fiddle similator for pedal steel ??????

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 24 Dec 2002 9:44 am

Do you guys know if they make a fiddle similator to be used on pedal steel? dumb question I know but heck one dont know unless they ask. have a merry christmas too all of you and your family.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 24 Dec 2002 9:56 am

With the name Barcus, you should be telling us how to do it!

(Just kidding)

Some have used a Boss Tone distortion device to simulate string sections. Smiley Roberts is the master of this by the way.

I don't think there's anything that will fool anyone when it comes to simulating a fiddle. I have a couple "fiddle" patches in the sound module for my MIDI rig, but they don't sound authentic at all.

Then again, the pedal steel patch doesn't either, even on my pedal steel.

If there is something, I'd sure like to hear about it. I usually work with two fiddles but every once in a while there's only one, and rarely there are none.

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Jim Smith jimsmith94@attbi.com
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden D-12 (coming soon)=-
Stereo Steel rig w/Boss GX-700
IVL SteelRider w/JV-880

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 24 Dec 2002 10:08 am

Thank you Jim, I thought about writing Barcus and tell them im related to share some of that money with me lol just kidding ive no ideal if i am or not, but anyhow Id like to see something come out heck id give it a shot. maybe the gentleman you spoke of will reply to this and give some input on his settings, take care Joe and oh did you get a new steel for christmas lol wishful thinking for all of us huh

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 24 Dec 2002 10:19 am

This might not suit you but just about any distortion unit like a Proco Rat, Tube screamer, Boss Overdrive, etc., will give you smooth, endless sustain that can get you some fiddle-ish sounds on a single string (not for double-stop or twin fiddle sounds--that will get you into the rock-guitar-big chord zone). No, you won't fool anyone but it will sure be different sounding from straight steel.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 24 Dec 2002 11:08 am

The Bosstone or overdrive effect will emulate more of a violin sound -- smooth, legato feel. As soon as you need to play those staccato intro notes for a Ray Price tune, you're out of luck.

Our drummer calls them Nya Nya songs. He claims that the two pickup notes seem to be saying that . . . whatever (drummers!)

Jim, I wish you'd send one of those fiddlers up here. They'd love our beautiful Michigan winter (yeah, right). Not enough good fiddle players in this neck of the tundra.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 24 Dec 2002 11:10 am

If you have a midi rig on your steel,you can dial up various string patches and a lot of them are pretty good these days. The problem then becomes how much do you know about orchestrating what real strings might play in a given setting.If you know what you're doing and it's a legato passage,it will suffice(to some ears)for background string pads but if you want to speed pick up front solo "fiddle" even with the most convincing synth patch,you're up against midi lag and humiliating triggering gremlins.I've tried it for years - first with fuzztones and E-Bows and later with midi gear and NEVER did I cop a worthwhile fiddle or string sound or playing shtick to go with it - especially thru a steel amp.These days I'd rather just portray my instrument as a steel guitar. -MJ-

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 24 Dec 2002 11:13 am

I will have to try these things out you know us steel players wants to play it all lol
we have no country fiddle players here where im at as well not saying that they are here in wva but ive not seen any come by for a very very long time, oh you got the bluegrass fiddles but theres 1000 miles difference in a bluegrass and a country fiddle player, just my two cents though and dont mean anything bad what so ever. joe

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 25 Dec 2002 11:21 am

I've read that you can get a fiddle sound by using distortion and playing the 1st and 4th strings together, with the 4th string raised up with the C pedal.

I've tried this, and I like the resultant sound, especially for playing rock, but it doesn't sound like a fiddle. At least not when I do it.

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 25 Dec 2002 2:43 pm

Ask Bobbe?? He fooled me....but I never came close to the sound, but he can!

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 25 Dec 2002 2:47 pm

maybe peavey should be working on this for us pedal steel fiddle player wanta be guys lol.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 25 Dec 2002 3:51 pm

Moved to 'Electronics' section.

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 25 Dec 2002 9:31 pm

If the two strings are a few beats apart the sound is fatter, add lots of reverb and lots of bass with a bosstone effect unit.

Play string 4 and 8 and 10 listen to how low you can go.

Larry Behm by way of our man Jeff Newman[This message was edited by Larry Behm on 04 January 2003 at 11:47 PM.]

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 25 Dec 2002 9:39 pm

There are big differences between the sound of a fiddle, a violin, and a string section. Distortion devices can mimic the last two, but Joseph is asking about a fiddle simulator. Nothing I know of can come close to that Tommy Collins Ray Price fiddle sound except a fiddle.

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 25 Dec 2002 9:42 pm

i have too agree with you Jim but Bobbe wrote me and said he was going to do a video on how he does it, and some say he can do it pretty close. joe

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 25 Dec 2002 9:47 pm

I've heard Bobbe do violin sounds, so if he can do fiddle sounds too, I'd definitely like to hear that!

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 25 Dec 2002 9:50 pm

same here jim lol by the way did you have a nice christmas?

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 26 Dec 2002 12:15 pm

Smiley Roberts is the master of this by the way.

Jim,
You are TOO kind. Thank you.

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©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 26 Dec 2002 12:21 pm

Just the facts man, nothin' but the facts.

Okay, so maybe I am just a little biased.

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 26 Dec 2002 2:42 pm

Jim, I was dancing to Bobbe w/Johnny Paycheck's band at Holland NY a few years back and all of a sudden the fiddle man took a chorus! My head snapped around to the bandstand.......because it was a 4 piece band. Lead, steel, drums & bass.....these guys ain't got no fiddler!?? Maybe someone is doubling?? Yeah!, guess who? Bobbe with his steel! I guess I'd have to say it was as
close to the 4 amplified fiddles Bud Carter
was with on Dewey Groom's bandstand @ the Longhorn Ballroom when I met him! I don't mean Bobbe was playing 4 part fiddle harmony, but it did sound real enough to me!
on a single note ride chorus!

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 26 Dec 2002 8:51 pm

I told bob too get busy on that video lol, id buy it just to see if i could do it,
also i figured out how to do it and sound real great, have a tape player or CD player tied in with your amp lol just a joke Joe