Best Combo Amp

Steve Epstein · Post by **Steve Epstein** » 21 Oct 2010 12:07 pm

There are many good combo amps for steel, but I would like to get as many opinions for a great combo amp for playing small venues. I currently use a 112 for rehearsal and have a rack set up with a VHT 2902/Revelation running into a pair of JBL K140's for large venues, but I need something in between. I tried one of Tom Bradshaw's Webbs last night and liked that, but if I'm going to drop $2K on an amp, it better be THE amp. Your thoughts... Thanks!

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 21 Oct 2010 2:36 pm

I would surely look at Ken Foxs Vintage Amps.
Finding (The Amp) is a big chore...
Even for someone who knows exactly what they want and will never change there mind.

Bill Moran · Post by **Bill Moran** » 21 Oct 2010 4:24 pm

SE200 Evans or Steel King. Can be bought easy and sound great. Middle of the road pricing.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 21 Oct 2010 4:30 pm

If you can't use one of Ken Fox's new babies the next best thing would be a Fender Vibrolux or Blues Deluxe Reissue with a JBL K120 or D120F in it.
IMNSHO of course....

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 21 Oct 2010 6:07 pm

I use a Peavey NV-1000 and/or a Fender Steel King either one will do the job!

Darrell Owens · Post by **Darrell Owens** » 22 Oct 2010 12:17 pm

You can usually find a good WEBB 614 on the forum for $600. to $800.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 22 Oct 2010 2:43 pm

...or a Randall Steel Man 500 with an E130 if you want real power available on stage. I'm only saying this now because I have two of these honeys in the stable so you'all can fight it out for the handful that are still out there...

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 22 Oct 2010 3:13 pm

I've played through just about everything out there -- including TWO BF Twin Reverbs -- and the best sound I've ever gotten is with Ken Fox's 5F8B amp -- the Tweed Twin design with 4x6L6's. I have two Standels in the closet and have sold all my Peaveys.

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 23 Oct 2010 7:33 am

I've played through just about everything out there -- including TWO BF Twin Reverbs -- and the best sound I've ever gotten is with Ken Fox's 5F8B amp -- the Tweed Twin design with 4x6L6's. I have two Standels in the closet and have sold all my Peaveys.

yeah..........

I just wish the Fox amps had a shelving type MID pot., and a SHIFT for the frequency setting.
To me, this is a crucial combination, and one of the many reasons I like a Nashville 400, 1000, or 112.

To be able to control the 800 Hz frequency (or any other) is important. IMHO.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 23 Oct 2010 7:49 am

I use a 10 band graphic with mine and it hasn't failed me yet. Ken wanted to keep the amp true to the original design and I can respect that.

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 23 Oct 2010 8:26 am

Yes, the 10 band, or even the 7 band EQ is an option.
I just like having it built into the front of the amp. Of course, I never used an external reverb either.
I went through a phase where I thought buying accessories would help my playing, but after a while, (a long while) I realized that I just needed to practice. Still need to. I gave up on playing in the past but now I am ready to get serious.

One small problem: I have to wait to buy a steel. This whole economy thing has got my new bride spooked! I had someone willing to work with me on an excellent Sierra, a once in a lifetime deal, but the wife was not willing. I'm sure that I am not the only one on here that has a similar situation!

John Swain · Post by **John Swain** » 23 Oct 2010 9:16 am

If you're looking for a mid priced amp consider a modded Peavey Nashville 400...I'm really pleased with my '83 that Ken Fox installed his "Intense Mod" on,coupled with 15" Eminence Deltalite speaker! At 43lbs it won't break your back or your bank..BTW make sure to start with a silver cornered Nashville 400, they're about 10 lbs lighter!!!JS

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 23 Oct 2010 10:44 am

How many different amps do steel players use? That's how many recommendations you'll get. OK, so here's mine.

I have a setup that I use for big gigs. It's great but I'm not gonna' go into what it's comprised of. Let's just say it's, once again, great.

But that's not relevant here because you're asking about what I call a "grab and go" amp. That amp for me is a NV400. Those darn things are rugged, sound good, serviceable, respected and, at around $400 or so, a pretty good buy. I own three. I got a gig tonight that I just loaded up for. While doing so, I asked myself what amp setup I wanted to use, the high-end component rig that I truly love, or a NV400 that I just set down, plug in, and I'm in business? Well, today I'm feelin' a bit lazy so it's the 400 for me. I won't be disappointed.

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 23 Oct 2010 2:59 pm

I prefer the GD Walker Stereo Steel, it's light weight and puts out superior sound.

Tommy Shown

Chuck Martin · Post by **Chuck Martin** » 24 Oct 2010 3:12 pm

Hey Steve, you should consider the Evans FET 500 Custom LV. Its a compact amp with reverb that delivers 200 watts of clean power through a 15" speaker.

Doug Jones · Post by **Doug Jones** » 25 Oct 2010 4:39 pm

I would get Chuck's Evans. You can use it just as a combo or utilize the effects circuitry in a number of ways. It's bigger than the Nash 112, but not much heavier. I had Darrell build me one in 1987 and have used it both as a combo and as the power section for my Walker preamp. You can use the effects return and Master volume for the power amp level. I personally think the BWs sound best in the Evans, especially if you honk on the C6 neck.

Here's his link: http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=193843

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 26 Oct 2010 3:36 am

A NV400 is kinda' like an SM57 mic. It's a standard. One can never go wrong using one.

Adam Sorber · Post by **Adam Sorber** » 26 Oct 2010 4:47 am

My Peavey Session 400 limited goes everywhere with me and can cover any size venue- it is a little on the heavey side in the flight case though.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 26 Oct 2010 6:54 am

I've never heard it in person, but I bet the tc furlong split with sarno preamplifier combo would at least be in the running for the best combo amp. Plus, the preamplifier would be very similar the rev that you use for big gigs. Btw, my rack setup is almost identical to yours. I'm considering trying one of the many compact hybrid bass amps that they're making now.

Brick Spieth · Post by **Brick Spieth** » 27 Oct 2010 3:41 pm

A TC Furlong cab with the space for a Sarno preamp would indeed be a great if not cheap choice.

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 28 Oct 2010 3:22 pm

For an overall amp I would say go with a Twin Reverb if you don't mind a little tube breakup at very loud volume. There is a vintage blackface Twin Reverb for sale on the forum right now at a good price. That would be a nice amp to have, and a sound investment if you ever sold it in the future.
For a light and small amp for small club use check out the Evans SE150. I had one for a while and it was plenty loud (louder than my Twin), it has a semi-closed cabinet design that gave it a lot of power and projection, with a light weight 15" speaker, it sounded great, and it was very small and very light, about 35 lbs. and not much larger than your NV112. I don't know if they still make them, but they do come up for sale for not too much money.

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