posted 19 June 1999 09:21 AM         

But, a lot of the guys are using the Profex II and I understand the John Lemay mod does a lot to improve the sound. The Profex II's have dropped quite a bit in resale price lately.

There are other units, such as the Digitech 2101 or it's newer version, and Alesis units. However, more seem to be using the Peavey units, as steel programs (patches) are available for them.

Many of the guitar stomp boxes tend to distort with steel so you have to be careful with them. I do use a Boss DD-5 delay when I don't use the Transtube Fex.

[This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 06-19-99]

posted 20 June 1999 08:37 AM         

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Have a good one! JH U-12

[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 06-20-99]

posted 23 June 1999 02:46 PM         

Used to use the ProFex2, but was unhappy with 1) no bypass, 2) no mix/blend control, 3) no quick changes; you gotta program onstage, and 4) front input only.

Since I only use reverb and occasional delay, I use the Lexicon MPX100, which offers features satisfying all the above complaints, along with fantastic Lexicon reverbs. Easy to use and ready for steel right out of the box.

posted 23 June 1999 03:12 PM         

[This message was edited by John Macy on 06-23-99]

posted 25 June 1999 04:55 PM         

And these guys who play "slide guitar" riffs on a six string lap steel need a buttwhuppin'
too! At least if they say they play steel. Any time you come across a guy like that, sneak up and retune his major chord to a 6th!

posted 25 June 1999 05:21 PM         

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Slide It On Over

posted 27 June 1999 07:03 PM         

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What is that thing that you play?
members.aol.com/rndhd
www.oldfriendsband.com

posted 03 July 1999 12:20 PM         

Effects are always a huge debate. The most important thing to remember is that the "real" effects are in your hands. After that, decide what sounds you want, then get a unit that will supply.

Something to keep in mind, especially for the PSG, is ergonomics. You usually already have both hands, both feet and both knees full, so switching effects on and off can be somewhat problematic.

Also, where do you put the controls so you're not always accidently stepping on them? Just think, you're getting ready to sweep in that sweet major sixth chord for the end of a low-key hawaiian tune, and instead of stepping on the volume pedal, you accidently hit the death metal distortion! Heh ;-)

I only use a volume pedal and a Danelectro Daddy-O overdrive on the PSG, though I have been thinking of getting a good tremelo unit as well. That's about as much as I can stand to have underfoot on the PSG. And I only have 3 pedals on the guitar! Now, my main electric guitar rig, that's another story ;-)

In general, here are the main effects types you want to consider:

1. 2 distortions, one tube-overdrive type and one fuzz-lead type. Trying to get these out of one device may or may not work. Most multi-effect rack distortions really blow. You'll probably want a pair of stomp boxes, and if you don't have room on the floor for both, decide which you need the most and just get one.

2. 1-4 second delay. You can get good delays out of almost any rack or box. Unless you plan on running a stereo signal, ping-pong and stereo delays probably won't do you much good. Zoom makes a really nice, cheap delay pedal.

3. Modulation. This means chorus, flange and leslie simulations. I would consider this effect type to be the least usefull for a PSG. All rack multi-effectors will have a large bevy of modulations types. One is usually about as good as the next.

4. Tremelo. Well, not for everyone, but I like 'em. Good for those "swampy" textures and wigged out 60's psychedelia. Yeah baby, yeah!

6. Filter effects. This means wah-wah, auto-wah, and phasers. Usually, it's either flanger or phaser, not both. Flanger is easier to control, but the phaser has its own undeniable charm. Phasers are not always found in racks, but I wouldn't let the absence of one deter my possible purchase. Wah-wah is going to have to come from the floor. If you can find a pedal that is foot-switchable between volume and wah, that would be the way to go - kill 2 birds with one stone.

7. Reverb. If your amp already has reverb, you probably don't need to worry about it. However, if playing with large reverb times is one of your things, then I would suggest (along with everyone else) a Lexicon if you have the bucks. If you don't have the bucks, get the best one you can afford. I am partial to the rich sound of the Alesis myself and abhor the thin sound of the Digitech, but YMMV.

Now, out of all these types, I'd say you probably will usually only want about 3: distortion, delay and one other type (we will assume that you already have a volume pedal.) Keep in mind how much physical space you will have to keep the effects in and how much you will really use them.

posted 05 July 1999 05:58 PM         

In general, stomp boxes give a better sound for analog type effects than the presets in rack units. However, if you load up a bunch of stomp boxes in your signal, your tone really suffers. This is somewhat true for guitar, but it is really true for steel (perhaps due to the high impedence of the steel pickups?). Plus then you need to worry about powering all these devices. It's a pain. For a bunch of money, you can get somebody to build you a custom switching system hooked up to a foot pedal. But I don't know of any steel player who has gone to that trouble (and it's more money if the *&^% thing ever breaks... and it will).

So we use the rack efx units, which as you point out, don't sound great. Good but not great.

Anyway, if you are really into analog stomp boxes, you should really try the Lexicon MPX G2. They have done a very excellent job on the stomp box thing. Plus it doesn't change your tone at all, the efx on or off. And these stomp box patches are very adjustable (down to the level of emulating how much battery power the device is recieving).