I spent today with the wonderfully generous Mike Johnson, who is one of Nashville's finest recording musicians. The first thing I did was to pass on Billy Murdoch's and Malcolm McMaster's best wishes, which he appreciated.
Mike invited me to accompany him in the studio to see how it all works in Nashville. I have attached a pic of him with one of his Franklin steel guitars, which he swears gives him the best recorded sound out of his vast array of pedal steels in his collection. You will see a couple of large racks next to him, and this is what he describes as his 'small rig'. Mike records using delay and reverb, rather than let the engineer put it on afterwards. All of the studio producers know and trust Mike enough to know that he will get it exactly right.
He has a Peavey speaker cabinet that is in a separate sound room, and miked up with the type of mikes that he likes. It looked like a Sennheiser condenser mike that was being used. Another little tip. Mike puts a piece of aluminium foil underneath his volume pedal, to give improved screening. He uses a pot pedal made by Paul Franklin Snr, and swears by it. Mike is the biggest tone hound I have ever met I can tell you. Just listen to him on Brad Paisley's first two CD's and also his version of The Lighthouse on the Show Pro CD. Just stunning.
The studio was using Pro Tools as the recording medium, and I was watching intently as the engineer was making up different mixing groups. No plug-ins, just using all outboard gear. Gave me plenty of room for thought.
Here is Mike backing the incredible Daryle Singletary, who I saw with Mike's equally incredible part time band - 45RPM at the Station Inn a week and a half ago.
Also with Brad Paisley, and Mike matches Paisley blow for blow in the solo department.
Tomorrow I am off to Buck 'flying fingers' Reid's house for a lesson and a butchers at his recording studio. For those of you who may not be familiar with Buck's work, he has a couple of clips on You Tube. He is arguably the quickest steel player on the planet. Mark Dunn saw him in the Telonics room trying out an Infinity guitar in there, and couldn't believe what he was seeing.
I will post a pic or two of Buck tomorrow. The term 'world class' is very much over-used in my humble opinion when it comes to describing steel players, but both Mike and Buck fall into that category. They are just phenomenal technicians who are light years ahead of any European players (on both necks!) that I have heard. Buck is also using Pro Tools in his home studio, and I am hoping to pick up some tips there tomorrow.
'Night all!!
Enjoyed talking to Jim last year at Dallas, really nice guy.Although old flying fingers sounded good , your own tone was well up there with him.Perhaps there is not such a difference between the JCH and the Carter than you think. 
Below is a shot of Buck's 'front garden' which is a part of 18 acres of woodland shared by 2 or 3 homes. Absolutely idyllic if you enjoy seclusion. Buck certainly does.
Buck said that he was totally enamoured by another steel guitar - Frank Carter's Infinity. Here is a guy who had totally built his JCH guitar from the ground up, telling me that the Infinity is a pedal steel guitar of the like that he has never seen before in terms of build quality, engineering and tone. Don't be surprised if Buck is seen sometime in the future playing something other than his red JCH. You heard it here first.