Evans amps

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 29 Apr 2003 9:06 am

Would like some current opinions of Evans amps.
Might consider one...
Thanx, folks!

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 29 Apr 2003 10:28 am

Rex-I own six Evans amps-two old Hybrid 300,two old high voltage 500,and two later low voltage 500,and a DP2R dual preamp in my rack-If you play Peavey and change to an Evans-you will be in for an awakening-the sound of Evans doesn't die at the end of the stage and the bass notes have much more clarity-if you hit a clunker note it is going to jump out at you because the Evans is a less forgiving amp that might force you to become a better player because you can't hide in the muddy sounding tone-I had to be convinced!-I dont see me ever going back to a Peavey

I'll probably get flamed for this

But that is my opinion

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 29 Apr 2003 12:00 pm

I own an Evans FET 500 custom and I'm very happy with it. I'm not a demanding user, I don't play out (not yet anyway) but I can still hear and can tell you that this amp sounds very nice. When you can find them used, they typically go for around $500 in really good shape. Others can give you much better advice, I'm sure, but I can tell you that I'm happy.

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 29 Apr 2003 2:37 pm

I prefer the WEBB to Evans......keep your fire extinguisher handy Paul, I think it's comin'

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 29 Apr 2003 3:48 pm

I just got mine and I love it. It is so clean when set right that it is almost unbelieveable. Took me some time but I almost have it dialed in. Don't believe I'll be switching back.

------------------
1985 Emmons push-pull,Evans SS200, Nashville400, 65 re-issue Fender Twin, Fender Tele

Chuck Martin · Post by **Chuck Martin** » 29 Apr 2003 5:12 pm

I also have an Evans FET 500 with a JBL. Its compact and sounds great. Before the Evans I had a Nashville 400. To my ears the Evans sounds cleaner and has better string separation. The Evans is an amp you'll want to keep for as long as you play.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 29 Apr 2003 5:57 pm

I have an Evans FET 500 Custom LV.
It came thru with an ECLIPSE 15" speaker.

I also have a Peavey VEGAS 400, with a
15" Black Widow speaker.

I used to play thru one or both amps at any given time.

Lately, however, I have a serious head problem with the Vegas 400. It is in the process of being sent down to Meridian, MS.

But, the problem with Peavey should not reflect adversely on this great amp. I put a John LeMay upgrade kit in it, and, to my ears, really improved the sound.

But to the Evans. So now I'm playing thru
the Evans all the time. I have to say that
tone and sound is such a shifting thing.

Sometimes, with either amp, they would sound great, or not-so-great, on any given occaission.

It's a real mystery to me. But, lately, this Evans is sounding just super. Even the stock
reverb, which I wasn't too hot-on to begin with. But I didn't care much for the reverb in the Vegas 400, either.

To me, the greatest reverb that ever came down the pike was Fender's; especially in the Twin Reverb.

I posted a thread quite a while back to see if I could actually install a Fender reverb
pan in the Vegas 400. No way, I was told.

Fellow Forumite, and long-time friend, John
Macy, when we met on Cape Cod around 1968-69,
was playing a beautiful black D-10 (P/P)
Emmons thru an early Evans - probably one of the first editions when Evans was gaining in popularity. Anyway, it was the first time I ever heard of Evans.

John swore by the amp. Peavey wasn't even around then, I think, or maybe just starting up, too.

John said he loved the subtleness of the Evan's
reverb. Believe me, tho, when you grew up on
the Venture's and Beach Boy's Fender reverberation, it took some getting used-to
the Evan's reverb. But it can take place.

Somehow, John Macy made that Emmons and Evans
(smallest amp on the stage at this time) sound so beautiful. I'm not sure if John is playing out much anymore, but I remember how great he was back at this time. He would take me up to his quarters at the LIGHTSHIP
in Chatham, and bang my head around with Doug Jernigan, Curly Chalker, and, of course, the BigE. Thanks Johnny.

Hopefully, John will see this thread and expound more on the Evans. If anyone, as far as I know, knows anything & everything about Evans amps, it's John Macy.

Chipster
[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 29 April 2003 at 07:08 PM.][This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 29 April 2003 at 07:11 PM.][This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 29 April 2003 at 07:15 PM.]

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 29 Apr 2003 6:05 pm

Thanx guys. I do have an opportunity to test drive one soon, so thought I'd run Evans thru SGF first.
Here's a question, especially aimed at obvious Evans junkie Paul Warnik:

Reliability?
Please keep the Evans comments coming.
Question for Kevin: Ok, WHY do you prefer Webb over Evans? Please elaborate.
Thanx again for your time, folks.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 29 Apr 2003 6:19 pm

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 30 Apr 2003 2:55 am

Kevin-I have never owned a Webb amp or played through one-I have spoken to the older gentleman who I believe runs the operation and he seems very nice-I know that there are a few players in my area who play Webbs and love them-I am certainly not saying that Evans is the only amp for steel players-I have an older silverface Fender Vibrosonic with the 15" JBL D-130F and a Standel (solid state) Studio 24-Both of them work fine for me

