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Topic: tested new amps |
Miguel e Smith
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 22 Apr 2004 9:53 am |
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I received quite a few calls in response to the "beta test" post on announcements. I didn't mention the brand name of these new amps but the name was clearly on the units and so the word got out fairly quickly...Fender.
Now I gotta say that before now I had written Fender off as far as getting a cool sound (for me). I'd heard Jay Dee get a most incredible sound from a Twin, but it sure didn't work for me. I found most of my happiness in all of my Evans versions over the years (and now the Evans pre). But, I gotta say that these prototypes really kicked butt. I really noticed the difference when I reverted back to my normal preamp, amp, speaker setup...I was missing something.
I'm sure more info will start emerging, especially when they get past the testing stage and start marketing the final version. There are only 7 copies right now and I just returned the two I had. I think Lloyd is getting one next and a few others. Sam Marshall of Fender (the developer) has said he's going to try to bring a few out to the steel jam in Apache Junction on May 1st and 2nd. Hopefully I'll get to be there also. Really good work Sam!
Mike www.mikeandt.com P.S.; Sam is a musician, sometime steel player and great jazz guitar player (former USAF band). He's got great ears.
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 22 Apr 2004 12:10 pm
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Can you describe the amp?
All tube?
Power?
Effects?
Speaker?
Size?
More?
Thanks,
Brad Sarno
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 22 Apr 2004 12:58 pm
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| This is great news. |
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Miguel e Smith
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 22 Apr 2004 2:19 pm
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My tech info will be limited at best, but it's all solid state, one model that I'm aware of for now which is about the size cabinet as the Nashville 400's but a little deeper (front to back) and it does have a 15" speaker. I actually got to test a lot of different speakers one day and they arrived at a JBL model sounded the best. However, JBL wanted a minimum order of something like 5,000 so Eminence built them one that was apparently identical in sound.
There is a line-out in the back (with it's own level control) and efx loop in and outs. There was a spring verb in the units I had but I was using an efx unit and didn't try the spring unit.
There is also a mute and compressor push button on the front. Only one 1/4" input but you have a 'pad' button if you need it.
The treble, mid and bass controls are all center indented (straight up) and you either roll off to the left or boost to the right. There are two other controls that are sweep knobs (although I forget the names right now) which are not center indented. One volume control and one master control (and of course the reverb level control). I found it easy to use, but they sorta setup these models with the center indent being my sound so I had little tweaking to do.
These models had wheels which were easily removed but they said they had not gone through the UL testing as yet and the wheels may not stay.
Oh, by the way, the name of this amp is the "Steel King" (with the retro lettering/font), black cabinet and control strip with silver grille.
I'm sure they mentioned the power rating but it escapes me right now. I'm sure there will be more info available soon.
Mike www.mikeandt.com
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Miguel e Smith
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 22 Apr 2004 2:24 pm
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Forgot to mention that I didn't try this new prototype in the studio as yet, but I did try an earlier version from a few months ago. I went direct and was really digging the sound even with no effects from the amp or on the console.
Mike |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 23 Apr 2004 8:02 am
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In the past few years, I've made more than one comment here on the Forum about Fender's lack of innovation, and about their lack of desire to produce a "steel amp". (Their last major effort for us steelers was the Vibra~Sonic, introduced about 1964.)
Well to make a long story short, Peavey has been "cleaning their clock" in the steelers' market for decades, and it will take considerable effort on Fender's part to change that. If Fender had included a graphic EQ, and a good electronic delay/verb (in addition to the spring unit), they might have had me for a new customer.
As it stands now, though, it almost sounds like "too little, too late". |
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Keith Murrow
From:
Wichita, KS
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Posted 30 Apr 2004 9:32 am
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| .. [This message was edited by Keith Murrow on 26 October 2004 at 04:19 PM.] |
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