitars, but honestly don't use it either.
I do keep my volume pedal on my E9 pedal steel guitar though.
Dave |
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Joe Burke
From:
Toronto, Canada
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Posted 23 Nov 2021 7:04 pm
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| I find I do when backing up a signer songwriter. The swells are nice and harmonics. But I’ve pretty much stopped using it for Hawaiian and jazz. It’s something I work at, I don’t find it easy. |
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Tim Whitlock
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2021 10:16 am
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I am amazed watching players who use their guitars' volume and tone controls so fluidly. I am working on acquiring that skill. In the meantime I have to cheat with my vol/tone pedal.  |
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David Ball
From:
North Carolina High Country
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Posted 24 Nov 2021 2:09 pm
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| Tim Whitlock wrote: |
| I am amazed watching players who use their guitars' volume and tone controls so fluidly. I am working on acquiring that skill. In the meantime I have to cheat with my vol/tone pedal. |
Watching Roy Buchanan do that with his Tele always amazed me...
Dave |
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