15w Class-A tube amps: how suitable for steel?

Nathan Delacretaz · From: Austin, Texas, USA

Subbing for a guy on guitar recently, I played through his 15W Trace Elliott Velocette (now being built by Gibson, called the "Goldtone", I understand..?)... Really liked the sound for guitar, and would consider grabbing one.

My impressions: plenty loud for most any application, but maybe a bit too "crunchy" for steel? (I didn't explore the settings much since it was a brief sub gig and I was going through his entire pedalboard/amp setup)...

Wondering if any of you have used one of these low-wattage class A amps for steel and what your thoughts are/were?

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I have a Trace-Elliot that I like for lap steel. It was made in England just after Gibson acquired the company.

Mark Vinbury · From: N. Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA

I have a Crate V30 tube amp.
It is about 35 watts of what they are now calling "Class A" power.
I love it for six string guitar and blues lap steel where early breakup is part of the desired sound.

It doesn't have enough headroom if I want a loud undistorted/clean tone on a 8 string lap steel.
Haven't tried it with a PSG but my guess is it won't give the clear,clean tone at higher volumes.
I have also found the tube choice, both power (EL84)and preamp (12AX7A) make a very noticable difference in the tone of the amp.Maybe trying tubes of different manufacture could make the amp more PSG friendly but it seems to me there are better amp choices.

Nathan Delacretaz · From: Austin, Texas, USA

Thanks, Erv and Mark. Yeah, my initial impression was that the clean headroom necessary for PSG wouldn't be there.

Some models do have a pentode/triode switch that allows for half wattage and thus some control over the "breakup point", which had me holding out some hope for steel use....

The idea of a compact, versatile, warm-sounding amp is a tempting one, though - maybe tempting enough to induce wishful thinking... : )

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

No, it probably wouldn't be suitable for anything but bedroom or studio work.

Small amps that sound positively great with lap steel and straight guitar generally suck for pedal steel.

You don't realize what power really does until you don't have much of it.

Different animals, really.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

The amp I have is the model GA-30RVS. It is basically two 15 watt amps combined together with two 12" speakers.
It looks like this one only mine is brown:

Dan Tyack · From: Olympia, WA USA

My main gigging amp these days is a 15 watt class A guitar oriented amp, a THD Univalve in a single 12 combo cabinet. SOunds great for pedal steel, but then I don't really go for that squeeky clean transistor amp sound. If I need to play loud AND clean, I take the line out from this amp (which comes after the power amp stage) and run it through something louder. I've got a Crate PowerBlock 150 watt dinky little amp for this, usually running through a single JBL cabinet.

For recording, there's no beating a low wattage tube amp. Here's a cut from my first record (available on the forum) where the tone goes from warm and clean to warm and overdriven, just with the volume pedal level:

One More Midnight

Dave Stagner · From: Minnesota, USA

I've been using a Trace-Elliot Velocette as my primary guitar (and lap steel) amp for, oh, seven years or so now. I'm not sure it's right for pedal steel, though... the bottom may be too soft and loose, and it needs to be kinda loud to open up. Last night, I unplugged the Sho-Bud from the Trace-Elliot and tried it on an old Peavey Basic 60 I keep for bass players, and it was more the classic "pedal steel sound".

On the other hand, Jon Rauhouse (one of my favorite players) uses an old Gibson Falcon tube amp, and has marvelous tone. And I saw Greg Leisz using a Fender Deluxe Reverb recently. I'm now kind of casually eyeing small, relatively clean tube amps with reverb, as soon as my spouse forgets that she indulged me by letting me get the Sho-Bud...
_________________
I don’t believe in pixie dust, but I believe in magic.

1967 ZB D-10
1990 OMI Dobro
Recording King lap steel with Certano benders

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Last Weekend I played a rather large venue with my 40watt Hot Rod Deluxe, and my 15 Watt Blues Jr as a "stage monitor". I had it miked, but I was hearing and 5 other steel players in the audience seemed to like it and were surprised how little the bottom C neck things "broke up". I'd have to say that being miked helped, but also having it set right with the lowest gain. Stock speaker etc.

I'd have to reccommend the Hot Rod Deluxe, or from what Tony Prior says maybe going for a Hot Rod Deville 60watt 2/12.

Tons of guys have used Fender Tweed Bassmen with 4/10s and 50watts.

Others look interesting, but I won't be using another amp that I can see than the HRD.

The Blues Jr, I can see using as a mike free guitar amp, but with steel you'd definitely need a PA and have it pointed at your head. It's a strong 15watts.

This from a guy that's used Peavey SSes for 30 years, from Session 500 to Nvl 400, and a Nvl112.

Good luck.

Smile

EJL

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I use low wattage amps pretty often and they work fine depending on the gig. My main amp for big stages these days is my old Fender Deluxe Reverb. It sounds great and I only need it to be loud enough for me to hear it. The PA covers the room. I could put it in my monitor except I don't like monitors. I have used pretty small class A amps and they have a pretty amazing sound for the steel. The really cool thing about them is how responsive they are to how you are picking and how you use the volume pedal. If you end up loving the sound you can figure out a way to make it work for your gigs.

When I'm pushing the room at bar gigs these days I just use a Nash 400 or a Twin if the band plays too loud.
_________________
Bob

Nathan Delacretaz · From: Austin, Texas, USA

Dan T. - great clip! The solo is smokin'!

I should've mentioned that my main amp for steel is a Hot Rod DeVille 2x12...so I'm already a Fender tube amp guy... I love the DeVille...and the Deluxes I've played on, but just got interested in the responsiveness and simplicity (not to mention the apparent volume-to-size ratio) of the Trace Elliot.

Thanks, all. Great input.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I owned the Gibson GA-15 version of this amp for a couple of years. Exactly like the one Erv pictured above, same color, same everything, except cut in half and no reverb.

It was a very nice guitar amp. It never got very dirty all the way up the dial, had lots of chime, all with the guitar plugged straight in.

But for pedal steel, I didn't really care for it. It stood in the middle ground between a clean class AB amp like an old Fender and something more singing like a THD BiValve, which I have tried. I actually have a Flexi-50, which is THD's class AB 50-watt head, and that definitely sings, but in a different way than the BiValve.

In any case, I just couldn't get it to do what I wanted on steel, even with EQ or a Pod in front. I couldn't coax enough bass enough out of it to make me happy, and it tended to the class A chimey, midrangey sound. I never did really try to push the preamp front-end because I couldn't get the bass end.

Of course, YMMV. It really is a fine guitar amp.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Dave,
I carry GAS to an extreme.
I have a couple of Gibson Console Grandes and thought it would be way cool to play them through a Gibson amp. I also have a Gibson BR-6 lap steel that I use the amp on. This the same model guitar that I played 50+ years ago. Very Happy

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Yeah, Erv. It's a very good amp, no doubt. I've played the larger version, and it has quite a bit more oomph - but to me the beauty of the GA-15 was the size. I think I'd have liked it better with a slightly bigger speaker and cab.

I won't bore you with my GASoholism, but I have it pretty good also. Muttering

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Dave,
Have you ever tried the Roland Cube 60?
This is great little amp.
Has a lot of features, even amp modeling.

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

Dave Stagner · From: Minnesota, USA

Forum Index > Electronics		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic