Ultrasound Amps for non-pedal steel

[Bill Connet]

I have begun to use my Ultrasound DS4 as I add steel to my performances. I just got my Georgeboards Stealth #009! I can plug in a CD player for BIAB tracks, along with vocals. Has anyone used an ultrasound? Any suggestions for the effects and tone settings?

[James Mayer]

I used to have an Ultarsound 50-watt acoustic amp. I used it for amplifying my flamenco guitar. It was bassy and sounded great with the bass rolled all the way off. It was stolen from me. I miss it.

[Bill Connet]

Thanks! I guess the more general question is: do people use acoustic amps for steel? Acoustic amps are solid state, like the peaveys and evans. I prefer tube amps for electric guitar, but they don't usually work for vocals, and for my gigs in care centers, I don't want to haul a lot of gear. Ideas?

[James Mayer]

As a matter of fact, a forumite (Alex Piazza) used my Ultrasound with his Sho-Bud when were playing a show at The Makeout Room in San Francisco. That was the last night I saw the amp. Our U-Haul was stolen several hours later.

It sounded fine with a pedal steel. That reminds me of why I had it at the show in the first place. I was using it with my lap steel.

[Travis Hillis]

This is interesting. I wonder how the AG-30 would sound with lap steel (with effects before amp).

I like the idea of a amp for both acoustic and electric. Hmmm

[Jerry Gleason]

I had an Ultrasound AG-50DS3 for a while. 50 watts with two coax 8" speakers. It didn't get very loud. It sounded fine, right up to the point where it didn't, meaning that it started clipping in a really ugly and unmusical fashion when pushed even moderately hard.

Acoustic guitar amps for lap steel are fine in general, though. I love my AER Compact 60 for lap steel, and I also use an Acoustic Image Clarus with a full-range Contra cabinet, which works great for lap steel as well.

[Bill Connet]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to try it tonight.