Whats the best steel amp ever made?

Susan Alcorn · Post by **Susan Alcorn** » 5 Apr 2004 5:15 pm

-- I had an old Session 500 that had such a beautiful sound, but I think you have to be careful with Session 500's because each one sounds different, and at times it's difficult to dial in a good tone.

-- The new Standels are very nice.

-- For most of my performances I now use a Stewart 2.1 stereo power amp with two 15" Black Widows -- one in a small Walker enclosure, and the other in a bass cabinet. Going into the power amp, I use an Avalon preamp, a Focusrite Preamp, and a Lexicon PCM70. This gives me quite a bit of clarity and warmth. I think the modular approach is a good one.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 5 Apr 2004 5:27 pm

Tony Prior,
Check your email ...

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Bill Ford

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 5 Apr 2004 5:30 pm

Susan,
Why the different speaker enclosures?

Bill

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 5 Apr 2004 5:52 pm

If stage volume wasn't so loud these days requiring so much power and headroom in a steel amp, I'd have to say a 15" JBL loaded recapped Fender Twin. They do the most magical thing when you start to hit max power. We've all heard it and loved it.

Ok, two Twins...

Brad Sarno

Jimmie Misenheimer · Post by **Jimmie Misenheimer** » 5 Apr 2004 7:32 pm

Best - now that would be a "toughie". I've owned JUST ABOUT everything mentioned above, and I always go back to my Ashley Pre-amp, and a Profex II. Cleanest, warmest set-up that I'VE ran across in 39 years.

Jimmie

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 6 Apr 2004 1:36 pm

Had a great Nashville 400 I used for years but the best rig I have, and been using it for about 9 years is my DPC750/ProfexII into 2 Nashville 115E cabs - awesome sound everytime, everywhere. A close second would be my new Nashville 1000 for those smaller intimate venues.

Sam White · Post by **Sam White** » 6 Apr 2004 5:15 pm

Well here is my quarters worth. I have a Nasville 400 no mode and I put a EMINENCE DELTALITE 2515 in it and I have another in a speaker box I built and I run them both with a profex II and the sound is outstanding.I could not beleave how clean the sound is and like real sterio.WOW.
Sam White[This message was edited by Samuel E. White on 06 April 2004 at 06:17 PM.]

Gene H. Brown · Post by **Gene H. Brown** » 6 Apr 2004 5:53 pm

Well I've owned just about every kind of amp they make and I recently sent my 1972 silverfaced twin down to Ken Fox (Fender Guru and very good Friend) and he recapped it cleaned all the pots and re soldered a bunch of connections and "Black Faced" it for me and I have never heard a better sounding amp in my 45 years of playing, this amp kicks Butt! JMHO
Gene

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If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!

Buck Dilly · Post by **Buck Dilly** » 6 Apr 2004 6:02 pm

Now that we have resolved this question...

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 6 Apr 2004 7:13 pm

Gene Brown, Now thats what I'm talkin' about!!

Nothin' like a BLACKFACED S/F Twin.

Susan Alcorn · Post by **Susan Alcorn** » 7 Apr 2004 3:37 am

Bill (Ford),

I use the bass speaker cabinet because:

1 -- it has wheels
2 -- it gives me a little more low end
3 -- it only cost me $20.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 17 Apr 2004 8:21 pm

Although I'm totally happy with what I have, (hopefully not yet)!

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“Big John” Bechtel
Franklin PSG D–10 (9 &

Fender ’49–’50 T–8 Custom
Fender ’65 Reissue Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15
click here
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Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 17 Apr 2004 11:27 pm

Simple answer,to a simple question:
MINE!

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<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 18 Apr 2004 12:54 am

{quote]-- For most of my performances I now use a Stewart 2.1 stereo power amp with two 15" Black Widows -- one in a small Walker enclosure, and the other in a bass cabinet. Going into the power amp,

I use an Avalon preamp, a Focusrite Preamp, and a Lexicon PCM70. This gives me quite a bit
of clarity and warmth. I think the modular approach is a good one. [/quote]

I guess I missed this post..

Jeez louise, Susan you are hardcore!!
This is the best rig I have seen ANYONE mention here.
Hands down.

Dan Tyack has a great one, but a different way to go.

But this one... ooh la la, If you have recorded with this rig, tell me which CD to buy.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 18 April 2004 at 01:55 AM.]

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 19 Apr 2004 8:35 am

For my ear, Webb Amps. And my old Emmons amp with a 15" JBL is alright too!
John Buffington

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 19 Apr 2004 11:21 am

Smiley's IS the best. I heard it. Smiley for President!

