Stereo Steel Amplifiers

Morton Kellas · Post by **Morton Kellas** » 18 Mar 2004 8:23 am

How many users out there? What do you think of the amp in general? I have never used a closed back cabinet for steel, do they sound as good as an open back? I use a Webb now but I would like something a little lighter with a good tone for when I have to play out.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 18 Mar 2004 8:42 am

Hi Morton! What an "interesting" post!

Morton Kellas · Post by **Morton Kellas** » 18 Mar 2004 9:25 am

Hi! Jim:
I wish I could get the tone that you get. I play your CD almost every day. I also like the instruction material that I got from you in Dallas. Your one top notch musician.

Wally Davis · Post by **Wally Davis** » 18 Mar 2004 10:12 am

I've had one since last September and couldn't be happier with it. Mine is the complete rig, with Black Widow speakers and the Digitech Quad 4 which I primarily use just for the reverb portion. It's a very well balanced sound from the highs to the lows with exceptional clarity. I played primarily through a Fender Twin 130 for years and the Stereo Steel has some tube type characterictics with a more full sound. I've used it on some of the smaller venues with just one speaker and it still sounds great with plenty of volume to spare. It's also much easier on my wife's back than carring the Twin.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 18 Mar 2004 1:22 pm

I like my Stereo Steel amp very much. There is plenty of EQ (5 fixed bands plus one shiftable band), plenty of power (300+300 W), and useful features such as XLR out, inputs for CD/tape, and headphone output.
I've tried Black Widows and various JBLs, and I like the Black Widows best.

Rob Segal · Post by **Rob Segal** » 18 Mar 2004 1:45 pm

I've used a Stereo Steel with great satisfaction for the last 6 months. I use a VF-1 for effects, and 15" black widows in closed back Marrs cabs.

I find it to be extremely eq-able, clean, powerful, sweet, light, and user friendly (especially the 2 switched accessory outlets, front panel wet/dry mix knob).

I think it's great.

Gerry Walker is a great guy too, always helpful.

I wouldn't hesitate.

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 18 Mar 2004 4:58 pm

Bobby Black plays through one of those and it sounds great for the non pedal western swing and Hawaiian he's doing alot of these days. BW

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 18 Mar 2004 8:29 pm

Morton! You wish you could get my tone? Well, part of the secret is the Stereo Steel amp that I bought from you!! LOL! Are you having "seller's remorse"? I knew you would!

Sidney Malone · Post by **Sidney Malone** » 19 Mar 2004 4:59 pm

I've been using a Stereo Steel for several years and couldn't be happier!! I highly reccomend it.

I've never used open back speaker cabinets with this amp so I'm not sure how they would sound. I think the closed back cabinets probably have a more consistent sound when moving from one location to the next.

------------------
Fessy S-12U, Future MSA Millennium S-12U, Stereo Steel

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 20 Mar 2004 7:35 am

*[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 13 November 2005 at 01:04 PM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 20 Mar 2004 7:54 am

I like my stereo amp a lot also

Rob Segal · Post by **Rob Segal** » 20 Mar 2004 9:51 am

I had always played open back prior to getting one of Gerry's Stereo Steel amps. With the Stereo Steel I've played through both open back and closed back cabs, and you can have your choice about this with an independent amp head setup.

When I first tried the closed back cabs, they sounded less spacious and crisp, and I didn't like them. However eventually I've come to realized that because the open backs throw a lot of sound out their backs which reflects off adjacent surfaces, they can sound, close to the player and in the right surrounding conditions, more spacious. The closed backs are, throwing a more focused beam of sound straight out. So the player can often hear the open-backs more easily and clearly on-stage. If however you take some care to set the closed backs so that your ear is in the edge of the cone of sound being projected, you overcome this issue. Then, the closed backs sound more consistent, less dependent upon the stage/backdrop configuration. And their ultimate sound out in the audience is probably about the same as the open backs, assuming of course you're using the same speaker.

Bottom line is, you can use either closed or open with an amp head. Hughey plays open backs, Cox plays closed, they all sound good.

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 21 Mar 2004 11:52 pm

I use the Walker Stereo Steel Preamp with 2 Peavey Px-300 powered cabinets. I had tried 5 different Preamps trying to get an "Acceptable" tone. I found it when I pulled The Walker preamp out of the box and Installed it in my system. I had the sound I was looking for in less than 5 minutes.After using it for a few month now, I find most of my tone controls are set almost straight up to zero, which tells me Gerry is dead on with his engineering. I'm a curious type too, so I opened mine up and checked out the workmanship and layout. I'm highly impressed with the quality of work and the quality of components. If you want the best, this is it.
If you can't get a good tone out of Gerry's amps, forget it, It ain't gonna happen.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 22 Mar 2004 5:47 am

I find most of my tone controls are set almost straight up to zero, which tells me Gerry is dead on with his engineering.

