Can it be done?...Help!! Sarno,Hilton and others

Jim Dempsey · Post by **Jim Dempsey** » 24 Mar 2005 8:00 pm

I play a SD10 Fessenden.I would love for someone to make a device that can be installed in between necks,that would allow me to control delay,reverb,and fuzz.Dials,toggles the whole bit,everything could be concealed underneath the guit.Stomp boxes at the touch of your finger.hmm When it's complete i'd like 2 please.-Thanks,Jim

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 25 Mar 2005 5:12 am

Jim, over the years, a lot of electronic devices have been integrated. Most of them were,in my opinion, bad ideas. When one device goes bad, you are stuck with having to replace it with the original equipment,and sometimes having to replace the whole mess rather than one portion.
An example is a TV/VCR combo.
Consider the fact that we all have personal preferences when it comes to effects devices. In my opinion, I would rather not have onboard effects in my guitar. I have a rack with my effects,tuner,etc. I can upgrade individual components at any time, quite easily.
Also consider the fact that you want to sell your guitar. Then you will need to acquire new effects devices.
What happens if one of the effects in the chain goes bad? You would probably not be able to play your guitar unless every effects device had a bypass switch. Now you have more switches and wires hung on you guitar....... Just a few of my thoughts.....JD

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 25 Mar 2005 5:32 am

Jim..get a PODxt and a bracket from Tommy Dodd and just mount that little darlin' to the leg of your guitar. Not "built-in", but close enough. And if you ever want to change effects devices, you aren't stuck with the "buit-in" !

Danny Naccarato · Post by **Danny Naccarato** » 25 Mar 2005 6:02 am

Back in '86 st eh ISGA, therew was a Japanese picker with the setup you mentioned. He had small toggle switches between the necks of his D10 as well as a couple of knobs, for his effects. I didn't look underneath, but assumed he had the circuit boards mounted there. Pretty slick setup...

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 25 Mar 2005 7:48 am

It's a good idea, but I go along with John. Don't do it. It will create more headaches than it's worth, not to mention the "hacking up" of the guitar.

Jim Dempsey · Post by **Jim Dempsey** » 25 Mar 2005 8:03 am

Yes,i do agree i'm sure alot people would be alittle hesitant about routing holes in their axes.But,if someone could make a box along the lines of a "Bosstone",with reverb/delay built in,maybe the size of a pack of cigs.I think they'd have a winner in the steel community.I'd buy one for a couple of hundred no problem.I'd really prefer a small device at the touch of my fingers over a foot stomp. ---Thanks,Jim

Danny Naccarato · Post by **Danny Naccarato** » 25 Mar 2005 8:39 am

I've toyed around with the idea for a long time, to pull the boards outta the stomp boxes and remount them in a small, thin box, wired together, with small on/off toggle switches. Something that could then mount on the leg, or like someone else mentioned recently, velcroed to the seat side...

Jim Dempsey · Post by **Jim Dempsey** » 25 Mar 2005 8:40 am

Roger,-Do you happen to have the dimensions of the Pod xt? Double stick velcro,attached to the back of my cabinet might be a good idea.I'm presently using a Boss GT6,but looking to lighten my load.---Thanks,Jim

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 25 Mar 2005 9:30 am

A Pod Xt is too large to be attached to the back apron of a steel. It's approximately 11"X7"X2" and weighs at least 1, maybe 2 lbs as it has a metal case.

I've built some stomp box units into a 1 space rack mounting. There is a lot of wiring involved, not something a non-techie could tackle. Switching between the units would be a major project to get the wired correctly and with "true" bypass.

Jim Dempsey · Post by **Jim Dempsey** » 25 Mar 2005 9:36 am

Thanks Jack,---Yes,that is too big.If you are aware of anything that fits what i'm looking for, give me a shout.As much as i really like my Boss GT6,there's stuff in there that i will never use and it's too bulky.-Jim

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 25 Mar 2005 2:24 pm

It's been many years since I've seen him, but Sneaky Pete had a highly modified Fender steel -- and I seem to remember he held built in a number of effects. Boo

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 25 Mar 2005 3:06 pm

I saw Chuck Campbell, the great Sacred Steeler, use a tiny little Korg Pandora's Box clipped to the leg. It's loaded with everything, overdrives, distortions, compression, reverbs, delays, modulations, pitch detunings, tuner, etc., and it really is about the size of a pack of smokes. The algorithms may not be as nice as a PODxt or a Lexicon, but it sure covered all the bases. It's the smallest all-in-one box I've ever seen. Oh yea, it also does amp modeling.

