Pedal Steel + Bad Back = New amp?

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 25 Mar 2016 12:59 pm

Christopher-
I used a 40 watt Pedal Steel Mini for a long time, and now use a Half and Half. The tone of the Mini was a bit (subtly) better, especially when the amp was pushed enough to get the power tubes working, but a little more than that and you do find the amp to start to break up - but there, it is in a very pleasing way - I used to enjoy playing nice clean backup and then adding a little edge to solos that way. So if you want really clean - but warm - the Half and Half is the way to go. For warm, then with some edge, the Mini was better. And if you mic the amp and play quietly all the time, there's not much difference. IMHO, of course.

The amp I miss is the Mini. I'm not sure why I sold it - I guess I just decided that the Half and Half was way more than good enough, was a bit lighter, and had more power for those very rare times when I really had to pull out the jams and be monster loud...

For guitar, the all-tube Mini would be a clear winner (IMHO). For steel, the tube preamp in the Half and Half is enough to warm up the sound...and some guitar player do seem to dig that sound. They both take effects pedals very well....

Jim Newberry · Post by **Jim Newberry** » 25 Mar 2016 1:19 pm

Similar to Malcolm's solution... I use a Quilter Tone Block 200 head (very valve-feeling, and only a couple of pounds of weight) and a Mojotone "UltraLight" or some such cabinet plus a Neo 12 inch speaker. The cabinet is about 18 pounds with speaker. I mostly play homebuilt valve amps, but this is my lightweight/super loud rig.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 25 Mar 2016 1:26 pm

Jim, is that the Pro Block the one with built in reverb, or the standard tone block, how do you find it? Thinking on getting a spare amp, your opinion would be welcome.

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 25 Mar 2016 1:27 pm

To be shipping soon.

Jim Newberry · Post by **Jim Newberry** » 25 Mar 2016 2:12 pm

Malcolm, I got my 200 just before the 101 came out, and way before the Pro 200 was announced, so no experience with the Pro 200's reverb. I just use a little reverb from a pedal for the tone block or my tweeds anyway. I like that the Pro 200 has a little more tone shaping, but mine's fine as is. Of course, I'm looking for a little rawer, fatter sound than most pedal steel players, since I play 50's style non-pedal stuff.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 25 Mar 2016 2:18 pm

Jim, thanks for info, good to know.

Scott Parker · Post by **Scott Parker** » 25 Mar 2016 8:48 pm

Do pedal steel guys use tweed Bassmans for steel? a '59 Bassman Reissue is loud as heck and surprisingly light. Just not sure how they'd sound with a pedal steel.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 26 Mar 2016 7:49 am

Chris,
There is really no reason to buy anything in the US. The U.K. has a fantastic tradition of guitar amp building. For light speakers Check out Celestion stuff . They make a
Neo.

My favorite speakers for years were all made in the UK. Also There of tons of guys making clean powerful class D amps. All super light. Look at bass amp heads.

I just bought some new audio gear made in England and it was cheaper and better than what was available over here.

Tom Voessing · Post by **Tom Voessing** » 26 Mar 2016 9:25 am

Hello Chris,

I found this amp recently on the inernet. It still needs a cabinet but it weighs not much more than two pounds:

http://bluguitar.com/english/AMP1.html

it is a relatively new product and I wonder if it is good for the pedalsteelguitar. The clean-channel soundsamples at least sound promising to me.

Regards
Tom

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 26 Mar 2016 10:45 am

What about this small and light (19 pounds,8.61 kg) combo (8" speaker) ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpQYwiPDLa8
And the very same combo with a 12" speaker !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvzWXy3ox7Y
http://www.quilterlabs.com/index.php/pr ... h-2-8-inch

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 26 Mar 2016 11:40 am

Seriously consider what Jack Stoner has. I have the BX 500 amp and it is great and weighs 5.8 LB. Plenty of power at 500 watts. It has one 12 AX7 tube in the pre-amp section which is switchable in or out. Sounds much better with the tube. No reverb but I use a Wet Reverb pedal which sounds great. A light weight cabinet with a 15 inch neo speaker completes the rig. Plus, you have "mission control" right at your finger tips.

I got mine new for $319.00 including shipping. I think now they are up to about $350.00. I have it rack mounted along with my Quilter rack mount. I am now using the Quilter, but the BX 500 is a keeper. If my Quilter dies during a show, I only have to move a few cords to the BX 500 and in a matter of seconds, I am up and running. The BX 500 was my only amp for about a year and I was perfectly happy with it. I just wanted a spare rack mount amp and like to try different things, so I got the Quilter. Also light weight and 200 watts, but almost 3 times the money.

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 26 Mar 2016 4:21 pm

George Kimery wrote:...I am now using the Quilter,...

The Quilter ? Which model ? Thanks !

Asa Brosius · Post by **Asa Brosius** » 30 Mar 2016 4:08 pm

I can't say enough good things about the half and half- weight tone volume reverb beauty.An earth drive in line makes it behave like a much smaller amp.

Danny Letz · Post by **Danny Letz** » 30 Mar 2016 5:41 pm

Break the amp down into components is what I did. Lighter weight, more trips to the car.

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 31 Mar 2016 4:57 am

John, to answer your question about which Quilter, I have the Steelaire rack mount. It uses two spaces of rack and is very light weight and has plenty of volume. Shipping on this to Belgium would not cost a lot of money. You should be able to pick up a speaker cabinet in Europe, or, just use an existing amp and unplug the speaker, then run a cable from the Quilter to the speaker. I also use the 3 cable hookup. This adds a buffer and I like the sound better with this hookup. I don't think you can beat the price I got. If you are interested, send me a PM and I will give you the source and the price I paid, which included shipping.

Afterthought: QSC has built very reliable power amps for years. The Steelaire should be very reliable. Pat Quilter is not a new kid on the block when it comes to building dependable electronics. Since the rack mount is so light and small, it would not cost a whole lot to send it in for repairs if you can't find someplace in Europe to do repairs.

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 31 Mar 2016 10:48 am

Thanks George,
PM sent !

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 31 Mar 2016 1:27 pm

George/John, if it is the Steelaire rack head you are talking about, it is available in Europe, through three Quilter dealers, one in Germany and two in Denmark.The amp has a mod on it to operate in Europe/UK ( believe it is something to do with noise), it sells for about one third more than US price.
If you are talking about shipping one from US, it will need the above mentioned mod, and with shipping and taxes it will come to the price of one purchased from European dealers, or even more with the uncertainty of import taxes and shipping.

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 31 Mar 2016 3:27 pm

ðŸ‘

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 31 Mar 2016 7:35 pm

Christopher Hillman wrote:Hi all,

I'm having a few problems with my gear/sound/bad back.

Basically my Excel U-12 and a Tweed deluxe are both similar weights and i use them most days of the week.
Over the last year i've been getting some back problems. i shook them off last year by doing a lot of exercise but, when i play a lot of steel they always come back. Some of these problems are posture related but there are some to do with moving my gear around.

My idea at the moment is to try and get a lighter amp but, anything Fender that is smaller that the 40watt deluxe tends to distort on a show.
A friend of mine had an idea of maybe finding a way to drop the output of the pickup with resistors maybe? (im no electrician ) so it wouldnt be that hot for smaller amps. What do you guys think? at the moment im noticing the steel will distort my 40watt tweed when i have my strymon pedals inline...

I'm set on my sound which is the fender deluxe type of sound. Has anyone got any suggestions ? Any similar problems?

Thanks,
Chris

Chris, you can maybe fix your original problem of distortion by plugging into the second input of your delux it is slightly attenuated. Also if you like the sound of a fender deluxe do not take the advice from here. The quilter amps are very different in sound and feel.

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