Light For Pedal Steel

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 13 Dec 2013 9:34 am

Playing a dark gig next week. What's a good light for the fret board?

thx

bob

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 13 Dec 2013 10:15 am

May be able to clip one of these on at the key head end?

http://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Bright-Due ... ding+light

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 13 Dec 2013 10:47 am

Why spend so much money?

I've used this product for the last three years, and they can be used with wall-warts instead of batteries.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Dual-Arm-LED- ... 1c38f9de8e

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 13 Dec 2013 10:54 am

Absolutely! Wish I knew they were available so cheap. Think I'll buy a couple more!
(Although I would never want to introduve yet another wall wart)

Thanks, Steve!

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 13 Dec 2013 3:24 pm

Steve, I looked at the one you suggested now on EBAY but could not were there was an input for a wallwart and none is mentioned in the ad. Is yours the same as the one on EBAY? Thanks, stevet

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 13 Dec 2013 6:17 pm

The more expensive one. From the Amazon ad:

Four light level options Dual flexible arms provide infinite maneuverability Two lighting heads, each containing two large LEDs Sensor switches on each lighting head require just a tap to turn on one or both LEDs Optical grade lens provides evenly distributed light with no hot spots Easily bends to compact position for storage Extra-strong clip grips almost anything, or use free standing Offers 20 hours of continuous use on 3 AAA batteries Powered by included AC adapter (110-240 volts) or 3 AAA

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 13 Dec 2013 6:19 pm

Also, I have a set of these I carry with me. I have never found the perfect spot to attach it too. I usually end up getting shadows from my hand that make it hard to see the frets. Luckily, I rarely have the need for them.

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 13 Dec 2013 7:19 pm

Richard, I guess I'll have to attach the lights to space headgear or such!!! Guess I'll use some sort of clamp on the front of the steel and attach the lamp to that.
steve t

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 13 Dec 2013 7:22 pm

I always used a regular tubular bulb (25W) music stand light attached to a regular fold-up stand, and placed stand to the right half of fretboard so I would not get those shadows. Also, I could read my charts as needed.

Thanx,
Jim

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 13 Dec 2013 9:40 pm

There is a dc connection on the body. A 4.5v dc walwart is all that's required. I had a couple of old Radio Shack adjustable ones and they work excellent. Many cell phone types are in the voltage range.

When not being used for steel, I use mine on my recording desk, where their connected to the pwr supplies. I use batteries when I need them for a low-light gig.

If you use a music stand they will supply plenty of light for your steel while mounted on the stand. I've even clipped one to the front apron and bent the goose necks up so that the light is shinning at me at just under the string level....sometimes with pieces of red lens plastic tape over the LED when a blacked out stage is in the program.

Just make sure you disable the batteries before throwing them in your gig bag....the push button switches activate very easily.

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 13 Dec 2013 11:28 pm

Steve, thanks for the explanation and photos. Only problem i have with this light is it makes me think of the Martian spaceships in "War of the Worlds". Scared the heck out of me when I was a kid. stevet

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 14 Dec 2013 5:32 am

This is what I'm gettin'

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... hlight=msa

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 14 Dec 2013 6:10 am

Would be nice if these were made in the right scale for steel...

https://fretfx.com/

This site also might have some ideas...
http://www.fretlord.com/

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 14 Dec 2013 9:14 am

Steve E. - I've tried attaching it to the front apron like you did, but the Carter has an aluminum bar in the front where all the pedals attach to and the pedal stops are machined into. This would put the light's clamp in the way of something.

Steve T. - I've tried attaching it to my nose, but it kept falling off and making horrible noises when it hit the strings.

James Jacoby · Post by **James Jacoby** » 19 Dec 2013 1:15 am

One of my pet peaves! Why do they have to have it sooo dark? When I'm tuning up, the lights ALWAYS go out before I'm done tuning, and I can't see my tuner! Got so bad, once, I bought one of those night lights, with an electric eye, that goes on, when it gets too dark. I think that when some people want low light for "atmosphere", the light person thinks they meant NO LIGHT! -Jake-

Bill Moore (RIP) · Post by **Bill Moore (RIP)** » 19 Dec 2013 5:14 am

I attached a spring "broom clamp" to a short piece of aluminum, and put on the leg and attach the light to that. This moves it in front of the guitar and lessens the shadows. You could use a thin strip of wood, rather than aluminum.

David Scheidler · Post by **David Scheidler** » 20 Dec 2013 6:00 pm

I wonder if a short piece of rope lighting laid along both sides of the neck would offer enough light. If not, it would at least look pretty cool on your steel! You could switch it on for your "Neon Moon" solo and wow the crowd.

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 20 Dec 2013 6:12 pm

Tinfoil hat extra...

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David Scheidler · Post by **David Scheidler** » 21 Dec 2013 11:43 am

Now you're talking!

Here's another silly, yet viable possibility.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Light For Pedal Steel

Light For Pedal Steel

Attachment problem solved

martian lights

Answer!!