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Author
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Topic: BoBro- Dobro simulator.
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Neil Lang
Member From: Albert Lea, Minnesota, USA
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posted 27 September 2006 04:16 AM
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I bought a BoBro pedal from Bobbe S. a few weeks ago. I have had several people especially musicians ask how I am getting that Dobro sound. They say it sounds "exactly" like Dobro! Best $$$ I've spent on effects!!! Thanks Bobbe!
Neil |
Stan Paxton
Member From: Deland, Fl, USA
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posted 27 September 2006 07:58 PM
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Don't know much about these things, question:
where in line do you put the pedal, after the matchbox, or after the volume pedal, or ?....
thanks (just in case I ever get 1) |
Neil Lang
Member From: Albert Lea, Minnesota, USA
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posted 28 September 2006 04:23 AM
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Stan,
I use a Peavey Nash.1000 or a Nash.112. Both these amps have a pre amp, send and return "patch" on the front panel. This way the pedal is not at all in line with the volume pedal. It works best for me this way. If you do not have that feature on your amp you just put it in line with the volume pedal. It does not seem to make much difference if it is before or after the pedal.
Neil |
Ricky Littleton
Member From: Steely-Eyed Missile Man from Orlando, Florida USA
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posted 28 September 2006 06:16 AM
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I've had a Bo-Bro ever since Sir Bobbe first marketed them. A lot of bang for few bucks in my opinion! Small, excellent tone.I put all my effects between my Match-Box and the volume pedal. That ensures highest drive to each and improves (in my opinion) residual noise performance especially if you cascade effects. Ricky... ------------------
Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd, Nashville 112,Hilton Volume pedal, Peterson VS-II Tuner
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Bo-Bro, Ibanez Auto-Wah, Regal Dobro
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Gene H. Brown
Member From: Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
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posted 02 October 2006 09:33 PM
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Sounds good, approx. how much do they run in price, please?
Thx
Gene------------------
If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!
;)
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Mike Maddux
Member From: Garden Grove, CA
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posted 09 October 2006 09:55 PM
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$259... I wish I could afford one... I wish someone would put out a multieffects unit for steel that would give you all these sounds... Steel guitar effects are priced to high.[This message was edited by Mike Maddux on 09 October 2006 at 10:08 PM.] |
Jerry Hayes
Member From: Virginia Beach, Va.
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posted 10 October 2006 01:00 PM
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Do you have to use a special bar with this unit like you did with the MatchBro?...JH in Va.------------------
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
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autry andress
Member From: Plano, Tx.
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posted 10 October 2006 01:25 PM
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Hey Jerry
Go to Steel Guitar Nashville website. Bobbye has a Demo of him playing the Bo-Bro with & without the plastic bar. Sounds goods
with just your steel bar. |
Richard Sinkler
Member From: Fremont, California
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posted 14 October 2006 12:46 PM
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I just bought one and I am anything but impressed. I tried running in the front panel effects loop of my NV400, and I got a bunch of hiss that was loud as the output of the effect. I put it in line between guitar and volume pedal and it works there. I will try a plastic bar and see if it helps. There is no way this unit can be mistaken for a real dobro, but will be convenient for those gigs I play where there is no room for me to stand and play my dobro. |
Tim Harr
Member From: East Peoria, Illinois
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posted 15 October 2006 10:46 AM
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Richard, I think that is what it was built for - - to substitute when the Dobro is not practical for the live situation. Sounds like you have found your fix. |
Jim Sliff
Member From: Hermosa Beach California, USA
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posted 15 October 2006 02:15 PM
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"Steel guitar effects are priced to high"Wow - compared to what? They seem cheap compared to good six-string guitar effects, where with limited-run stuff like that $300-400 would be normal. |
Richard Sinkler
Member From: Fremont, California
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posted 16 October 2006 01:13 PM
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Tim, it is a decent fix but it does not sound exactly like a Dobro. It's pretty weak in sound quality. But when playing live, most listeners don't know what a dobro really sounds like anyway. It is not as good (in my opinion) as the later Goodrich models after they added control knobs to them. But, a new Match-Bro is obscenely expensive.Does anyone else use the Bo-Bro in the pre EQ patch on a NASHVILLE 400? Maybe mine needs a visit to the shop. |
Mike Maddux
Member From: Garden Grove, CA
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posted 17 October 2006 03:34 AM
