Powered PA Speakers for Steel?

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 11 Aug 2003 10:16 am

There are a number of powered PA cabinets available from different manufacturers. Has anyone here ever tried them with a steel guitar and an appropriate preamp (Profex, TubeFex, Real Tube, Mesa/Boogie, etc.)?

If so, what did you think of the sound?

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 11 Aug 2003 11:50 am

Bobby I've tried the Peavey 1012 Impulse and
the Mackie 450s in stereo with a Mesa Studio
Pre. Great sound from the speaker compensated
outs.

Buck Dilly · Post by **Buck Dilly** » 11 Aug 2003 12:00 pm

THe Mackie has a huge sound, and is great as a flood wedge. [This message was edited by Buck Dilly on 22 August 2003 at 11:46 AM.]

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 14 Aug 2003 3:20 pm

Hey Bobby Lee

Does a Peavey PX300 fit your definition? I Really like this critter. 300 solid state amps through a 15" BW speaker. Cabinet is open back and looks much like a N1000 or S2000.

Sometimes I use an old PV VMP-2 tube preamp. Non pedal guitars sound great.

For grins, I am currently using an Avalon 737sp mic/instrument/line preamp, that has a 4 band EQ and a tube compressor. It is an all tube rig. I love the sound.

Ron

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 14 Aug 2003 3:26 pm

Gee Ron, isn't it time you used some decent gear? Ha ha!

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Brad Sarno
Blue Jade Audio Mastering
St. Louis

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 15 Aug 2003 8:17 am

Hi Brad

Yes, it is hard to find the good stuff in Texas. Gotta search thru the tumbleweeds and rattlers! I remember that you recommended a VMP-2 for a mic pre many moons ago. I discovered it is also a great instrument preamp. I fool around with the Avalon 737sp at a friend's home studio. Really nice. The point is, I think, that the preamp makes the the electonic tone, and the power amp/speaker makes the acoustic tone.
And now folks, back to Bobby Lee's question...

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 15 Aug 2003 8:39 am

I've got my 400 Ltd. in the shop in Santa Maria gettin' modded. The sales guy was pushing real hard for me to try his Yamaha powered-speaker cabinets for steel...he said the sound "blows him away". I didn't take him up on his offer, but since you guys brought it up I'll drag my steel down when my amp is ready and give it a try. I was trying to talk him into getting a "floor" model Nashville 112 to try out. This amp excites me but my days of buying amps based on popular opinion are flat-out-over. My Session 400 LTD (mid '90s') while sounding okay has been very unreliable and I'm am now afraid to gig with it. Yes it has been to only "Peavey Authorized Repair" shops but has a chronic problem of cutting out and distorting out of the blue (last time was at a rare church service..i hope they still let me in). Hopefully this "mod" will shake out the grimlins if anything. I have spent more money servicing this amp than I payed for it new.

Tom Jordan

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 15 Aug 2003 8:53 am

Well a decent PA speaker all in one should be
a reasonably accurate full range device.
There fore an analog to a studio monitor.
What ever you put in it should come out as it's self pretty much.

If your using a super pre amp like the Avalon then you will sound as good as the instrument and your technique will allow.

Really now Ron you must be slumming,
this preamp costs less than my car...
it can't be TRUE AUDIOPHILE QUALITY
Time to upgrade!!

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 15 Aug 2003 8:54 am

my days of buying amps based on popular opinion are flat-out-over

wise words

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 15 Aug 2003 9:01 am

I can't find the PX300 on Peavey's web site. The link from the Carter site gets a 404 error, too.

Sounds interesting, though. How much do they cost?

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 15 Aug 2003 2:07 pm

Bobby
I have two PX 300s. Brand new

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 15 Aug 2003 7:11 pm

Describe them, Chuck. Do they sound good? Are they heavy?

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 15 Aug 2003 8:01 pm

Here's Carters link........ www.websitesthatshine.com/mts3_objects/peavey/pvpx300.html [This message was edited by Kevin Mincke on 15 August 2003 at 09:04 PM.]

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 15 Aug 2003 10:14 pm

I've been playing through a Deluxe Reverb then miking it with aShure KSM27 microphone and I run that through a JBL EON15 G2.Very Big SOUND!!
Think of a 300 watt Deluxe Reverb.

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 18 Aug 2003 7:03 am

Bob
The PX300s weight 57lbs and sound obviously
like the Nashville 1000 because it is the
backside of that amp. I am confused at this
point with power and cabinets myself. I have
a Mesa studio pre and 50/50 pwr. amp. I need
suggestions for cabs. I like the sound of a
Peavey 412 sheffield but don't want a box that big.I will be playing elec guitar also.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 18 Aug 2003 9:02 am

Chuck, I use a pair of ElectroVoice EVM-12 speakers with my Mesa 50/50, and they handle the full power of the amp very well.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

John Fabian · Post by **John Fabian** » 18 Aug 2003 12:15 pm

Unfortunately, the PX300 was discontinued. That is why your getting a 404 message from the Peavey site.

John Fabian

Jerry Hedge · Post by **Jerry Hedge** » 22 Aug 2003 6:45 pm

On larger gigs I've been using a pair of powered JBL Eons driven with the line out of a GK MicroAmp. They reproduce the high and lows so well and with the biamping I haven't ran out of headroom yet.

Harold Parris · Post by **Harold Parris** » 31 Aug 2003 8:33 am

The JBL Eon Powered Speaker is a fantastic setup if driven off the preamp of a good amplier. The 15" speaker and the high frequency horn in each cabinet really put out some great steel guitar sound.

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Sierra Session and MSA Classic Guitars, Nashville 400, Session 400, and Evans FET 500 Amps.
Harold Parris email hparrisal@aol.com

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 2 Sep 2003 9:50 am

b0b,
Most of your powered speakers have mid/high frequency horns or tweeters in them...They work great for acoustic guitar, or keyboards, and vocals, but since pedal steel tones sound better through either a 12 or 15 inch speaker WITHOUT the horns or high frequency drivers, you are either better of mic'ing the cabinets that you already use, or buying powered cabinets, and unhooking the horns if you want to run direct into them...Pedal steel hooked directly into 2 and 3 way powered speaker cabs just doesn't do it for me...Too harsh and brite sounding !!..You could always find a nice mono power amp and put one each into the cabinets that you already have if you like the sound of the speaker cabs that you have...I'm sure that there are mono amps out there that would work fine for pedal steel...You could then choose whatever little mixer that you want , and just run cables to each cabinet and control the sound from where you sit using ANY preamp you want !!...You could use a nice Boogie tube pre, or any other brand tube pre, or you could go with a solid state pre if you want ...The sky's the limit !!....Jim

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 2 Sep 2003 10:04 am

Anyone know of a "nice little power amp", preferably with two 6L6's, that I could mount in my open-backed 1x12 cabinets?

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 2 Sep 2003 7:13 pm

Hi Bobby Lee:

FWIW
I really like the sound of the Fender Blues Deluxe.(not a Blues Deville, not a Hot Rod, although these may be good) It is/was an issue out of the custom shop 5 or 6 years ago. 2 6L6's in the power amp. 12ax7's in the preamp.

Maybe Ken Fox will come on!

rr

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 3 Sep 2003 11:21 am

I did realize the PX300 was discontinued. That means I have that and a Session 2000 still in the boxes with the controller that I used exactly 2 times. They are both fantastic equipment. Sounds like collector goodies that might be worth something big someday.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 3 Sep 2003 3:20 pm

Does the Fender Blues Deluxe have a "power amp in" jack?

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 3 Sep 2003 4:41 pm