Pedal Steel Amps ... Will any amp do?

Steve Howard · Post by **Steve Howard** » 21 Oct 2004 8:35 am

Ok, not any amp. But I assume the deal with a PSG amp is that it has to be able to take the high end range huh? Well, I have a Roland JC-120 that I ain't using much and I bought long ago for my guitar. I know Rolands are often used as keyboard amps and am curious if an amp like this could handle a steel. It is 60 watts with two twelves, two channels, with high and low inputs on both.

This is important question for me because if this amp won't do, than that means I will have to back off of the price I look to pay on my first steel as I will need some cash to buy a steel amp.

Thoughts?

Thanks so much.

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 21 Oct 2004 8:50 am

I have never used a Roland amp,but I could not get by with 60 watts for a steel amp. If you play at home 60 watts is fine. With a band ? Nooooooo.
There are other threads on the forum about "the best steel amp". Do a search and you will find a lot of opinions....JD

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 21 Oct 2004 9:04 am

Steve...the JC120 is not exactly the ultimate steel amp, but it'll work just fine for awhile as your first! I've used quite a few of them that were provided for me on road tours and was usually able to get a pretty decent sound. Steel amps as a rule (with some exceptions) have more power and often have 15" speakers. That's to handle bass response as much as treble. Just do yourself a favor and turn off the cool Roland chorus for awhile so you can learn to play in tune.

Like computers, I think it's a good idea to buy the best steel you can afford. Especially if it's your first one.

[This message was edited by Rick Schmidt on 21 October 2004 at 10:10 AM.]

Steve Howard · Post by **Steve Howard** » 21 Oct 2004 9:18 am

Man, you sure know the JC huh? I recently bought a Silverface Vibrolux to get that "tube amp warmth", but all I can think about is "Gosh I miss that Chorus". I don't think I can ever get rid of it. I have the biggest most expensive Chorus pedal anyone can buy because you will never find one better than that amp has.

Thanks for the advice guys. I have played that amp many a gig with my guitar and have never turned it above three. So hopefully it will do enough to keep me going for awhile. I would much rather spend the money where it really counts.

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 21 Oct 2004 9:48 am

I've got a JC-50 that I use on my steel. I'm not playing out, so I have no power issues. Actually it kinda has too much power -- I turn it up to about 1.5 and the volume knob is so sensitive in that range that its hard to dial in the volume level I want. Eventually I think I'll move up to a Nashville 112 so that I can get an EQ that is voiced for steel, but for learning to play the JC is all I need.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 21 Oct 2004 7:03 pm

Will,

I have the exact same amp that I use for steel. I bought it in the mid-80's for electric guitar and eventually keyboards. It was all I had when I bought my first (and only, so far) steel in '99, so it immediately went into steel amp duty. I have also asked myself (and others on the Forum) if I should replace it with a Nashville 400 or other amp, and gotten a variety of responses. I have also had some very accomplished PSG players hear me play through the amp and comment on how good it sounded to them (not my playing, the amp).

So I think it isn't a bad amp for steel, it just isn't mainstream. And I fully agree with the volume control sensitivity. Too much!

(Incidentally, shortly after I bought it, I stuffed an old pillow inside it to damp its resonances down a bit. Works pretty well.)

------------------
Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?[This message was edited by Bill Llewellyn on 21 October 2004 at 08:06 PM.]

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 21 Oct 2004 9:23 pm

When the traveling bands used to come thro' this area, back in the heyday of great country music and western swing....... regardless of whether they were playing a Fender, Gibson or Bigsby steel guitar, virtually everyone of them had a different amp. Altho' they might all have been Fender amps, there were models that I'd never seen before or since.
Noel Boggs had an amp that I tried for a decade to acquire. It had possibly one 15" on the bottom, then the front of the cabinet
angled upward toward a smaller top that likely contained one or two 12 or 10" speakers then room for two more 8" speakers it would appear. Great amp but never to be seen in this area, ever again.
I recall The BOB WILLs steeler was using a Fender Bassman with one large speaker but it was indeed to bassy. Someone else came thro' the area with another Fender Bassman with four tens, so I acquired one and used it for many years. It was a great sounding amp and rugged too.
Music Man next hit the stage but they were rare in our area, as was the Standel.
Not until Peavy came on the scene have I seen such a commonality among players as to the same size, model, etc. (I have two!)
Personally, I'm finding that the smaller amps/speakers are giving me what I want in "sound". To each his own, of course.

