Bonnie Raitt Tone on Lapsteel

Matt Berg · Post by **Matt Berg** » 12 Apr 2022 12:08 pm

Trying to somewhat emulate her sound. I've got metal and plastic (bakelite) bars, don't have any glass ones.

My effects are diamond compressor clone => klon clone => OCD clone => and I'm thinking of putting an old Boss CS2 after the dirt because I've read that's what she does, though this seems odd. I've got a variety of vintage steels, I don't think any of them is particularly "Stratty", but since she uses the middle switch position (or so I have read), that's not as distinctive as the 4th position, I'm guessing.

Also, from a musical perspective, I've observed a signature move is when she drops down a step, and then quickly goes down another scale tone and back up.

Any other tips/tricks/observations?

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 12 Apr 2022 12:50 pm

Compressor after dirt keeps the sensitivity on the dirt, to make it cleaner (pick lightly) or dirtier (pick heavier), like running a tube amp right at final tube saturation...
Only works that way if you turn off the comp before the dirt, of course.
Some folks always have comps both before and after dirt pedals.(Trey Anastasio, I believe),..some run dual comps with one set mild and one extreme...( Lowell George, I believe)

Matt Berg · Post by **Matt Berg** » 12 Apr 2022 1:57 pm

Yeah, exactly. I was going to run the diamond dialed all the way back. The boss is a lot less subtle by nature, and will run that after the dirt. These are also the two least dirty dirt pedals I have, not going for metal here...

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 12 Apr 2022 3:47 pm

When you find out, will you let me know? Bonnie has one of the sexiest slide tones on the planet. Just gorgeous. I've admired her style since the first time I heard her years ago. I've never been able to even approximate her tone.

FWIW, I know nothing about the subject other than she plays a Strat.

Peter Siegel · Post by **Peter Siegel** » 19 Apr 2022 4:17 pm

I believe she plays though Howard Dumble amps.

Her s l o w vibrato is epic.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 20 Apr 2022 12:28 am

I wonder if she plays through an Origin Effects slide rig? I think she was influenced by Little Feat's Lowell George double compressor in series set up. That's what that pedal is.

Matt Berg · Post by **Matt Berg** » 21 Apr 2022 8:57 am

OK, I can report back that after a week that compressor after dirt is the greatest thing for a blue rock tone that I have tried!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, y'all.

Lynn Kasdorf · Post by **Lynn Kasdorf** » 5 Jun 2022 11:42 am

Bonnie's tone is similar to Lowell George, and I'm pretty sure that he advised on how to get that sound. I know that Lowell used a lot of compression, and I heard that he used 2 compressors, in the studio at least. Maybe he used one before distortion and one after.
I recall seeing Little Feat with Lowell and he was playing through a Princeton reverb on a stool.

John Ducsai · Post by **John Ducsai** » 5 Jun 2022 4:35 pm

Origin Effects Slide Rig will get you there.

https://origineffects.com/product/slide ... eluxe-mk2/

Lynn Kasdorf · Post by **Lynn Kasdorf** » 5 Jun 2022 5:02 pm

John Ducsai wrote:Origin Effects Slide Rig will get you there.

https://origineffects.com/product/slide ... eluxe-mk2/

That looks like a great product - but $400???