Brad<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Brad Sarno on 25 March 2005 at 03:08 PM.]</p></FONT>

Jim Dempsey · Post by **Jim Dempsey** » 25 Mar 2005 3:18 pm

Brad,---I have Chuck's DVD and noticed that too.I did got out today and purchase something similar to that called AMPWORKS by Korg.It is now velcroed on my endplate,not the greatest quality,but seems to work ok.-Jim

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 25 Mar 2005 4:10 pm

ah yes, the Pandora, amazing little device, they're on eBay, I wouldn't toggle effects but toggle "programs" with your favorite effects and settings, much quicker

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 25 Mar 2005 6:08 pm

With enough money and enough time...
How about one big knob about six inches in diameter, like on the old Zenith radios?

Dave Ristrim · Post by **Dave Ristrim** » 26 Mar 2005 5:26 am

Yes, the Korg Pandora is nice, but I sold mine. Unless you really need to adjust effect parameters while playing, I say just get a PODxt. I also use the PodPro xt which is in a rack right beside me. It stands up and leans towards me so I can access the controls while playing. I can reach over and tweak whatever I can think of without having all the switches and knobs on my steel. PLUS, if I want to use a different steel, I can have all the same effects. I think that would be the main drawback of "onboard" effects unless you're Sneaky Pete.
Dave

Jeff Hogsten · Post by **Jeff Hogsten** » 29 Mar 2005 8:43 am

look for some kind of midi controller I dont know what is going to be smaller than a pod though but what is the problem of hooking it to the side behringer makes a small midi controller that is especially made for controlling effects via midi if you cant find it email me and Ill get the model number for you Jeff

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 29 Mar 2005 9:22 am

Jeff, that's what I was thinking. It would be cool if someone made a remote midi controller with a readout so you could control and see what's up with your FX unit. Maybe with delay tap button, a tuner, a couple of knobs and switches and all about the size of a cell phone. Then the main unit could be with the rig and all you need to do is access it with the little controller.

One of the best solutions I've seen is to use a PODxt, even if it's only used as an FX unit with no amp modeling turned on. Tommy Dodd makes a bracket that will hold it to your steel leg. The control panel on the PODxt is the best for quick tweaks and adjustments. And the unit is a very good sounding FX device. The tuner works great (it mutes), the reverbs are great, the delays are excellent. Pretty cool steel device. It's also a preamp if you want it to be.

Brad Sarno

Jim Dempsey · Post by **Jim Dempsey** » 29 Mar 2005 2:30 pm

Thanks guys for your input! I purchased the POD 2.0,and i'm using it as effects only.I am pleased with what it does.I pretty much use delay,reverb,comp.and fuzz,unfortunately i don't see any fuzz effect on the 2.0.I still would like a compact effects box that would be similar to the Bosstone(input jack mount),with my desired effects.Does that tap button on the POD always blink?(once you get your taste).I also am trying to find a clamp to go on the shaft of my ROC_N_SOC drum throne,so i can mount this.It is on a cut down mic stand for now.---Jim

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 29 Mar 2005 2:47 pm

Many, many years ago, a gentleman from Canada showed me a device he built to turn his chorus unit off and on. It was a tiny little plastic box with a small, metal bolt head protruding just a hair from the top of it. It worked like those metal lamps that are touch sensitive, the ones that just come on by touching the lamp on any of its metal parts. He had this little bitty box Velcro'd to the front of the neck of his guitar, near the pickup. He could simply reach out with the pinky finger on his right hand, touch the bolt head, and the chorus unit would come on. Touch it again and it would go off. He could look down at the unit and see if the pilot light was on or off. There was a thin wire connecting the box to the chorus unit. No moving parts in the box. It was real slick.

Lee, from South Texas