What's a good steel amp?

Larry Jackson · Post by **Larry Jackson** » 5 Apr 2014 10:42 pm

I'm new to pedal steel. Right now I am playing through a Fender Acoustasonic Jr. 2x8. Primarily because it has two channels: one for my steel, and one for my backing tracks. Obviously, I'm using it for practice.

Other amps I have on hand are: a '72 Kustom ( the old tuck and roll ) SA 2x10, its LOUD and has about 100 watts, it also has two channels, ( very clean tone and good reverb ), a Fender Blues Jr. 1x12 tube 15 watts, and a Fender Deluxe 1x12 40 watts, also tube. Should I be practicing on one of these instead?

I noticed that a lot of players prefer Peavey. What's a good steel Peavey amp, or other, that I might find used that won't break the bank? Give me some ideas on what to shop for....

I know 'headroom' is already a prerequisite...what I need are brand names and models.....

Charley Hill · Post by **Charley Hill** » 5 Apr 2014 10:49 pm

Evans are a good choice IMHO!

Larry Jackson · Post by **Larry Jackson** » 5 Apr 2014 10:52 pm

Thanks Charley...I'll look at 'em!

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 5 Apr 2014 11:18 pm

I'd run the backing tracks as you currently do, and think about the Kustom for the steel. If that's tube (I thought they were), 100W tube power has all the headroom you need, IF you can get a tone you like.
The GREAT Peavey steel amps are, in decreasing order of tone in my opinion:
Session 500
Session 400
LTD (same guts as 400, smaller cab so not as deep)
Session 400 Limited
Nashville 1000
Nashville 400
Nashville 112
Nashville 2000 (it came with a built-in multieffects unit, and I haven't yet seen one I don't loathe).
Most of the rest of Peavey amps with a city in the name. will work although Austin and Reno have issues.
I like Fender Twins myself.

Larry Jackson · Post by **Larry Jackson** » 6 Apr 2014 12:02 am

Thanks Lane. That's exactly what I needed. I'm glad you're on here. You are prompt and accurate! The Kustom is actually solid state as I'm sure many of the Peaveys are. Fender Twins are special amps, 85 watts and clean! I've gotten rid of a couple over the years...now that I need one! A new one would probably push towards $1600. I'll keep an eye out for those you mentioned.

You're a great help on here! I really do appreciate your sharing your experience with us!

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 6 Apr 2014 12:57 am

The Peavey Deuce is another good one. Solid state preamp and 4 6L6 power.
If you have among your toys a reverb and a STOUT cab, there's a Super Twin head on the forum. I have one, I like it.
That Kustom might be a little light on headroom.
And remember that the market has discounted most twins after about 1970.
And thank you for your kind words.

Dave Hepworth · Post by **Dave Hepworth** » 6 Apr 2014 1:57 am

Don't forget the Peavey Vegas 400 -should be high on the list also.sort of peavey equivalent of a Fender twin but solid state. Love mine .

Larry Jackson · Post by **Larry Jackson** » 6 Apr 2014 2:07 am

Another one I'll add to my "look for" list. Thanks Dave!

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 6 Apr 2014 2:07 am

Steve, that's why I included

"Most of the rest of Peavey amps with a city in the name. will work although Austin and Reno have issues."

The Vegas is a steel amp with a guitar channel.

Larry Jackson · Post by **Larry Jackson** » 6 Apr 2014 2:17 am

Lane Gray wrote:The Peavey Deuce is another good one. Solid state preamp and 4 6L6 power.

Do you, then, recommend a tube amp over solid state? Just gathering opinions....I know that tube is essential in the "quest for tone" for guitar, I just didn't know whether that applied to a PSG....

I can understand the clean, crisp response of a solid state amp, but I can also imagine the body and tone of a good tube amp....

Bill Duncan · Post by **Bill Duncan** » 6 Apr 2014 4:23 am

I may be somewhat different than a lot of folks, but I don't think there is a best amp for pedal steel. I use tube and solid state amps and like them both.

I love Peavey amps, particularly the Vegas 400. I love the tube amps, but they can be quirky.

The only way to decide what amp is best is to try them and use them. Anything recommended by someone else is going to be tilted due to personal preferences and ideas.

Jerry Bartee · Post by **Jerry Bartee** » 6 Apr 2014 5:13 am

I use an old peavey stereo chorus, with a 15" black widow speaker. I have all the power I need ,with echo and reverb selections to die for. I don't know if I have ever seen one for sale anywhere.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 6 Apr 2014 5:18 am

Tubes sound great for guitar AND steel. BUT, because we want the harshest dissonances to stay clean (like half-pedalled notes), we HATE breakup. That's why you rarely see a pedal steel through a Deluxe (unless the drums are electronic).
The thing steel players avoid is breakup, the thing we all want is a dip in the upper mids.
I currently own 3Peavey steel amps as well as a Reissue Twin and a Super Twin. The Peaveys are mainly backup gear and I MUCH prefer my tube stuff (but the Fenders all need some minor surgery).

