What wattage/type of tube amps are you using?

Robby Osenton · Post by **Robby Osenton** » 27 Jan 2011 8:53 pm

Ive been using a friend's hot rod deluxe at my band's practices, and it actually sounds pretty good. I would like to buy something sometime soon, but I dont really trust newer tube amps since I build/work on my guitar amps, so I would like to buy an older one and do the maintenance on it.

Obviously, the twin reverb is the gold standard, but I think it may be louder than I need, and is definitely heavier than I need. maybe a chopped one?

The bandmaster reverb could be an option, but I think it may break up too soon, and could probably use a beefier transformer.

I know traynor made some great amps with reverb, but I think the 45 watt one is based on a bassman/marshall so it probably wouldn't have enough headroom, and the 80 watt one is really big.

I like playing with the classic sound, and I really love how if I am playing a solo or certain fills and I have my volume pedal up high, a few notes have a hint of overdrive. I've always loved that sound on classic live albums!

my guitar is an sd-10 fessy with a truetone pickup

Also, my main electric guitar amp with this band is a 1957 gibson ga-20t or a tweed deluxe, which are small amps. other guitar player uses a newer fender turned down low with pedals. I think we practice at about the same volume as we gig

What amps are you guys using?

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 27 Jan 2011 9:32 pm

I've been using a Music Man HD 212, (130 watts) but I'm going to be selling it and using 2 ZT clubs and a POD from now on. It's a great amp, but I'm too old and tired to carry it around any more.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... =music+man

E-mail me if you're interested in buying it.

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 28 Jan 2011 12:22 am

For small quiet places I use a Vibro Champ .
If I need a bit more a Peavey classic 20
Need more I use my Music Man 210 HD
Louder still I have a Peavey Renoun with a 15"JBL .
I have only used the first 2 in the last few years .

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 28 Jan 2011 4:03 am

A Peavey Nashville 112 is hard to beat and geared to sound good with a steel guitar.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 28 Jan 2011 4:46 am

Tube amps..yes

In typical situation I will use the 71 Twin with 2 Emmi 12's...Clearly my go to amp rated @ 85 watts.., can cover it all .Yeah I know some say 100 watts, but the reality is it's an 85 watt chassis and I love it !

Last time out I used the Marshall JCM 900/ 50 Watt amp with a 4x12 cab , it was excellent for both Steel and the Les Paul ( or Telecaster) ...I don't think I ever played thru an amp with such bottom end clarity. Heavy, sure...but in the scheme of things easier to transport weight wise than the Twin. The 4 x12 slant cab ends all of the dispersion issues such as a Steel amp directly behind the player and the sound getting lost. No I wasn't loud and over powering...actually I thought this rig was pretty dang impressive overall .If the room is big enough I will use this rig often.

Rehearsals I may use a Peavey Classic 30 or a Fender Deluxe Reverb, along those lines, they would never cut the gig for Steel but are great in a small practice setting.

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Ryan Barwin · Post by **Ryan Barwin** » 28 Jan 2011 5:21 am

I usually play through a 100 watt Music Man 115RP. It's a lot like a Twin, but with one 15" EVM speaker. It sounds great and it's got as much power as I need, but it's very heavy.

I've used a Hot Rod Deluxe in the studio, and it was great for recording, but definitely not enough clean headroom to use live.

Michael Schuppe · Post by **Michael Schuppe** » 28 Jan 2011 9:35 am

Peavey Delta Blues with a 15" speaker

Chris Dorch · Post by **Chris Dorch** » 28 Jan 2011 9:51 am

At home, 70's Fender Champ or Vox Pathfinder (which is SS but allows you to have an extension cab which rocks when it's 1x12 or 1x15).

Live: Fender DRRI (1x10), Ampeg Jet II (1x12) or 70's Twin MV, so 100 watts (2x12).

Ricky Littleton · Post by **Ricky Littleton** » 28 Jan 2011 10:14 am

I am using a boutique amp made locally here in central Florida called the Gwin Steel. Keith Gwin, a personal friend of mine, customs builds amps of all kinds. Mine is made on a '66 Blackface design and runs a clean 50 watts. It is a SPECTACULAR amp in my opinion. Keith hand builds the cabinets and does some really top-notch point-to-point wiring. I am really happy with mine. As a matter of fact, for Christmas, I bought one of his bass amps called the Gwin 25 for my fiance'.

Here's the link:

http://gwinamplification.com/index.html

Just drop Keith a line for details.

Ricky...

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 28 Jan 2011 11:54 am

Obviously, the twin reverb is the gold standard, but I think it may be louder than I need, and is definitely heavier than I need. maybe a chopped one?

Silverface Twin 135, you can always turn down the volume and when you need more, you can turn it back up.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 28 Jan 2011 12:27 pm

I like running my '64 Showman head into a Rick Johnson single 15" cabinet (w/K130). Also use an early 80's Bassman 70 head into a single 12" Fred Justice cab w/PV BW.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 28 Jan 2011 12:30 pm

Robby,I own a Fender Vibrosonic Reverb,Two Sesion 400 LTD's,a ZT Club12 and a few other little weird amps,I just got home from the Phoenix SWSGA convention and for my set I used a Peavey Nashville 112 and it was the bomb,Not a tube amp but very modern sounding and I play pretty loud,I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of these little dudes.

