What wattage/type of tube amps are you using?
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
-
- Posts: 27
- Joined: 18 Nov 2010 8:25 am
- Location: Florida, USA
What wattage/type of tube amps are you using?
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?
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
- Posts: 15171
- Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
- Location: Los Angeles CA
- Contact:
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.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... =music+man
E-mail me if you're interested in buying it.
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
- Brendan Mitchell
- Posts: 1506
- Joined: 26 Nov 2000 1:01 am
- Location: Melbourne Australia
- Andy Sandoval
- Posts: 5176
- Joined: 22 Jul 2004 12:01 am
- Location: Bakersfield, California, USA
- Contact:
- Tony Prior
- Posts: 14522
- Joined: 17 Oct 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Charlotte NC
- Contact:
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.
t
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.
t
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders
Pro Tools 8 and Pro Tools 12
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 8 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
Pro Tools 8 and Pro Tools 12
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 8 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
- Ryan Barwin
- Posts: 613
- Joined: 7 Aug 2009 12:23 pm
- Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
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.
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.
-
- Posts: 105
- Joined: 7 Nov 2010 3:01 pm
- Location: Kent, Washington, USA
- Chris Dorch
- Posts: 489
- Joined: 15 Feb 2010 3:55 pm
- Location: Wisconsin, USA
- Ricky Littleton
- Posts: 723
- Joined: 7 Mar 1999 1:01 am
- Location: Steely-Eyed Missile Man from Cocoa Beach, Florida USA
- Contact:
tube amps
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...
Here's the link:
http://gwinamplification.com/index.html
Just drop Keith a line for details.
Ricky...
Emmons LeGrande - 8x4,
Gwin Steel custom tube amplifier ,Goodrich Volume pedal, Peterson VS-II Tuner, E-Bow, Bo-Bro
Gwin Steel custom tube amplifier ,Goodrich Volume pedal, Peterson VS-II Tuner, E-Bow, Bo-Bro
- chas smith
- Posts: 5043
- Joined: 28 Feb 2001 1:01 am
- Location: Encino, CA, USA
- Tom Wolverton
- Posts: 2874
- Joined: 8 May 2008 3:52 pm
- Location: Carpinteria, CA
for tube amps on gigs
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.
To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
- Stu Schulman
- Posts: 6526
- Joined: 15 Oct 1998 12:01 am
- Location: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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.
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.
- Eric Philippsen
- Posts: 1966
- Joined: 14 Jan 2008 5:38 pm
- Location: Central Indiana, USA
- Leslie Ehrlich
- Posts: 1295
- Joined: 21 Nov 2002 1:01 am
- Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
-
- Posts: 23
- Joined: 28 Jun 2010 9:19 pm
- Location: San Francisco, California, USA
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.
http://www.ampwares.com/amp.asp?id=131
I feel like it would be an amazing steel amp.
- Dennis Wood
- Posts: 239
- Joined: 13 Jun 1999 12:01 am
- Location: Savannah, TN USA
Garnet Enforcer
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.
auribus teneo lupum
-
- Posts: 51
- Joined: 1 Nov 2010 6:57 am
- Location: Nebraska, USA
Tube or not
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.
You can run a tube pre amp and get some of the sound.
-
- Posts: 1759
- Joined: 9 Sep 2009 3:47 pm
- Location: Madison, TN
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.
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.
-
- Posts: 27
- Joined: 18 Nov 2010 8:25 am
- Location: Florida, USA
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
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
tube amps
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
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
-
- Posts: 624
- Joined: 26 Jul 2007 3:44 pm
- Location: Ontario, Canada
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.
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
- Posts: 6944
- Joined: 19 May 2003 12:01 am
- Location: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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.
"Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement"~old cowboy proverb.
shobud@windstream.net
shobud@windstream.net
- Larry Bressington
- Posts: 2809
- Joined: 6 Jul 2006 12:01 am
- Location: Nebraska
- chas smith
- Posts: 5043
- Joined: 28 Feb 2001 1:01 am
- Location: Encino, CA, USA
- David Anderson
- Posts: 674
- Joined: 2 Jan 2007 3:14 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO, USA