What's evryone using for an amplifier?

Larry Schubert · Post by **Larry Schubert** » 19 Apr 2007 10:05 am

I play threw a sing 12' maz 38 sr.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 20 Apr 2007 5:38 am

Here's a better shot including the back.
It's an original '57 Fender Deluxe cabinet.
The tweed was painted black before it was given to me,
so I just took it all off & sanded the cabinet down real smooth.
The original back panels aren't pine so I made up others to match.
The controls on the top are strictly for looks since all adjustments are made from the PODxt.
Just a strip of sheet metal with some chrome tape on it and a few old pots, switch, etc.
150 watts is from the Crate Power Block amp that I stuck in the bottom. Speaker is a Jensen Neo.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 20 Apr 2007 6:01 pm

Hey William, except for the weight, your 'old bass amp' sounds like a killer clean steel setup. I think you might be dissappointed if you went for a solid state 'steel amp' after playing through that.

I currently usually play through a THD BiValve head through a THD 2X12" cabinet. I have a little Crate PowerBlock amp which I wil use to power one of the 12" speakers in the cab if its a loud country band.

Ronald Sikes · Post by **Ronald Sikes** » 20 Apr 2007 6:52 pm

I used a Session 2000 for the last 6 yrs.Used a NV1000 for a while with a TransTubeFex.I'm now using a NV112 with the TTFex,and I just bought an Evans SE200.The Peavey's have been outstanding,and their service and support of the steel community should not go unrecognized.I'm also really liking the Evans,excellent tone,and only weighs 35 lbs.I'm using it mainly without any effect's,hoping to lighten the load a little.

Marlin Smoot · Post by **Marlin Smoot** » 23 Apr 2007 8:16 am

Vintage Session 400 with old 15 inch JBL (D 130 F) - Plenty of bar smoke smell. I think the best sounding amp I own for steel.

Early 90's Nashville 400 - Stock - On my second 15 inch BW.
Now a back up amp. This is my third Nashville 400 and all have done a great job.

2004 Fender Twin 1965 RI - Stock - Like new - Home use only.
I feel a 'must have' amp for steel. Nice tube tone and vintage feel in sound.

Always use The Steel Guitar Black Box with any amp. YeeHaw!

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 23 Apr 2007 8:52 am

Marlin, what does the black box add to the tube Twin? When the black box first came out, Brad said it was designed to add tube tone to solid state amps, but he wasn't sure what it would do for a tube amp.

Marlin Smoot · Post by **Marlin Smoot** » 23 Apr 2007 9:23 am

David,
You're right, I don't really need it for the twin but it does add a nice 'gliss' for lack of a better term. I feel it gives the pickup an even tone across the strings and almost a 'quality recording studio' type tone. It's really hard for me to put into words what the Black Box does, but I know it does add something very nice into my quest for tone.

I use a Blues Driver modded by Robert Keeley for any overdrive settings as it has true bypass just to raise the hair a little. I use a delay at times and thats it for now. I am looking for a chorus pedal but haven't settled in on anything yet. So I like to keep the siginal as clean as I can using very little outboard gear, but I always keep the Black Box with my steel. If I could only use one outboard unit, it would be the Black Box.

I also have a Mesa Boogie Studio Pre-Amp too, its nice for recording too but not voiced for steel. The Black Box is voiced for steel and that makes it very special running into any amp. My humble opinon.

I also play lead guitar so sometimes I need my gear (I use a Robert Keeley compressor for lead guitar work, not for the steel) and amp to do double duty when I don't carry two seperate rigs, the Black Box also gives my 62 RI Tele (with Kinman pickups) a great sound too. Almost like a hand wired class A amp sound through my Session 400.

Do you have a Black Box too?