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Topic: volume pedals |
Roy Fouts
From:
Alberta, Canada
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Posted 19 Nov 2022 12:57 pm |
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| I play a 6 string steel with a p90 pickup through a YAMAHA THR10 amp and seem to get enough volume for the general picking but lack a clear bell like tone when I attempt harmonics. Would a volume pedal help me get that result. I have listened to players on Youtube, (Troy Brenningmeyer, Mike Holland) and their harmonics are beautiful. I don't put myself in the class of these players but I feel that even if by accident I should get a sound like they produce once in awhile. The sound I get is very clear but subdued. So I'm wondering if a volume pedal would help? Thanks for any suggestions. |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2022 3:04 pm
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| Not at all. It's more to do with your pickup, amplifier and your technique. |
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Roy Fouts
From:
Alberta, Canada
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Posted 19 Nov 2022 6:33 pm volume pedals
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| Thanks Larry. I appreciate your reply. I have been told that technique definitely is the answer. The thing is I have watched Troy compare different lap steels and 1 of the ones that he reviewed was a Gretsch Electromatic with a Gretsch single coil pickup. When he played it it rang like a bell. He said that he played it through a Kemper amp. I have that exact guitar playing through a THR10 amp but can't get the same sound. Also listening to Mike Holland, he plays through a THR10 amp. and has a beautiful tone. From what you are suggesting it wood help if I installed a better pickup. I have installed a Lollar pickup (Charlie Christian for solid body) on one of my guitars and I definitely notice an improvement but still can't get that clear ring to my harmonic attempts. If you are familiar with a pickup that would help I would appreciate all the help I can get. Again....thanks for your interest. It is much appreciated. |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 20 Nov 2022 5:15 am
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Well… if those guys you mention have the tone you like the question is : are they using the stock pickup on that model lap steel? If so then spending money chasing tone by switching pickups may not be worth it. If I was there to hear you play maybe I could hear the difference but that’s not possible. All we can do is give general advice and say keep working on your technique and/or find a teacher who can help you navigate these sticky spots. We all have them.
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KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2022 8:43 am
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It's been my observation that the ease at which harmonics are achieved is more a factor of the instrument's construction than its electronic components. Although the pickup comes into play, it's placement is more of a factor than the pickup itself. The string mounting is also important. As a general rule, instruments with their strings mounted through the body seem to produce clearer bell-like harmonics than instruments with strings mounted to a bridge screwed onto the body.
A volume pedal (or the instrument's volume control itself) can be useful to accentuate harmonics and sustain them. Check out how Santo Farina manipulates the volume control on his T-8 Fender before (and after) the harmonic passages on one of the most famous steel guitar instrumentals of all time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rwfqsjimRM |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 20 Nov 2022 4:24 pm
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Suggestions?
New strings! (Older strings sound dead, especially on harmonics.)
Technique is likely most of the issue.
And no, nothing "accidentally" sounds good. Practicing for years is what all those players you're admiring had to do to get it right.
LastIy, I sincerely hope you're not expecting much from an amp with three-inch speakers. A fuller sounding amp, one with a decent speaker, will likely make your playing sound better. |
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Graham Bland
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2022 5:10 pm Harmonics
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If you really want to get inspired….go on you tube and search Earnest Tubb show and watch the Great and I do mean Great, Buddy Charleton or Buddy Emmons!…That my friend will get everything moving for you!
Kindest Regards,
Graham |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 21 Nov 2022 4:46 am
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| Donny Hinson wrote: |
I sincerely hope you're not expecting much from an amp with three-inch speakers. A fuller sounding amp, one with a decent speaker, will likely make your playing sound better. |
Harmonic "chimes" need more amplification to be heard clearly than do full-string notes, and a wimpy practice amp will definitely be a source of frustration in this regard. Additionally the technique involved is subtle and elusive, requiring precision and practice to become consistently useful, and if forty years later it is still elusive you have joined the club 😎 |
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