Hot Pickup!

Matt Steindl · Post by **Matt Steindl** » 3 Jan 2002 11:30 am

Just got my first PSG, it is a dekley student model. The pickup appears to be a single, it sounds excellent, but man is it hot(high output).

I have been testing it on different delay, reverb and flanger pedals, but it is so hot that it is overdriving almost all of em. Even when i run it straight into my good ole Fender Princeton Reverb w/ tubes, it hits it really hard. W/ my Les Paul, my comfort volume level for noodling is about three on the volume dial, when I plug the Dekley in, I have to set it below one to get the exact level.

My question is, do any of you have to step the signal down before it hits the effects/amp? If so what do you use? Being a recording freak, I understand the value of having a strong signal chain, but man this is tooooooo much!

Let me know!

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 3 Jan 2002 12:08 pm

Try increasing the distance between pickup and strings. You might even like the sound better that way.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 3 Jan 2002 1:16 pm

If you are used to standard 6 string guitar pickups, you will find most pedal steel pickups to be hotter. In fact a pedal steel will overload many stomp boxes if connected direct to the stomp box.

If you run from the steel to the volume pedal and then the stomp box it won't overload or from steel to volume pedal to amp, which is the most used hookup.

BTW, Pedal Steel Guitar volume pedals use a 500K pot, not 250K like most "guitar" volume pedals. (I notice you are new to steel from 6 string guitar).

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 3 Jan 2002 3:02 pm

Many of us (most? all?) play with the volume pedal only partly open (around 2/3 down), leaving the rest in reserve to milk extra sustain or use for dynamic swells, among other applications. This approach will reduce your average output. Combined with Earnest's suggestion, you really ought to be able to find an ok level. On the other hand, the Princeton is not exactly a clean powerhouse (I'd love to have one but I don't expect it would serve my steel needs quite like my Vibrosonic. Nor could it hold my house down in a twister quite like my Vibrosonic.

Welcome to the SGF.

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Matt Steindl · Post by **Matt Steindl** » 3 Jan 2002 4:03 pm

Thanks guys! So is it not recomended to use a 250k pot. volume pedal w/ a psg? I am looking for a V. pedal and most of em are for 6 string guitar(dunlop of Morley).

I dig the sustain, so I do not want to mess w/ the height of the p/u.

I have other bigger amps for playing bigger rooms(which I rarely use), but this silver faced Princeton Reverb is the sweetest little combo. For small clubs on 6 string, it breaks up at a perfect level w/out drowning the rest of the boys out. Anybody looking for a nice 1x10, find one of these babys before they get any more expensive! They are still pretty reasonable compared to their blackfaced and tweed siblings, but that wont last long w/ the idiot money being thrown around on ebay.

Here is what I might do: PSG>tube preamp w/ the pad enabled>vol. pdl>delay>amp. Sound good?

Any recomendations on PSG V. pedal under $75.

Thanks again[This message was edited by Matt Steindl on 03 January 2002 at 04:09 PM.]

gary darr · Post by **gary darr** » 3 Jan 2002 6:42 pm

I am unclear if you have a Vpedal or not but if so,and it is a 6 string pedal with 250k pot, you could just change out the pot to a 500k. I did this to a ernie ball pedal and it works fine for my needs

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Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 3 Jan 2002 7:06 pm

Matt, congrats on your Dekley!

You should go from your guitar to the volume pedal THEN to your delay, preamp, and amp. This way you won't be feeding the full signal of your guitar into the preamp. If your delay doesn't distort, I'd recommend putting it between your guitar and volume pedal so you can stop the slapback by shutting off your volume pedal.

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Jim Smith jimsmith94@charter.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden Ext. E9/U-13 8&8=-

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 4 Jan 2002 5:45 pm

Matt: Welcome to the forum. My advice? For just a tiny bit more $$ you could get a used pedal made for a steel. Might as well buy it now, you will want it and regret not getting it. I see used goodrich pedals on the forum for around 100. I have one you can try. I`m in the neighborhood. 504 866 4054 or e-mail me. Good luck.

Jim Whitaker · Post by **Jim Whitaker** » 4 Jan 2002 6:23 pm

Can someone tell me who makes a dekley guitar & if it is dekley why haven't I seen them advertised??

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JIM
MSA S10 LTD 400
REAL OLD STUFF

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 4 Jan 2002 6:43 pm

I helped design and was the plant manager for Dekley. The company was in Bloomfield, Connecticut, just outside of Hartford. They were in business from 1976 to around 1985, but there are still a lot of them around.

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Jim Smith jimsmith94@charter.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden Ext. E9/U-13 8&8=-

Jim Whitaker · Post by **Jim Whitaker** » 4 Jan 2002 8:49 pm

Thanks Jim How were the student models & what kind of pu's were used?

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JIM
MSA S10 LTD 400
REAL OLD STUFF

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 5 Jan 2002 7:29 am

The student model was, in it's day, the best and cheapest. Just having 3&3 was better than any other student guitars on the market. The body is an aluminum extrusion so there is no chance of warpage. The rods are standard size bicycle spokes should you ever need a replacement. The pickup is exactly the same as the pro model's, a single coil molded bobbin, which was wound and wax dipped by a local vendor.