Are steel players depending too much on effects?

[Albert Svenddal]

I used to be a big delay effect user. But lately, after testing and using the new Quilter amp, the "Steelaire", I have found that I am not using the delay much at all if any. The sound of this reverb is stunning and I am finding that the delay sort of clouds the sound of the reverb and steel as well.

That got me thinking about how many steel players today, including myself, have become dependent on their "effects" to sound good instead of working the instrument itself to sound great.

I remember listening to a Jimmy Day song and all he did was go from steel to amp. No effects. And his sound was awesome.

I have been going back to the basics and am now focused more on my touch and technique and less on what kind of pickup or guitar and my effects.

[Curt Trisko]

I can say that from a younger perspective, it's real nice to have a clear enough sound that you can still hear the strings behaving like strings. Maybe back in the day people were fascinated by all the unusual noises they could produce, but it's a real treat to be able to hear the sounds being generated by the strings instead of mere abstractions of it.

[Richard Sinkler]

I have a rotary speaker sim that I use on maybe 3 songs a night, an EQ set up as a dobro sim that I use once, maybe twice a night, and a distortion pedal that I use 1 to 3 times a night depending on the songs we play. Other than that, just reverb. I can't stand delay all the time on a steel guitar.

[Dustin Rhodes]

Coming from the 6 string world it kind of makes me laugh thinking that steel players are too effects dependent.

[chris ivey]

back in the 70's 80's there was alot of effect use. especially different chousing effects that got to be a bit much.
what i've heard lately, it seems whatever effects are being used are more for just cleaning up and sharpening up one's personal concept of great steel tone. so i think it's a good trend. it's handy to have an interesting pedal or two for variety, but most people aren't relying on them.
jaydee has some magic combination that makes him sound like him. and i love it.
the emmons 'one for the road' album had massive effects used for trippy tones by a master.
paul f. may use top quality gear, but it makes him sound like the crystal clear paul f. steel tone.
i'm constantly striving to get my own personal 'one tone fits all' sound, but mostly just a little delay, a good steel and amp, and fingers and brain.

[John Swain]

Since Ken Fox installed his "Intense Mod") on my Nashville 400 I'm just using it's reverb.I get compliments often at steel shows for my sound!

[Eric Philippsen]

I'm with Dustin Rhodes and his viewpoint.

Too many effects? Dang, maybe I could answer it this way. Is there any 6-string gunslinger who doesn't rely on a whole floorboard of effects pedals? And if you take those away, a huge lot of them simply have to stop playing. They're naked without their stompboxes.

Not steel players. If at all, steel players use reverb, maybe some delay, and perhaps some dirt pedal every now and then. Take those effects away and, unlike their 6-string relatives, they can still play.

[Carl Kilmer]

I use a little bit of delay and reverb, sometimes delay and chorus.
All I can say is if I didn't use any, you wouldn't want to hear me.

[b0b]

I saw Paul Franklin with Vince Gill last week. If he even had reverb, I didn't hear it. Even on Look At Us, his sound was dry and crystal clear.

[John Cadeau]

The only effect I use is a digital delay, and I only use it on slower songs.

[Brett Day]

I don't use effects in my amplifier. I prefer the clean, clear sound anywhere I play, whether it be in my house, at my church, or at a show. It sounds more beautiful to me, my amp is set to no effects and on clean E9th steel.

[Dustin Rhodes]

I'm with Dustin Rhodes and his viewpoint.

Too many effects? Dang, maybe I could answer it this way. Is there any 6-string gunslinger who doesn't rely on a whole floorboard of effects pedals? And if you take those away, a huge lot of them simply have to stop playing. They're naked without their stompboxes.

Not steel players. If at all, steel players use reverb, maybe some delay, and perhaps some dirt pedal every now and then. Take those effects away and, unlike their 6-string relatives, they can still play.

Not really my point at all. Brent Mason has a pedalboard the size of an aircraft carrier flight deck and he's one of the most gifted players ever. Very very few guitarist run guitar>amp. For one thing there are only a few genres where that even works. Even some corners of jazz almost require effects use. I was more pointing out how stuck in one mode most steel players are. It seems to be an instrument thats used for just a few things that is played by people who believe it should only be played for those few things. There are those out there doing different things with steel but they're not exactly held in high regard around here it seems.

[Eric Philippsen]

Sorry, Dustin. I didn't mean to misrepresent what you wrote.

[Henry Matthews]

I had a wise and very talented player tell me years ago that an abundance of effects make a player weak and sloppy. I've never used effects very much unless a certain song calls for it which is very rare with me. On out Opry show, I play thru a Peavey Profects simply because I need chorus sometime and also use the dobro effect. Playing out, I'm just straight into amp which is an old LTD with very little reverb.

