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Author Topic:  Whats a good amp for steel and guitar?
Bob Smith

 

From:
Allentown, New Jersey, USA
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2002 4:40 am    
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Im looking for an amplifier that can be used for steel and guitar in a live playing situation. Im thinking a twin reverb might work. Does anybody have any good ideas? Thanks, bob
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Larry Behm


From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2002 5:07 am    
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I like my Webbs because of the many EQ options it has. If you change instruments you can change the 3 way selector switch and or the 5 band section in or out.

Larry Behm
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Bob Knight


From:
Bowling Green KY
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2002 5:36 am    
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Peavey Vegas 400!!!!!
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Mike Brown

 

From:
Meridian, Mississippi USA
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2002 9:12 am    
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I recommend the Peavey Ranger 212.
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Jack Francis

 

From:
Queen Creek, Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2002 10:10 am    
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Is the Ranger a tube amp?
How much Power??
Jack

[This message was edited by Jack Francis on 07 November 2002 at 10:11 AM.]

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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2002 11:44 am    
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You need an amp with two channels. You can set one channel for steel and the other for regular guitar. Get an A-B foot pedal to go along with this and you're all set.
Erv
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Kevin Hatton

 

From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2002 2:56 pm    
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Mike Daley from Hank Junior's band plays a Peavey Ranger 212. I saw him in Nashville up close and was impressed with the amp.
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Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2002 4:24 pm    
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For years I doubled on Telecaster and Steel with a Twin , it was exceptional..and heavy.

mine had a JBL 15 " speaker..

tp
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Ken Fox


From:
Nashville GA USA
Post  Posted 8 Nov 2002 8:28 am    
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The Ranger is an all tube amp with the voicing of the old Blackface Twins. They are one sweetest sounding amps on the market and can be found at a good value used. I would consider some BW-1203 speakers in the amp, I have my doubts that the Blue Marvels will take the punishment a steel can deal out! The Blue Marvels are voiced like the old Jensens and sound super for guitar. Even with a Twin, I would use at least JBL speakers for steel.


Another great amp, hard to find, is the Fender Custom Vibrasonic made in the 1990's. These have a steel and guitar channel, the power of a Twin (100watts) and a 15" speaker. The Silverface Vibrosonic (note the difference in spelling) is another great one. There are two of these on Ebay as we speak. A 1990's Vibrasonic, dead mint, was on Ebay last week and did not meet reserve. A music store up in Tacoma has that one. It had a buy now price of $849.00, I believe.

[This message was edited by Ken Fox on 08 November 2002 at 08:32 AM.]

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Mike Brown

 

From:
Meridian, Mississippi USA
Post  Posted 8 Nov 2002 8:53 am    
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The Ranger 212 is an amplifier that we manufactured in the latter part of the '90's. It can still be found in music stores and was an all tube 120 watt amplifier. The weakest link for the Ranger as far as a steel amp was the speakers, but the amp wasn't intended to be a steel guitar amp so it was coincidental that the amp sounded good for steel. One could probably replace the Eminence speakers with BW 1203's or equivalent and the amp would sound really good for steel. However, consider that you are working with a total of 120 watts, ie; 60 watts per speaker so it might be a waste of money for a high power handling speaker.
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Stephen Gambrell

 

From:
Over there
Post  Posted 8 Nov 2002 12:41 pm    
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Goody, I get to brag on the Traynor again! My YCV 80, with 4 10" Celestions, sounds great for both. The hot rod channel is burn for days, and the clean channel is, well, CLEAN!
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Michael Holland


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 8 Nov 2002 1:25 pm    
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Hey Ken,

I just made a deal on that amp and it's on its way. Curiously, they don't have an effects loop. What would it take for a loop to be added? I don't need variable send or receive levels at the amp; I'm used to controlling that at the processor.

Thanks,

Mike

------------------
Fessenden SD10 - Mesa/Boogie amps
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Ken Fox


From:
Nashville GA USA
Post  Posted 8 Nov 2002 6:34 pm    
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Not sure which amp you mean, Mike. if it's the Ranger, I would have to see a schematic. As it is a P.C. board amp, it would be a challenge!
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Michael Holland


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 9 Nov 2002 4:39 am    
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Ken, I meant the Custom Vibrasonic in the auction. Is that a PC board as well?

