What First: Telonics P/U or Speaker

Rick Myrland · Post by **Rick Myrland** » 4 Feb 2014 1:42 pm

I'm considering changing the speaker in my Nashville 112. I know everyone has their preferences, but after some research I think the Telonics will give me that elusive tone I've been seeking. The speakers are $200, pickups $185, basically a wash. Where would you spend that $200 first, the speaker or the pickup? Since the pickup is the first link in the tone chain, I'm wondering if that would be a better move.

Billy Easton · Post by **Billy Easton** » 4 Feb 2014 2:00 pm

I would say pickup.

Billy Easton

Gary Peaslee · Post by **Gary Peaslee** » 4 Feb 2014 2:05 pm

What guitar and pickup do you have? I just changed to a Telonics speaker in my Nashville 112, and it made a huge improvement.

Rick Myrland · Post by **Rick Myrland** » 4 Feb 2014 2:16 pm

Mullen RP D-10 with George L's

Dave Diehl · Post by **Dave Diehl** » 4 Feb 2014 2:34 pm

The Telonics pickup will sound great in any amp so I would also vote for pickup first.

Mike Wheeler · Post by **Mike Wheeler** » 4 Feb 2014 2:35 pm

If the Mullen's pickup is the original one that came from the factory, then I'd agree that the speaker would come first. If not, then I'd go for the pickup.

Mike Kowalik · Post by **Mike Kowalik** » 4 Feb 2014 2:45 pm

Buy the speaker first...

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 4 Feb 2014 5:56 pm

Kill 2 birds with one stone and go with both !

Rick Myrland · Post by **Rick Myrland** » 4 Feb 2014 6:26 pm

I've considered that. If I went with the pickup first, any thoughts on which model? What's the difference between the pole, adjustable pole, bar, or pole/bar? Seems like too many options--which can be a dangerous thing.

Darrell Grigsby · Post by **Darrell Grigsby** » 4 Feb 2014 7:05 pm

I would say you need both.

I had the speaker first.
Then, I realized how much I needed the pickup.

I have a 85 combo Milkman amp. and G2 Mullen steel.

I had, already, got used to the great sound of the Amp. Then, I sought after the pickup--I have a model 84pw.

Darrell

Howard Montgomery · Post by **Howard Montgomery** » 4 Feb 2014 7:33 pm

I don't see how anyone can make a recommendation when you have never said what you are trying to achieve. Are you wanting more highs, lows, clarity, etc. So with that said, what do you not like about your current tone, and what "improvement" are you seeking?

Rick Myrland · Post by **Rick Myrland** » 5 Feb 2014 6:25 am

I seem to lack that deeper, rich sound. Of course I realize there's a lot of variables in the mix when you consider steel heared on the radio is mastered through a board in a million dollar studio. But it seems strings 1-5 for me are tinny, and there's a generally muddling of my overall tone, including strings 10-6. I'd like a brighter sound without any tinny-ness, if that makes sense.

Howard Montgomery · Post by **Howard Montgomery** » 5 Feb 2014 8:20 am

It does make sense, and a good description of what you want. I am assuming you have a buffer between the guitar and pedal, or a pedal that doesn't need one. Have you tried an equalizer?

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 5 Feb 2014 8:47 am

I don't really know what a buffer is, but when I put a T-rex dyna comp in the fx in and out of my NV112 it really made a noticeable improvement in the tone. I have a G2 also, and would get the speaker first.

Rick Myrland · Post by **Rick Myrland** » 5 Feb 2014 9:09 am

I use a Goodrich VP and I have a Boss RV-3 between the pedal and amp. FWIW, I foresee a G-2 in my future but it's probably a little ways out (I want to purchase it with gig money--something gratifying about funding new equipment that way).

I'm not really well versed at the technical side of things, so never used an equalizer or "rack" system some guys speak of. I've always kept my rig simple but the more I play out the more I noticed that there's a lot of room for overall tone improvement (understanding that different venues can cause slight differences in my sounds).

Howard Montgomery · Post by **Howard Montgomery** » 5 Feb 2014 11:11 am

If your guitar is directly into the pedal, there is probably clarity being lost there, assuming it is a passive pedal. Just for fun, if you have another boss pedal, or use the RV-3 and put it between your guitar and pedal and see if it doesn't get rid of some of the muddiness.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 5 Feb 2014 1:19 pm

Before I tried either of those, I'd try an Izzy.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 7 Feb 2014 7:41 pm

Rick I'm running the Telonics 409's on both necks on my Zum Hybrid and i love them ... very rich and and silky highs.