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 21 Oct 2004 10:30 pm

The Roland JC-120 is not 60W, it is 2x60W, but still maybe not enough power for really loud steel work. I used one for about ten years and liked it a lot. Totally reliable, not too heavy, very clean and perfect sounding for a Telecaster. Tonewise for steel, IMHO it's no Peavey but OK. The bass response would probably not be enough for C6, though - the speaker cones can't handle (or deliver) really loud bass notes.

Before getting my Nashville 1000, I replaced the JC120 with a Yamaha DG-100 212, which is extremely loud and clean all the way down with "only" 100 W, so power ratings can be deceptive.

--------------------
Emmons Legrande II D10 8+5, Goodrich 120, Peavey Nashville 1000

Steve Howard · Post by **Steve Howard** » 22 Oct 2004 2:47 am

...The Roland JC-120 is not 60W, it is 2x60W...

I could be wrong about this, but I thought that it was 60W per channel, two channels. So, unless I can plug into both channels, it will only give me 60. But obviously they didn't call it a 120 for nothing

Thanks for all the help everyone. I think I have heard enough to convince me that my JC-120 can get the job done for awhile at least so I can put a bit more dough into the steel guitar itself. Down the road I can get me a Peavey if needed.

Mark Metdker · Post by **Mark Metdker** » 22 Oct 2004 3:12 am

I've used that amp also. I always liked it. My Session 500 has MUCH more power, but the JC-120 always got a good tone. Great chorus sounds.

------------------
BMI S-10
Peavey Session 500

Band Pics
http://community.webshots.com/album/176544894AuXSmi

My other hobby
http://community.webshots.com/album/56863057VldOYC

Work Pics
http://community.webshots.com/album/104144205xDgckj

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 22 Oct 2004 3:50 am

It IS 2x60 - the chorus effect is in stereo, so you have access to 120W all the time from one single input.

Pat Dawson · Post by **Pat Dawson** » 22 Oct 2004 4:56 am

Keep the Roland and spend all you can afford on the steel. Get a pro model if you can swing it.

------------------
1970 Emmons D10
Nashville 1000

Steve Howard · Post by **Steve Howard** » 22 Oct 2004 5:25 am

...It IS 2x60 - the chorus effect is in stereo, so you have access to 120W all the time from one single input...

Got it! Thanks.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 22 Oct 2004 5:33 am

Hey Steve,
I think you can make do with just about any amp out there from a reputable manufacturer. I've used a variety of amps over the years and it all depends on what you want to do with it. In my music room I have a small Peavey with an 8" speaker and it does fine for that. For gigs now I use a Nashville 400 but I also have a peavey Bandit 1-12 that I've gigged with. There's a player in our area (Pat Reeves) who uses a Peavey Bandit 1-12 for everything and never seems to have any problems at all. If the venues to large or noisy to be heard you just stick a mike in front of it. For about 8 years I used a Barcus-Berry 2-12 amp with JBL speakers and loved it until it was stolen but that's another story. I remember seeing Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band at Knott's Berry Farm in California with Tom Brumley on steel and they were using some off brand of amp (Maybe Sunn) but he still sounded like Tom...Have a good 'un..JH

------------------
Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 22 Oct 2004 7:17 am

If you want the best steel sound possible get a session 400 or session 500. you can't beat em for steel, and they go for $300 to $400. ther's a session 500 on buy and sell right now for $350 I think. I'd buy it If I had the bucks.
Terry

------------------
84 SKH Emmons Legrand D10
session 400'rd Steelin for my Lord.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 22 Oct 2004 7:30 am

