old topic , no resolve yet

[ArtPalazzini]

When playing at low level, all the tones sound good. The minute I want to accentuate a phrase or a serries of notes ay more volume, all I hear is a accenuated bass tones. God forbid that I rake the strings when I may want a full sounding 6th, then it's like playing thru a bowl of oatmeal. Is it the pickup, the amp or the vol.pedal? I have tried all the previous suggestions with no avail. Steel is new Emmons lg2 , amp is nash1000, pedal is goodrich 120.Getting ready to chuck it all..... Any one really know how to fix this????????

[Keith Hilton]

Art, you should feel really good about what you hear. At least you can hear what is happening to your sound. When you can hear what is happening you can make changes. The really sad thing is many can't hear these tone changes. All they hear is volume changes. Just be thankful you can hear good.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Keith Hilton on 23 January 2003 at 11:44 AM.]</p></FONT>

[Larry Bell]

I agree with Keith. Be grateful you can hear it. Not all people can.

I notice this more with some amps than others. My old Standel is notorious for needing more bass at low volume than at high volume. (the other side of that is you have to remove bass and/or add treble at higher amp volume) Do you only notice it when you turn your AMP up? What about when you just put the pedal to the metal with the same volume?

The former is a characteristic of certain amps -- they WOOF more at higher volumes.

The latter -- and the fact that you mention a Goodrich 120 and no matchbox or buffer amp -- can be the result of the pot in your pedal. Have you tried a matchbox? Best solution I've found is Keith's volume pedal -- but it's only a solution for the LATTER situation -- where the tone loses high end as you increase the volume using the volume pedal. You can't buy much better equipment than your guitar and amp. It is a proven combination.

One final idea:
Ear fatigue occurs much faster at higher sound pressure levels. If you are playing at louder OVERALL levels, this may be a factor. (or not)

Just some thoughts.

------------------
<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 23 January 2003 at 12:20 PM.]</p></FONT>

[Jon Light (deceased)]

An additional thought, in extension of what's been said----are you using the three cord volume pedal patch? If the problem exists only with pedal down, you may be oversaturating the amp input. Maybe the pickup is too hot and needs to be lowered a bit. Maybe the three cord patch will make everything sound bassy at all levels and you can reduce bass or mids on the amp. ..........just some thoughts.

[richard burton]

Set your amp so that you get the sound that you want, when your volume pedal is flat out. Use the three cord hook up method with passive volume pedals.

[Ron Randall]

This is a little way out...but, does the room itself present any problems? Does the amp sit on a floor that is hollow underneath?
Do things start rattling in the room? Would an ampstand help?
Is the speaker OK?

IF you can, have some one else listen. I chased a tone problem, until my wife told the canvas on a large painting was vibrating!

Crazy ideas!

[Donny Hinson]

Does the problem get better or worse when you switch the cords at the volume pedal? It sounds like the volume pedal may be hooked up backwards.

[Bill Ford]

If possible,have another steel player listen and tell you what to do.I was doing the tone fight thing,had another player say I had a great tone,still did'nt sound right to me but I trust him,also a non player that I trust said it was good so ...?????
I have an all wood S12 thru a session 400 limited and intellefex online.

BF

------------------
Bill Ford

[Bob Hoffnar]

Try practicing without a volume pedal and see if it clears up.

Bob