Best Steel AND Guitar Amp

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 9 Dec 2002 12:34 pm

Hi folks. I'm in a position where I need to play both guitar and pedal steel on the same gig, and I don't want to haul two amps around. I'm presently using a Peavey Ranger- 120 watts and 2X12 Blue Marvels. We get a little loud onstage sometimes, and I'm concerned that the steel sound isn't clean enough when that happens.

I realize that there's going to have to be some compromise, but I wonder if anyone has playing experience in this same situation. I'm not interested in what owner's manuals or magazine articles say- I'd like to know what amps have actually worked for other pro players on the JOB.

The Ranger has channel switching, so I can set the clean channel for steel and the "dirty" channel for guitar. I use an A/B switch to toggle the inputs. It has a great "clean" sound, although Mike Brown from Peavey suggested that I might think about upgrading to BW's in order to accomodate the steel (not sure I want to make that amp any heavier, Mike!).

My steel is a Sho-Bud Pro I with original pickup, but I've recently bought a Pro III Custom with George L's.

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 9 Dec 2002 1:54 pm

I use a Vegas 400 with a POD and an AB box. Electric guitar and steel to the AB box, out to the POD and then into the steel channel on the Vegas. For either instrument. I just change presets on the POD.

Dyke Corson · Post by **Dyke Corson** » 9 Dec 2002 7:12 pm

Ditto on the Vegas 400. I used two of them when I wanted to be in stereo. I put my steel through a ProfexII into the first channel on both amps and a Digitech RP-1 guitar processor in the 2nd channel of each amp. When I want to play guitar, I just turn up the guitar's volume pot. One amp works fine, but it's hard to go back to one once you are used to the big fat stereo sound of two. It does not really make that big a difference out front, but it makes me "think" I sound better! (&I need all the help I can get!)

Jeff Peterson · Post by **Jeff Peterson** » 9 Dec 2002 7:54 pm

Classic 50.....2X12 or 4x10.....both kick, tone to the bone.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 9 Dec 2002 9:40 pm

My vote is for a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIB, 100 watts. They don't make them anymore, but there's a healthy used market.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic

Tore Blestrud · Post by **Tore Blestrud** » 10 Dec 2002 12:01 am

You're right Jeff, the Classic 50 2*12 gives you a great guitarsound and great honky steel sound. Breaks up when the band is to loud though.

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 10 Dec 2002 7:11 am

I knew that my suggestion of swapping the Ranger speakers for BW's wouldn't be exactly what "I" would do, simply because of the weight but it can be done. If you are considering this, I suggest the 1203-8 ohm BW. Also, since the baffle is a screwed in baffle and not glued, a 1501-4 Black Widow could also be installed. The item number is 00027010 and can be ordered through your local Peavey dealer. I wish that I owned this amplifier myself!

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 10 Dec 2002 7:33 am

Hmmm... there's a definite Peavey thread running through these responses. Thanks for the input, and keep it coming. It's very helpful.

The Ranger is a great amp, no doubt.

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Rick McDuffie
Debbie Elam Band/Tarheel Jazz Quartet
http://www.tarheelmusic.com

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 10 Dec 2002 10:05 am

Try replacing one of the 12" speakers in your Ranger with a BW (8 ohm). It won't be too much heavier, and I bet it will sound great, much better than two BW speakers for guitar, but definitely louder than the stock speaker.

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www.tyack.com

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 12 Dec 2002 4:38 pm

I believe I'm going to buy one of the Peavey PX300 speakers and use it as an extension speaker for my Ranger 212. The PX300 w/ 15" BW should give me the power and clarity I want for steel and I'll still have the warmth of the four 6L6's. I'll let ya'll know how that works onstage- I expect it to be really great!

The guitar player and I usually set our amps on top of each others' extension cabinets. In other words, behind my steel is my amp sitting on top of his extension cabinet, and behind him is the "mirror image" of that. This is basically so we can hear each other when dealing with PA's that have a shortage of monitor mixes. I've used a passive cabinet before, but the PX300 opens up some new possibilities.

Our country band (the Debbie Elam Band) plays a lot of big outdoor festival gigs (for example, we played Wallace Wade Stadium at Duke Univ. on July 4th) with never-before-seen sound systems and mixing guys, and we just never really know what the situation will be... so we tend to over prepare. I've never been sorry that I took too much gear to a gig- but I've often regreted showing up with too little!

Peace,

Rick

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Rick McDuffie
Debbie Elam Band/Tarheel Jazz Q-tet
www.tarheelmusic.com

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 12 Dec 2002 4:39 pm

Oh... and thanks to everyone who offered input. It helps!