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Topic: Pedal Steel PuP matched to Overdrive Pedal |
Marty Broussard
From:
Broussard, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 3 Sep 2022 6:51 pm |
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I’m trying to save time with this post. Any credible information is immensely appreciated.
As I THINK I understand, a typical pedal steel pickup is not a good match with a typical (guitar) Overdrive pedal because it’s too high fidelity, so has anyone found a good workaround BESIDES adding an additional (electric guitar spec’d) pickup or tapping the coil on a pedal steel pickup?
Would a Lil’Izzy or MXR Micro-Amp do the trick?
Thank you!!
_________________
RETIRED
"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 4 Sep 2022 5:03 am
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| Marty, I can't speak for that but I can say that Joe Wright uses a Pro Co Rat pedal with good results on his Sierra steel. Maybe reach out to him for any details. |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 4 Sep 2022 5:53 am
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Humbuckers work better with distortion than single coils.
I like and use a Hermida Audio Mosferatu after trying quite a few pedals. Also, run a Black Box on my steel.
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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Bobby Snell
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 4 Sep 2022 6:49 am
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I think you may want to try to attenuate the signal into the box, rather than boost it with a microamp. Do you have volume and tone controls on your steel?
Discussions of overdrive do not tend to be time-savers! Fulltone OCD seems to work well for me, into a tube amp. Barber Gain Changer is very versatile as well. |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 4 Sep 2022 7:04 am
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I run the distortion before the V.P.
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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Marty Broussard
From:
Broussard, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 5 Sep 2022 6:26 pm
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Thanks folks…allot to look into…
_________________
RETIRED
"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin |
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Corbin Pratt
From:
Nashville
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Posted 6 Sep 2022 5:17 am
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I totally agree. I think most guitar pedals are designed to work with low powered pickups (7k-9k). The only overdrives that I have found to work well with a high powered steel pickup is the Sarno Earth Drive and a Timmy. Also, running it before the VP really helps too.
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CP in Nashville
Show Pro SD-10, Shaw Amplifiers, Kemper |
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Scott Swartz
From:
St. Louis, MO
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Posted 6 Sep 2022 5:27 am
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Many Tube Screamer based pedals have a mid boost centered around 700-800 Hz, and of course most steelers are cutting there on the amp (ala the sweepable mid control on Peavey amps). That is a big part of the problem.
Pedals that are described as not having a mid boost will work better.
Also the hot steel pickups can make the drive control touchy since is designed for the lower signal voltage of guitar pickups.
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Scott Swartz
Steeltronics - Steel Guitar Pickups
www.steeltronics.com |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 6 Sep 2022 7:07 am
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I also use the Sarno Earth Drive. 
Erv |
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Jeremy Threlfall
From:
now in Western Australia
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Marty Broussard
From:
Broussard, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 6 Sep 2022 8:50 pm
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Thanks folks!!
_________________
RETIRED
"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin |
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Tim Harr
From:
Dunlap, Illinois
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Posted 8 Sep 2022 9:55 pm
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I use a Hermida Zen Drive (overdrive, not distortion). It works like a champ.
_________________
Tim Harr
Mullen G2 D-10 (9p/5k)
Retired, US Army Band (Steel/Dobro/Guitar)
Kemper Profiler / LW 89 |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 9 Sep 2022 9:06 am Re: Pedal Steel PuP matched to Overdrive Pedal
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| Marty Broussard wrote: |
As I THINK I understand, a typical pedal steel pickup is not a good match with a typical (guitar) Overdrive pedal because it’s too high fidelity... |
Not true. You just have to find one that suits you. Everybody wants something a little different. Luckily, there are about ten thousand out there to try. Remember, though, that the amp volume also governs how a pedal may sound. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 9 Sep 2022 10:03 am
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We made the Earth Drive without a big midrange boost, more flat and open so a steel still sounds like a steel instead of suddenly being converted to bottleneck slide tones. And it has the clean headroom to handle hot steel pickups. You can really dial the dirt all the way down if you want, unlike many dirt pedals that just don't like the hot level of the pickups.
Brad |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 9 Sep 2022 10:08 am
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Brad,
I really like your Earth Drive.
I use it to add just a bit of "sparkle" to my tone.
Erv |
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