Ridiculous request

[highrisejesus]

Hi All

I have been playing pedal steel for 12 years. I have always struggled with the tone/sound I get from my Carter SD10. I am currently on my 5th pickup - Bill Laurence 705. Until I installed this latest pickup, my issue was a thin harsh sound that cut through like a knife. My band complained it hurt their ears. For a while when I installed the Laurence I had a sound I loved - warm and rich. Now I have the opposite issue. Muddy with no sparkle and my band say the sound is not cutting through enough. Please don't get into my right hand. It's not that. When my sound was too thin I played away from the bridge. Now I have to play close to the bridge and pick hard to get a twang in order to try to cut through.

I have a milkman head and milkman cab. The amp sounds gorgeous with my square neck resonator. So I know it is not my amp. Before I try another pickup ( I am considering a George L's e66 on the advice of a Carter owner on the steel guitar forum) I am considering whether the problem is my Carter and not the pickup. In order to really know this I want to try out another pedal steel. I have been to 2 members of this forum's houses to try out and compare my steel with theirs. At that time my sound was too thin and I was trying to find out how to warm up my sound. Now I have the opposite issue. The problem is that I trying out someone elses instrument at their house doesn't really give me the opportunity I meed to 'hear' it. I need to play it with my band to see how it sound at volume and where it sits tone-wise with the other instruments.

So here is my ridiculous request. I want to borrow a pedal steel from someone for 1 week. I have been a member of this forum for 6 years and a member of the Steel guitar forum for 10 years. I can leave a deposit and/or my Carter SD10 as security. I live in Bournemouth. Ken Byng can vouch for me. I know this is a big ask and I don't expect anyone to take me up on it but I have nothing to lose by asking. Thank you.

[Danny Mitchell]

Henry, that doesn't sound like an unreasonable request at all. I hope someone can help you out.
Have you tried a Li'l Izzy impedance buffer during your quest for the 'Tone'? They certainly clean up mud and bring clarity.
I know it's not a purist approach but, given your 5 pickup changes, it might be worth a shot.

[Tony Smart]

If you're both willing and able, why not lend your guitar to Ken Byng.
I'm sure he'd be able to give you his expert opinion.

[Malcolm]

You have probably checked this out, but just in case you haven’t try another set of leads,if still the same by pass volume pedal and go straight into amp, disconnect any effects you have. Have played many Carters, all sounded good with alumitone, E66, XR16, Truetone and 705. Got to say have never heard a bad sounding Carter. Have Mr Blyng check it out for you.

[Ken Byng]

I checked Nick's Carter out a while back Mr McMiser, but it sounded fine when he brought his rig over to my studio. However, as you say, changing leads/volume pedal is the way to go next. I sold him a brand new 705 pickup so I know that can't be the problem, as I think they are among the best pickups money can buy.

Nick - can you give me a bell any evening when you've got 5 minutes and I will run through a few suggestions with you. Cheers buddy.