Seeking pedal to give my lap steel a pedal steel sound

[Kevin Speyer]

Hi all,

I primarily play hawaiian music, but I have gotten really into early country music (Hank Williams Sr., Patsy cline, etc..) i would love to have an effects pedal that gives it the tone of a pedal steel guitar without buying more guitars. LMK if anyone has a recommendation...
Mahalo in advance!
Kevin

[Lane Gray]

In my opinion, and others may disagree, the biggest difference in the tone between the two lies in the much heavier-wound pickup. There's more than twice as much wire in one pickup than the other.

That means the pedal steel signal STARTS fatter but less responsive, and the only way I know to achieve that would be to get a custom pickup, preferably with a center tap so you can have the lighter sound at will.

I've also noticed that it often seems that some pre-pedal steel players actually preferred strings a good bit older (a polite way of saying half-dead to the modern ear). There's nothing wrong with that, and I know some players of other instruments were the same. The late John Duffey hated the sound of fresh strings, and would change his strings at least 6 months ahead of the next time to record an album, so they'd be ready, but less likely to break. But that's only some steel players. If you're gonna play like Johnny Sibert (the whoop-de-do player behind Carl Smith, and a guy who's both worth emulating and fun to steal from), you're going to need all the bright you can get.

[Brooks Montgomery]

Do you currently use a volume pedal?

[Dwight Lewis]

Kevin, I second the pickup theory. Most pedal steel guitars are from 10-14 strings. That's alot of winding real-estate. Not discounting, many pedal steel guitars have humbuckers. There's a big difference in lapsteel and psg sound, but line up one of the Sierra S8 lapsteels next to a Psg and it will sound just as big and beefy. My experience an s6 single coil will not sound as big as an s8, s10 or s12 of the same type of pickup. You can experience with humbuckers, or even thicker guaged strings.
IMHO
Dwight

[D Schubert]

Most pedal steel guitars have no on-board volume and tone controls, so that the signal hits the volume pedal first. Maybe that's a clue?

[J Fletcher]

Just want to point out that the old Hank and Patsy recordings didn't have pedal steel . There's some pedal steel on the later Patsy stuff , but the original version of Walkin After Midnight , for instance , is Don Helms on non pedal steel .

[Lane Gray]

And with pickups in the 4-figure range, resistance-wise.

[Dave Grafe]

Just want to point out that the old Hank and Patsy recordings didn't have pedal steel . There's some pedal steel on the later Patsy stuff , but the original version of Walkin After Midnight , for instance , is Don Helms on non pedal steel .

Absolutely! The significant difference between the music of lap, slide and pedal steel guitars is the diatonic harmonies that utilize bar slants on the former and pedals/levers on the latter. The "sound" component achieved by replacing the overdrive used to achieve sustain with a clean signal and appropriate use of the volume pedal and amp headroom to bank sustain and shape dynamics. And don't forget good reverb if it's the classic pedal steel sound you're after.

[Fred]

A graphic EQ may help get you to a tone that sounds "pedal steel" to you. Then a volume pedal if you're not already using one. Then learn how to slant between major and minor thirds and major and minor sixths. Use the slants along with the volume pedal to move between chord positions.

I think the notes moving against each other will get a lot closer to we hear as a pedal steel sound than just the tone.

[Dave Grafe]

A graphic EQ may help get you to a tone that sounds "pedal steel" to you. Then a volume pedal if you're not already using one. Then learn how to slant between major and minor thirds and major and minor sixths. Use the slants along with the volume pedal to move between chord positions.

I think the notes moving against each other will get a lot closer to we hear as a pedal steel sound than just the tone.

What he said

[Bob Carlucci]

two responses here.. One snarky[but submitted with good intention, and humor], and the second at least moderately helpful

response 1- yeah good luck with that..

response 2- for a 6 string electric guitarist, your request would be written like this-

"I want to give my Les Paul a Telecaster sound"

What you are asking is always going to be a compromise kind of sound, as to my ears lap guitars and pedal steel guitars just do NOT sound the same, period. They can't,- they are built, scaled, stringed, and electronically outfitted and spec'd very differently.. That being said, a volume pedal, a GOOD EQ, and a change in playing style and tactics will get you closer.. Oh yeah, ditch the smaller lap steel or Stevens bar if thats what you are using, and use a bar made for pedal steel.. It will help a lot... bob

[Fred Treece]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hQEqq8wDNRo

I apologize for how easy Raphael makes this look. I assure you it is not.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Wow! Fred. Sure would haved fooled me had I not seen it.
From the book of "if you can think it, you can do it", I guess.
I'm truly amazed at the minds of some people.

[Kevin Speyer]

Do you currently use a volume pedal?

No, I only play straight 6 string hawaiian stuff. I was hoping there was an effect pedal that could give me the sound on the guitars I already have.

[Brooks Montgomery]

Do you currently use a volume pedal?

No, I only play straight 6 string hawaiian stuff. I was hoping there was an effect pedal that could give me the sound on the guitars I already have.

A volume pedal will help you get that pedal steel sound with the “crying” swells and sustain.
check these:
https://glenntaylormusic.us/moyo-volume-pedals

[Fred Treece]

It’s a good question, but it’s also a funny question because most pedal steel players are constantly trying to make their pedal steel guitars sound more like pedal steel guitars. So if you find that pedal, kindly let us know here.

[Fred]

It’s a good question, but it’s also a funny question because most pedal steel players are constantly trying to make their pedal steel guitars sound more like pedal steel guitars. So if you find that pedal, kindly let us know here.

I'm always trying to get my pedal steel guitar sound more like a lap steel!

[Dave Grafe]

It’s a good question, but it’s also a funny question because most pedal steel players are constantly trying to make their pedal steel guitars sound more like pedal steel guitars. So if you find that pedal, kindly let us know here.

I'm always trying to get my pedal steel guitar sound more like a lap steel!

That's the easy part, just turn it up, don't touch the pedals or VP and only play lap steel lines.

[Fred]

It’s a good question, but it’s also a funny question because most pedal steel players are constantly trying to make their pedal steel guitars sound more like pedal steel guitars. So if you find that pedal, kindly let us know here.

I'm always trying to get my pedal steel guitar sound more like a lap steel!

That's the easy part, just turn it up, don't touch the pedals or VP and only play lap steel lines.

I'm talking more about the tone and, sometimes, the grit associated with lap steel with the added possibilities created by the pedals. More harmony possibilities and notes moving against each other all without sounding like country music.

[Chris Templeton]

There's so many variables in tone, bar, picks, guitar, pickups, strings, that before looking for a pedal I'd go to the saying, "tone is in the hands".
If you are looking for a certain guitar tone, like a Fender or a Rick, try dialing the tone in with a multi-band EQ before trying to find the magic pedal.
A spectrum analyzer can show the differences.