playing both guitar and steel

[Grayson Flynt]

first of all Sorry Ive been on the forum like crazy asking a lot of questions. But im wondering if there is a better way of playing both guitar and steel on the same song with out having two separate amps

[Colin Boutilier]

I run my steel and guitar rigs into each of the channels of my Twin Reverb.

[Jerry Overstreet]

FWIW, I use a component rack system with a separate power amp and a Roland modeling preamp. With a system like this, you can use one amp. Set up presets and patches each for steel and guitar in the multi fx/preamp unit then use an A/B unit to switch between instruments.

Lots of players have abandoned rack systems, I know, but this is the simplest set up for me. Old school tech....slick and easy with many options for sound selection.

[Ken Pippus]

Peavey Vegas. Twin. Quilter Aviator. Acoustic Image.

Several options.

[Barry Yasika]

I've tried several but the Quilter, Aviator Mach III works really well for spitting up two instruments. It has two seperate inputs with two sets of EQ for both. You set up Channel 1's eq for one change up the EQ for Channel 2. Quilter has a foot-switch for a little more money that make the changer seamless. Definitely can handle the output requirements with a 200 watt capability.

[Bobby Martin]

I play Tele/Steel through a Fender ABY splitter box into the reverb channel of my Deluxe Reverb and Vibrolux. Just push a button to select.

[Michael Hill]

I use a pedal board with a switcher that switches a Radial pedal with a 'Drag' control in and out. Drag in for pedal steel and out for 6 string guitar. I've also tried the Sarno Freeloader in place of the Radial and it worked fine but needed to be unplugged to power it off. This was too inconvenient for me.

[Tim Whitlock]

I run my steel and guitar rigs into each of the channels of my Twin Reverb.

Same here. Mine is modded with reverb and trem on both channels.

[Larry Bressington]

These work great…adjust your guitar volume at your pedal board, set it and forget it.

[Clyde Mattocks]

I use a Fender Twin Tone Master. Steel into a Holy Grail reverb pedal into the Normal Channel and Tele into the Vibrato Cchannel. Works for me.

[Tim Rose]

Been using a Headrush MX5 (in front of various amps) Guitar in main input and steel in the fx loop (in) of the mx5. Can shape how you want the guitar to sound separate of the steel. Also have these pick holders for quick changes. Solo on one right into the other instrument. Its a challenge.





Keep the ideas coming. Always looking to improve. Now I just need an amp that does tele, steel, baritone, and upright bass all in one.

[Bob Sykes]

I run my guitar and steel each into its own channel on an old blackface Fender amp. Usually a Deluxe Reverb or Bassman 50.

My guitars have radically different tones and output levels, so having separate tone/vol controls on the amp is a must. I also use separate pedal boards for the same reason.

[Dave Hopping]

My two current faves are a Twin-Reverb head through a '64 Bassman cab with 2 D-120F's and a combo Milkman PS-300 1-15". I like lots and lots of headroom...

Been able to kludge up six-string and steel through the single-channel Milkman by EQ-ing it for steel and compensating with a GE-7 on the six-string pedalboard.

A Q for all you double-duty guys. Do you hold the 6-string on your lap while sitting at the steel or do you stand up to switch instruments? I stand up.

[Bobby Martin]

I stand up to play Tele/Strat/Gretsch,leave thumb and finger picks on steel. Always a relief to move around after being trapped at your "what's that strange instrument called again?"

[Tim Harr]

When I need to use a common amp for both guitar and steel, I use a Kemper Profiler and a JHS AB switcher. I change the profiler from a steel patch to a guitar patch and click the AB switcher. SUPER EASY.

[Dave Grafe]

Almost any Fender black panel amp will serve, the pedal steel in the Vibrato channel for its reverb, and the six-string pedal board in the Normal channel for its great pedal handling.

[Fred Treece]

These work great…adjust your guitar volume at your pedal board, set it and forget it.

The Katana mkII has only one input. Before even thinking about anything else here, try the above suggestion first! If it works, then you can think about how to switch presets for each instrument if you want. If it doesn’t work, you’re out what, maybe 10 bucks.

[Dave Grafe]

The Katana mkII has only one input. Before even thinking about anything else here, try the above suggestion first! If it works, then you can think about how to switch presets for each instrument if you want. If it doesn’t work, you’re out what, maybe 10 bucks.

There are a couple of major problems with using a "Y" adapter to plug multiple instruments into one input.

First the parallel pickups will drop the load impedance drastically, reducing volume and killing low end. If you have a 18000 ohm steel pickup and a 12000 ohm guitar pickup tied together the total drops to around 7200 ohms, less than half the load impedance of the steel alone, and this will severely wimp out gain and tone.

Also the steel's pickup and VP will load the guitar's pickup and the guitar's controls will affect the steel's pickup, as all of these represent alternate signal paths to ground with or without filters it becomes very messy very fast, and whatever you do neither instrument will sound as good as they would alone. Why amps have discrete channels by design.

[Fred Treece]

Dave, the last time I tried a Y cable (about 20 years ago), your description is a more technical way of how I would have said it sucked. Since Larry endorsed it, I thought maybe something had improved.

I also like the mixer idea.

[Dave Grafe]

Dave, the last time I tried a Y cable (about 20 years ago), your description is a more technical way of how I would have said it sucked. Since Larry endorsed it, I thought maybe something had improved.

I also like the mixer idea.

Ha! Yes Fred, I am always happy to provide technical explanations for what sucks!

The only thing that has "improved" in this regard is the buffering available in effects pedals that CAN greatly reduce the issues I mentioned, while increasing the likelihood of ground loops.

[Tom Jordan]

I've been using a Morely A/B/Both box for years and it has never let me down or "colored" the tone.

Tom

[Fred Treece]

Dave, I could keep you busy for a long time

No one has mentioned a line selector pedal yet. I have never used one, so I am not sure what the advantages are over a simple AB switch other than an LS is more of a Swiss Army knife. This Boss unit seems like it would do the job the OP needs it to do.

[Tim Rose]

I keep both instruments live at all times switching fast from one solo right into the next (instrument) a/B switch is one extra thing to plug in...extra thing to push...and are tone sucker's .including my morly

[Jerry Overstreet]

I use a simple A/B box that I built. It's just Switchcraft jacks X 3 and a mini 3 pos. center off switch. It clips on the leg of my steel and only takes a second to switch.

There is no tone suck with this box. I don't see how it could. I've built a dozen or so for other players here and I've never had anyone tell me if affects their tone in any way. YMMV.

[Tim Rose]

Maybe just bad experience with the Morley for me...think it traumatized me..lol