Gerald Menke · Post by **Gerald Menke** » 20 Apr 2004 8:13 am

I am also a rack fiend, and agree with Steve Stallings, the VHT 2/90/2 is pretty much matchless for clean, rich power. The modular thing, as Susan so well put it, is great for flexibility. I love the sound of the old Fenders (I only use tube amps) but I play with a lot of different kinds of bands and and sometimes need reverbs and delays beyond what spring reverb in a twin or pro offer. I like the Boogie V-twin rack mount, but also use an old Alembic preamp, into a Lexicon MPX-550, which goes stereo into the VHT and stereo out to a Diezel 2X12 cabinet or two single 12 Bogners. I don't anticipate buying another amp for many years, as long as my back holds out!

Gerald

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 20 Apr 2004 10:06 am

will somebody tell me what a JBL is? I reckon it's got to be some kind of speaker

how else am I suppose to learn if'n I don't ask.

Oh, and how much is the Webb 614? thanks
Terry

Lawrence Lupkin · Post by **Lawrence Lupkin** » 20 Apr 2004 11:07 am

Better a rack fiend than a crack fiend Gerald.

Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 24 Apr 2004 11:41 am

How come nobody mentioned a Fender Twin with the Healy mod. From what I´ve read on here (and heard from my favorite steel player

that would definitely be the best one for the sound that I have in mind. Remember, this is a very subjective topic. Now, if I only could find someone over here who knows what it is and could do it on my amp. Shipping it to the U.S. would be somewhat costly, not to mention the risk of damage.

Regards, JH[This message was edited by Joe Henry on 24 April 2004 at 12:50 PM.]

David Higginbotham · Post by **David Higginbotham** » 24 Apr 2004 1:33 pm

Terry,
JBL= James B. Lansing (hope I spelled that correctly) Very good speaker!

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 25 Apr 2004 8:24 am

A rack system, in my opinion, is like a Component Stereo system. Its all realtive to what you put into it and how you assemble it. If you can buy cheap components, you get what you pay for.

The big advantage is you can change if your taste changes or something better comes on the market. Proccessors are constantly changing, not always for the better, but sometimes the manufacturers fool you and actually make improvements.

I have something that expands the stereo image called a Behringer "Edison", It a stereo image processor that can do a lot with the depth and clarity of Stereo Sound and it only Costs $189 online.

I never use Standard Phone Jack type patch cables. I use all XLR type patch cables with the ground (pin 1) lifted at one end, usually the sending end. This is the way the real professionals do it and it does wonders in keeping the hum to a minimum. Very, Very important when you have single coil pickups.

In short if you run out and buy a bunch of Junk, stick it in a rack with no planning on the type of cabling and routing, Thats what you have, JUNK, you are actually worse off than if you bought a good quality Combo amp.[This message was edited by John Floyd on 25 April 2004 at 09:29 AM.]

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 25 Apr 2004 9:43 pm

I've owned and enjoyed:

Twins
Webbs
Session 400s
and have played through just about every sort of combo out there.

I also went through a very long component stage, using combinations of the following:

Custom Jim Kelly tube preamp
Rocktron Cameleon
Realtube pre
Bluetube pre
Lexicon MXP G2
various Boss/roland rack preamp/efx
Yamaha 1002 delay chorus

Standell power amp
Stewart world 2.1 power amp
VHT 2/60 tube power amp
VHT 2/90 tube power amp
Tubeworks power amp (the big one)

Jim Kelly 1X12" JBL cab
Tiel 12" EV cab
Peavey BW 15" cab
THD 2X12" cab (with JBL and Celestion)
THD 1X12" 2X10" cab (with JBL and Celestion)

By far my favorite component rig was the Lexicon mpx g2 (for efx) switching (using the mpx) either the Kern (for clean) or the THD Univalve (for everything else) as a preamp through the VHT 2/90/2 power amp, and two of the THD speaker cabs. THis thing has more low end bootie than a hip hop video. In particular, the VHT power amp is head and shoulders above anything else out there, in terms of getting a FAT sound at high volumn.

That said, what I bring to gigs or sessions these days is my THD Bivalve (about 30 watts), my THD 2X12 cab, and my Adrenalynn efx unit. Oh yeah, and my Roland V-wah pedal. I usually don't have to play both loud and clean. If I did, I would probably add another THD cab and bring either of the VHT power amps.

I'm glad I don't have to play that loud (or that clean). I reallly prefer the pure sound of a great sounding amp with few effects (I hardly ever use reverb live).

Bill Moran · Post by **Bill Moran** » 28 Apr 2004 10:35 am

Anyone ever use a Peavey Vegas 400 ? I know it should be the same as the Nashville 400 but with 2 chanels. It is a much better sounding amp, to me, than anything Peavey ever made. I have owned 2 over the years and let them get away. If I ever find another good one I will nail it to the floor.

Bill Moran
Marion, Va

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 28 Apr 2004 1:46 pm

Bill asked:

"Anyone ever use a Peavey Vegas 400 ?"

I think there was this steel player named Buzzy Edmonds or something like that who used one quite a bit. Electronically the Vegas is pretty much the same as the Nashville 400 (on the steel channel). The cabinet size makes the big difference between the two.

Brad Sarno