What do you guys use as a lightweight steel guitar amp ?
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
- Larry Lenhart
- Posts: 2923
- Joined: 12 May 2000 12:01 am
- Location: Ponca City, Oklahoma
What do you guys use as a lightweight steel guitar amp ?
I would like to find a light weight (relative term I know) steel amp with good sound. Does it exist ? I dont need an amp with alot of volume as the dances I play for are not in areas that are that large...another relative term I realize. I am 65 with a bad shoulder and really want to get perhaps a 2 piece setup...amp and then speaker cabinet. Genz Benz makes a great setup like that for bass. I used to use a Roland cube30, but it sounded too shrill for me...maybe it was my playing...haha... Anyway I would like to know what you guys have found. Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.
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Light Set Up
Larry, I use a Gallien-Krueger (200 watt 5 lbs) I use it to drive a 15in speaker (eminence wt 7lbs in a lite weight cabinet), I play for the dances also, plenty of punch, works good for me.
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check out the posts on the Roland Cube 80 (over the last few months)- lots of info/ideas....I've had good results with an older Cube 60 (one of the orange ones - made in japan) with a Barber Tone-Press compressor. My favorite amp by far is the old Sho-Bud "Christmas Tree" model (15" JBL speaker), but it's getting to heavy now...even my Peavy Nashville 112 is starting to be a problem weight-wise. I have eye problems - have to have lazer surgery to repair broken blood vessels that are caused by lifting (mostly gear).
LAST WEAK I CUDN'T EVEN SPELL "STEAL GIT-TAR PICKUR" & NOW I ARE WUN!
- Dick Sexton
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Small Light Amp...
This one has had very little use...
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=241576
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=241576
- Larry Bressington
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- Steve Lipsey
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GK MB-200 in a Tommy Huff Western tooled cab with a 15" SICA - 200 watts/22lbs!
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=
Add in a Sarno Black Box and a Holy Grail Nano and you have a complete setup....I love mine (but I'm stuck with a crazy fixation on tubes, so I'll be selling it, let me know if you are interested).
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=
Add in a Sarno Black Box and a Holy Grail Nano and you have a complete setup....I love mine (but I'm stuck with a crazy fixation on tubes, so I'll be selling it, let me know if you are interested).
www.facebook.com/swingaliband & a few more....
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham "CooderNator" archtop parlor electric reso w/Fishman & Lollar string-through
Ben Bonham "ResoBorn" deep parlor acoustic reso with Weissenborn neck and Fishman
Ben Bonham Style 3 Tricone., 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor Squareneck
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham "CooderNator" archtop parlor electric reso w/Fishman & Lollar string-through
Ben Bonham "ResoBorn" deep parlor acoustic reso with Weissenborn neck and Fishman
Ben Bonham Style 3 Tricone., 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor Squareneck
- Malcolm McMaster
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GK MB200 with 12inch 4 Ohm Sica lightweight speaker in home built cab. Stacks of power and tone.
MSA Millenium SD10, GK MB200, Sica 12inch cab, Joyo American Sound Pedal/ Jay Ganz Straight Ahead amp, Telonics 15inch in Peavey cab, Digitech RP150, Peterson tuner.Hilton volume pedal.Scott Dixon seat and guitar flight case.
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Info
The cart Larry mentioned is also in Sams, got mine for 22 bucks, a back saver.
- Dave Mudgett
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If I don't need to be loud, then I'm using an old (early 70s) silverface Princeton Reverb or Deluxe Reverb with an upgraded speaker. Right now, the Princeton has a JBL MI-series 10" speaker, the Deluxe has a Weber 12F150 speaker.
I like the Princeton for lower-volume settings - acoustic trio, intimate room, and so on, for either guitar or steel. The Deluxe has been working fine for intermediate-volume gigs with a tasteful drummer, again for both guitar and steel. I was initially surprised how much clarity that Weber speaker had for pedal steel. It is also very efficient, that amp really puts it out if need be.