Certainly worth a look - just call Dave Beaty and he will give you the technical details.

Rick Myrland · Post by **Rick Myrland** » 8 Feb 2014 12:27 pm

Thanks for the advise. I'm going to start with the pickups, I'll call them on Monday to get some particulars and make an order.

Alan Murphy · Post by **Alan Murphy** » 14 Feb 2014 5:14 pm

Hi Rick,

In the past I have had a 112 and an alumatone pickup, both bought on recomendation, but I never really liked either.

Pickups I have owned - in preference:

Telonics Type 84 (Liked best)
Bennett Single coil
George L 12-1
Alumatone

Speakers I have owned - in preference:

EPS15C (Liked best)
Peavey BW1502
15 inch Ecllipse (In an Evans amp)
12 inch stock speaker in 112

I have however heard ALL this equipment used by others and they have often sounded great !

I think the best way to figure out the weak link in you system is to meet with another steel player and spend a night doing A/B tests with each others equipment.

By swapping each item in a logical way, you could easily find a problem with something you were ignoring.

Once you have identified the problem area, then you know you are spending your money wisely.

If you have a few steel friends, it is worth repeating it, they will enjoy the exercise too.

Your best setup of the night is likely to be half of your friends kit and half of yours !! (lol)

Alan..

Dustin Rigsby · Post by **Dustin Rigsby** » 14 Feb 2014 9:28 pm

A word of advice, if you install the telonics 84, you are gonna have to spend some time with it to set it up properly. I was fortunate enough to have Marvin Borne to help me with it. The process isn't for the guy who wants a drop in solution. The pickup's tone is tailored to the individual guitar by the individual and his own perception of the sound that he is looking for. It can be a time consuming process and you will want to do it with fresh and well rested ears. I don't have any experience with the NV 112 except hearing other players use them.... I didn't care for the sound of that amp as I thought it sounded underpowered. A more efficient speaker may solve that issue....YMMV and I wish you the best of luck in the pursuit of that subjective thing called "tone" !

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 15 Feb 2014 1:49 am

Don't be afraid of the Telonics 84 adjustment procedure....just by slanting the screw tops evenly across the pickup in the directions described (with offsets for strings that aren't in pitch order), you get 90% of the way there....and that makes it as good as or better than most others...then, later, if you like, you can go back and fine-tune whichever strings you want to...
And the string volume equalization setting is easy and nice to have...

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 15 Feb 2014 10:22 am

I love the telonics speaker in my 112, great speaker for this amp

George Macdonald · Post by **George Macdonald** » 15 Feb 2014 11:23 am

A few days ago I re-installed my Telonics #427 pickup in my Carter. This is the 12 string version of the #409 with 2 rows of adjustable poles. It is replacing a very good sounding single coil, but, in my opinion the Telonics sounds better with the added advantage of being able to balance each string. I also have a Telonics 15" speaker in one cab and an Eminence EPS 15-C in the other, and, a Telonics volume pedal. I have 2 other Telonics pickups also. One with the two bars, and one with a bar and single row of poles. They all sound good.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 15 Feb 2014 6:31 pm

Rick, I've never been a big fan of NV112 tone...until I played one with a 12-inch JBL speaker. It sounded simply great. So based on that experience, I'd recommend you first change out your speaker for the biggest and most immediate tone upgrade, and a Telonics speaker is a great one, I have a 15-inch in a Webb amp and it's fabulous. After that enhancement, then start experimenting with pickups. I did some testing on Jim Palenscar's personal uni-12 that had interchangeable pickups, and my ears kept liking the alumitone over all other brands including Telonics, seemed to have some single coil sparkle and grit often missing in humbuckers.

For the record, my rig is a Mullen pre-RP D-12, Bill Lawrence 912 humbucker in the E9 neck, stock Mullen single coil in the C6. Both pickups sound fine through either my Webb amp, or my Stereo Steel rack setup.

The Steel Guitar Forum

What First: Telonics P/U or Speaker

What First: Telonics P/U or Speaker

Pickup or speaker

Telonics