Eminence EPS-15C vs. Commonwealth 15 for pedal steel

[John Polstra]

I've been looking for ways to tame the brightness of my Sierra pedal steel. I'm currently using an Eminence Commonwealth 15 speaker, but I'm wondering if switching to an EPS-15C would help reduce the shrillness I'm perceiving. If any of you have tried both speakers, I'd like to hear how they compare in terms of brightness. The range where I'm having problems is on strings 3 and 4 at frets 7 and higher.

Thanks,
John

[George Macdonald]

John, I have used both speakers and prefer the EPS 15-C over the commonwealth [Steel King speaker]. I am currently using a Telonics 15" speaker and like it the best. Both the EPS 15-C and the Telonics are made by Eminence, and both are much, much lighter then a Commonwealth. They are however fairly bright and I use a "Freeloader" by Brad Sarno, or a Matchbox, or Black Box to trim the highs a bit. Hope this helps.

[John Polstra]

Thanks, George. That does help. I recently got a Telonics volume pedal, and its high input impedance really brings out the highs from the instrument. The pedal has an adjustment for the input impedance (similar to the Freeloader, I assume), and I guess I need to play around with that and see if I can mellow out the sound.

From the graphs in the Eminence spec sheets, it looks like the EPS-15C would be slightly darker sounding than the Commonwealth 15. Speakers are black magic, though, so the only way to be sure would be to hear them both.

John

[Bas Kapitein]

If you have a Sierra there is another way: Change the pick-up. I had three with my Sierra and the George L model sierra 2 brought down the highs to my liking. Witch pick-up do you have?

[John Polstra]

Bas, I have several pickups: the original Sierra pickup, a Bill Lawrence 912, a Don Lace Sensor, and a Wallace TrueTone. I haven't tried a George L, but maybe I should.

John

[George Macdonald]

That's a good idea Bas. John, you can also adjust the impedance on your Telonics pedal to roll off some of the highs.