Steel King Users.. Stand Up!

Jim Walker · Post by **Jim Walker** » 21 May 2006 2:47 am

How many folks out there useing a Fender Steel King regularly on the job? I myself just ordered a new one. I was able to try one out localy a while back and was very impressed. I didn't know my old axe could sound that good!

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Clark Custom D10 8&5
Fender Steel King
B-bender Telecaster
Line 6 Flextone II Plus
www.jimwalkeronline.com

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 21 May 2006 4:12 am

I have had mine for about a year and a half
and enjoyed every minute of it. Would I buy another? You bet I would!!

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72 Professional 8&5,73 PRO II 8&4, 79/80 PRO III 8&4,Fender Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!

[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 21 May 2006 at 07:19 AM.]

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 21 May 2006 4:54 am

My Fender Steel King has totally replaced the beloved Webb 6-14-E amp. I do have a Peavey Nashville 112 for use on small jobs and it's a fine little amp but can't produce the thundering, tight, bass or warm tones of the Steel King. In fact the Steel King has so much bass that I elevate it off the floor about 12 inches to reduce the bass effect! I have spent hours playing the Nash 112, Steel King and the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe side by side. The King has most of the warmth of the Hot Rod Deluxe tubes. The tone controls are easy to adjust and the King is capable of producing a wide variety of tones quickly. I run a RV-5 for reverb but the reverb built into the Steel King is pretty good and a cut above most steel amp reverbs. Yeah, it is heavy, but the sound is worth every pound.

This is the best all around steel amp I've ever owned!

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Greg

My Web Site
[This message was edited by Greg Cutshaw on 21 May 2006 at 10:09 AM.]

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 21 May 2006 7:40 am

I agree Greg! I just played my Steel King last night on a gig in CT and I love this amp. It growls like a lion. Nice lows and beautiful highs too. The honky mids are gone, so the amp sounds great at any volume. I've had this amp since last fall and it's the only steel amp I use now. My bandmates have used words like 'warm' and 'growl' to describe the sound. It doesn't get much better than that!

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My Site | My SteelTab

[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 21 May 2006 at 09:56 AM.]

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 21 May 2006 8:23 am

PS it's got a nice reverb too. After many years of using digital reverb I'm back to using the reverb in the amp. Life is good.

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 21 May 2006 8:38 am

I've had mine almost a year and it is does a great job.

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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Clyde Lane · Post by **Clyde Lane** » 21 May 2006 8:49 am

I've had mine just over a year and it's the best thing that my wife ever spent her money on (it was a birthday gift).
Clyde Lane

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 21 May 2006 9:38 am

I love mine, even as much as I love my old Evans FET-500. Perhaps even more. These amps are just wonderful. I've found that I can leave all the controls straight up, 12 o'clock, and usually end up backing off the treble just a hair, 10 or 11 o'clock, and adjust the EQ Tilt to match the room.

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Mullen U-12, Excel 8-string Frypan, Evans FET-500, Fender Steel King

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 21 May 2006 9:57 am

It has the tone I have been looking for. I have been gigging with it exclusively for over a year.

Joe

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 21 May 2006 12:56 pm

I really like the tone's I get from my Steel King .....It's amazing how much this amp can sound like a good tube amp, yet set it up a little bit differently, and it can sound very clean like a solid state amp.....Push it hard and it sounds like a tube amp again ...The EQ on it is 2nd to none ....You can dial in anything you need for a given situation ....The reverb is pretty darn good too !!.....Great all around amp for a great price .... Too heavy ? ....Cut the head off it and make a seperate speaker cab !!....Great tone !!....Jim

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 21 May 2006 2:05 pm

Jim Walker · Post by **Jim Walker** » 21 May 2006 4:47 pm

Tony! That is a thing of Beauty!

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 21 May 2006 6:55 pm

First, I can't tell you how many people have come up to me and complimented on the sound of my SK amp!
This is not coincidence....people who've heard me for years and never said anything now come up and say how good the steel sounds!!!
Second, as much as I like the amp, I'd never use one stock anymore....too heavy!
Split cabs is the only way to go....I put the head right next to me for adjustment and now have two light cabinets to carry instead of a back breaker.
Why don't the mfrs think of this???!!!!