I run all of my tone controls straight up too, and it seems that most everyone I've talked to does also.

GD has done his homework, that's for sure!

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 22 Mar 2004 7:34 am

*[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 13 November 2005 at 01:04 PM.]

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 23 Mar 2004 5:41 am

WOW
Can't believe that we have three people that can agree on a subject on this forum.

Now for the Shocker, I'm not using a Steel thru mine, Its a Telecaster or a G&L Asat Special most of the time.

So he has done his homework, I understand Al Bruno uses a A Stereo Steel rig to Play 6 string thru also instead of the Twin he used for so long.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 23 Mar 2004 7:09 am

A question for your Stereo Steel players...

Does the Stereo Steel Preamp have ALL the controls that the combination power amp/ preamp Stereo Steel has ??...In other words, does the preamp have the effects sends and returns, the headphone jack, and the EQ control , and all the other controls of the amp/ preamp model ??....Thanks ....Jim

Bill R. Baker · Post by **Bill R. Baker** » 23 Mar 2004 9:10 am

I have just had dealings with G D. Walker.
He is absolutely "top of the cut."

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 25 Mar 2004 7:56 am

James
I have only seen a Combination Walker rig once, But the preamp is loaded with effects sends, returns, Tape in, Record out (XLR)(all in stereo) with a seperate Volume control for them and a ground lift switch. From what I see on GD's Website, they are Identical except the Combo has Two 300 watt Speaker outputs.The preamp even has two 115 vac electrical outlets on it for powering an effects unit and a Rack tuner such as the Korg DTR-1. You can put every thing you need in a 3 space SKB Shallow Effects rack Case if you have powered Speakers like the Peavey PX 300's. Nice neat and small package. Just like the Movie... 3 Easy Pieces...LOL
You can either email of call GD in San Diego, he is a great guy and loves to talk.

[This message was edited by John Floyd on 25 March 2004 at 07:58 AM.]

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 25 Mar 2004 10:09 am

John,
Thanks for the reply....That's a nice touch having additional AC outputs for other gear ...Just like companies USE to do when they built something ...It's nice to NOT have to use a power strip if you don't have to...Jim

John Hawkins · Post by **John Hawkins** » 25 Mar 2004 2:51 pm

I have Gerry's entire combo ( ie: pre-amp ;amp ;Digitech Quad Four effects and two tuned cabinets with 15 " Black Widows) and I can tell whoever, that this is the very best system I have ever played through and I have just about tried them all .

Gerry has really come up with a fine system that is so user friendly .very powerful, great tone and all of the built in's that are necessary and useful to a steel player from the studio to the stage . I have had the system for several years and have had ZERO problems and super great service from it .

I highly recommend it to anyone !!!

John

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 28 Mar 2004 3:06 pm

would somebody mine tellin me what one of these stereo steel amps would cost? thanks

Terry

Sidney Malone · Post by **Sidney Malone** » 28 Mar 2004 5:30 pm

Terry, there are different ways to set this system up. Preamp or Combo amp, Blackwidow or JBL speakers etc... and the price varies depending on what you want.

You can see the different combinations as well as contact info here www.stereosteel.com

------------------
Fessy S-12U, Future MSA Millennium S-12U, Stereo Steel

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 28 Mar 2004 7:20 pm

Thanks Sidney.didn't see any prices on the site.[This message was edited by Terry Sneed on 28 March 2004 at 07:26 PM.]

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 14 Apr 2004 4:28 pm

I've had my system for about a month now. I really like it. I'm not playing very loud at my weekly wine tasting gig I do. What is nice with the closed cabinets is someone can be sitting behind you really close and they don't get blown away by the volume. I find also I can play much more quietly and it really carries uniformly through the room. No one gets blasted but everyone can hear.
Doug Jernigan did a workshop in Spokane and I used the output for headphones without the speakers and it was great. He used it for his show that night and really liked it. At first he wasn't sure about the JBL speakers I have but he said he really liked the sound. Doug used the medium hall reverb setting that Gary Walked put in and liked that setting. It surprised me to sit out front and listen. I thought it was a very sweet sound and even a little tubish, but with clearity on steroids. Man...those low notes really come out sweet and clear.