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"Steel guitar effects are priced to high""Wow - compared to what? They seem cheap compared to good six-string guitar effects, where with limited-run stuff like that $300-400 would be normal." I was referring to the fact that all effects that are not made in limited runs that are used only for PSG are priced high. Goodrich and Hilton volume pedals, fender and sho-bud pedals, sustain units, fuzz units, matching units, dobro simulators, etc - your looking at 300-400 bucks each...and add that to the cost of a good D-10, seat, good bar, picks, pro setup, and youve spent a fortune. This is an obvious point that is made knowing that we are not talking about chinese BOSS pedals. These are much higher quality units made in the US. The point was why hasnt anyone made a multi-effects unit for pedal steel? Volume/tone pedal, fuzz, sustain, matching, delay, reverb, organ and dobro simulator all in one... Package it all in one unit and price it at 400-500-600 bucks and you would make a killing. Every single person on this forum with the means to purchase that unit would buy it as long as the FX were as good as the units we previously used (or cant find anymore). I own a $350 Budda distortion pedal and love it...money well spent. I can appreciate a good single pedal, but the money would there for the manufacturer that could man up to the challenge.......maybe ive said too much already and should make this happen myself...hmmmmm |
David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 17 October 2006 07:21 AM
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Mike, I think the problem might be that there are so few steel players that everything made for steel is a "limited run" compared to stuff made for regular guitar. The steel market is so small that all steel products are more or less hand-made, US made, small run items; and that keeps the prices high. Also, a lot of these products are very high quality, because that is what steelers demand. There are just very few cheap imports made for steel. |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 17 October 2006 08:03 AM
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It was my understanding that Peavey made an "all-in-one effects unit" at one time. It was called the "ProFex".  |
Nic du Toit
Member From: Milnerton, Cape, South Africa
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posted 18 October 2006 12:02 PM
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How does the "Bo-Bro" compare to the "KickingSteel" DBS7 Resonator (Dobro Simulator)? Only $235.00 CAD from Al Brisco. ------------------
    Nic du Toit
1970 P/P Emmons D10 Fatback 8x5
Peavey Session 500 unmodfied
Click on the images to go to the CD's
Click here for Nic's other projects
Click here to E-mail us.
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Darryl Hattenhauer
Member From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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posted 19 October 2006 08:35 AM
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Nic,How does it hook up and operate? ------------------
"I drink to make other people more interesting." -- Jack Nicholson |
Nic du Toit
Member From: Milnerton, Cape, South Africa
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posted 19 October 2006 09:40 AM
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No idea, I haven't bought it yet. |
Cliff Kane
Member From: Long Beach, CA
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posted 19 October 2006 10:46 AM
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How do these pedals compare to a wood or plastic bar and an EQ pedal? I use a Bic lighter to suggest (not really sound like) a banjo......it seems bar material and EQ could get one in the suggestive realm of another instrument (along with playng like the instrument you're suggesting to sound like). |
Rand Anderson
Member From: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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posted 19 October 2006 11:15 AM
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I would venture to say that the BoBro is exactly that......A boss GE-7 EQ pedal notched at a particular mid boost....... roll off 150 on the low end and at 3.5k on the high end just go cut the end off a broomstick...viola
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Per Berner
Member From: Skövde, Sweden
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posted 20 October 2006 02:12 AM
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For me to part with my hard-earned, it would have to sound a lot more like a dobro than it does in that videoclip - not very convincing, especially compared to the rave reviews seen earlier on the forum. Maybe the limited sound quality of the clip doesn't do the unit justice? |
Micky Byrne
Member From: Essex and Gloucestershire England
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posted 20 October 2006 03:15 AM
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Hi Rand, You are sooooo right. it's like a Boss unit with the graphics altered. About 30 years ago my pal was getting a Dobro sound on stage, and when I asked him how, he showed me his little EQ unit, with the sliders at complete alternates. This was way before even Match Bro's were for sale. I now however years later, use the original Match Bro.... can't be beat IMHO  Micky Byrne England www.mickybyrne.com [This message was edited by Micky Byrne on 20 October 2006 at 04:39 AM.] |
Barry Blackwood
Member From: elk grove, CA
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posted 20 October 2006 06:17 AM
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Before the MatchBro, I was getting an acceptable dobro simulation by using a wah pedal set to just the right 'spot.' Biggest problem, of course, was that 'spot' wasn't easily repeatable .... |
Michael Haselman
Member From: St. Paul Park, Minnesota, USA
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posted 20 October 2006 10:23 AM
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Per, you said exactly what I was going to say. I saw the video on Bobbe's site, and was definitely underwhelmed. I've got an old GE-7 laying around that I may play with, but someday I'm going to get a reso. That's why I started playing steel--sick of trying to simulate with steel licks on guitar. ------------------
Mullen RP, Webb 6-14E, Peavey NV112, Hilton volume. |
Rand Anderson
Member From: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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posted 20 October 2006 01:55 PM
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Yep the alternating EQ trick. I have a SuperBro myself, but i prefer to play a dobro.I think what is more important than the timbre
is the dobro tuning. The open string rolls and and pull-offs are way more convincing in this tuning. D
B
G
D
B
G so on my c6th neck.
