Evans Amps

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 4 Mar 2006 11:57 am

Hi all on here. Today I bought of my mate a 1985/6 Evans Fet 500 LV amp with a 15 inch Emminence eclip speaker...though it says Evans on the speaker.It sounds awesome.Now I have another great amp for my gigs.I have always used the other big "Known" name,and as I personally prefer the 15inch speaker to the single 12, this amp will do my back a favour, as it's a tad lighter than my other 1x 15 amp. Any of you guys have one of these older Evans? and what do you think of them.I'm well impressed

Micky Byrne. England. www.mickybyrne.com

Jerry Erickson · Post by **Jerry Erickson** » 4 Mar 2006 12:17 pm

I believe mine is from 1994(FET 500 LV). I put a Black Widow in it. To me, it's a big tonal improvement. I would have put a JBL D130-F in it,but the baffle board would need to be cut out a little bit more to accommodate the JBL. Yes, the weight/power ratio is nice!

Ray DeVoe · Post by **Ray DeVoe** » 4 Mar 2006 1:21 pm

Hi Micky.

A lot of players use the good old Evans Fet 500 Custom LV amps. I personally have 2 small cabinet models, and 2 large cabinet models which I purchased new in the early 90's. They were known for some solder problems and typical repair needs, but once you got the amp past that stage, you have a great unit.

I have put 1501-4 Black Widows in all of mine. You need to open up the baffle hole a bit to make these fit. I still have a couple of the Evans / Eminence Eclipse speakers, but the Black Widow sounds cleaner and brighter.

Good luck with your purchase. Most players will not let go of these amps as they are about as good as anything out there.

Here is a link to an earlier discussion on these amps.
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/008306.html

Also, take note of Derrel Stephens reply in the above discussion as there is a link that will give you the history of Evans amps.

Keep on picking,
Ray DeVoe[This message was edited by Ray DeVoe on 04 March 2006 at 01:29 PM.]

Bill Stroud · Post by **Bill Stroud** » 4 Mar 2006 3:29 pm

Well, I've had mine since Derrel Stevens made around four of them for me, I'm still using those Amps, but only have two of them left, I'm a dealer for Evans, and I'm here to tell you, those new Tube Pre-Amps are awesome great sound, I can't keep them, I've got two more ordered for stock they go very fast. You need to visit the Evans web site and read about them. If I can help anyone fill free to email or call 731-364-3519. Email bjsbars@frontiernet.net
Bill

Bill Moran · Post by **Bill Moran** » 4 Mar 2006 4:14 pm

I'm on my second Evans. My first was a old 500 with JBL. Didn't like the 500 even though I sent it back to Evans for a tune up. The 200 , so far , is working well. I will report after it gets a work out.
Evans has a very good following. I feel sure I just have not found the combination.
I am working on it though. Think I will take it over to Bryan Adams and see what I'm doing wrong.

Bill

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 4 Mar 2006 5:03 pm

IMO This is the finest amplifier I have ever used for either steel or lead guitar ( does not have a good "grunge" sound, but I don't play that kind of music. ) It would also be a great fiddle amp though it would be over powered.

Gary Glisson · Post by **Gary Glisson** » 4 Mar 2006 7:21 pm

hi micky i have a 1985 FET500LV with the emmience speaker unit now my 20 years of playing i've always had peavey , not to knock peavey the sessions and nashville 400's are great for the money they cost.
but i got this evans and i love it its crisp clean and loud and i don't know how to explaine it but now i know why john huey has always used evans
have fun gary

carterD-10, Evans FET500. fender custom dobro , fender custom telecaster,hilton digital sustane[This message was edited by Gary Glisson on 04 March 2006 at 07:21 PM.]

Jim Ives · Post by **Jim Ives** » 4 Mar 2006 8:40 pm

Good news, guys. I have an FET-500 with Evans eclipse 15" speaker for sale. About 10 years old, really excellent shape.
-Jim[This message was edited by Jim Ives on 05 March 2006 at 03:26 PM.]

Gary Glisson · Post by **Gary Glisson** » 13 Mar 2006 12:03 pm

i love the evans sound so much i just bought the evans FET 500lv that jim had for sale !!

can't wait to hear two of them behind me!!!!

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 13 Mar 2006 7:07 pm

Mine's a 1985 model. I love it. I'm the original owner.

------------------
Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Mullen U-12, Evans FET-500, Fender Steel King

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 14 Mar 2006 3:35 am

Hi Guys, Thanks for your responses. Since my addition on here about the Evans amp, I've used it on various gigs, and I am very impressed by the clear "valve" sound it seems to produce. I'm just waiting for the Evans logo that was missing off the front of the amp. Bill Stroud is organising me to get one from Evans to be shipped to me in England, anybody else got a spare one???

Micky Byrne. www.mickybyrne.com

Bill Stroud · Post by **Bill Stroud** » 14 Mar 2006 8:46 pm

Hi Micky,
I talked with Ed buffington today and he's sending some logo's, so as soon as I get them I'll let you know.

James Lombard · Post by **James Lombard** » 14 Mar 2006 10:32 pm

I have two Shreveport-built FET-500's two serial #'s apart,(7025,7027) one has a JBL E130-4, the other a JBL M31-4.I also have a
1975 Hybrid 300 as well.There really IS no other amp for me.I freely admit to being lost for good to the mighty Evans sound.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 16 Mar 2006 7:32 am

Hi Bill, thanks for letting me know about the logo, and hi to James, after starting on pedal steel in 1970, I'm wondering now why I have missed out on "THE" sound. My Evans is a new toy to me and a darn good one, I just love it's tube sound

Micky Byrne www.mickybyrne.com

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 16 Mar 2006 7:36 am

Hi again James, I played in "Franklin" near Milwakee in 1984 with the Dean Miller show ( 6 piece ) when I worked the States for six months with his band, happy memories

Micky Byrne ...England

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 21 Mar 2006 5:09 am

Micky
The amp sounded very clean and clear to me at Jagers on Saturday night. I had a good listen out front while you were playing and it was very clear.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 21 Mar 2006 9:23 am

I've been watching the For sale forum here on the board and was wondering which evans amp would be the best for steel if I decided to buy one, and which speaker sounds best? I see ya'll are braggin on the 500rd. what about the 150, or 200. and how heavy are the Evans amps? How would you compare the Evans with the Nashville 112? Thanks

Terry

------------------
Mullen D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
pickin for Jesus

[This message was edited by Terry Sneed on 21 March 2006 at 09:25 AM.]

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 23 Mar 2006 4:42 am

Hi Ken, Thanks for your comments.You sounded great too....as per usual. Hi to Terry Sneed, re the Nashville 112, it's a good amp, as I've had one, but personally it just didn't compare with the Evans for "me" anyway. Each to his own as they say.It's not a back breaker in regards to weight,as I have the Eminence Eclipse speaker, and it's well "bright" enough for me. It's slightly heavier than the Nashville 112 but lighter than my Nashville 400. I just like a 15 inch behind me.

Micky Byrne
Nashville 400 Evans Fet 500 LV www.mickybyrne.com