All that talking, and you don’t play a damn note…

talk talk no hearing the tone......come on!

I understand the "3 elements of tone" that you describe here but isn't "push/pull" a description of the Emmons mehanics more than the tone? I have dabbled in the PS world off and on for a long time. I took lessons back in the 80's - ended up selling my Emmons after letting life get in the way - had a change of heart some years latter - got back into it with a ShoBud and still haven't gone down the rabbit hole far enough to understand the whole PP thing.

Albert, there’s no way I could agree with how you describe your “two camps” of tone. When I think of Sho-Bud, I think of a permanent and fingertip. Almost always SIGNIFICANTLY thinner and usually brighter sounding than any Emmons, whether you’re talking about a wraparound, bolt on or cut tail… the later generations of guitars like an all-pull Emmons or Sho-Bud pro 1, 2, or 3, are vastly different than just “two camps” of tone.

what camp does the MSA XL Legend fall into? Emmons tone or Sho Bud tone? thx..love ur vids!

I can save all of you 30 minutes of your life in one sentence. Try everything that’s manufactured for steel guitar and if you like the way it sounds, use it!!

Great video! I'm looking at a used Steelaire and this is super helfpul

It seems to me that if you are going to produce a video about tone, then demonstrating it as you go, to show examples and differences is vital. I see Albert that you have answered a similar point by saying go to your recordings. Maybe that would be useful, but not as good as actually demonstrating on the spot. I thank you for your thoughts never the less. For me it was all pretty obvious, but clearly others got a lot out of the session, so good on you for being helpful to them. I hope you don't mind my comments, just trying to be helpful. kind regards, Melvyn. PS Oh, just to say I built my own pedal steel some 48 years ago, no money, left handed, so it was the way to go for me. Had no idea of what one did to design the pedal mechanism, so worked on logic and experimenting, and some how got lucky. There weren't so many pedal steels around in the UK back then, to look at for ideas. Found a guy to make me my pickups and been using them ever since - I had no knowledge of pickups, so again got lucky. Playing with amp pots seems to give me a wide range of tonal changes. Tend towards a warmer tone, don't like too much clang, but really like the Emmons tone too.. Emmons forever!!!

You play pretty good but the tone is not happening. The best tones come from push Pulls and shobuds.. Mostly. Now look up some of my videos.

I have to update and say that we didn't hear You play anything. It's hard to know if you know anything about tone when we haven't heard you play. If you're gonna do this again play something and then talk about it. Just sitting They're and going on and on about everything Is great if we have an example. I was really wanting to hear that guitar

The Tone Is In your Hands

P.P.S. Tuning makes a huge difference in how your sound is presented. The further you depart from Just Intonation, the murkier and less iconic your sound will be.

Interesting take on what affects tone. However the power of your amplifier, including your speaker configuration, either trumps all other acoustic aspects of the ability to produce a consistent tone or limits your ability to do so... Not sure I completely agree with the disparity between Sho~Bud and Emmons tone camps... Using a Telonics Pre 1000 amplifier you can switch from a Tom Brumley style to tone to a very heavy, much less trebly tone in a split second with a twist of the Blend knob. Both sound superb, depending on your needs at the moment. But I'll continue to watch because the video expresses interesting ideas. P.S: There are cables that are enormously higher fidelity compared to the more common ones you mention.

Very cool and useful information. Thanks Albert.

Great demo of the beauty of the much-missed steel guitar Ebow! Thanks for coming up with this lovely arrangement, Albert.

Listen to David Hartley and you will find the master of steel playing and tone. Rains guitar and Telonics pickup. Top of the line and best sound bar NONE.

The one item I attribute a lot of my tone to is a powder coated bar. It not only reduced string noise, but give it a fuller rounder tone too.

I just ordered 2 sets of E9 strings.Looking forward to trying them out at a gig this Saturday. I learned a lot from this video.Thank You.

Hey does this guy have some lessons for beginning lap steel players? I played standard 6 string guitars for many years, bought an old lap steel from the 1940's, and want to learn how to tune and play it.

One more item I would add, though I guess it’s somewhat obvious, is the actual tone control on the guitar. My guitar has a bypass switch, which I keep in the “bypass” position because I think the tone pot robs too much of the guitar’s tone, even when turned to the minimal effect if it’s enabled.

That last chord position is a new one for me too, thanks for passing it on.

i dont know if you said this but for instance after listening to paul franklin interview i got some daddarios and it sounding great for a couple days but then things went out of tune and after taking mine to a pedal steel tech/teacher he told me that i have to buy the exact same strings idk if thats because its a 73 pull release but im not expiermenting with strings ever again

i have to shoutout to marlen since ive lived and grown up in nc and ive owned 2 both were amazing but i really like the one i have now thats a D-10 funny both i bought becuse of the low price but both were black the d-10s a 1973 pull release and im crazy about its tone

Hard to say what the original p/p or sho-bud tone really was. No telling how much the recording process affected the sound. Tone is in the player.

Hahah baya iyi

I hear to get Stringjoy Strings, can you exactly tell me which ones, I have a MSA SuperSlide 12 lap steel guitar. Which ones do you suggest ?

Thank you for doing this!

I've been listening to him for four minutes now. I'm not quite sure ... is he talking about Tone?

beautiful

It seems like the amp would have more of an influence over the tone more than the particular guitar being used?

That oh no at the end 😂 what was the song called?

This song Albert is playing brings tears to my eyes; because he played like this in my home almost 25 years ago. Albert has an "ear" that VERY few ever have. He can play ANY thing; slow, medium; and faster than the guy blowing his horn when the lights turns from red to green. Oh indeed! But the BEST thing about him is: He is a devout Christian and he doesn't hide and keep it to himself. May Jesus continue to bless him always. c. Dixon ("pat dee")

Albert is one of the best PSG players on this earth. He has an "ear" that very few have. He played at my SG show in '97 and '98 in Atlanta, GA; to which I shall always cherish. May Jesus continue to bless you and yours; and gift you with talents from Heaven Albert. c. Dixon ("pat dee")

Innovative !!

Very nicely done!

Love the use of the chords and e bow single string together!

Well as for me I like the tenpenny sound of a double neck fender like speedy West but you're still guitar sounds good as well

Also, the true bypass is kind of a myth. The boss style buffer actually does the same thing that your buffer pedal does - which you said it good. It’s not a black / white thing.

Love Stringjoy! Had Scott on my podcast!

I have a bolton D10. Play it through a TR. Old strings. Sounds beyond great...

thanks for the tips

Hi gosteelman... I know that this reply is 9 years since your post but they are making them again...I purchased mine about 1 month ago [in Perth Western Australia]...loved your playing by the way.

Would definitely like to see you talk more about tuning. You've got a lot of PSG wisdom!

nice, now try it with a smile..

Best Pedal Steele Version Since Tom Brumley This Is Great👍

Well I can not believe it. I stumbled on this channel and lo and behold a young man that I know is on the video. Wow I cant believe it. The last time I saw you was when you came to my Steel Convention to play in Atlanta. That was 1997 and 1978. 22 yrs ago. Wow. Hope you are doing fine dear friend Albert. carl dixon

Excellent discussion, looking forward to your tuning discussion

Outstanding video. Love my Steelair. Thanks again for this video.

What about bmi 10 4 pedal 4knee with Nashville 400

By the way this was the best video on the Steeler that I’ve seen so far great job and you make me wanna be a steel Guitar player