Small amps - again

Karlis Abolins · Post by **Karlis Abolins** » 12 Nov 2002 1:27 pm

Back in the 70's when I started on the steel guitar, I got a small 15 watt Fender tube amp that I literally melted the solder joints loose on. I resoldered it several times and replaced the 12ax7 a couple of times. I was able to get a real great sound (maybe it was the atmosphere?). I then moved on to a newer guitar and a LAB series amp with a 15" speaker. It sounded great with lots of bottom end but it was too loud. I ended up selling the whole kit and kaboodle when I got married and had no place to practise. Well, I'm back playing again this year and am looking for the ideal practise amp. I have a 40 watt Peavey Envoy 110 but it lacks the bottom end. I want to go to a smaller amp that I can run hotter but that will give me a good bottom end.
I'm looking at the crop of 15 watt tube amps that have reapppeared recently. Typically 2 or 3 12ax7's and a couple of EL84's. Most run a single 12" speaker. Has anybody tried any of these amps? Can you get your sound?

Karlis

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 12 Nov 2002 3:19 pm

I will try to help here. Lots of good opinions on this subject.
I have a Fender Blues Deluxe that has that sound. Power out I am not sure. Tube amp all the way. 12 inch speaker, built-in Fender reverb. Has a "drive" channel if you want to do that.

It has that "sound" we like.

It is great in small settings. Gets a little jumpy with some C6 low notes.

Ron

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 12 Nov 2002 6:03 pm

Peavey Classic 30

bob

Karlis Abolins · Post by **Karlis Abolins** » 13 Nov 2002 6:33 am

Anybody using the Peavey Delta Blues, 30 watt with a 15" speaker?

Karlis

Karlis Abolins · Post by **Karlis Abolins** » 13 Nov 2002 8:57 am

Ron, Is your amp the Blues Junior which is 15 watts? Or is it an older model?

Karlis

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 13 Nov 2002 9:30 am

The Peavey Delta Blues 1-15" or Classic 30(12") just might fill your requirements. Although a 30 watt amp is not a "live stage" amp when performing with other musicians, it will provide enough headroom(power) for low level situations. The output of both of these 30 watt amps will amaze you. Here is a link to these amps from our website;
http://www.peavey.com/products/amps_mi/guitaramps/classic30.cfm
http://www.peavey.com/products/amps_mi/guitaramps/deltablues.cfm

I will state that it might be difficult to find an low powered amplifier with sufficient low frequency response for your tastes as most amps that are in the 15-40 watt range will be small in size. I still recommend that you try a Delta Blues 115 amplifier that weighs 46 lbs..

In order to obtain sufficient bottom end in an amp design, the requirement is either a large cabinet or a manipulation of the preamp/power amp signals, and/or some alteration of the transducer design.

If you should have further questions, I welcome your call on our toll free number at 1-877-732-8391. I'll be glad to assist.

Karlis Abolins · Post by **Karlis Abolins** » 13 Nov 2002 10:44 am

Mike, Thank you for the information. I called my local music outlet and they are bringing a Delta Blues from one of their other stores so that I can try it out.

Karlis

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 13 Nov 2002 1:05 pm

The amp I have is a Blues Deluxe. It is maybe 5 years old, but...It is a tweed amp with the chicken head knobs. Made to look old.

2ea 6L6GC and 3ea 12AX7.

Sounds great in a small setting. Designed to be a lead blues guitar amp. That is what I bought it for. It just happens to sound great with with a D8 Dual Pro Fender.

Ron

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 13 Nov 2002 1:16 pm

Yeah, I used a Blues DeLuxe with my old Sho-Bud Professional, when I was deciding if I wanted to try to learn steel. If it says, "Fender," and has tubes, you can't hardly go wrong!

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 21 Nov 2002 6:36 pm

I have been using a Delta Blues with a 15" for practice and small club dates. I have been quite pleased with it. After a retube I was even happier. I also added a piece of expanded metal to the back to protect the tubes as they are hangin' out there in the open.

Karlis Abolins · Post by **Karlis Abolins** » 22 Nov 2002 6:00 am

Mike, Which tubes did you replace and with what? Do you have the stock speaker?

Karlis

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 22 Nov 2002 1:13 pm

Karlis,
I replaced the 84's with JJs (Tesla) and the 12ax7's with NOS GE 12ax7a's. Speaker is stock. I think that a replacement might be interesting, but with the tubes and a JBL or Webber...you will end up investing an extra $300.00 in the amp. I don't think that the re-sale will be there. This amp works for me and I intend to keep it as a working machine so I am not too worried having more in it than I can get back.

Mike

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 22 Nov 2002 5:10 pm

I'm also a big fan of this family of amps (the classic 30, blues classic). I had a classic 30 that was a killer blues amp. I also concur with the idea of retubing. The original tubes are decent, but especially the Chinese ax7s don't last really long.

------------------
www.tyack.com

Ivan Posa · Post by **Ivan Posa** » 25 Nov 2002 4:01 pm

Hi fellow Steelers. I live in far off New Zealand and this is my first post on the forum although I have followed it keenly for the past year. What a great vehicle it is for steel-guitarists to learn and share information. It has helped enormously in bringing steel-guitar out of the closet and into a more public arena where it belongs. It is a very challenging rewarding and unfortunately addictive instrument. I love it. Anyway on to small amps. I have just bought an AER compact 60 for a practice amp. Fairly expensive but what a HUGE sound out of such a small box. I have a NV 1000 and a SE200 Evans which I was carrying to band practises and small gigs and saw several posts on the AER. It aint cheap but you get what you pay for. Incidently I have had an unfortunate experience buying through yhe Forum which I will relate at alater post....IP

Emmons S10 P/P. Peavey NV 1000, Evans SE 200, AER compact 60, Boss RV 3, Hilton v/pedal.

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 26 Nov 2002 1:26 pm

Ivan, are you playing your regular gigs and practice sessions with the AER? How does it stand up in a band situation? I am very interested in this amp.

Thanks,

Chris

------------------
now living in the Ocean State ....

Ivan Posa · Post by **Ivan Posa** » 26 Nov 2002 2:40 pm

Chris,I am having my first Band practice with the AER tonite. It will be more than adequate I am sure as we keep our volume levels down rehearsals. It has great tone and way more volume than you would expect from such a small box. If you havent actually seen one you wont believe how small and light they are.17 lbs. I am experimenting using its line-out into a Peavey Classic Series 120/120 tube power amp run mono 250watts into a 300 watt Fane 15 inch speaker. You would need to hear this set-up, SWEET. The only drawback is the Peavey power-amp weighs 56 lbs by itself. I will let you know how it goes....IP

Karlis Abolins · Post by **Karlis Abolins** » 27 Nov 2002 4:15 am

I have been doing some research and have found what may be my final choice for a practise amp. Allen Amps makes a 40 watt 1x15 with a Weber speaker. The beauty of the amp is that it can be retubed with different power-rating power tubes by the owner. The standard configuration is 40 watts with 2 6L6 tubes. If you use 6V6's, it is 25 watts. That is still too much for bedroom practise. However, after e-mailing David Allen, I learned that you can also use 6K6's with a different rectifier tube to get 12 watts. The bias is set by a bias knob. There is a jack for your digital multimeter. You turn the knob until you get the correct reading.
The amps are all tube with point-to-point wiring. They are loosely based upon Fender designs with some very clever design modifications.
Allen Amps are what I consider boutique amps and as such are priced above the equivalent Fender amps (if only the Fender amps were equivalent).
I am looking at these amps very hard.

Karlis

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 27 Nov 2002 6:42 am

Karlis,
The Allen amp line is very well respected in the guitar playing community...I would talk to David Allen personally about using it with steel..He is a pleasure to talk to, and may have some pointers on practical uses for both guitar and steel playing through his amps..He really knows his stuff, and his amps are first rate..I'm not sure, but I think they now come standard with a multitap transformer for use with different Ohm speaker setups...The bias knob in the back (while not being a new invention) is a GREAT feature..It allows you to try out a bunch of different tube setups...It really makes it a very viable amp...The reverb on his amps are wonderful also..You can build your own, or buy it built...I'm also looking hard in this direction for a small gig amp that doubles as a guitar amp...Jim

Ivan Posa · Post by **Ivan Posa** » 28 Nov 2002 12:44 pm

I used the AER Compact 60 at band rehearsal last night, and I am even more impressed with it. Plenty of headroom and excellent tone. I have a BL 710 p/up on my S10 P/P and just wind the mid knob right off on the amp and play away, has plenty of volume for most gigs. It is hard to believe such a big fat sound from such a tiny box. Top quality build and design on these amps with a great sounding pre-amp for Steel. Need more volume for a big gig just use the line-out into a powered extension cabinet. I cannot speak too highly of this little amp. If you like small and light with great tone for Steel and acoustic guitar try it, you will be impressed....IP[This message was edited by Ivan Posa on 28 November 2002 at 12:46 PM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 29 Nov 2002 12:36 am

the AER Basic Performer is also a very good amp !
our bass player has one and i have tried it a few times and it cuts it !
AER is quite popular here in Europa.

------------------
Steel what?

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 29 Nov 2002 7:50 am

I've been using an old '65 Fender Deluxe
Reverb lately when playing with an acoustic
guitarist/vocalist. I just plugged in a
solid state rectifier, switched to Tung-Sol
5881 tubes, reset the bias & it sounds terrific!

------------------
<img src=http://home.hvc.rr.com/jsganz/Cow.gif>
Steelin' Video * * * <a href=http://home.hvc.rr.com/jsganz/Steelin'.mpg> Clip-1</a>* * * *<a href=http://home.hvc.rr.com/jsganz/Wraparound.mpg> Clip-2</a>

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 2 Dec 2002 12:29 pm

Just got my AER Compact 60. Wow!
Big bang for the buck for me - I play acoustic guitar too. Hands down the best acoustic guitar amp I've heard. But to have it work for steel as well is amazing. Our band vol. is not that great so stand-alone or lineout to a bigger amp or the PA will be fine.

Strange 'feature' on mine - may need to get another amp. The effects button is supposed to toggle reverb or reverb+delay. It doesn't. However, it will do if I turn the amp off, push the button, then turn the amp on

Wierd. Just called the dealer for a replacement. btw, the reverb+delay effect is quite nice for steel even thought the delay time is fixed. I paid $640 + tax new.

------------------
Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon"
www.seldomfed.com

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 3 Dec 2002 9:50 am

I noticed that nobody mentioned the new Evans amps.... they're around 100 watts, and have one 8" speaker in them.
I heard a steel played through one in my living room last night, and I was impressed. I'm not sure how, but it seemed to deliver a pretty decent bottom end, considering the size of the speaker. I don't know about the cost.
-John

Ivan Posa · Post by **Ivan Posa** » 3 Dec 2002 10:10 am

Hey Chris, arent they a great little amp? I use my RV3 which gives better control over the effects....IP

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 5 Dec 2002 10:50 am

Ivan, yup I like it more every day. For my Carter I have to crank the mid and treble down 100% and the bass up 75% and it sounds great. Of course for the acoustic guitars it's killer. The dealer is getting me a replacement amp from AER because of the effects bug - else I'm happy. On my Stringmasters I don't crank the tone so severly - different for each instrument I'm learning. But it has a lot of flexibility in what it provides. I may add outboard eq as well like you.

I took it north to the Cheyenne Guitar Society meeting on Tues - those guys were very interested, but not exactly sure what they were looking at. It's unique. Of course impressed by the size and weight. Many play classical. Next time I'll let them all play thru it and see what they think. The club needs some sort of performance rig, I suspect the Domino would work for them for their shows.

------------------
Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon"
www.seldomfed.com