Immitating lapsteel

Nitebob

Hey guys!

I am trying this on one of my recordings using a "raised action strat" through a Boss Blues driver pedal. And must say I am quite surprised with the results. I know this is where a lot of purists will chime in with saying "You want a lapsteel sound, get a lapsteel" The reality is that I don't want to make a professional recording, as it is more of a songwriting showcase and want to create a feel for the song...

However it seems the sustain is a bit short and the attack a bit harsh.

Any advise on this?

1. I thought maybe a "Compression sustainer" ala Boss will help for better sustain, but not the harsh attack (?)

2. Wah pedal might be an option, but not really au fait with the playing yet, so don't want to get complex.

3. Post recording compression and volume boost (?) although prefer getting it as close as possible going into the track....

Thanks guys!

Bob-Dubery

Firstly the slide or steel that you use (lap steel players don't use a SLIDE, they use a STEEL, and it's held differently) makes a difference. Proper steels are not ten a penny in SA, but they can be got.

Secondly think of the things that make a steel sound like a steel - not just the attributes of the sound, but the sort of licks that you can play that you can't easily play on a guitar. There are some guitarists who sound like a steel player at times (Jerry Donohue is a good example). That's because they've figured out some typical things that the steel guitar plays that make it sound like a steel and then transferred those to the guitar. On a guitar the emulation usually requires a lot of bending, often extreme and always precise, but if you actually have a steel guitar of sorts then you don't have that problem - you just have to figure out some steelish things to play.

Lastly, try HEAVY strings. It's not like you have to press them down with your fingers. There's tone in those heavy strings.

PS: A raised action electric can work fine. Jerry Douglas mostly plays a custom built dobro-style instrument, but he does from time to time use a strat with the bridge taken up high and a very high nut. If it's good enough for Jerry Douglas....

[EDIT]In terms of sounding like a steel, lap steel players seldom use regular guitar playing. Try open G or open D.

Nitebob

Do you think that using a "steel slide" and heavier strings, will increase sustain?

Manfred-Klose

I have played my lap steel with many things i could get my hands on, and they all did the job well.

by switching over to the guitar there ain't much difference, its all in the technique you use to get the sound.
by how hard you press down on the string and how good your left hand intonation and vibrato is will make up the sound. When i first started playing slide i also thought there was something wrong with gear , but it just came down to good old practice.

the stuff you hear on recordings is mainly a volume pedal into clean slight over driven fender type amp with spring reverb. so if you play around abit you could simulate that on recording software
I always tune to open D. and use heavy gauge strings as it is easier to press down without getting close to the fretboard.

there is alot of slide lessons on youtube to watch. for some inspiration go and look at Derek Trucks.

you are welcome to come and pop by my place and i can show you some slide tricks.

Nitebob

Thanx Manny. Been dying to get out there...will make a plan...SOON!

AlanRatcliffe

X-rated Bob wrote: Firstly the slide or steel that you use makes a difference.

+1. Glass, brass, chrome, aluminium...

Lastly, try HEAVY strings. It's not like you have to press them down with your fingers. There's tone in those heavy strings.

+nog 'n 1

Compressors are great - the Boss is actually a popular choice for may slide players.

Also wide left hand vibrato actually adds some energy to the string.

PS: A raised action electric can work fine. Jerry Douglas....

And of course, don't forget Sonny Landreth.

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Nitebob

???

Not EVER gonna be close to that league...hehe

1. I use glass, had brass, didn't like it, sounded like it bled through to the other strings more than the glass (might be the operator not the generator)

2. Currently on open E tuning....just easier to keep it straight, but it's basically just single strings to give things more of a country vibe...

3. Didn't want to get heavier strings as the strat is a jack of all trades kinda thing.... (use an extra nut to raise action) but if that's what needed, I'll do it....mmm....got a strat lying in spares in my storeroom...

4. Compressor sustainer added to wishlist...

Thank you all!

lapdawg

Heavy gauge strings and a solid steel definitely improve sustain.
I think the damping of the strings behind the steel with your trailing fingers is also important for tone. I think this anchors the strings and stops them rattling against the steel.

I bought my steels from elderly.com Here are a few pics. I admit to being a bit showy - the first pic is on with my 1936 Gibson lap steel EH150. This is first pickup made by Gibson - about the 180th or less in serial sequence. Its called the "Charlie Christian"

Left to right, the steels are: Shubb SP1, Lapdawg, Bob Brosman bullet. There is also a nut extender to right it clips over an existing nut for temporary conversion.

Dave Gilmour used the strat on his lap with the "bullet" type steel. Peter Green says he played his part in "Albatross" with a strat on his lap. There's enough pedigree there to not need to worry about whether its right or not.
I have some resources on lapsteel instruction / technique. Let me know if you're interested.

Chabenda

Wow - What a beautiful instrument and what incredible condition it's in. I must confess to be more into the old blues slide in a G tuning than the traditional C&W lapsteel but having had Hank Williams Sr as an early childhood influence, have a love/hate relationship with it. I don't think that there is an instrument on this planet that comes close to a lump of wood with strings on it. What versatility.

Squonk

The April issue of Guitarist is all about slide

Nitebob

Thanx guys....specific type of heagy gauge? Half-round, flatwound, or just normal?

Manfred-Klose

The April issue of Guitarist is all about slide

....and capo's

lapdawg

Nitebob wrote: Thanx guys....specific type of heagy gauge? Half-round, flatwound, or just normal?

I wouldn't put very heavy gauge on a strat. The Weissenbourne / Hawaiian strings can get very heavy. If you use the nut extension you can move between standard & lap easily.

Chabenda wrote: Wow - What a beautiful instrument and what incredible condition it's in. I must confess to be more into the old blues slide in a G tuning than the traditional C&W lapsteel but having had Hank Williams Sr as an early childhood influence, have a love/hate relationship with it. I don't think that there is an instrument on this planet that comes close to a lump of wood with strings on it. What versatility.

+1.
I know what you mean. Both Blues and Country got slide from Hawaiian. Hawaiian was the first big global popular music. In a sense, that's where it all started - a new way of voicing notes. The thing I like about slide is that you get to see that positions in between frets can sound right or better than right.

BTW - what do you think of this. Its a Robert Johnson cover on 12 string Dobro. One of my favorites.

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