The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Mike Johnson and reverb
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Mike Johnson and reverb
Larry Behm


From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2018 8:40 am    
Reply with quote

Listening to a lot of Mike, seems like he is a minimalist when it comes to the use of reverb and no delay. Just the pure sound of the steel. Correct me those who know him or call him and ask. Inquiring minds or just plain steel guitar junkies want to know his take on that issue.

He does not hide behind it, lays his intonation on the line, line after musical line. Got to love Mike and the same goes for Gary Carter.
_________________
'70 D10 Black fatback Emmons PP, Hilton VP, BJS bars, Boss GE-7 for Dobro effect, Zoom MS50G, Flamma Reverb, Planet Wave cables, Quilter 202 Toneblock, Telonics 15” speaker.

Phone: 971-219-8533
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

John Goux

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2018 9:00 am    
Reply with quote

Mike explains his use of reverb and delay in this great video. Here is the link.
John

https://youtu.be/70KyY9GNUPk
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

John Swain


From:
Winchester, Va
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2018 9:41 am    
Reply with quote

When Mike played at the Georgia Show years ago, he used his Emmons p/p with pot pedal, a Sarno BlackBox into a stock Peavey Nashville 400. Great live sound!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2018 10:19 am    
Reply with quote

I remember a Buddy Emmons show in the Twin Cities decades ago. During the break I moseyed up to the stage to spy on the settings on the Session 400 he was playing through (might have been Ernie's or Clem's). The reverb was set to zero.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2018 8:28 am    
Reply with quote

Jack,
On some of the videos of Buddy's, he has a chair setting next to him and it looks like he is fiddling around with what looks like either a Boss DD-2 or a DD-3 delay pedal.
Erv
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2018 9:13 am    
Reply with quote

Erv,
Pretty certain that Clem's shows preceded the introduction of the BOSS digital delay pedals. Buddy did sparingly use an Echoplex (Witch's Brew?) if I recall correctly. There must be someone here (Ernie? Mike? Kevin?) who will remember.
-Jack
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Kyle Everson

 

From:
Nashville, Tennessee
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2018 11:14 am    
Reply with quote

It is important to remember that in a live room, there is a natural reverb and delay because of the sound bouncing off of the walls, tables, chairs, people, and other things in the room. If a sound is completely dry in a studio setting, it can sound odd (though there are situations where this is necessary and preferred). What Mike described in the video, setting delay to ~300ms, gives the sound some presence in the mix, and mimics the sound of a live room. Keeping the mix level low, 10-12%, and moderate repeats, 6-8, really fattens up the tone.
View user's profile Send private message

Bobby Boggs

 

From:
Upstate SC.
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2018 5:46 pm    
Reply with quote

Quote:
Buddy did sparingly use an Echoplex (Witch's Brew?)


In the mid 70's. For live performances that I witnessed. Buddy used an Echoplex set to have a very short delay and fast repeat. This was to fatten his sound. He later moved to the DD-2. Then on up the food chain as better gear became available. I always liked that effect and still use it today.

b.
View user's profile Send private message

Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 3 Apr 2018 7:28 am    
Reply with quote

I use a slight delay, it's called a "slap back" delay.
And I also use a DD-2. Very Happy
Erv
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 4 Apr 2018 1:14 am    
Reply with quote

Just don't lose sight that recorded sounds are not the same as live sounds. +/- 300 MS delay at near 10 or 15 % mix with a single slap is a nice live sound but can be overdone easily.

Regarding reverbs, we may find that longer reverbs are found on recordings over live settings, especially with a stereo blend. While we would probably never use a longer reverb LIVE.

When we use a reverb or a delay, the purpose is to enhance our style, execution, call it whatever. We just don't turn em on and hope for the best. Especially because someone else uses those settings.

When we watched Buddy messing with the delay, he knew it wasn't quite right for what he wanted to hear. It may have even been interfering with his execution or maybe not offering enough. Effects are part of our performance, execution etc..

We can listen to two players playing the exact same song, same amp, same reverb , same delay. One of them we may say, too much delay or reverb, the other we may say, man that sounds incredible. We incorporate them into our style and execution.

we just don't turn them on...or maybe we do !

Laughing
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Mike Johnson

 

From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2018 8:48 am    
Reply with quote

Larry, thx for the nice words. In the studio, I never send reverb to tape. I would much rather they apply some in the mix. It’s hard to know how much to add until all the instruments and vocals are in their place on the recording. It just seems to work better for them and me.
Live, I do put some reverb on my LTD. It definitely effects the way you play. Also when I use the LTD on Country”s Family Reunion, I have a little bit on my amp but they add some to the mix also. Seems to work ok.

THX
_________________
Mike Johnson
www.mikejohnsonproductions.com
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website

John Lacey

 

From:
Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2018 9:30 am    
Reply with quote

When Buddy played our show in Edmonton in ‘82, he brought a large road case full of MXR effects, digital delays, digital reverbs, pitch transposers then on the lid of the box were an array of foot pedals. He went into a Session 500 and a 400 that we provided and his sound was huge. Thrill of a lifetime.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Lee Baucum


From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2018 9:32 am    
Reply with quote

Mike - In the video referenced above, you mentioned 300ms of delay. Was that mixed with reverb? Do you normally use just reverb, just delay, a combination of the two?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2018 10:05 am    
Reply with quote

I hardly notice the delay effect in my GT10 until it is set to about 40%, no matter the delay time. Around 80ms is a good “fatten up” time. 140 or so for slap back, 320+ with multiples for drama.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

John Sluszny

 

From:
Brussels, Belgium
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2018 10:55 am    
Reply with quote

Quote:
Larry, thx for the nice words. In the studio, I never send reverb to tape. I would much rather they apply some in the mix. It’s hard to know how much to add until all the instruments and vocals are in their place on the recording. It just seems to work better for them and me.
Live, I do put some reverb on my LTD. It definitely effects the way you play. Also when I use the LTD on Country”s Family Reunion, I have a little bit on my amp but they add some to the mix also. Seems to work ok.

THX

Mike,thanks for the information but what is a LTD ?
Confused
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

John Sluszny

 

From:
Brussels, Belgium
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2018 11:05 am    
Reply with quote

OK,got it ! Peavey LTD
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP