Amp Selection/Help!

Lawrence Lupkin · Post by **Lawrence Lupkin** » 21 Mar 2003 12:54 pm

I am a new player who has just begun to play out in a band setting. I currently own a Peavy Classic 30 and a Fender Vibrolux, both of which I used for six string guitar. I am not bowled over by the sound for steel. While 90% of that is probably due to my own incompetance, I'd like some suggestions that would help be get a good sound within a band. Thanks in advance! [This message was edited by Lawrence Lupkin on 21 March 2003 at 12:56 PM.]

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 21 Mar 2003 12:58 pm

I used a Vibrolux when I first started playing pedal steel. As long as you're not playing C6 and the band isn't too loud, it should work well.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 21 Mar 2003 1:06 pm

Larry, you gotta get a steel amp. Almost nothing else has the clean headroom you need, it's just the nature of pedal steel. But check out a post I just put up in electronics on the Line 6 Vetta for regular guitar and steel.[This message was edited by David Doggett on 21 March 2003 at 01:08 PM.][This message was edited by David Doggett on 21 March 2003 at 01:08 PM.]

Lawrence Lupkin · Post by **Lawrence Lupkin** » 21 Mar 2003 1:17 pm

What is the bottom line difference between a steel amp and and a guitar amp?

------------------

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 21 Mar 2003 1:21 pm

Bottom line? Clean power before breaking up(headroom). Now, not everbody minds a little breaking up (tubes do it in a fat/sweetening way. If you are looking for modern steel sounds though, this is a liability. Another answer to the question is "voicing" of the preamp eq section. That's a vague term that is hard to define except that you know the right voicing when you hear it. And often guitar "voicing" is not what you'd want for steel.[This message was edited by Jon Light on 21 March 2003 at 01:22 PM.]

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 21 Mar 2003 1:27 pm

Just an example of the above---I have an old Peavey amp called a Classic-VT Series---it's a 2x12 2x6L6 power amp w/ ss preamp. I never found a very good steel sound with it years ago. But I just recently tried it again, hooked into a 15" cab. I had to dial in the eq very carefully but once I found it, I found a very sweet steel amp! But the "voicing" of the tone stack allows for only a very, very narrow sweet spot with no room for variation (for steel).

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 26 Mar 2003 11:42 am

I second what Jon has explained about the characteristics of a steel amp. The Fender Twin was probably the earliest steel amp that was available. With the first hand knowledge and input from pro steelers Julian Tharpe and Curly Chalker, we have discovered what type of equalization circuit works best in the reproduction of the steel guitar and our experience with years and years of transducer designs have taught us that an active/mid shift type of circuit works best.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

Lawrence Lupkin · Post by **Lawrence Lupkin** » 26 Mar 2003 1:20 pm

Mike-
When I went on the Peavey website, it directed me to a local store that only showed amp covers available for the Nashville, no actual amps. What am I doing wrong?

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 26 Mar 2003 1:46 pm

Sir Lawrence, try a PV Nash1000
it's a steel roadhorse
do you play C6 ?
if you do a 15" spkr is recommended
if you only play E9 12" spkrs will do

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

Lawrence Lupkin · Post by **Lawrence Lupkin** » 26 Mar 2003 3:30 pm

Senor Schmitt-
Have a D-10, however I have yet to explore the nether regions. The real question is where to find one (an amp, not a nether region). I'm always hesitant to buy an amp that needs to be shipped.

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 27 Mar 2003 7:00 am

Lawrence, here is the link to Peavey steel guitar amps from the Peavey website;http://www.peavey.com/products/amps_mi/ ... le1000.cfm
http://www.peavey.com/products/amps_mi/guitaramps/nashville1000.cfm

Here is our dealer locator as well; http://www.peavey.com/support/dealerlocator/

Please let me know if info assists you in obtaining the info that you require in order to purchase. You may contact me toll free in the U.S. at 1-877-732-8391.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

Gerald Menke · Post by **Gerald Menke** » 1 Apr 2003 4:46 am

Hey there Lawrence,
I've been on the hunt for the steel sound I hear in my head, (and some of the ones we hear on the records) for some time now I've got a collection of amps now all of which sound pretty hot for steel, but for the most part they have one thing in common: a lot of power. For C6 playing, a 15 is worth having, but I miss the upper partials we get with 12" speakers. I think tube amps have much more going on in terms of harmonic complexity, but we live in New York, sometimes a lighter weight combo will fit the bill. There are times I don't want to bring the rack and both speaker cabinets for a rehearsal. In this event I bring the Evans SE200. Maybe you'd like to get together sometime and hear your steel through a few different amps: Top Hat, VHT, Vox, Fender, Evans. Actually I like the sound of them all, but I have to say the VHT 2/90/2 amp is really out of this world. Send me a mail if you'd like to check out some amps for steel, I'll let you know about the shows I have this weekend, Hank's, Arlene Grocery, etc.

best,

Gerald

Garth Highsmith · Post by **Garth Highsmith** » 1 Apr 2003 9:54 am

.[This message was edited by Garth Highsmith on 09 January 2006 at 08:48 PM.]