pedal 7 raises strings 3 & 4
pedal 8 lowers strings 10, 9 ,8 D
E
C D
A B
G
E D
C B
A G
F
C i can use one foot and hold down both 7 & 8
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Joe Miraglia
Member From: Panama, New York USA
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posted 20 October 2006 02:32 PM
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I have a Bo Bro. I like it, use it every gig. My Bo Bro looks like a Boss pedal ,is a boss pedal.Says Boss corp. on it. No level or tone pots. My Super over drive SD-1 has level, tone, drive, controlls. Cost of SD-1 about $100.00 new Yes, why does the Bro cost so much more? Paid over $200.00 used ,New $300.00 list at the time I bought it.On the back plate it reads-Boss corp. products of Roland Made in TAIWAN. Joe www.willowcreekband.com |
Mike Maddux
Member From: Garden Grove, CA
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posted 21 October 2006 12:24 AM
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I believe that Bo-Bros are just Boss pedals repackaged...thats why your have all the boss logos all over it. It is not an original boss product. It is much like the way Keeley will take a $40 dollar boss pedal and "hot-rod" it and charge a ridiculous amount more... If I want a dobro sound, I play a dobro, and if theres room for my steel theres room for me to stand up and play dobro above my steel...yep, the mic is a bitch but I deal with it...$70 samson condenser mic, easy. If you want a 56 Chevy get a 56 Chevy...not an accord with a 56 chevy engine in it, its just not the same thing ------------------
Regular Rig: 60's Versatone Pan-O-Flex Amplifier, '85 Fender Tele Custom, '98 USA Fender Strat, Magnatone G-70, Harmony Steel, Silvertone Steel, Sho-Bud Maverick |
Per Berner
Member From: Skövde, Sweden
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posted 21 October 2006 04:28 AM
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Come to think of it, on the videoclip it looks to be the same color as the GE-7 pedal. I'll put a battery in mine and see what happens... |
Jim Sliff
Member From: Hermosa Beach California, USA
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posted 21 October 2006 07:21 AM
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Bobbe explains, I think in the demo video.They take a Boss pedal - because the "chassis" is cheap and durable - and simply hand-wire all new guts. The only "Boss" part is the basic box. If you wanted it, he could probably make you one in a DOD box, Nobels, Ibanez...when you're just making a very limited run of pedals it's much cheaper to buy new or used pedals and strip all the electronics out - the fabrication of the pedal itself is a pain, unless you just use a basic "project" box and a stomp switch...and the switches have gotten really lousy over the years. I had the ones in my Fulldrive replaced twice, and one of my ZVex pedals as well. I have done the same custom-pedal thing (making my own distortion pedal) as he does with the BoBro. Anyway, just wanted to clear it up. The only Boss item is the "cabinet". The rest is custom-designed and handmade. It's also not expensive at all for a "boutique" pedal. Most pedals are made for the 6-string market, and there a $300 pedal is kind of average. You CAN'T compare the price of the BoBro and a Boss pedal - they are apples and oranges. Last note - I absolutely agree about the tuning! It sounds right, but wrong on an E9 or C6 guitar. the tone is there, but the inversions are all fouled up. I like the idea of altering the C6 copedent to get a "real" dobro tuning. Otherwise, you can play Hawaiian licks and a few really basic country-tremolo things - but none of the hammers/pulloffs with the right notes to emulate a "real" Dobro. In fact, this may hace given me an idea of what to do with my 1000's second neck. The front neck is in my Sneaky Pete B6; I think I'll set up the back neck in a Dobro tuning and budget some money for a BoBro in a few months. Having played Dobro for 25 years, it should work great. Thanks for the idea.[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 21 October 2006 at 07:28 AM.] |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 21 October 2006 07:38 AM
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When Cousin Jody played the Opry, he tuned that little Gibson to A, high base. That is basically the same tuning as E9th with the A & B pedals down. A lot of getting the dobro sound is technique, don't let the sound of pedal stomping come through.