[Dustin Rhodes]

I had a wise and very talented player tell me years ago that an abundance of effects make a player weak and sloppy. I've never used effects very much unless a certain song calls for it which is very rare with me. On out Opry show, I play thru a Peavey Profects simply because I need chorus sometime and also use the dobro effect. Playing out, I'm just straight into amp which is an old LTD with very little reverb.

It all depends on what kid of music you're making. Are there guys who cover poor technique with effects? Yes. Are there perfectly good players out there who are using effects heavily because it fits into their musical goals within their style? Sure.

[b0b]

You should always turn off all effects when you practice (unless you're practicing how to use effects). Practicing without effects improves your technique because you hear everything.

In performance, use whatever it takes to make the steel sound fit the song. Sometimes "too wet" is exactly right. Sometimes "way rude" is exactly right. Sometimes "whirley background wash" is exactly right. It depends on the song.

But if you practice without effects, you can perform with more confidence that you're playing the notes in tune and in time, and you'll sound better no matter what effects are in play on stage.

[John Billings]

I haven't used effects for 20 years. Good Tele, good Kline or Shobud, good amps. I get compliments on my sound.

[Bob Simons]

The pedal steel is a "trigger" like a keyboard or an electric guitar. You are weaving sounds into music with it. Sound like whatever you want to!!!!

Personally I'm tired of reverb-saturated warbling, flat and behind the beat which seems to be the stock and trade of elder steel players...

Some of the tunes I play are styled better nearly straight from my Webb''. Some of them are loaded up for surfing'...some of them would make Pink Floyd smile...whatever...

[Bill Duncan]

I like reverb and delay and lush sounding pedal steel, and I don't have to appologize for it. I like Way To Survive, Mansion On A Hill, Night Life, and all the old stuff. So what? There is no accounting for taste! It's my guitar, and you can't please everyone, so I am the one I have to please.

[David Anderson]

I like a slap back with a single repeat on the steel. I barely use a touch of reverb. I find that the rooms I play in have plenty of natural verb. I do like long delays when it's appropriot, but agree that in practice, clean and no effects is best.

I think the amount of effects you use is dependant on what the style of music calls for. I am always rebuilding my pedal board to be appropriot for each gig I play. I might use a light drive, comp, and delay, or I might use a pog, zvex wah, three ovedrives, and two delays. It really depends on what I am playing and what the situation calls for. It's part of the fun of it for me!

[Pete Burak]

Pedal Steel drives effects better than any other instrument, ime.
Most of my country gigs are just RV-3 reverb/delay, and I adjust the settings depending on the song.
When I play with jam bands I run a vintage MuTron Octave Divider and Envelope Filter between Steel and V-pedal, and they sound fabulous with Pedal Steel.
I've never really been a Distortion guy, but I do have/use an Earth Drive. I love Steely Pete and Al Perkins on Flying Burrito Bros stuff like Devil In Disguise where it's clean playing on the verse and heavy distortion on the solo.
I picked up a Peavey Stereo Chorus 400 and that Chorus sounds cool every once in a while.
I personally don't think Steel players are using/depending on effects too much. I just don't hear anybody overdoing anything, effect wise.

[john buffington]

I like what Jimmy Day said once: "If it ain't coming out in here (pointing to his heart) they're ain't any effects going to do it for you"!
I think Dicky Overby, and Buddy Charleton are great examples of that IMO.

[Lane Gray]

I have NEVER heard delay that didn't mask and muddy the sound.
I carry a Mutron Phaser, Mahoney Buzz Tone (Boss Tone clone), a T-wah and an octaver (I want a POG, but they're pricey).
I use them all, but sparingly.
On my Twin, I use its reverb, I use an MPX100 for the rest of my amps. Eventually I'll learn how to create and recall presets, so I can add chorus or term with the Lexicon.

[Herb Steiner]

I like what Jimmy Day said once: "If it ain't coming out in here (pointing to his heart) they're ain't any effects going to do it for you"!
I think Dicky Overby, and Buddy Charleton are great examples of that IMO.

What John said.

See my rig description below.

[Pete Burak]

fwiw, To my ear, There's tons of delay units that don't mask or muddy your tone, ime.
I know some of the bucket brigade delays (old MXR comes to mind) get muddier as you increase delay time.
I'd say the most universally overused effect is Reverb, though.
Amp reverb.
But then, if it's on all the time, it's not really an effect anymore, it's the norm.