If I want to go modeling, I still prefer a Pod into any good clean-sounding no-frills amp. The Fenders are not featherweight bedroom amps, but I prefer them to any of these modern 'swiss army knife' amps. I've consistently used a lightweight collapsible hand-truck that folds completely flat that I got at Lowes 8-10 years ago for pedal steels and larger amps. But I don't need it for a Princeton, Deluxe, or other comparable weight amps.
I like the Princeton for lower-volume settings - acoustic trio, intimate room, and so on, for either guitar or steel. The Deluxe has been working fine for intermediate-volume gigs with a tasteful drummer, again for both guitar and steel. I was initially surprised how much clarity that Weber speaker had for pedal steel. It is also very efficient, that amp really puts it out if need be.
If I want to go modeling, I still prefer a Pod into any good clean-sounding no-frills amp. The Fenders are not featherweight bedroom amps, but I prefer them to any of these modern 'swiss army knife' amps. I've consistently used a lightweight collapsible hand-truck that folds completely flat that I got at Lowes 8-10 years ago for pedal steels and larger amps. But I don't need it for a Princeton, Deluxe, or other comparable weight amps.
Last edited by Dave Mudgett on 22 Feb 2013 7:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Jack Stoner
- Posts: 22087
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I've migrated to the MB200 amp and a 15" Eminence EPS-15 neodymium magnet speaker in a cabinet. Amp is 2lbs, the speaker in the cabinet is 23 lbs (may be less just what my "imported" bathroom scale shows)
GFI Ultra Keyless S-10 with pad (Black of course) TB202 amp, Hilton VP, Steelers Choice sidekick seat, SIT Strings (all for sale as package)
Cakewalk by Bandlab and Studio One V4.6 pro DAWs, MOTU Ultralite MK5 recording interface unit
Cakewalk by Bandlab and Studio One V4.6 pro DAWs, MOTU Ultralite MK5 recording interface unit
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I use 2 Evans RE - 200 with a Sarno Rev pre. The Evans amp is great digital Powered Speaker/amp. Had them for several years. Can't be beat for weight and quality. I probably don't know what I should about the eq in these amps; they are very sensitive to tweaking. I found what I like and the rev pre does the rest. Two of them weigh what one PV 112 weighs.
- Larry Jamieson
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- Dan Beller-McKenna
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Knowing how much my buddy Cartwright likes them, I snagged a used Ampeg BA112 bass amp from Guitar Center on line, just arrived this evening. Very impressed so far. Just 39 lbs, small footprint, 50 watts and lots of tonal variety. One thing I found odd, however, was the degree to which the bottom end completely vanishes when you tilt the amp back (it as a beveled rear bottom edge for a wedge-like tilt position). I know having an amp flush on the floor increases bass response, but I've never had an amp where it makes a total night and day difference like this one. I won't be tilting it back.
- Dave Grafe
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- Don Sulesky
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I'm in the process of going the same way as my friend Jack Stoner with the Eminence 15" & MB200.
After my back surgery which I am still having much pain with, any weight I can save is a blessing.
Don
After my back surgery which I am still having much pain with, any weight I can save is a blessing.
Don
Private one on one lessons available
Member: FSGC, PSGA, TSGA
Co-founder: Florida Steel Guitar Club
"Steel guitar is like playing chess in the dark with three players". Jeff Newman quote from 1997 seminar
Member: FSGC, PSGA, TSGA
Co-founder: Florida Steel Guitar Club
"Steel guitar is like playing chess in the dark with three players". Jeff Newman quote from 1997 seminar
- Howard Steinberg
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Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight. 200 watts, built in effects where you can have reverb and delay together. Head weighs about 8 pounds, cabinet w/12" Jensen neo about 15 pounds. I had bought this amp for jazz guitar gigs, tried it on steel and was astounded.
Later versions of this amp were more stable due to updated firmware. Very versatile amp for it's weight.
Later versions of this amp were more stable due to updated firmware. Very versatile amp for it's weight.
Justice Pro Lite (4-5), Justice D-10 (8-5)x2 , Quilter Steelaire, Hilton Pedal, BJ's bar.
- Tony Prior
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Twin Reverb
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
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- Lee Baucum
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Lots and lots of great reviews of the Roland Cube 80XL.
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Lee, from South Texas
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Lee, from South Texas
- J. R. McClung
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