Steve, spend your money on the guitar for now. The Roland will let you get started. I've tried them in music stores and found them underpowered, thin, with poor lows for pedal steel. But it would be okay for moderate volume E9 country steelin', where you work mostly on the high strings. I also play blues, rock and jazz on my universal, and sometimes at rock club volumes. For that you need lots more clean power, and most steelers prefer 15" speakers for the deeper and more mellow voicing. But you can surely get started with the Roland, and after awhile you will have developed a better ear for steel tone and will want to try the big solid state amps designed for steel, or maybe a Fender silver face Twin, Vibrasonic or Super Twin for the big tube sound.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 22 Oct 2004 7:44 am

I played a JC 120 with steel for many years and loved it. I like it MUCH better than Peavey amps as it seemed much warmer and less sterile. Its got enough power unless you need to play at extreme ear shattering levels,and if the band is THAT loud your amp will need to be miked anyway. As David said they will not have enough bottom for C6,but I had enough for E9 .. ran bass at about 7-8 and treble about 4.. The reverb is good,vibrato REAL good and Chorus the best I EVER heard. It will serve well as a steel amp for home and most gig use,but it is NOT a 300 watt fire breather. My band was pretty loud and played good size venues without problems. I had something fail in one of the channels,had it fixed and the amp NEVER sounded the same. It started to distort and aggravate me so off it went. It was real good for many years though,and I would not hesitate to run my steel through one. bob

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 22 Oct 2004 9:00 am

Moved to 'Electronics'

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 22 Oct 2004 10:16 am

Steve, when you get ready to discuss steel amplification, give me a call toll free at 1-877-732-8391, ext. 1180 and I will be glad to assist you.

At this time, here are the links for the two steel guitar amp models that we offer; http://www.peavey.com/products/shop_online/browse.cfm/action/final/wc/1A1B31/fam/1B3/c/1/nashville.cfm

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation[This message was edited by Mike Brown on 22 October 2004 at 11:18 AM.]

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 22 Oct 2004 6:48 pm

Steve,
IMHO you have the right priorities. Your amp will be plenty good enough to learn, practice and play.

Get the best guitar you possibly can. Stay away from gadgets for awhile. Put your time and money where it will count the most.

Good luck.
Ron

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 22 Oct 2004 11:21 pm

I especially like the reverb of the JC-120, and I think it sounds great for Telecaster and lap steel playing. Recently, my friend Tim (forumite who plays steel through a JC-120--you could e-mail him for his thoughts) tried his MSA through my Session 400. I had always heard that MSA's were supposed to be dark sounding, but this guitar wasn't dark at all. Until he played it through the Session. Through my amp, it was an incredibly dark sounding guitar. Through the JC-120, it sounds great.

The lesson being that it's not just the amp or the guitar, it's the combination. But send Tim Tweedale an e-mail, as he's used this amp for steel on stage at high volumes, and I'm sure he can tell you about it.

-Travis

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 23 Oct 2004 5:01 am

I think that this might suit pedal steel http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10171&item=3756241442
baz

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 23 Oct 2004 4:21 pm

I beg to differ, Basilh. I've tried various Marshalls with pedal steel, and although they are great for six-stringers, their early breakup, crunch and chimey speakers just don't work well for clean steeling. I suppose if you got a really big one, or stacked them, you might get enough clean headroom, but then you'd be carrying around alot of unused power and expense.

Dustin Rigsby · Post by **Dustin Rigsby** » 23 Oct 2004 6:18 pm

It's all in your ear ! I use a crate tdp tube pre-amp,a qsc 150 watt mono power amp,and an ancient rack-mount digital delay.I did not think it loud enough...my wife says it is too loud !

------------------
D.S. Rigsby
Carter Starter and various six string toys

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 23 Oct 2004 6:39 pm

David, I think Basilh was just being silly. Did you look at the price of the amp? That's around $ 15,000 US dollars!!

------------------
Jeff's Jazz