pedal noise

Jack Hargraves · From: Missouri, USA

I have a GFI EXPO SD 10 and I was in a recording session 2 weeks ago. I didn't want to line out, I wanted to mike my amp, but the mike was picking up the noises from my pedals and levers. even the screen behind the mike didn't help. The only solution was to either move the steel farther from the amp or line out. I have played with other musicians at jams, etc., and at home and I didn,t think it made that much noise. Anybody else have that problem? I have tried to quieten down the pedals, but nothing seems to work.
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GFI Expo SD10, Nashville 112, Steelers choice Pak-a- seat, Carter vol. pedal, Stage one vol. pedal, Peavey Deltafex. Goodrich volume pedal.

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Crank the amp up and the mic way down and use a mic with an SM-57 like pattern.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

If you are in a studio that is large enough, move the amp as far as you can away from you. You can have the engineer have you up in your earphones. I've done sessions where they put my amp in an isolation box to stop any bleed from other instruments on my track. Should eliminate pedal noise too. I've even had them put my amp in the vocal isolation booth.

I none of those are an option, then I second Greg's suggestion. Of course, if you are recording the whole band at once, cranking up the volume might not work because you might bleed over to someone else's track. If you are alone in the studio, crank it up to where the pedals cant be heard and let the engineer handle the stronger signal he will get with your louder amp.

When I had my own little studio in an apartment, I had to put my amp in a closet with quilts over the amp and mic. Killed 2 birds with one stone (too loud for an apartment and outside noise.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Jack Hargraves · From: Missouri, USA

Thanks for your input. it has been most helpful. I have another session tomorrow in a small studio. I think we'll make it work.
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GFI Expo SD10, Nashville 112, Steelers choice Pak-a- seat, Carter vol. pedal, Stage one vol. pedal, Peavey Deltafex. Goodrich volume pedal.

ajm · From: Los Angeles

Things that you didn't say:
What type of mic were you using?

How loud and what instruments were at the session?
Solo steel only?
Steel and vocals only?
Steel and bluegrass ensemble only?
Etc etc etc

Was the pedal noise actually from the pedals, or was it noise being picked up through the amp?

If the amp is open back, you could try putting the mic behind the amp. (Might work, might not.)

Was the noise coming from the pedals, or pull rods/undercarriage, or.....?
There have been several topics/threads on quieting down a PSG, some of them specifically dealing with a GFI. You could try doing a forum search, probably under "Pedal Steel" and not "Steel Players".

Dale Rottacker · From: Walla Walla Washington, USA

Jack I recorded this ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pknuzY0bVB0 ) a couple of years ago with an SM-57, Profex ll and a Session 500... I was worried about pedal noise as well, but eliminated it like this... My amp was just to the left of me as was my mic which I could reach out and touch while playing... what I ended up doing was to put a Standard size Form pillow between the mic and my back left guitar leg as a barrier between the mic and my steel... I just leaned the pillow up against the amp with the mic perhaps a foot from the pillow... that seemed to isolate the guitar from the mic fairly well... if you hear pedal noise, your ears are better than mine Smile

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Jack Hargraves · From: Missouri, USA

Dale, that sounds good! Thanks for your input. I finally tried the same thing. Problem solved. I appreciate all the input for you guys.
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GFI Expo SD10, Nashville 112, Steelers choice Pak-a- seat, Carter vol. pedal, Stage one vol. pedal, Peavey Deltafex. Goodrich volume pedal.

Dale Rottacker · From: Walla Walla Washington, USA

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Make sure the thumb nuts are tight and the clamps are holding the pedal bar tight against the legs. I had that problem with my GFI S 12 U. Tuesday night at a jam. The pedal bar dropped down, When I pushed on a pedal the pedal bar raised up and made a whack sound, When it hit the off set on the leg. I bought guitar used and there was a piece of foam cut and slid between the pull rods. When I took the foam out the rods rattled. I rerouted a couple rods that was hitting other rods and now the foam is laying on the shelf, Just a couple thoughts from another GFI peddler.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 13 Oct 2017 10:02 am

Yep - the foam will stop the rod rattle and some strategically applied lubricant should should suffice for the rest in most cases.. Smile

David Cubbedge · From: Toledo,Ohio, USA

While only being somewhat relevant to the topic, I just read a bio on Hank Thompson that said he preferred straight steel players because he didn't like the pedal noise....
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Red Emmons D10 fatback #2246D with sweet Hugh Briley split cases, Black Emmons S10 #1466S, '73 Fender "Snakeskin" Twin Reverb, Peavey Nashville 400, Line 6 Pod XT, Fender 400, Fender Stringmaster Double-8, too many guitars, one bass!

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

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