Also, you want to turn off ALL effects and a plastic bar isn't a bad idea either. [This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 21 October 2006 at 07:39 AM.] |
Richard Sinkler
Member From: Fremont, California
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posted 22 October 2006 09:26 PM
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Well, I just used my Bo-Bro on gigs Friday and Saturday. When played with a full band,, it sounds quite good. Playing alone in my living room it sounds like, well you know. I was using my regular bar, but I have a plastic bar on order from Scotty's. It still doesn't sound like my Tut Taylor Dobro, but it will do. I would recommend the Bo-Bro, but keep in mind that it is not a dobro, so it's only going to sound kind of like a dobro. |
Jim Sliff
Member From: Hermosa Beach California, USA
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posted 23 October 2006 05:50 AM
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"The point was why hasnt anyone made a multi-effects unit for pedal steel? Volume/tone pedal, fuzz, sustain, matching, delay, reverb, organ and dobro simulator all in one.."I missed this earlier. The reason s simple - ALL multi-effects units for guitar (as they would be for pedal steel) are either "averages" of various effects or lowest-common-denominator effects - meaning the sound of whatever parts can be used to price it reasonably. Not everyone whouses effects wants to sound the same - that's WHY there are 100+ different overdrive units being sold. Multi-effects give you a bunch of effects, but there will be some in there that each player won't like. I tred many of them for guitar and hated every one. They had every sound but the "right" one. It's an expensive R&D proposition to manufacture a unit for so small a market as well. I kno Peavey has som multi-effects gadget with patches for steel, which is nice of them to do...but it's still onlt going to appeal to those who want a kind of "generic" sound. |
Gary Shepherd
Member From: Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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posted 23 October 2006 11:44 AM
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To me, on the demo, it sounds like a pedal steel that's been run through a hi pass filter. Not sure of the exact frequencies but I'll bet the same thing could be done with just about any programmable FX proccessor.------------------
Gary Shepherd Carter D-10 www.16tracks.com
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Gary Shepherd
Member From: Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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posted 23 October 2006 12:12 PM
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I've already posted this on the Sonar forum asking for suggestions but it occurred to me...For you other recordists, there are several plugins that will copy the EQ from one source to another. I thought I might let FreeFilter (or one of the others) listen to a few seconds of dobro, and then apply the same spectrum to pedal steel. ------------------
Gary Shepherd Carter D-10 www.16tracks.com
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Gary Shepherd
Member From: Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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posted 23 October 2006 01:19 PM
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Someone on the Sonar forum pointed me to this. I have no idea how the dobro patch sounds. Anyone?------------------
Gary Shepherd Carter D-10 www.16tracks.com
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Mike Maddux
Member From: Garden Grove, CA
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posted 24 October 2006 01:30 PM
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"The reason s simple - ALL multi-effects units for guitar (as they would be for pedal steel) are either "averages" of various effects or lowest-common-denominator effects - meaning the sound of whatever parts can be used to price it reasonably.Not everyone whouses effects wants to sound the same - that's WHY there are 100+ different overdrive units being sold. Multi-effects give you a bunch of effects, but there will be some in there that each player won't like. I tred many of them for guitar and hated every one. They had every sound but the "right" one. It's an expensive R&D proposition to manufacture a unit for so small a market as well. I kno Peavey has som multi-effects gadget with patches for steel, which is nice of them to do...but it's still onlt going to appeal to those who want a kind of "generic" sound."
Thats not true, take it from experience. I sell guitars. No one wants a generic sound. The boss DS-1 wouldnt be the #1 selling pedal of all time if people really cared about sounding generic.
Someone needs to make a multi-fx for steel. PERIOD. They would make bank! |
Curt Langston
Member From: ***In the shadows of Tulsa at Bixby, USA***
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posted 24 October 2006 07:31 PM
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quote:
Someone needs to make a multi-fx for steel. PERIOD. They would make bank!
No, they wouldn't. Peavey gave us the ProFex, TubeFex, and the TranstubeFex. Obviously, they did not "make bank", or they would still be making them. Peavey has stuck their neck out for steel players more than any other company. If they found the market too limited, then rest assured it is. They have to recoup their R&D, before they start to profit. The steel market is minute compared to the guitar market. I am just thankful that they still try to accommodate us........................ |
Mike Perlowin
Member From: Los Angeles CA
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posted 25 October 2006 02:29 PM
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quote:
Before the MatchBro, I was getting an acceptable dobro simulation by using a wah pedal set to just the right 'spot.' Biggest problem, of course, was that 'spot' wasn't easily repeatable ..
Barry, The Dunlop company has an effect pedal called the Q-wah which is the same circuitry of their cry baby wah wah pedal, in a set-and-forget stomp box. Once you dial in the sound, it stays put until you change it again. How does the Bo Bro compare with the Goodrich match bro? ------------------
Warning: I have a Telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site [This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 25 October 2006 at 02:33 PM.]
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