Rick Johnson · Post by **Rick Johnson** » 22 May 2006 3:56 am

I've really enjoyed my Steel King, I go back
to a couple of other amps from time
to time but my Steel King is still "King"
www.rickjohnsoncabs.com

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 22 May 2006 8:05 am

It's great to read positive reviews on this fine steel guitar amp. Does anyone have an issue with the compressor on this amp? like a "Clicking" sound when the amp is pushed? also not that it really matters to me in the least, but are many top name players going over to the Steel King? i read a while back where at least one top player didn't like the Steel King, some complaint about not enough volume..i personally find it hard to believe. I've had the pleasure of playing through this amp...and if you don't have enough volume..you never will have enough. I'm thinking very seriously of purchasing a Steel King. I need bottom, bottom, bottom, seems that is the first thing everyone notices..this amp has some mellow tones..right up my alley. Yes a friend bought me a Nashville112 for church playing, and practice and small gigs...but it's not a steel king or a Webb..... It seems the dealers hate these amps..and the ones who own them and use them..love them.....

Gaylon Mathews · Post by **Gaylon Mathews** » 22 May 2006 8:07 am

I use a Steel King exclusively on the Gretchen Wilson show and love it. I keep a spare Steel King on the road which I've never had to use. I do switch them out occasioanlly just so they both get played. I have another at home that I use in the studio. Can't be without one!

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Gaylon's Homepage
www.gaylonmathews.com

Gretchen Wilson
www.gretchenwilson.com

[This message was edited by Gaylon Mathews on 22 May 2006 at 09:08 AM.]

James Pennebaker · Post by **James Pennebaker** » 22 May 2006 2:54 pm

Like Gaylon, I've have two of them on the road for going on two years now. One is a spare that has never needed to come out of the case. I wouldn't want to play steel guitar out of anything else. It's a great amp for fiddle too.

JP

Mike Archer · Post by **Mike Archer** » 22 May 2006 4:46 pm

count me in i did a trade for mine about
4 months ago and i got to say its heck of an amp
seems to me
i dialed mine in just as soon as i got it im very happy with it i think its a keeper also i got a fender deluxe reverb r/i
from a forum member and its agreat tele
amp i like it a lot as well

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 23 May 2006 4:11 am

I might suggest that anyone looking for a great deal on a new Steel King give Forumite Dyke Corson a call. He has two shops in downstate Illinois, "Corson Music," and stocks the Steel King. Moreso, he provides customer service that is unparalleled.....I promise you it will be worth the time to e-mail or call him. www.corsonmusic.com . He is a Peavey dealer as well, and stocks their steel amps too.

Joe

Wade Tackett · Post by **Wade Tackett** » 26 May 2006 8:49 pm

SOMEONE HELP ME!! I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A SK AND CAN NOT GET IT SET TO SATISFACTION. I PLAY IN A CHURCH THAT IS SORT OF A MINI DOME SHAPE. IN A SMALL ROME IT SOUNDS GREAT, BUT, I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE IT AT THE CHURCH. IT HAS LOTS AND LOTS OF PUNCH BUT I JUST CAN'T GET THE SOUND THAT I AM USED TO. I PLAY OUT OF A SES 500 AND ALSO A VEGAS 400. I GREW UP UNDER TWIN REVERB FENDERS AND I REALLY WANT THIS TO BE MY PRIMARY AMP. GIVE ME SOME SETTINGS FOR THIS TYPE OF BUILDINGS. WHERE WOULD YA'LL START THE SETTINGS. THANKS FRIENDS! I MAY ADD THAT I AM PLAYING A EMCI AND A MCI. THANKS AGAIN, WADE TACKETT TAHLEQUAH, OK

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 27 May 2006 12:01 pm

Wade, a good place to start with a steelking is with all of the controls straight up ( 12:00) and add or subtract to taste. Also, in church/ dome type setting, volume and placement are very important!
You will probably have to experiment with this and that to find a good tone/ placement but I am sure this amp will for you! Go over the manual again, it really does make sense. Good luck, let us know how you make out. Perhapes some others can chime in here and give you more advice.

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72 Professional 8&5,73 PRO II 8&4, 79/80 PRO III 8&4,Fender Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 27 May 2006 12:35 pm

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/012764.html
Hey Folks, as an add on, you should check out this thread and the sound samples Greg has put up of his MSA and STEELKING amp!
WOW!!! If these dont stand up for this great amp, I dont know what will!!

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72 Professional 8&5,73 PRO II 8&4, 79/80 PRO III 8&4,Fender Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 28 May 2006 7:45 am

Wade:

As I recall, if the freqency knob is not moved from the center detent the mid control has no effect. I am not at home to read the manual so correct me if I am wrong.

[This message was edited by Len Amaral on 28 May 2006 at 08:51 AM.]

Jim Walker · Post by **Jim Walker** » 28 May 2006 8:05 pm

Thanks for the add on Larry. Greg got tone....

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 29 May 2006 6:38 am

I've been using mine for over a year now and am very hapy with it. It's the only amp I currently use. So you ask why I still keep a Nashville 400, Evans 500 LV and a web? It's doesn hurt to have a backup and I am still experimenting with the electronics , conducting analysis etc