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Fessenden SD10 - Mesa/Boogie amps
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James Quackenbush

 

From:
Pomona, New York, USA
Post  Posted 9 Nov 2002 8:15 am    
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Mesa Boogie amps, but you may find that you want to add a 15 inch speaker if it doesn't already have one...Great tone !!

Lower powered you could go with a Peavey Classic 50...Very nice clean tones, and great overdrive for either guitar or steel...

Good Luck in your search....Jim
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Bob Smith

 

From:
Allentown, New Jersey, USA
Post  Posted 9 Nov 2002 10:05 am    
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Jim , I thought about a Mesa Boogie too , I know they are great amps but theres so many models of them ,i wouldnt know where to start. Funny you mention the Peavy Classic 50, thats the amp that im looking to replace. Ihave the one with 4 10s in it and im not real crazy about it, doesnt seem to cut through good in a band situation. Gonna check those boogie amps out thanks Bob
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Ken Fox


From:
Nashville GA USA
Post  Posted 9 Nov 2002 10:57 am    
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I have a friend with a Mesa Boogie, rare head model. It has 4 each 6L6 and 2 each EL34. It is a Mark III series, only a hand full were made for mostly touring artists. With a 15" JBL in a seperate cabinet, it is a killer amp.
Mike, I just checked my schematic and board layout for the Custom Vibrasonic amp, it is a PC board amp. It can be done, not as much fun as a handwired amp. I have actually never added an effects lops to an amp, so I am not famililiar as to where it would go in the amp chain (for proper impedance and level matching). There is always a lot of discussion on that on the Fender Forum, in the Mods and Repairs area.

[This message was edited by Ken Fox on 09 November 2002 at 10:59 AM.]

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Michael Holland


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 9 Nov 2002 1:00 pm    
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Thanks, Ken. I'll try to check out that forum and see if there's any info on adding a loop.

Bob and Jim, click on the link in my signature to see my collection of large Boogie combos.

Mike

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Fessenden SD10 - Mesa/Boogie amps

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Jim Bob Sedgwick

 

From:
Clinton, Missouri USA
Post  Posted 9 Nov 2002 6:17 pm    
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They are expensive, but the Evans 200 watt steel amps are also excellent guitar amplifiers, IMO
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 10 Nov 2002 12:42 pm    
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My vote would be a B/F Twin Reverb!
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James Quackenbush

 

From:
Pomona, New York, USA
Post  Posted 11 Nov 2002 9:35 am    
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Michael,
Let me guess....You're looking for one more Boogie IIC, and a subwoofer so you can play
5.1 surround sound ???....You're a lucky guy to have such a gorgeous collection !!...Very nice indeed !!... Which speaker sounds the best ?? The JBL or the EV ???....Depending on what amp I'm using , I will use a JBL if I need to brighten the tone, and an EV if I need to darken the tone...EV also makes a shorter coned speaker...The "L" stands for Long and they make an "S" model for short (duh !!) ... They're both great sounding speakers...A little more punch with the "S" and more bottom end with the "L"...Jim
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Michael Holland


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 13 Nov 2002 12:46 pm    
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Thanks Jim,

Got a good chuckle out of that! Your're exactly right about the speakers - the JBL has that clear, shimmering sound and the EV's are full and punchy. I use the Mark III the most, it just has the right balance and a very full and rich sound. Starting during the run of the IIC+, the 'gain boost' pull was replaced with a 'deep' switch and it's perfectly suited to the pedal steel. I use the deep as the only pull switch activated (although the shift is nice, too, with a variation in the EQ settings).

Thanks for the nice comments on the collection from all. Sorry, but none are for sale at this time.

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Fessenden SD10 - Mesa/Boogie amps

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Bob Smith

 

From:
Allentown, New Jersey, USA
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2002 3:12 am    
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Thanks fellas, for sharing your ideas and experience about this topic. Please close this thread. Bob
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