Gary Cooper · Post by **Gary Cooper** » 6 Apr 2014 5:27 am

Larry, Lane has an impressive knowledge of the PSG and everthing that goes with it. Plus, he is always helpful.

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 6 Apr 2014 5:44 am

Among the amps you have, I would choose the Kustom, and buy a good clean boost pedal to put between the PSG and the volume pedal. In fact, that would work with the DeLuxe at lower volume situations, and would help you master the volume pedal. The Kustom should have adequate headroom. The power supply capacitors in them were larger than a soup can. And could let you know it if you were careless working on them.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 6 Apr 2014 6:15 am

If you want clean boost, and a help cleaning up the tone, buy someone else's Izzy Plus (you can't have mine).
It's an excellent impedance buffer, and up to 24 dB of boost. Craig isn't making the Plus (yet), so you'll have yo buy them used.

Bill Duncan · Post by **Bill Duncan** » 6 Apr 2014 7:41 am

I would like to have a 'Plus.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 6 Apr 2014 8:53 am

If money is no object, the new Telonics 500w combo is arguably the best steel amp being built today. Absolutely awesome bottom end and overall clarity is incredible. As good an amp that I have ever played through. A Webb 614E amp is another great amp if you can get your hands on one. A good Fender Twin or Vibrosonic is worth checking out, and so too is the Peavey Valve King (100w 2x12" tube amp).

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 6 Apr 2014 8:56 am

I prefer the harder feel of a solid state amp to a tube amp, also the mid sweep (mind you a tube amp could have the slope resistor tweaked or add a pot there).

However, even peavey's 400 series amps at a point that i'd guess to be around 10 watts take on enough of that transistory cold sharpness that the tone starts getting unweildy, at which point I'd prefer a power tube output.

I do think that a hybrid approach is maybe optimal, but many peavey hybrid amps run class b rather than a/b and are sterile sounding. Don't know about the duece.

Bill Moore · Post by **Bill Moore** » 6 Apr 2014 9:01 am

If you are not playing any gigs, any of the amps you already have would be fine. You probably don't need to worry about getting another amp right now. After you have played a while, it will be easier to chose one that works for you.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 6 Apr 2014 9:02 am

For why it's worth, Curly Chalker used 2 Fender Bassman amps with four 10" speakers in each one.

For many years I used a Music Man HD 212. I think there are better steel amps out there, but this is more than adequate. Recently I've been using 2 ZT clubs with a POD XT to shape the sound, but the POD stopped working after I dropped it.

At the moment I use a Peavey Nashville 1000. I'm thinking of selling them all and getting either a Quilter or a Telonics.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 6 Apr 2014 9:09 am

If all the amps that you mention, the Blues Junior would be my choice for a practice amp. You don't need lots of power for practice, and I've heard and played successful shows with Blues Jr. amps mic'ed that sounded great.

Peavey solid state "steel" amps are leaders in the field simply because they offered the features required at the lowest price, which is not the same as saying they are superior amps to the Evans, Webb, Randall, Standell, and others that all have markedly better tone and response, but cost much more when new. The Peavey's don't sound bad, but they can be somewhat "sterile" sounding when compared to competing products.

I would recommend that you try them all out and make your own choice, according to your own preferences and needs. Some would love the Kustom and others would hate it, the main issue is to match the amp to the task at hand, a 200 watt amp in a small practice room will never be turned up enough to sing out, better the small that sounds pleasant at low levels.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 6 Apr 2014 9:17 am

If you just want a practice amp, this is a really good one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Origina ... 1c3e922079

It doesn't have reverb, so you need some sort of external unit. But they sound great at low volume. I have one for practicing and rehearsing, and I love it.

Plus it looks really cool.

Jack Aldrich · Post by **Jack Aldrich** » 6 Apr 2014 11:10 am

Dave Hepworth wrote:Don't forget the Peavey Vegas 400 -should be high on the list also.sort of peavey equivalent of a Fender twin but solid state. Love mine .

Since I play both steel and keyboards, I use a Vegas 400, too.

Jack Aldrich · Post by **Jack Aldrich** » 6 Apr 2014 11:12 am

I started with a Fender Twin Reverb and then to a Peavy Vegas 400 for pedal steel. Lately, I've been using a Peavy Classic 30, which, IMHO, is a lower powered version of a Fender Deluxe Reverb. It sounds good, it's lighter, and I'm older.