Rex-as far as reliabliity of the Evans-the only problem that I have ever had was the on/off/on switch on one of the FET500LV amps partially broke so that it only goes "on" to one side-Since I am not a full time professional on the road type player-my gear is less used than many others-I didn't mean to totally trash Peavey-I believe that the Black Widow speaker is one of the finest ever made for steel guitar-the replaceable basket is a great innovation that saves time and money if you ever damage the cone-Both my Evans FET500LV amps had the baffle boards modified by Mike Cass to be loaded with the PV BW-I also use them in my Kush extention speakers when playing through my rack-they handle more power than just about anything else-I am just not keen on their amps for sound and reliability

Daniel Vorp · Post by **Daniel Vorp** » 30 Apr 2003 4:35 am

The first Evans I had was an all tube amp like the old Sho-Bud amps. Coupled with a push-pull it was the sweetest tone I ever had. I owned one of the Evans hybrids then a newer SE-200. All in all I loved the Evans sound but experienced reliability problems with the last 2 amps mentioned above. I always kept a Peavey around to use as a backup and installed a JBL speaker to clean up the sound. Just last week I took delivery on a new Webb. I'm hoping my search is over.

Carl West · Post by **Carl West** » 30 Apr 2003 7:39 am

Rex,
I use an Evans 150. Great tone and quiet. Prior to that I used a Twin-Reverb with 2 12" JBL's. IMHO I consider the Twin reverb the finest amps for a PSG. But not so for the new Twins. Using the Evans to drive a showman enclosure with 2 15" JBL's works for me.

Carl West

Chick Donner · Post by **Chick Donner** » 30 Apr 2003 10:05 am

I play two late 70's Webbs and two early 70's ShoBud Single Channels, but I play thru a lot of Evans amps at jams and sitting in. I like the sound, but, with my PP Emmons guitars, the sound I get I call "stringy." I can't describe it otherwise. It's not a bad sound at all, just not what I'm looking for. It's a powerful amp with a lot of punch. It's also lighter than the Webbs (though I think heavier than the ShoBuds).

Not too awful pricey, seemingly. Again, never bought one, but the prices I hear discussed seem in the ball park.

I routinely play thru two of them that the owners have converted to Black Widow speakers (which is what I use in the Webbs). It doesn't hurt the Evans. They sound great with Widows in them. Makes them a scunch heavier, I understand.

Graham Bland · Post by **Graham Bland** » 30 Apr 2003 12:14 pm

Rex,

If you can find an earlier Evans
like mid 80"s or early 90's vintage
that would be your ticket model Fet 500 LV
and put a Black Widow 1501-4 SB in it.

The new so called Evans (Steel Guitar amps)
lean more towards Jazz Guitar players.

------------------
Emmons Legrande
Evans Fet 500 LV (early 90's)
Hilton Volume Pedal

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 30 Apr 2003 2:16 pm

Evans FET500LV+Peavey 1501 B.W.

Now do we like the L.E.(large enclosure) or the S.E.(small enclosure)???

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 30 Apr 2003 8:53 pm

Rex, Back in 1977 when I was looking for a pedal steel amp I A/B'd both the Evans FET-500 and Webb 6-14E at the Pedal Steel Guitar Emporium in MPLS. I had a hard time deciding between the two amps as both had pretty much the same power specs, price and speaker options. As I recall the Evans had a few more watts rating at 4-ohm load (25-50)? I preferred the overall reverb nuances or response of the Webb to the Evans. The Evans however, did not have a JBL in it and I don't recall what was in it, but I think this is certainly a consideration also. The other thing I liked if you doubled on another instrument you could "Shape" your sound with the graphic EQ (or use it for it's intended use depending on your steel/pickups) and use the other two amp selector voicings (Peavey/Fender) as I also play accordion and mandolin. I will say this,I think the Evans is right up there with the WEBB. I also will say that I have & do own Peavey products and they are great for club & general road work. Ya can't beat em'! Peavey makes a fine product! They've stuck with the steel guitarist's.
Paul, the older gentlemen you spoke to is probably Mr. Jimmie Webb himself. He has some on-going medical problems but indeed is a super fine gentlemen. He is far ahead of his time for amplification and I trust his health is sustaining. I've always enjoyed spending time on the phone with him!
Now, bout that cabinet......large or small?

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 1 May 2003 4:47 am

All of mine are the larger cabinet-My esteemed friend Chas Smith uses the Evans with the smaller cabinet-His reasoning as I recall has something to do with the way the smaller cabinet projects volume from the stage to compared with out in the audience-Chas is that right?[This message was edited by PAUL WARNIK on 03 May 2003 at 04:57 PM.]

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 1 May 2003 5:39 am

EXCELLENT stuff, folks! I do appreciate the details. To me, they speak volumes.
Kevin; THANK YOU for your reply. Oh, I remember Clem very well. I bought my p/p of 23 yrs. from him. Yes, in regard to the tone I'm getting now, Peavey can do no wrong. I've just been toying with the idea of an Evans. I know well that Webb is the steel boutique amp king, & as shallow as this will come off, price & weight are a consideration with me. I have a chance to try a newer one (Evans), so I'll put it to the tone test.
Graham, hearing you loud & clear, thanx. If I decide to get hungry enough for it, I'll pursue your suggestion.
GREAT readin', folks! Keep it comin'. And thanx again for your time![This message was edited by Rex Thomas on 01 May 2003 at 06:42 AM.]

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 1 May 2003 8:57 pm

bump-a-rama