need help with amp and effects setup

Eldon Buckhannon · Post by **Eldon Buckhannon** » 22 Mar 2006 4:59 am

hi, i'm a new member,i have been watching you guys sence this pass christmas my kids gave me my first steel i played bass for 30yrs.or so i have picked up a lot of great info and do thank you all for the great job, but i am having a hard time setting my amp to get a good overall sound i have a sho bud maverick,fender twin (with the master vol).,and a deltafex multieffects unit,i've looked on the forum but no one seems to use this setup i could sure use any advice i can get,does anynoe know a teacher in the lubbock texas aera,well ayway better go thanks in advance,god bless,eldon

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 22 Mar 2006 6:26 am

Good morning Eldon,
First off welcome to the Forum if ya been lurking for a while you know this is a great place.
I can't help ya with the Fender amp, but some one here will I'm sure!
Don't know about teachers in your area, but quite a few Forum members out there, Charlie McDonald is right there in Lubbuc. Shoot him an email.
Welcome
Larry

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Emmons S/D-10, 3/5, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 22 Mar 2006 6:26 am

Look up Charlie McDonald. He is in Lubbock and should be able to help you out.

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Mullen U-12, Evans FET-500, Fender Steel King

Eldon Buckhannon · Post by **Eldon Buckhannon** » 22 Mar 2006 8:34 am

thanks for your help guys, i will try to contact charlie,eldon

Ben Slaughter · Post by **Ben Slaughter** » 22 Mar 2006 1:28 pm

Welcome Eldon,

I would start with the amp, with the Deltafex bypassed or out of the loop entirely. Find a good EQ setting on the amp. Check this link for Ricky Davis' settings for a starting point.
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/008524.html

Or, try this, turn your Bass to 0, Mid to 10, and Treble to 0. That setting is pretty close to a flat EQ response, on a Twin. Then tweak from there. Start by turning the Mid down, and the Bass up, slowly.

Once you get a suitable sound from the amp, I would then add the FX. Most guys use either reverb or delay. I will usually use one or the other, but not both at the same time. With delay, most guys set it to 1 repeat (low "feedback"), between 150 and 200ms (low "time"), and turn down the level (use the "mix" knob) to point where it is very subtle, or just barely audible. This is what's generally known as a "slapback" delay. The intent is to simulate the sound you would get in a larger hall or room. The longer the delay time, the larger the room, theoretically. When done right, it serves to bring life to the sound, rather than sounding like an amp in a vacuum.

A Fender Twin sounds like a Fender Twin. If you are trying to achieve a sound like, say, Paul Franklin on an Alan Jackson record, you're probably not going to get there. The Twin will give you more of the Tom Brumley on a Buck Owens record kind of sound, IMHO.

Use your ears, and have fun.

Eldon Buckhannon · Post by **Eldon Buckhannon** » 22 Mar 2006 5:01 pm

thank's for your help ben i'll give it a try, it does help to have a good place to start
may GOD BLESS
eldon

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 22 Mar 2006 6:14 pm

Welcome, Eldon. I use to play with a Maverick and a Master Volume Twin. I can't help you with the Deltafex. But here's where I'd start with the Twin: Keep the Volume (which is the preamp gain) and the Master Volume (which is the power amp) about the same place, or maybe with the Volume a little behind the Master Volume; Treble around 3, Mid around 5.5 (straight up), Bass around 7; Reverb around 4 for fast songs, around 6 for slow ones; try the bright switch on and off (depends on the room). That Twin will give you some of the best steel sound there ever was. If you prefer delay to reverb, cut the Twin's reverb off and use the Deltafex as advised above. You can play a lot of music with your setup.

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<font size="1">Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

Eldon Buckhannon · Post by **Eldon Buckhannon** » 23 Mar 2006 5:22 pm

thank's david, now all i have to do is learn how to play this thing,
GOD BLESS
ELDON

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 23 Mar 2006 6:36 pm

I used to use a 1980 Fender S~F Twin~Reverb and I either set Treble (6), Middle (8), Bass (7) or sometimes it sounded better in some locations at T (7/8), M (7/8) & Bass (7/8) with Reverb always on ±(4), But; I don't think it had Pre~Gain and Master (?). I'm using a ’65 Re-Issue now and set it at T (5), M (8), B (7) & Rev. ±(3) Volume as needed. To avoid distortion you always want your pre~Gain lower than the Master! (4) should be quite sufficient for the pre-gain anytime! (5/8) on the Master. IMHO!

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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
n.t.s.g.a. #90
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
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