Loud and Powerful Amplifiers

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 22 Oct 2002 11:42 am

Here's what I hope is not a silly or unfounded question for everyone, especially you steel players that have been at it for awhile . . .

Why, in this age of modern gear and especially modern PA gear, microphones and sound systems, do pedal steel players need a really powerful amplifier, I'm thinking of the 100-200 watt amps, to perform on-stage?

I understand the need for a larger speaker to reproduce the lower frequencies of the instrument, but I'm puzzled as to why players don't just put a microphone or direct line into the monitors or sound system at shows and run a smaller amp at moderate levels.

I usually just bring a small(ish) amplifier to gigs and run a microphone to the amp or a line-in and it seems to sound/feel/fit-in just fine. I don't play stadium shows or crowded bars with no sound systems. Perhaps that's my problem! (:

Don't mean to step on anyone's toes, just curious. My back hurts just thinking about hauling too much equipment...

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Larry Chung
ZB D-10 8+4; ZB Custom S-11 4+4; ZB Student Model 3+1 Yeeeeahhh, Bay-Bee.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 22 Oct 2002 11:53 am

<SMALL>I don't play stadium shows or crowded bars with no sound systems. Perhaps that's my problem!</SMALL>

That is exactly the reason. Bands in general, and especially guitarists, started getting louder in the early 1970's, and steel players needed more power to compete.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Andy Alford · Post by **Andy Alford** » 22 Oct 2002 1:25 pm

Some run their amps through the pa.Are we programed to think watts first when buying an amp?In a recording studio is the sound blasting ?Where does the tone go when we really crank it up?Is your tone more important then blasting?Can you have great tone while in a blasting contest with the rest of the band?Do you have great tone?

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 22 Oct 2002 2:14 pm

"In a recording studio is the sound blasting ?"

Actually, some of the loudest sounds I have ever experienced have been in recording studios....

Andy Alford · Post by **Andy Alford** » 22 Oct 2002 3:12 pm

John,
Are most recording sessions blasting?Do you think that the tone is as good when the volume is blasting?

Post by **b0b** » 22 Oct 2002 5:02 pm

Moved to 'Electronics' section of Forum