Steel Guitar Amp for a beginner

Jack Rydeen · Post by **Jack Rydeen** » 7 Jun 2017 3:52 pm

Yesterday bought my first pedal steel from a really good guy on this forum. I've asked him as well as another great forum member about a good, yet inexpensive combo amp for a novice that will simply be learning and playing for himself.

Appreciate any opinions. ....Jack

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 7 Jun 2017 4:35 pm

Jack..You might try the Boss 'Katana' series, a few Forum members have reported good results with these units. The lower wattage(50?)1-12" is fairly reasonably priced.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 7 Jun 2017 4:50 pm

How much are you looking to spend? For between 3 and 4 hundred, you can find absolutely professional used Peavey amps.
If you're wanting to stay lower for the time being, get any bass amp. Most guitar amps look for early breakup, but bass and steel like clean.

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 7 Jun 2017 6:45 pm

I've got some good little bedroom amps with two 8 inch speakers, reverb, and a headphone out jack for silent practice. Asian made of course, $100 bill.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 7 Jun 2017 7:16 pm

By "I've got" do you mean "Doug owns..." or do you mean "Stage One sells/resells"?

If you're selling them, that's excellent, supplying the three basic essentials

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 7 Jun 2017 7:58 pm

I have sold several over the last few years, usually when somebody comes to the shop. I think I have a dozen or so left. I think you can ship them about anywhere in the lower 48 states for about $30.

Jack Rydeen · Post by **Jack Rydeen** » 7 Jun 2017 8:13 pm

Thanks Doug. Could see some pics?

I'm still looking for picks, cables, amp, tuner and today it became apparent I have to get 2" pedal rod extensions. So far, all I have is the guitar, bar and volume pedal.

So if anyone out there could recommend a place to get 2" pedal rod extension for a Mullen G2. Fortunately the legs extend and after doing some adjusting the guitar height will work fine, but not the pedal rods.

Edward Rhea · Post by **Edward Rhea** » 8 Jun 2017 2:18 am

https://www.steelguitarshopper.com/show ... der-10-32/

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 8 Jun 2017 8:40 am

If you have a smartphone, Peterson sells an adapter that lets you plug into your smartphone, and there are several tuner apps on the market.
For the last 8 years or so,my phone has been my tuner.

Charlie Hansen · Post by **Charlie Hansen** » 8 Jun 2017 10:25 am

I bought a, like new, Peavey Bandit for $120 Cdn and it works perfectly. It's 21 years old and has never been touched. I have a 12" BW to put in it which will make a difference.

Jack Rydeen · Post by **Jack Rydeen** » 8 Jun 2017 10:43 am

Thanks guys

memphislim · Post by **memphislim** » 8 Jun 2017 12:02 pm

Jack, I may be local for you and this is a fabulous amp at a bargain price:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 28#2637428

I travel to SA, Houston and Dallas so can meet if you're interested.

Jack Rydeen · Post by **Jack Rydeen** » 8 Jun 2017 12:38 pm

memphislim wrote:Jack, I may be local for you and this is a fabulous amp at a bargain price:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 28#2637428

I travel to SA, Houston and Dallas so can meet if you're interested.

Appreciate it, but my wife (boss) says it's over her budget

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 8 Jun 2017 1:31 pm

I have a Peavey Nashville 400 as a main amp, but I also have a little Roland 40W Cube that works pretty well. They are a bit over $200 new.

Jack Rydeen · Post by **Jack Rydeen** » 8 Jun 2017 3:04 pm

Anyone have thoughts on the following amps: Fender champion 20, Fender Mustang V1 and Peavey VYPYR VIP 1 20W.

Jonah Turner · Post by **Jonah Turner** » 8 Jun 2017 3:46 pm

I have a Champion 20 I bought new at my local guitar store. It's perfect for a smaller practice room or to use at home, and it has headphone and aux jacks if you want to practice with 'em. It has on-board reverb+delay that is ok, and I think is better than nothing, but it's not the same as what you'd get out of a real effect. I'd say it's definitely a good value for what you get with it though. I don't have any experience with the other amps, sorry.

Charlie Hansen · Post by **Charlie Hansen** » 8 Jun 2017 5:02 pm

I have a VYPYR 15. It's a good little modeling amp with fairly good effects. Only has an 8" speaker but I used it for a while. It has a headphone out. You should be able to get one for about $50 used.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 10 Jun 2017 6:55 am

I picked up a used Fender Mustang II. Works great for PSG. I often gig with it.

Jack Rydeen · Post by **Jack Rydeen** » 10 Jun 2017 7:51 am

Thanks everyone....gives me options.

Jack Rydeen · Post by **Jack Rydeen** » 11 Jun 2017 12:48 am

One more question on amps.....I promise. I've narrowed down my models based on my budget and basically just playing "in the bedroom."

My last question is, would a 20W amp suffice or would it be beneficial in the long run to get a 40W ?

Ron Hogan · Post by **Ron Hogan** » 11 Jun 2017 7:20 am

For $329.00 new, you can get the BOSS Katana 100 watt amp from Steel Guitars of Nashville. It will double on both steel and guitar and also fiddle.

https://www.facebook.com/SteelGuitarNaa ... 119067642/

https://www.facebook.com/SteelGuitarNaahville/

Martin Abend · Post by **Martin Abend** » 11 Jun 2017 10:51 am

The Mustangs are simply amazing, a better deal is hard to find (haven't heard the Katana, though.) Th options can be a little overwhelming at first. and you need the software to dial in a good tone, but once it's set they'll blow your socks off.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 11 Jun 2017 12:06 pm

Martin Abend wrote:The Mustangs are simply amazing, a better deal is hard to find (haven't heard the Katana, though.) Th options can be a little overwhelming at first. and you need the software to dial in a good tone, but once it's set they'll blow your socks off.

Ick! Ick! Ick!
Anything I have to connect to a computer before it'll work right is inadequately designed.
At least in my opinion.

Bob Bestor · Post by **Bob Bestor** » 11 Jun 2017 12:49 pm

I have a Mustang III V2. It is fabulous. Very good amp at a very nice price. It will certainly get you started.

Josh Braun · Post by **Josh Braun** » 12 Jun 2017 10:15 am

Everyone has had good suggestions so far. If I were just starting off, I'd grab a very used Peavey of some sort.

For example, a shop by me is selling two Session 400s for about $250. Another shop has a really beat up silverface twin reverb for $400. And I see Peavey Nashvilles go for ~$350 all day long.

Those might not be the amps you end up sticking with (except for the Nashville, those are all too heavy for me for regular gigging), but they're absolutely pro amps you can use both at home and for gigs while you save your pennies. IMHO, this is one area where the good gear for steel guitars is actually cheaper than most regular 6 string gear (given all the used equipment available).