how many of you guys play without any effects

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 10 Aug 2004 11:33 am

I'm with Larry and Carl on this one. On some recording projects I like to experiment with tones and ambience. A dry steel track in the middle of ambient tracks jumps right out at you... maybe a shade of chorus here and there. Live I mostly hang with just a tad of delay and verb, I like my RV-3. I think the "tone" you get from your hands and rig is different from, and augmented by, the "space" you add with ambient effects. They're all part of the package.

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

David Spires · Post by **David Spires** » 10 Aug 2004 12:13 pm

I don't even use a real amplifier anymore - so it won't overpower the natural, dry, acoustic sound of my steel...

Just joking...

I've always been a gear-head, and enjoy the use of effects. It is hard to know when less is more, but sometimes - more is more too.

It is pretty amazing though how Doug Jernigan sounds plugged straight into a Nashville 400.

Besides, if I use more gear, that gives me more things to blame for not getting "the sound" I want. I'm not even sure that I know what sound I ever wanted in the first place!?!

Gear-Monkey,

David Spires

Dale Dorsey · Post by **Dale Dorsey** » 10 Aug 2004 5:25 pm

If you're counting. I'm a plain jane also, with no effects. Straight into my N400 with only a touch of verb. Thinking about a DD3 but only thinking right now.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 10 Aug 2004 6:09 pm

thanks for all the responses guys.Jody I loved your tape,you are a great player.How is `74 pp doing

one time in 1994 I was visiting with friend of mine Scotty in St.Louis and asked him if he could sell me effect that would make me sound like big E no matter how much it cost.He pointed to his heart,showed me his three fingers and said "this is Buddy Emmons".I got the point and gived up on search for Emmons effect.

Db

Russ Wever · Post by **Russ Wever** » 10 Aug 2004 10:24 pm

I recall in perhaps the late 70's during DJ Convention or Fan Fair (whatever it was called at the time), Scotty and I were standing on Lower Broadway and could hear down the street, Buddy Emmons playing in one of the night-spots.
We headed that way, barely could squeeze in the door due to the place being packed, and all we could see of Buddy was from his shoulders up (derby, too!) - but, oh, we could hear that trademark Emmons sound.
When the set was over, the crowd thinned and the smoke cleared, Scotty, myself and some other steelplayers were quite surprised to find that Buddy had been 'sitting in' on someone elses MSA.
One of the guys made a comment on that point to Buddy , and Buddy, with his usual grin, looked him in the eye, raised both hands upward, paused, then stated rather emphatically, "These are my tone controls!".
Those five words have echoed in my mind many time since!
~Russ

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 11 Aug 2004 2:12 am

I've only been playin Steel about a month now but before that I played electric blues guitar for years and got into the effects thing for a long time. Then one day I went back to just the natural sound of a guitar and amp and tried to get a better tone that way. I never went back to effects except for a little reverb outta my Fender Twin...so that's also how I play my steel...just a little reverb and some amp tweakin. I think it forces me to work on my technique and tone more.

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loveridehd@aol.com
Carter D-10/C6 & E9, Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap/C6, and two Resonators/open G

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 11 Aug 2004 10:11 am

Usually just the amp reverb. I have used different effects (distortion mostly) in certain instances but 90% it is just reverb. Probably the effect that most irritates me (besides that great invention, the ring modulator

) is delay as it is used by too many steel players I hear. Now, I am not saying that delay is always bad. What I am speaking of is the ones who play so you always hear 2 distinct notes. Actually had a student one time who told me he used delay so it sounded like he was playing faster (on both steel and regular guitar). He actually sounded like crap on both because of it. I basically like to hear just reverb (I know it's a type of delay) with minimal use of other effects.

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Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400

Ricky Littleton · Post by **Ricky Littleton** » 11 Aug 2004 11:24 am

I have a full "kit" of gizmo's, but use the DanEcho mostly.

Ricky

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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd, Peterson VS-II Tuner
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Boss Comp./Sustain, Ibanez Auto-Wah, PX4 Pandoras Box

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 11 Aug 2004 11:29 am

Currently I'm using a Boss DD5 and RV6 into 2 amps - a Music Man HD130 amp /w Peavey BW 115E spkr, and a Peavey Session 500. The stereo delay and verb is wonderful, and I set it however it sounds best to me at the time. I usually use more for ensemble playing and less or none for practice. With the Hilton Digital Sustain and Volume pedal, the tone is virtually uncompromised, and there are no hums or buzzes caused by these pedals. I also have an MXR Wyld Overdrive that I kick in every now and then (single notes only). Can't make the no hums or buzzes claim with it, but it's nice and quiet in bypass mode so it can stay for now !
It really is all in the hands though, FX should be an enhancement not a coverup. If people are going to notice the FX more than what I'm playing, it's overkill.
Incidentally, the spring reverb in the Session 500 is great, and if I was using just that amp I would probably use the reverb, but the reverb in the Music Man doesn't sound so good to me. The reason I like these 2 amps in combination is that the Peavey gives me solid state clarity (thank you Hartley) and the Music Man gives me tube warmth (thank you Leo). If you're in the sweet spot, it's perfecto delecto !

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Rick Alexander
Fender Stringmaster, National New Yorker

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 11 Aug 2004 7:34 pm

I haven't used reverb in a couple of years, with one exception, that is at the Grand Ol' Opry. There I use just a little bit of reverb but not much.
Normally, I use just a delay unit to fatten up the sound a bit.
Of late, I have been using the Genesis III, but mostly for the "amp modeling". I use a little delay with it but no reverb.

Dave

Leon Roberts · Post by **Leon Roberts** » 11 Aug 2004 8:16 pm

If you use “just the verb from the amp”, you are in fact using effects. Take that reverb chamber out of your amp and then you will be playing without any effects. See how you like that sound. I think you will find it a little on the dry side.

Gerald Menke · Post by **Gerald Menke** » 12 Aug 2004 7:06 am

When I started playing steel, my thinking was the more reverb and delay the better. The notion of playing without effects horrified me, because I did not have my tone together whatsoever. Playing dry would have made all of my playing's many shortcomings all the more obvious. As time has gone by, and I've gotten my technique a little more together, I prefer a dry, pure sound, as you can really hear the steel, I prefer to play the steel these days, not the reverb.

G

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 12 Aug 2004 8:11 am

Gentlemen, if you are playing anywhere in the presence of walls, you are hearing delays. If you use an electronic delay, you have the capability of getting the delay that you find most pleasing. You are not at the mercy of your surroundings.
I use an electronic delay when I play because I can ,at least, sound like I made it to Carnegie Hall. .......JD

Larry Hamilton · Post by **Larry Hamilton** » 12 Aug 2004 10:30 am

Just a little amp reverb and sometimes a touch of delay. I've even been told to turn up the reverb. Some times I use more of each. Just depends on how I feel that day.

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Keep pickin', Larry

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 13 Aug 2004 3:20 am

My playing has no "effect" on anyone. Keep your thumb pick hot! CC