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Topic: New Webb amps in GFI room at Mesa |
John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2007 9:49 pm |
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Tom Bradshaw has a couple of near-final prototype Webb amps that will be available to try in Gene Fields room at the Mesa, AZ steel show. I just picked up the one I'm bringing for him (Tom won't be there), it's a beauty in Fender tweed. I just got it tonight and haven't played it yet, but Tom says several long-time Webb owners who have played through it feel it has even better sound than the vintage ones, so I'll be comparing it with my 2 older Webbs this weekend. I'm expecting great things.
If anyone playing the show would like to perform with the new Webb, that can be arranged.
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▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 23 Jan 2007 8:37 am
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| Up... |
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Keith Ballmer
From:
Traverse City, Michigan, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2007 5:13 pm i want a new webb!!
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| yeah ... i email webb to see if they would sell me a Demo, I can't wait till there on the market!!! |
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Russ Hicks
From:
Pegram, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2007 5:55 pm Webb Amp
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Hey John.....thanks for the use of the Webb on my sets in Mesa.....sounded GREAT....the AMP, that is.
rh |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2007 9:23 pm
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Russ, thanks for trying the Webb out onstage, glad you liked it. Your solo sets, and the duets with Randy Beavers, were wonderful! And your new MSA Legend sounded great and is really a beautiful looking steel. I'd love your comments comparing its playing action and tone with other guitars you've owned. And please bring Laney next time, will ya.
A typical educational Tom Bradshaw writeup on the new Webb is at his website: http://www.songwriter.com/bradshaw/webb_amps.php
Quite a few players took the Webb for a test ride onstage or in the GFI room, and I heard nothing but good things about it. Players I know of (I did miss a few sets here and there, so more may have played it than I know) included: Lynn Owsley; Bobby Black; Norm Hamlet; Russ Hicks of course; Randy Beavers; Bobby Bowman; and Herb Steiner. Doug Livingston practiced his jawdropping classical pieces through both Webb amps at the GFI room, he liked it a lot, but felt more comfortable with his customary Peavey sound at his first solo steel performance, I can't blame him a bit for playing it safe in that regard.
The new Webb has all the features and sound that the original ones had, including the beloved 3-way tone switch. It also encloses the 15-inch Eminence neodymium speaker in a metal chamber with a removable rear plate, so you can turn this into a closed back amp. The front speaker baffle board has 4 portholes, 1 in each corner, and supplied are metal disks you can close any or all of those ports with. Quite a few ways to tweak your sound with the new Webb!
The closed/open back really adds a whole new range of sounds to the Webb. I actually like the sound both ways. Open back it emulates vintage Webbs. Closed back the sound is much more tightly focussed, but less airy, and has a lot of punch and actually glassier mids and highs, to my ears.
These amps were near-final prototypes. The final version will feature all of Brad Sarno's normal recommended Webb upgrades, and even a few new ones he wanted to add.
You can also get a piggyback configuration, and even buy the regular amp sans speaker and use your own. Oh, and Tom will offer upgrades of electronics and/or the speaker chamber, to your vintage Webbs.
Btw, I'm not a sales rep for Webb! I have no financial interest in Tom's company, and I'm not paid to do or say anything..but he's a longtime friend I'm happy to do favors for, I did work for him as Art Director for his Steel Guitarist Magazine, and more pertinently I'm a very longtime happy Webb user, since 1977. I own two vintage Webbs, and the Webb tone is fabulous, imho. I'm thrilled that the Webb amp will continue in the nurturing hands of Tom.
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Fred Bova
From:
Connecticut, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2007 11:30 pm
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| Boy I can't wait to hear the New WEBB. I have only heard one WEBB before, when I came to hear John play and I was in shock. Both with the playing and with the projection of your WEBB amp. I would love to play my Tele, and my Gretsch though one someday and see how they sound for guitar. The other amp that I would love to check out that a lot of artists at Deeks Guitar Geek show played though was the Sho-Bud amp. Solid State never sounded so good. |
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Fred Rushing
From:
Odin, IL, USA
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Posted 31 Jan 2007 5:31 pm New Webb
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John do you have the wight of the new Webb?
Thabks Fred |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 31 Jan 2007 8:44 pm
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The new Webb, at least according to my home digital bathroom scale, weighs 50.0 lbs. My older Webb weighs 54.6 lbs. The neodymium speaker reportedly weighs about 14 lbs less than the original JBL K-130's, but I guess the metal speaker chamber adds back in 10 lbs. So for those looking for lighter weight, the configuration with a piggyback power head and separate speaker enclosure might be the ticket.
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Darrell Owens
From:
California, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2007 11:36 pm
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Tom Bradshaw has made a great contribution to the steel guitar community; continuing and improving the Webb Amp. I had the opportunity to have one of the new demos in my studio at home for a few days and compare it side by side with my original Webb. I was prepared not to like it as well, but I was surprised to find that it is as good or maybe better. The speaker is different from the JBL and that was my concern. I am a "die hard" JBL fan. However, the Eminence really impressed me. I especially like the idea of being able to modify the tone chamber to get an open back, closed or ported speaker cabinet in a combo amp.
After playing this amp, I would say they are worth the wait. Tom is not only the original Mr Nice Guy, he is a perfectionist when it comes to quality, and he just won't sell these amps until he is convinced they are right.
Thanks, Tom.
Darrell Owens |
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