Members mightysasquatch Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 I really love my current setup, EXTREMELY simple, toneful, and versatile. The one thing I have not been able to do is manage volume swells via my guitar volume knobs. I use a Gibson SG Standard, a Epiphone Casino, and a Fender Stratocaster.On the first two, I am trying it with just the neck pickup, so it's not a simple matter of me being a dumbass and leaving the bridge volume up. Can anyone offer any tips, or do I add a volume pedal to my rig? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ginnboonmiller Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 It's a timing thing. I like to use the side of my hand against the side of the knob to turn it so that it's harder to miss. That makes it more of a shoulder move than a wrist move, an the swells are less jerky that way. I also hit the strings really hard with the volume off, since the attack is gonna be missing anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elctmist Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 I use the pinky on my picking hand, I'm always riding the volume. I find it easier with a Fender-style setup and metal Fender knobs. You could also try wrapping a rubber band around the knob for better grip. Delay and reverb also help the note bloom better when you fade it in. But in the end its just practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members moonhead Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 pinky and a hand spread wide...like birds wing...circular motion see also Rory Gallagher DVD Irish Tour '74. He do this good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members alloowishus Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 practice, practice, practice. i love volume swells, makes your guitar sound like a synth. i find that the some strats have "sticky" volume knobs, mine is perfect. make sure you have a really smooth volume knob that is close to your pinky. it is all about timing, you have to think ahead of what you're playing so your actually hitting the note before the beat with the volume set to 0 so that the swell comes in on the beat.of course you could always cheat and use the volume swell setting the DL4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mightysasquatch Posted September 7, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 I can do it really good with my hollowbody Casino into my Mesa Boogie hi gain channel. I don't even need to pluck the note, just fret with one hand and turn the volume with the other. So all of you do swells with your guitar knob instead of a volume pedal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzface71 Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 This trick is really cool and easy to do with the strat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vladglad Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 The pots also make a huge difference. Gibson is notorious for cheaping out and using 300k pots with a terrible taper on most of their humbucking guitars since the early 70s. Changing to a better (standard?) quality pot will help a lot with smooth swells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elctmist Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 Originally posted by SASQUATCH So all of you do swells with your guitar knob instead of a volume pedal? Its a lot more tricky on the Silvertone -- with stacked volume/tone controls -- than a Fender Jaguar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members krazeexharhar Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 I have an SG special and I got so annoyed at hassling with both volume knobs that I just broke down and bought a volume pedal. I'm sure if I had a strat, I'd probably use the knob....but it just doesn't work with an SG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ginnboonmiller Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 Originally posted by elctmist Its a lot more tricky on the Silvertone -- with stacked volume/tone controls -- than a Fender Jaguar. I can only imagine. It was pretty tough working it out with the tele custom and both pickups on, with the two volume controls and everything. But that's how I developed the side-of-hand technique. The neck volume gets turned by wrist, the bridge by pinky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pallas Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 Originally posted by elctmist I use the pinky on my picking hand, I'm always riding the volume. I find it easier with a Fender-style setup and metal Fender knobs. You could also try wrapping a rubber band around the knob for better grip. Delay and reverb also help the note bloom better when you fade it in. But in the end its just practice. [/quoterubber bands sounds like a good idea, ill try it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ManiacManos Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 Is there a trick to mastering volume swells with the guitar knob & not a pedal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wednesdaysworse Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 Pot value, pinky control, amp level and listen to Roy Buchanan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mr.morrison Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 timing and practice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BryanMichael Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 Alex Lifeson is a master at both techniqes... I'm just sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mightysasquatch Posted September 8, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 I practiced for awhile last night. I still suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Yer Blues Posted December 13, 2012 Members Share Posted December 13, 2012 It's harder on a SG vs. a Tele, Les Paul, or Strat. The knobs are further away from where you pick making it nearly impossible to extend your picking hand from the picking position to getting the pinky on the volume knob. At least on my SG classic. Great guitar, but that's one complaint I have with it. I do not have that problem with my Strat, Tele, or Les Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hugbot Posted December 13, 2012 Members Share Posted December 13, 2012 I used to really like incubus as a teenager. I think playing "Pardon Me" about a billion times stuck the skill in my brain. My main jazzmaster has absolutely garbage pots though so it doesn't sound so good with that though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ambient Posted December 13, 2012 Members Share Posted December 13, 2012 I guess volume control technology hasn't changed much over the last seven years... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TomCTC Posted December 13, 2012 Members Share Posted December 13, 2012 Originally Posted by alloowishus practice, practice, practice. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members evets618 Posted December 13, 2012 Members Share Posted December 13, 2012 If you're trying to play on beat, you need to anticipate. Pick the note early with the volume off, then roll the volume up quickly so the note falls on the downstroke of the beat. Like comedy and sex, timing is everything. Also, practice, practice, practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LSDis4me Posted December 13, 2012 Members Share Posted December 13, 2012 practice, practice, practice? I'd better just stick with the pedal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Riffraff12571 Posted December 14, 2012 Members Share Posted December 14, 2012 For me it all comes down to this:Guitar's that have them, no problem.....ANY other style and it just doesn't work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dZjupp Posted December 14, 2012 Members Share Posted December 14, 2012 i got to the point a couple of years ago where i just went to guitar volume and ditched volume pedals. once less pedal and more natural sounding sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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