Anybody have exersizes or practice tips?.

I try to set my full volume at about half-pedal, and give it more pedal as needed to keep the volume consistant.

What works for you?

[This message was edited by Joey Ace on 28 July 2002 at 05:53 AM.]

I often wondered if it would be usefull to practice slow tunes with a VU meter (sound level meter) connected on the amplifier and try to keep the needle on the meter steady. Has anyone ever tried this?

By the way experienced teachers will tell you to not use a pedal when starting out on the steel.

A good friend of mine, Len Ryder noticed that I was moving the pedal slightly on every note that I played. I watched myself on video after and noticed that I was also making other jestures that were unnecessary. I think a camcorder is a great tool to use to play back and criticize yourself on your tone and habits.

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[This message was edited by Don Benoit on 28 July 2002 at 07:25 AM.]

I put a 15Kohm resistor between the ground tab on my pot and ground. What that means is the pedal is already on in the full off position. I selected a value that would give me my background fill level. Probably becasue of the audio taper on the pot, the postions at the beginning of the pot are a lot more even or smooth and control is easier for me at the very beginning of the pot or pedal movement since they are more graduated because of that taper.

Drawbacks are obvious; you don't make any contact with the strings when you don't want to be playing or heard. You are already on !
And if someone wants to set in on your rig, they are in for a surprize. I intend to add a switch to short out the resistor I've added for those occasions.

Regards, Paul

[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 28 July 2002 at 07:56 AM.]

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"I often wondered if it would be usefull to practice slow tunes with a VU meter (sound level meter) connected on the amplifier and try to keep the needle on the meter steady. Has anyone ever tried this?"

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Funny you should ask. I do!

I have an SM57 on my Nash 400 and it runs to an ART Studio V3 PreAmp that has a retro-looking analog VU meter. It sets at my eye level.

I needed it to keep my home recordings from clipping, then discovered it's useful to keep on even when not recording.

I use my volume peddle to turn up for the breaks, and to turn down for the fills.
When I want to be silent, I mute with my right hand. It doesn't matter to me if the volume peddle is still on, when I turn it down.

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Sho-Bud proII custom,Session 500,American standard Strat,Shecter tele,Peavy Classic 50,Fender Vibrolux

Perhaps listening to Jimmy Day recordings might help Joe. I realize it is not possible to hear Jimmy in person anymore (dang it), but every time I heard him at St. Louis, he could control the 'ambiance noise volume' of the audience with just the expression of his volume pedal, as well as the dynamics of the band...something I've never seen done so well by other players.

I might also suggest leaving the pedal to 'shut off' in the rear position, as I'm sure that is how most of the players use it.

Also, may I suggest you use your ears instead of your 'eyes on a meter', as it is the ears that tell you how much to use...(let alone the people listening).

(Yes I heard lead players do that, Larry. Sometimes with a volume pedal, yuk!)

Actually some on-going conversations with Al B. prompted this post. He's been advising me for a looooong time to use more V.P. expression. I work on it, but still need improvement.

I listen to my recordings and have an "acceptable technique", but want to be much better than that.

So, I'm looking for some very exact advice on what exersizes or tips you might have.

For example: I play a harmonized scale up and down the neck, picking only once in each direction, trying to the volume constant.

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I made a mock pedal with a piece of 2x4 and shims to get the right foot feel.

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Those pulls you had on there are still standard on C6.

We had both feet on the pedals most all the time, no knees, so you covered two with each foot.

In those days they had the Volume and Tone controls right on top, so you could use your pinky finger to get volume swells, etc. and also the tone control to get those Doo-wahss.
Jody Carver knows about that too.

About that C6 pedals Doug, yes right out of the Alvino Rey book.

Alvino Rey was really the Grandfather of the modern Pedal guitar using E6 tuning.

That was the basis, I believe, for the basic C6 setup of today, which was picked up by Bob White and which he did so well on.

Before you buy anything, however, you could first try this: take your equipment to a buddy's house who you know has no hum problems. Does your stuff hum there? Or, have him bring his stuff to your place and set it up right where yours is and see if his stuff now hums too, although it's not absolute that his would in the same circumstances. Better you take yours somewhere else. Also, have you set up your stuff in a different room in your house and tried it there? Sometimes only one circuit can have a problem.....you could also check the houses ground connection, usually there's a grounding wire located outside the house near the fusebox, electricity meter, phone box, gas hookup, or some such kind of utility. They often get corroded and make poor connection.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 12 August 2002 at 11:46 AM.]