How is this steel sound accomplished? Rusty Young content!

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 17 Jan 2011 3:16 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8amIzjxS77k

This is one of my all time favorite Poco tunes, with its soaring harmonies, great dobro, and KILLER sounding steel... Steel solo starts at about 1:55.
Is this a studio trick I am unaware of?... Something Rusty is doing on his own with the volume pedal??..
A great but obscure analog tube compressor thats 40 years out of date?
I have had heard tons of compression added at studios from hundreds of steel guitars, but this sound is unique to my ears. No attack at all, but no squashed sound either.
I am in love with this sound.
If you are like me, you will keep backing up and relistening to the steel parts. Just wonderful... Please let me know your thoughts/opinions on this sound and how it was obtained.
bob

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 17 Jan 2011 6:11 pm

Nice!

Mike Schwartzman · Post by **Mike Schwartzman** » 17 Jan 2011 6:11 pm

That is in a nice place in the mix, Bob, (that is the steel guitar),but I don't think a "studio trick" is in play.

What I think is going on is a pretty sharp engineer using EQ to the advantage of the tune. IMO what is happening is that the EQ of the steel track is accented on frequencies where the other instruments and vocals are not as present. This could also be done using a limiter.

If the steel track was played by itself, it might sound on the thin side to some folks...but in the context of the song, the steel can keep going at a very slightly lower volume when the vocals come back in and not interfere at all with those vocals. Just my take. Nice tune,Bob.

Tucker Jackson · Post by **Tucker Jackson** » 18 Jan 2011 1:42 pm

What Mike said!

My thought on hearing this track was that Rusty's tone was just exceptionally bright and thin (but not in a bad way). A very bright instrument can be turned down in a mix and still manage to cut through and seem "present." I think this song is an example of that -- both brighter and further back in the mix than we're used to hearing here in 2011, which is why it seems a little alien-sounding.

Well, I guess it's not "back in the mix" because it is very obvious and present. But if you could see the mixing board, you might be surprised at how low the engineer had the volume fader set. It doesn't have to be high when the PSG has that cutting tone.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 19 Jan 2011 8:37 am

Orange Squeezer? I remember seein',a pic of Buddy with one of those plugged into his guitar.

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 19 Jan 2011 8:41 am

To me it sounds like the amp was miked from a pretty good distance across a "live" room and more of the "reverb return" was brought up in the mix than the "main track". It does seem to be more of a "thin" tone from the guitar also. Just my guess at it!

JE:-)>

Albert Svenddal · Post by **Albert Svenddal** » 19 Jan 2011 3:50 pm

There are two steel parts there playing at the same time.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 19 Jan 2011 5:02 pm

Albert Svenddal wrote:There are two steel parts there playing at the same time.

Not hearing that myself Albert... I hear a wonderful solo with the edges rounded off somehow, taking away any percussive feel.
I am still thinking some sort of compression/ limiter, but not anything I have ever played through.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 19 Jan 2011 5:04 pm

The way that is achieved is to remove most of the low mids. That will enable the steel to find a nice seat in the mix without sharing too many frequencies with other instruments. When instruments are fighting in the mix, it is generally because it is hard to distinguish one from another in that specific frequency range.

Dennis Olearchik · Post by **Dennis Olearchik** » 19 Jan 2011 6:43 pm

I just luv Rusty's steel playing. He also played dobro, banjo, mandolin and guitar and wrote hit songs and sang on Poco's albums. What an extremely talented person

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 19 Jan 2011 7:27 pm

sounds like a ZB through a twin with JBLs with the bright switch on. I don't personally hear any studio magic.

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 21 Jan 2011 8:04 am

I could hear what Albert is talking about but only on 1 small part of his ride, close to the end of it i can hear a goust note in the back ground that could be a delay note but sounds like it's in a different grouping.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 21 Jan 2011 8:28 am

I'm with Dan. Just sounds like Rusty. I don't hear two parts but I do hear his tasteful playing.

It does sound like a ZB but I think he was using Sho~Bud at this time.

Or ... it could just be a punch-in somewhere in the tune ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEk-xT9XXQ4

He has your Carter bob!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 21 Jan 2011 10:03 am

first i thought zb..then thought that may have been the sho-bud era. either way probably with the thin coil tap position.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 21 Jan 2011 10:07 am

while we're here, how did rusty amplify his dobro? it always sounded strong and dobro-y.

and that was way back before dobro-mic technology was improving.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 21 Jan 2011 11:41 am

Chris, on the back on the Deliverin album it shows a guitar cord going to his Dobro. I would assume some type of pickup as well. It does sound darn good.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 21 Jan 2011 3:13 pm

I have seen Rusty in concert, and have been a fan since 1969... His attack is often quite percussive. This solo has no edges to speak of.
I still say it was compressed or altered somehow... I guess I am hearing something that others aren't or it doesn't exist and I am imagining it... No way thats a straight to board signal IMHO...

btw, Rusty had been using a Bud for 4 years or more by the time Cantamos was released ,

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 22 Jan 2011 12:37 am

It sounds to me like he ain't wearing any fingerpicks

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 22 Jan 2011 7:51 am

Bob Carlucci wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8amIzjxS77k

This is one of my all time favorite Poco tunes, with its soaring harmonies, great dobro, and KILLER sounding steel... Steel solo starts at about 1:55.
Is this a studio trick I am unaware of?...

Great group,one of my favourites and my favourite track was "You'd Better Think Twice"
In Dublin in the early 70's I played with "The Chosen Few" a Poco, Jim Messina, Commander Cody, Eagles orientated band.
And Yes Bob you may be unaware of the Pignose.. but I doubt you are, it's just hard to recognise sometimes, especially when the mike is positioned a little off centre and not too close..

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 25 Jan 2011 8:08 am

love Rusty on this tune[/url]www.youtube.com/watch?v=soWQ6huD8oc

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 25 Jan 2011 9:08 am

Click HERE for Bad Weather (Nice find Storm)

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 25 Jan 2011 10:07 am

Thx Basilh, I never seem to get the hyperlink to work....duh... $:\$ ....but Rusty kills on that tune imo....

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 25 Jan 2011 2:15 pm

Bad weather is great work IMHO. JP

Fish · Post by **Fish** » 26 Jan 2011 8:32 am

Russ Tkac wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEk-xT9XXQ4

He has your Carter bob!

Now there's a great vibrato lesson for you, boys and girls.

Newer players: don't miss this video. It's a great opportunity for a free
vibrato lesson from one of the very best. Rusty's left hand vibrato technique is flawless.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 26 Jan 2011 9:39 am

Bob Carlucci wrote:...Is this a studio trick I am unaware of?... Something Rusty is doing on his own with the volume pedal??...

You could probably ask Rusty directly:
http://www.sessioncats.com/

The Steel Guitar Forum

How is this steel sound accomplished? Rusty Young content!

How is this steel sound accomplished? Rusty Young content!

Re: How is this steel sound accomplished? Rusty Young conten

Re: How is this steel sound accomplished? Rusty Young conten