Amp for Steel/Tele?

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 17 May 2010 8:55 am

You'll definitely want something with two channels like a twin reverb. Re-adjusting the EQ settings when you switch instruments is no fun at all.

Chester Stallings · Post by **Chester Stallings** » 10 Jun 2010 8:40 pm

Fender twin with 15 d130 channels decoupled so tele in vib chanand steel in norm but you still get rev for steel

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 10 Jun 2010 9:14 pm

Bad Cat Cub II-R single w/ 1-12" speaker

15 watts of EL-84 tone heaven. Best single guitar amp I've ever owned.

http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/ ... BIIRBG.htm

Bill Taft · Post by **Bill Taft** » 12 Jun 2010 7:29 am

I play steel and also a tele, but have trouble packing heavy gear so I finally got my nashville 112 to work both well about all I needed was to get some bite out of the tele without turning around to change the tone controls I am using a boss eq when I switch to my tele just hit the eq button and have the tone I want and still have plenty of flight fuel, also you can get an old peavey classic head I'll have to look at mine at church, but it operates like the vegas you can set one channel up for steel and another channel for the tele I have I think a classic 30 which whatever it is is a hybrid, and they dont make a power transformer for it anymore so I called Gene Ford head tech at peavey he told me that couldnt get a transformer for it but the 5150 peavey transformer would fit right in and give it a lot more power so I ordered , and put it in set the head on a 15" caabinet and it works great so a number of amps you can use just depends on how much you are willing to spend I do have an extra nashville 112 bought new still looks new I would let go of and I have the head I spoke about if I own it doesnt mean I wont sell or trade it so if interested let me know billrt@centurytel.net and good luck sounds like every one has an ideal and every one right there is someway to get what you want out of each amp if it's something like the vegas very easy to get 2 diff sounds and will be sit or just use a pedal like a eq.
Bill

Jamey Maness · Post by **Jamey Maness** » 16 Jun 2010 10:01 am

Hi all,

Thanks for all the feedback. Yeah, those Ken Fox amps are pretty cool lookin', but I'm thinking of a cheap(er) high-headroom single 15" or 12" speaker-equipped amp. I've used tube amps all along, but I'm more and more intrigued with solid-state amps as they're comparatively dirt-cheap when compared to hand-wired tube amps. Keep the "For Sale" notices coming-I just sold an expensive boutique guitar amp and I'm open to deals.

Thanks again,
Jamey

Bill Taft · Post by **Bill Taft** » 16 Jun 2010 11:53 am

I have a near mint old Kustom Challenger amp has reverb amp sounds great for a Kustom or really any amp I tried out my new tele 52RI through it at the store and it was so nice to hear a decent tone and not real big I got them to price it and bought it home with the tele you can ad a eq pedal for you boost for the tele and not to steel unless you want a little boost.--billrt@centuryel.net
Bob I did sell an item a week ago I shipped it so will be sending a donation.
Bill

Joseph Carlson · Post by **Joseph Carlson** » 16 Jun 2010 1:17 pm

Another vote for the Jazzmaster Ultralight. I bought it to use on jazz gigs, but it sounds good with the Tele or steel as well. On-board effects, two channels and tons of clean headroom. Not too shabby!

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 22 Jun 2010 12:43 am

I recommend something with over 50 watts tube or over 100 watts solid state with multiple channels.

My favorite is a Fender Dual Showman Reverb with a 15" Evans speaker. You have 130 watts of power an two separate channels to control your tones and levels.

I also use a Peavey Session 500. I set the amp's tone for my steel and run my guitars through a Boss ME-5 and tweek the guitar's EQ and levels there. It does a pretty good job. But I still recommend multiple channels.

I have also used separate rack mount preamps, such as Evans or Mesa Boogie, each with their own effects and EQ's. I mix these with a DOD resistance mixer (the weak link) and one side of an Alesis Ra-100 power amp. Its best to get two of the DOD's and run stereo. A 200 watt per side amp would be better or a Mesa 90/90 tube power amp would be amazing!!! But I rarely have the rack plugged in anymore, but it's there if I need it!

The Fender Twin Reverb Custom 15 would be one of my choices if I were buying new. I didn't like the Vegas I had, but it could have been the amp. It was before the Ken Fox mod had arrived. I love your amps Ken!!!

Evans builds some great sounding amps that are very well built.

If Ken Fox ever builds anything with dual channels and verb, it will be awesome!!!

Theres a lot of options and opinions! A lot of these amps, especially the older Fenders and Peaveys are mod friendly. If you find something close to what you want to hear, the right tech could possibly turn it into the amp of your dreams!

Don't be afraid to take your steel and your tele to several stores and friends houses, lol!!! Play through as many amps and rigs as you can. You will begin to see what will work and what wont work for you!!!

John Murry · Post by **John Murry** » 25 Jun 2010 8:55 am

I'm brand new here, so take this for what it's worth, but I just don't think tele's sound good through any amp with anything bigger than a 12" in it and any fender rated at much more than 40-50 watts. That said, I know Greg Leisz uses a Fender Deluxe for both. I know there is a lot to be said for an amp being able to contain a steel's range, but I think a deluxe is a pretty good set-up for home and, as far as Greg Leisz and Max Butler are concerned, Deluxes are great. I use a Deluxe reissue. They're super reliable and with a few mods and a new speaker it's a great amp. I just can't imagine a large peavey or a Webb or something sounding good with a tele.

John Murry · Post by **John Murry** » 25 Jun 2010 8:55 am

I'm brand new here, so take this for what it's worth, but I just don't think tele's sound good through any amp with anything bigger than a 12" in it and any fender rated at much more than 40-50 watts. That said, I know Greg Leisz uses a Fender Deluxe for both. I know there is a lot to be said for an amp being able to contain a steel's range, but I think a deluxe is a pretty good set-up for home and, as far as Greg Leisz and Max Butler are concerned, Deluxes are great. I use a Deluxe reissue. They're super reliable and with a few mods and a new speaker it's a great amp. I just can't imagine a large peavey or a Webb or something sounding good with a tele.

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Amp for Steel/Tele?

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