Fender Steel King
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
- J Hollenberg
- Posts: 160
- Joined: 28 Aug 1999 12:01 am
- Location: Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
Fender Steel King
I want a new amp but here in The Netherlands there is hardly a amp to get. I mean, amps plenty but not for steelguitar. I am now using a Nashville 400 with all the mods but now and then you want something else.I have tried the Nashville 112 but i don't like the sound i am getting from it.What about the Fender Steel King, i know Fender don't make them anymore but maybe i can get one.Are they reliable. Maybe other amps suggestions.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Sjaak Hollenberg
Emmons Lashley LeGrande SD10 from 1993
Emmons Lashley LeGrande SD10 from 1993
- Bob Hoffnar
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- CrowBear Schmitt
- Posts: 11624
- Joined: 8 Apr 2000 12:01 am
- Location: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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JH, you can find a good used Peavey Nashville 1000 at a very decent price right here on the forum
much more reliable than the FSK
i've had one for quite a few years - it's powerful & sounds good imo
you'll need a transformer to run it on 110v
if you can, get the peavey neo magnet to go on the black widow & reduce some of the weight
you can also have the new eminence 15" speaker that many are raving about
otherwise the Peavey Nashville 400 w: the Le May mod still seems to be the ref in steel amps
much more reliable than the FSK
i've had one for quite a few years - it's powerful & sounds good imo
you'll need a transformer to run it on 110v
if you can, get the peavey neo magnet to go on the black widow & reduce some of the weight
you can also have the new eminence 15" speaker that many are raving about
otherwise the Peavey Nashville 400 w: the Le May mod still seems to be the ref in steel amps
-
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- Bob Hoffnar
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- Curt Langston
- Posts: 2907
- Joined: 3 Apr 2000 12:01 am
In my experience the Steel King was not reliable and didn't sound good.
There is no reason to buy an amp that says steel guitar on it. Guitar amps work fine. I know some steel players that use bass amps also. Find a local amp company in the Netherlands and try there stuff out.
Yeah, once a guy really looks at the controls on a Steel King, he usually figures out that it is a very versatile and reliable amp. The sound is fantastic. I know when people first get one, they can be somewhat intimidated with all of the different controls that the Steel King offers, but with a little patience, one can achieve a very warm and unique sound.
Guitar amps work fine.
Umm not so much. Some do, but most don't because of the preamp requirements hot steel guitar pickups demand. Couple that with a lack of midrange tonal adjustment that regular guitar amps lack, and most folks experience an irritating "honk" that is almost impossible to dial out.
Peaveys "Special 130" is an example of an exception, as it offer the MID and Shift controls to dial out the 700-800 Hz freq. that most steel players avoid.
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- Posts: 621
- Joined: 7 Mar 2002 1:01 am
- Location: Odin, IL, USA
Fender Steel King
I have had nothing but great results with my FSK. it is a very very good amp in my experience. Yes it is heavy but if you put a couple of handles on the sides of the amp it becomes very easy to lift and place where you want it. The speaker is great and you can get about any sound you want our of it. You can have a problem with any amp just as you do a car or anything else. That doesn't make the model a lemon. If you are looking for a different sound than a peavey prduces you will probably like what the FSK has to offer. JMO.
Fred
Fred
- Per Berner
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- Posts: 186
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- Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
I've got a GK MB200, Fender Vibrasonic tube amp and the FSK. I always seem to go back to the FSK. I especially like it with the lightweight SICA neo 15". Nearly a grab and go amp now. It can be a little finicky with the tone controls and the reverb is all but useless. But, great warm tone when dialed in and the weight is very manageable with the neo speaker in it.
Thom Ferman
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- Doug Beaumier
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I agree. The Steel King reverb has a very long 'tail' and the only way to decrease it is to cut the amount of reverb, but then the sound is too dry. I shut the amp reverb off and use a Holy Grail reverb (spring setting) and it sounds excellent. I really like the thundering Lows of the Steel King. The amp really growls. For small rooms I use a Nashville 112....the reverb is all but useless.
-
- Posts: 186
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- Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
I've found running the FSK reverb at about 9 o'clock (barely on) works well when using an external digital reverb in front of the amp. I use a Hardwire RV7 (usually using the hall or plate setting) after my VP and have it clamped to the guitar leg. I can easily vary the RV7 reverb level on the fly and the FSK provides a nicely subtle analog spring reverb tail with the amp's reverb level set low. It's a bit of a balancing act but you can achieve nice sonic results....The Steel King reverb has a very long 'tail' and the only way to decrease it is to cut the amount of reverb.
Thom Ferman
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- John Billings
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- George Redmon
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- Bernard Glorian
- Posts: 14
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- Location: Rocroi, France
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JH I am here near the border Belgium/ France in Ardennes FR.200 km from NL.... I have a STEEL KING FENDER, perfect state and very good sound (15 " LSP)
no problem. I used it about 20 gigs and as brand new still. Bought 2005.
If interested , contact me with MP..friendship from france, bernard
bernardglorian (at) wanadoo.fr
(arrobase hidden, for web security)
I use now a smal Evans RE200 only for weight reasons,
sound enough good but don't worth the Steel King of course.
no problem. I used it about 20 gigs and as brand new still. Bought 2005.
If interested , contact me with MP..friendship from france, bernard
bernardglorian (at) wanadoo.fr
(arrobase hidden, for web security)
I use now a smal Evans RE200 only for weight reasons,
sound enough good but don't worth the Steel King of course.