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 29 Jan 2011 6:09 pm

Either a Revelation, Tonic or Classic tube preamp hooked up to a Furlong CB12 powered speaker cabinet. Several hundred watts. Outstanding tone. Incredibly lightweight.

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 30 Jan 2011 12:26 am

Read my signature. I like to break the rules, forget about treading a well-worn path, and think outside the box.

Dan Lebowitz · Post by **Dan Lebowitz** » 30 Jan 2011 4:58 am

Lately, I've been using a 1966 Fender Pro Reverb. It's 40 watts (2 x 6L6). If you feel like a Twin is too powerful, the Pro is a great alternative as it's about half the power, but still has 2 x 12" speakers. Double the power of a Deluxe though. I would looooooooove to try a vintage Fender Vibroverb (blackface).
http://www.ampwares.com/amp.asp?id=131
I feel like it would be an amazing steel amp.

Dennis Wood · Post by **Dennis Wood** » 30 Jan 2011 7:53 am

I use a Garnet Enforcer, 1-12, 40 Watt. Has two preamp gain stages with two 6CA7 power tubes. This thing is the loudest and cleanest 40watts I have ever heard and will really sing when you crank the pregain. I actually prefer the tone of the Garnet over my Twin Reverb.

Robert Brewer · Post by **Robert Brewer** » 30 Jan 2011 1:19 pm

Nashville 400 or session 400 are great steel sound but the nashville 112 is not a bad sound with less weight but tube sound only comes from tube.
You can run a tube pre amp and get some of the sound.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 30 Jan 2011 2:31 pm

Fox amp or Sarno/Split cab combination.

Both would be a ton lighter than a twin and probably a lot more reliable. It may cost you a couple hundred more off the bat but you'd be set for a long time. The Fox amp might sound more classic country, but with a trutone pickup I think you'll get plenty of that sound with either.

Robby Osenton · Post by **Robby Osenton** » 30 Jan 2011 2:35 pm

thanks for all the suggestions guys.

I am thinking that the 40w-50w amp range will be enough. Ive realized in practice that when I had the HRD up around 10, I wasnt using my volume pedal sweep much. I cut it down to about 5 and I was able to use the full sweep without killing everyone. I just love that slight bit of overdrive you can get on top of the perfect fender clean sound.

I am thinking either the pro reverb or bandmaster reverb will be perfect, or one of those traynors.

I like you guys using the marshall, but the sound in my head is more classic fender.

I know the peavey amps sound great, but I am really looking for the opposite of the modern sound.

I think my favorite steel sound is from Neil Young's live "time fades away" record. Ben Keith had a twin cranked for that tour, and it is such a cool sound

billy tam · Post by **billy tam** » 30 Jan 2011 4:07 pm

I too had been looking for a tube amp. I've had a Revelation and it was awesome. I really got tired of hauling three fairly heavy pcs of gear although I loved the sound and versatility of the Rev. Having played Evans amps since the mid seventies I was pretty spoiled. Looked at twins, showman and dual showman, but very pricey just to compare with the Evans. Went to a local pawn (somithing I gave up 20+ years ago) and came upon an Ampeg Superrocket mint - 100 watt tube pre and power amp. Hooked it up with a 15" JBL and got comfortable really quick.
Have since made a cabinet for the head and a new one for the speaker. The fenders were going for $700 to twice that and I got the Ampeg for less than 1/2 that.
I,m a happy camper.
Billy

Jim Robbins · Post by **Jim Robbins** » 30 Jan 2011 9:58 pm

Silverface twin. It's wired so I can cut out two power tubes which makes it more like a pro but I rarely use it that way.

If you can find a pro reverb, hang onto it -- I had one once, it was my favorite guitar amp but got burnt up in a hotel fire. I'd want more clean headroom for steel, though. If you're looking for crunch you should fool around with a Marshall -- steel can really sound good through them, it's not just a Saskatoon thing.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 31 Jan 2011 8:26 am

I can turn my twin down. But you can't turn a 40 watt amp up, but so far. Some times you need that extra power--for sustain so you don't run out of pedal. Twin to heavey? Rick Johnson will make you some cabs to break that weight up. I use 15's, and can put my speakers where I want, and keep the head next to me to tweek.

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 31 Jan 2011 8:31 pm

Nashville 400, turn it up or down!!

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 31 Jan 2011 8:58 pm

Read my signature. I like to break the rules, forget about treading a well-worn path, and think outside the box. Very Happy
_________________
Sho-Bud Pro III + Marshall JMP 2204 half stack = good grind!

Leslie, I very much agree...I had to get a THD hotplate so I could be in the same room with it.

David Anderson · Post by **David Anderson** » 1 Feb 2011 5:40 am

I have used a Carr Rambler for smaller situations and find it to be a great steel amp with plenty of head room. For larger situations I have a Fender 75 from the early 80's. It's a very twin like amp but with one 12" speaker. I would say 6L6's are the way to go for steel in my opinion.

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What wattage/type of tube amps are you using?

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