What kind of amp do you use for performances/shows?

Fred Rogan · Post by **Fred Rogan** » 23 Dec 2013 7:22 pm

I play through my 1977 Vibrosonic until I get ear fatigue then I crank up my Carr Impala 2X12 for a warm, musical sound. Then I go back to the Vibrosonic and am blown away by that 15" JBL and the lows from that.
Interesting thread!
Merry Christmas everyone!

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 23 Dec 2013 8:30 pm

Late 70's Vibrosonic with banjo in channel 1, PSG channel 2 and Princeton Chorus (for Tele) for big rooms. Fender Princeton Chorus (Tele and PSG) for small rooms, or black face Priceton Reverb (PSG only) for tiny rooms. In a loud band I definitely use the Vibrosonic! Always trying new setups, though - the ideal thing would be a three channel all tube amp with three different preamp EQ's - some day.

Then I can sell all but one of my amps (backup amp)

Wayne Neal · Post by **Wayne Neal** » 23 Dec 2013 9:24 pm

peavey stereo chorus 400 w/BW1203's...PSG,Tele,Fiddle and mandolin.

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 24 Dec 2013 5:25 pm

I've used a Mesa Studio .22+ with an Altec 417-8H speaker for 97.74% of my playing for the last few years, but I got a Peavey Backstage Plus from the '80's as a practice amp. Now I'm using it most of the time for electric guitar, lap steel and when it's up and running, the D-8 console. If it needs to be louder, I'll add a microphone.

It's all subject to change...

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 24 Dec 2013 6:58 pm

Hi Paul.

If it needs to be louder, I'll add a microphone.

Are you going to plug that microphone into something?

Don't try to plug the mic back into your amp. Believe me, it makes a horrible noise.

Bill Duncan · Post by **Bill Duncan** » 24 Dec 2013 9:55 pm

Vegas 400 sometimes two. May be changing though, I'm working with a tube amp to see how I like it.

Gary Cooper · Post by **Gary Cooper** » 25 Dec 2013 12:47 pm

Thanks to everyone who responded and thanks too for the pictures. Here are the results of 53 responses:
Nashville 112 ------- 7
Nashville 400 ------- 4
Milkman ------------- 4
Peavey 400 ---------- 4
Fender -------------- 6
Evans --------------- 3
Walker -------------- 3
Fox ----------------- 4
Peavey Session 500 -- 2
Peavey Session 200 -- 1
Vibrosonic ---------- 2
Steelarire; Fox;
Little Walter; Custom; Randall; Webb
Revelation; Mesa; Peavey Stero; Stero Steel;
Vegas; McIntosh; Furlong
GIC MB ------------------------------ all 1

Thanks again everyone. Gary

baxter vaughan · Post by **baxter vaughan** » 26 Dec 2013 5:18 am

Evans SE200.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 26 Dec 2013 6:52 am

peavey session 400 with/j.b.l's also, peavey vegas 400
sometimes boss r-v5 1982 dekley d-10 8+7
p.w

Dave Diehl · Post by **Dave Diehl** » 26 Dec 2013 7:28 am

Webb 6-14-E most of the time.

MIchael Bean · Post by **MIchael Bean** » 26 Dec 2013 10:07 am

Gary, I think you should separate the Fender tube amps from the Steel King, as they really are two different animals, IMO.

Michael

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 26 Dec 2013 11:53 pm

Fractal Audio FX2 with 2 Matrix Q12A cabinets. Small and light.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 27 Dec 2013 2:34 am

Webb 614E much of the time, but Roland 80XL for small bar gigs and sessions.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 27 Dec 2013 8:51 am

I count, for all instances of Fender amp usage:

Smaller than Twin/Vibrosonic-Reverb: 3

Twin Reverb: 8

Vibrosonic Reverb: 2

Steel King: 1

Not all these uses are exclusive, as some players clearly state that they use different amps for different situations.

With voluntary participation and such a small N, I wouldn't draw any real conclusions from these proportions, in terms of the general steel player population playing out.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 27 Dec 2013 9:56 am

The amp that I have been using for most of my single amp gigs lately is a 70's silver-knob Peavey Session 400 that I had modded to the Brad Sarno and Ken Fox specs listed on their Session 400 webpage.
It sounds really good with a Weber Cali 15" and my Sierra S12U with a Wallace True-Tone pickup that says 17.5K on the bottom.
This rig travels from my home to the gig in 3 pieces, Steel (always set up), Amp (with power cord and Black Box in the back), and Seat (V-ped, RV3, cords, picks, wall-warts).
I carry my steel from my van to the stage, the use a small dolly to wheel the amp and seat to the stage.
I haven't used a steel case for local gigs in years now, My steel loads easily into the side-door of my van butted up against the back of the passenger seat.

I still prefer to run Stereo whenever there is room, and then I use my Stereo Steel rig or a Peavey Stereo Chorus 400 that I have in a head, with two 15" speaker cabs.
The stereo rig requieres one more load-in/out trip for the two cabs, and a little more wiring-it-up time (I run the RV3 in the parallel effects loop on the Stereo Steel) but it sounds great!.

Pete Nicholls · Post by **Pete Nicholls** » 27 Dec 2013 10:57 am

As many Rolands as have been bought in the past year, I was surprised to see that no one uses it on stage!! I have two of them and use either one or two, depending on the venue size. Maybe everyone else only uses it at home. I use my NV400 at home!

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 27 Dec 2013 12:45 pm

Tonight I'm playing in a loud club so I plan on using both my Dual Showman head with a 2-12 cabinet and my NV400.

Ray McCarthy · Post by **Ray McCarthy** » 28 Dec 2013 3:23 am

Been using the Roland Cube 80XL for all gigs, practice and home use--the NV112 as a backup.

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 28 Dec 2013 6:09 am

Small stage/rooms, GK-MB200, Larger stage/rooms, Stereo Steel.

Leonard Bick · Post by **Leonard Bick** » 30 Dec 2013 4:52 pm

Two Session 500's.

Lynn Gray · Post by **Lynn Gray** » 30 Dec 2013 5:46 pm

Loving my StereoSteel w/JBL's

Steven Paris · Post by **Steven Paris** » 30 Dec 2013 7:58 pm

Peavey Basic 50, slightly modded....she'll do about 350 in the top and floored!....

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 31 Dec 2013 12:45 am

Peavey Session 400 with a Sarno Black Box and a Goodrich pot pedal. Emmons push-pull guitar. At virtually all gigs the amp is mic'd, so the volume is fairly low. The sensitivity (master volume, sort-of) is almost never over 5, and sometimes it's down to zero.

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What kind of amp do you use for performances/shows?

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