Your ideal rig

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 12 Jan 2006 8:24 pm

How many of you think that you have found YOUR ideal rig and are happy with your tone. I have.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 12 Jan 2006 8:33 pm

I have>

Ricky

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 12 Jan 2006 8:52 pm

Put some frets on that LDG, and it'll be alright, Ricky.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 12 Jan 2006 8:58 pm

Ricky Davis DEFINITELY has. He nails that classic Sho-Bud sound. Its a beautiful thing.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 12 January 2006 at 08:59 PM.]

Ken Williams · Post by **Ken Williams** » 12 Jan 2006 9:02 pm

For the most part, I'm satified with the tone I get from the equipment that I have. I play an Emmons through a Peavey 400 limited amp. Use ART SGE and FXR effects. Although, I wouldn't mind trying a different steel, perhaps a Rains, for comparison's sake.

Ken
http://home.ipa.net/~kenwill

J Hill · Post by **J Hill** » 12 Jan 2006 9:05 pm

What's your rig, Kevin?

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 12 Jan 2006 10:13 pm

1968 restored D-10 ZB Custom through an RV-3,with a Webb 614-E amp. I went through some absolutely great guitars to get here. Some of my friends told me that I was crazy for selling some of the guitars that I had. I had some real classics. But this rig gives me the Brumley ZB tones that I was looking for many years.

James Lombard · Post by **James Lombard** » 12 Jan 2006 10:25 pm

After many years of playing many different guitar/amp combinations, I have arrived at what is for me, the ideal. I play an Emmons D10 black mica P/P, and Evans amplifiers. I have two early FET-500's, and a Hybrid 300 purchased from a fellow forumite. For low to medium volume situations, the Hybrid is hard to beat, having a tube pre-amp. Where greater power is needed, The FET's deliver volume, warmth and clarity, without the brittle edge that is common to most transistor amps. I also use JBL speakers exclusively. This rig gets it for me.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 12 Jan 2006 10:31 pm

I was die-hard Emmons PP for 25 years, but my first night on my first Fessenden, I knew I had found my way home...

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 12 Jan 2006 11:15 pm

I use a Sho-Bud Pro 1 through a Session 400 with a Boss DD-3 in between. You know what? I don't even know if it's a great sound or not.........it sounds good to me. I've never played through an Evans or Fender Steel King, nor have I tried anything ouside an Emmons, MSA or Mullen. But my Sho-Bud into the Peavey Session 400 sounds like a classic steel should: lots of HONK!

Ricky, that's just an obscene photo......that's not only your ideal rig......it's everybody's!![This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 12 January 2006 at 11:18 PM.]

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 12 Jan 2006 11:19 pm

Well, I've played one half the ideal rig. The Sho-Bud sounds great, but it'd sound a whole lot better with a late 1970s 50 watt Marshall Half stack with a master volume (overdriven, of course).

Joe A. Camacho · Post by **Joe A. Camacho** » 12 Jan 2006 11:25 pm

This plus my '73 LDG is about all I need.

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 13 Jan 2006 6:51 am

What I have now: Emmons LeGrand with Emmons humbucker p/u's, Session 500 amp with E-130 JBL, Goodrich L120 pedal with my own tone mod, and a Lil' Izzy. Very clean and clear!

Been playing this for last 13 years.

Thanx,
Jim

John Cox · Post by **John Cox** » 13 Jan 2006 8:39 am

I've got to say I have been overly happy with the sound I get from my Carter and NV112 the past year. String breakage also seems to be at an all time low. J.C.

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 13 Jan 2006 8:47 am

Hey Kevin:

Are you sure you don't have my ideal rig???

ZB guitar -> Webb 6-14E

I think this is Dave Zirbel's ideal rig, too.

Can we all apply for a patent?

ZBest,
LC

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 13 Jan 2006 9:37 am

Larry, its just too good. Its funny how we arrived at the same conclusion. Who else. I find these rig combos informative.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 13 January 2006 at 09:38 AM.]

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 13 Jan 2006 9:54 am

b0b; FRETS?? "we don't need no stinkin' frets"....ha....
Yes the sun was shinning that day I took that shot....ha...
Ricky

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 13 Jan 2006 10:19 am

I posted a pic that was gigantic.....[This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 13 January 2006 at 10:21 AM.]

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 13 Jan 2006 11:49 am

I've always tried to hold on to what works for me. If a guitar doesn't feel right or sound right it's history within a month or two. Those that I keep are usually with me for a LONG TIME. I've only owned 10 pedal steels over more than three decades -- and still own three of those now.

My two favorite vintage sounds are Emmons p/p and Sho-Bud guitars so whenever I think that's appropriate for a gig, it's either

or

If I feel like I need the additional goodies like extra pedal and lever changes and tunable splits and the stuff that a modern guitar can offer, I'll go for this one

There's really only one amp that does it for me (and I just happen to have two of them)

Are there nights when even my 'ideal rig' doesn't sound quite up to par? Sure there are -- there are bad rooms and bad electric and just all round bad karma places we play from time to time. But, for my money, those guitars and amps are the best I've ever used over 30 or more years. That's why I think I'll keep them.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

David Wren · Post by **David Wren** » 13 Jan 2006 2:47 pm

Hey Joe, nice match with the red guitars. I have a blonde: Gibson, Washburn thin eletric-acoustic, and a Carvin solid body 12 string that all are close matches to "Blondie", the real love of my life. My Strat is flammed, but I'm keeping it anyway

Me and my gal:

Along with the Jagwires, Hilton pedal, Brad's SGBB, tube screamer, Lexicon MPX 110, and twin Session 500s, (and a hot band) not much I want for.

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box www.ameechapman.com

[This message was edited by David Wren on 13 January 2006 at 02:48 PM.][This message was edited by David Wren on 13 January 2006 at 02:52 PM.][This message was edited by David Wren on 13 January 2006 at 02:54 PM.]

David Wren · Post by **David Wren** » 13 Jan 2006 2:52 pm

I give up, here's the URL: http://www.mandolinavenue.com/acbf_dave_1.htm

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 13 Jan 2006 3:26 pm

73 SHO~BUD Pro II 8&4, Fender Steelking,
Tele, Fender Twins, and Tut Taylor Reso's
" My Tone, My Dream, My Own"

Tom Quinn · Post by **Tom Quinn** » 13 Jan 2006 3:39 pm

My 65 Emmons D10, and either the 66 TR or maybe (I'm negotiating the return of my 75 session 400) the Peavey.

Problem is I'm moving back to Tokyo in March, so the whole sheebang may end up on the for sale pages.... :- ( It is just too crowded in tokyo to consider gigging a steel, or even setting one up in the phone-booth bedroom...

Tq

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 13 Jan 2006 4:05 pm

A Fender 400, Klon, Fuzz Factory, Korg G4 and Analog Delay into a '64 Vibroverb Custom.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 13 Jan 2006 9:17 pm

What I really like best for my style is: right here[/URL and [URL=thhp://community.webtv.net/mycustoms/MyGuitarsand]right here!

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“Big John” Bechtel
’05 D–10 Derby – (6 &

’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment
Newest Steel