CARPE DIEM
http://www.www.facebook.com/bernard.glorian1
PSG "WBS" D10 + S10, Evans RE200, Fulawka VolPed., Boss and Daphon effects.
http://www.www.facebook.com/bernard.glorian1
PSG "WBS" D10 + S10, Evans RE200, Fulawka VolPed., Boss and Daphon effects.
- Joe Alterio
- Posts: 1260
- Joined: 3 Jan 2000 1:01 am
- Location: Irvington, Indiana
I love my FSK and would replace it in a heartbeat if something were to happen to it.
The reverb is FANTASTIC. Typical Fender reverb
The Eminence JBL D-130 clone has "that" sound with the capability to handle higher wattage.
To me, this is the best steel amp that was made. I have not heard of reliability issues with the King (the Custom Twin 15" is another matter). I was gigging mine every week for years with no problem.
The reverb is FANTASTIC. Typical Fender reverb
The Eminence JBL D-130 clone has "that" sound with the capability to handle higher wattage.
To me, this is the best steel amp that was made. I have not heard of reliability issues with the King (the Custom Twin 15" is another matter). I was gigging mine every week for years with no problem.
-
- Posts: 647
- Joined: 7 Dec 2007 3:50 pm
- Location: Branson MO
I got a new steel king last year. The stock speaker was okay but I put in a black widow speaker. IMHO, the black widow handles the power better, tamed the highs and has a nice clean and full sound, and cut about 7 pounds off the weight. There are a few players that are using the black widows as well. I'm sure some of the new neo speakers probably work well in the steel king and would cut even more weight off.
- Carl Kilmer
- Posts: 2691
- Joined: 7 Aug 2008 1:23 pm
- Location: East Central, Illinois
I have an FSK, and didn't care for the sound at first,
but after playing with it and getting it set up right,
I really enjoy the nice clean sound it's giving me now.
Has anyone tried a SICA neo in their FSK yet. If you
did, did it sound as good as the original speaker did.
Carl
but after playing with it and getting it set up right,
I really enjoy the nice clean sound it's giving me now.
Has anyone tried a SICA neo in their FSK yet. If you
did, did it sound as good as the original speaker did.
Carl
aka "Lucky Kay"--Custom built Rittenberry SD10 3X5, Walker S/S, NV-112, and Hilton Pedal
- Greg Cutshaw
- Posts: 6610
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- Location: Corry, PA, USA
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I tried the Peavey BW in my Steel King and ended going back to the stock speaker. Pics or the install and some sound files here:
Black Widow speaker in a Fender Steel King!
Greg
Black Widow speaker in a Fender Steel King!
Greg
- Lee Baucum
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- Location: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
Carl ----> Click Here
- Carl Kilmer
- Posts: 2691
- Joined: 7 Aug 2008 1:23 pm
- Location: East Central, Illinois
Hey Lee, Many thanks. I have a SICA that I got from Ken a while back
for my N1000, but I like the sound of the FSK a lot better, so I don't
use the N1000 and thought about trying the SICA in the FSK for weight.
I see others like it also, so I guess I'll have to give it a try too.
Carl
for my N1000, but I like the sound of the FSK a lot better, so I don't
use the N1000 and thought about trying the SICA in the FSK for weight.
I see others like it also, so I guess I'll have to give it a try too.
Carl
aka "Lucky Kay"--Custom built Rittenberry SD10 3X5, Walker S/S, NV-112, and Hilton Pedal
-
- Posts: 621
- Joined: 7 Mar 2002 1:01 am
- Location: Odin, IL, USA
Fsk
Hi Carl. One of the unique sounds of the FSK IMO is the sound of the JBL like speaker that came with it. I am not going to say you would not like the BW or the SICA or the the new lightweight Eminance speakers. However IT WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT SOUND when you change it. I have tried the BW and I still like the Stock speaker myself. The SICA will have less bite. They all will sound good in the FSK but the stock speaker is my choice. I play an Emmons LGII as you know. Just my thoughts.
Fred
Fred
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- Posts: 647
- Joined: 7 Dec 2007 3:50 pm
- Location: Branson MO
I must have had a faulty speaker or something cause I could only get so much out of the stock speaker before it would break up. I put the black widow in and don't have that problem anymore. I get plenty of mid-range and a nice full sound out of my FSK. I feel like I have a more centered tone in which I can enhance the the things that I want to hear more of.
- Fred Thompson
- Posts: 767
- Joined: 30 May 2006 12:01 am
- Location: Zephyrhills, FL
I've had a Steel King for 4/5 years and have never had an ounce of trouble with it. Sounds better than any Peavey I've ever had. I put a Sica in it, still sounded great. Put the Sica in a cab to use with my MB-200, which sounds wonderful also. Bought a lightweight Eminence for my FSK, still sounds great and light enough to handle. The original speaker was fine, just too much for my wife to lift.
IMHO, you can't beat a Steel King.
IMHO, you can't beat a Steel King.
The difference between a musician and a savings bond is eventually the bond will mature and earn money.
- Carl Kilmer
- Posts: 2691
- Joined: 7 Aug 2008 1:23 pm
- Location: East Central, Illinois
Well Fred & Fred, If I get time tomorrow or Thursday, I'm going to try the
SICA in the FSK and see how it sounds. I need a lighter weight and would
like a warmer sound on the highs and still have the nice sustain it has now.
I guess I should sell my N1000. I don't use it anyway. It's too heavy for me.
SICA in the FSK and see how it sounds. I need a lighter weight and would
like a warmer sound on the highs and still have the nice sustain it has now.
I guess I should sell my N1000. I don't use it anyway. It's too heavy for me.
aka "Lucky Kay"--Custom built Rittenberry SD10 3X5, Walker S/S, NV-112, and Hilton Pedal