Why two amps?

Buddy Lewis · From: Branson, MO

I am just learning the psg. Why do a lot of steelers use two amps?
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Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

Buddy, someplayers like the stereo sound they get from using two amps. I used two Nashville 112s for a while but the more I listened, the less I liked the stereo sound. So, I sold one of my 112s and ordered the Burr Brown chips from Ken Fox, and installed them in my 112, and I really like the sound of the one amp now more than ever. Those chips just brought out the best in that little amp.

Terry

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I use (2)-N~112's, but; not for a Stereo~Effect! I use the Pre~Amp. of one Amp. to feed both Power~Amps! This simply gives me the fuller-sound of (2) 12” speakers as opposed to just one-speaker and it's not necessary to adjust two pre~amp. EQ's. One pre~amp. does it all! On the second (slave-unit), the only control necessary is the Master~Volume set identical to the first amp. I guess you could call it a Nashville Twin~Twelve driven by two 80-Watt Power~Amps.! Of course you can do this with any of the later model Peavey Amps that have a rear Effects-Loop!
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Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Two speakers give a bigger, fuller sound than one.

Sometimes a stereo chorus or echo can enhance a song, and sometimes it can ruin it. It's like cayenne pepper. A little bit goes a very long way, and it's real easy to add too much.
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Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

because we can ??

I use one of the Peavey Steel amps( N400 or Session 400 ) and a Fender Hot Rod Deville 2 x 12. The Steel goes thru both, the Guitars only thru the Fender.

tp

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Yeah, I'm with Tony - because we can. Smile

For some players, like Tony mentions, two different amps can be useful for doubling on guitar and steel. That doesn't explain why people use two identical amps, though.

I think some players have to project their sound strictly from the stage - no reinforcement. Most PSG players want a very clean, robust sound. When playing in a real loud band, sometimes one amp just doesn't cut through all the way. The few times that I've done this in a loud band context, I found it useful to position one amp for me and the other amp to project to the audience.

Personally, most of the people that I play with would take me out and shoot me if I brought more than one amp. We're trying to keep our stage volume down, and virtually always play with sound reinforcement unless it's a very low-volume gig.

I don't think a player just starting out needs to even think about 2 amps.

Jay Ganz · From: Out Behind The Barn

One amp for each ear....... Rolling Eyes

Eddie Freeman · From: Natchez Mississippi

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Whether playing steel or 6-string I've often used two amps, usually either of different output tube types, speaker mix, or some other variation. You can really fill out and enrichen your tone by using two amps - what you don't want to do is run two amps at real low volume, though - the tone will really suffer. Two smaller amps will move a lot of air, and you can get a great clean sound - the Grateful Dead did it years ago with a virtual wall of amps/speakers - low powered, and each at a low volume. The actual level was low, but you could hear perfectly because of the increased air movement.

I think with 6-string I've probably used two amps more often than just one. Mixing a Cranked-up Deluxe Reverb with a mid-volume Pro Reverb gives you an amazing sound.

The two impoortant things to watch for when using multiple amps are proper grounding (for safety and hum reduction) and speaker phasing. WIth two speakers, if one moves out when the other is moving back, you run into a problem with phase cancellation - there are several ways to check for it; anyone who is or wants to use two amps should do some reading on the subject (there's too much invilved to post it properly here). If you DO have a phase cancellation problem your sound will appear to drop out or go very thin at odd times, or sound reedy; you'll think something else is wrong, or that two amps is a bad idea when it's an easily fixed problem.
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

If you run two amps in stereo it is likely that the only person in the room who can here the stereo effect is you. 99.99% of PA setups end up mono.

The most perfect spot to realize the stereo is directly in front of the two amps the same distance that they are apart. That means if your amps are 4 feet apart, the stereo effect is best 4 feet in front with the amps 2 feet to either side. Hardly worth the effort if you are thinking that anyone in front of you is hearing what your hearing.

If your using two amps to spread the sound out on stage then that is another scenario.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I played a gig a few weeks ago with a Peavey Stereo Chorus 2-12 amp which we put two SM-57 mikes in front of it, one to each speaker and into separate channels on the PA, one panned left and one panned right. It didn't do much for the basic sound but man when the chorus was added the whole room came alive like you wouldn't believe and seemed to engulf the whole bandstand! Unfortunately a lot of groups don't have enough channels but we're using a 16 channel Carvin powered mixer with only a four piece band so we can do it. I have a deal going for another of the stereo chorus amps so I might start using one for guitar also which will be set up the same way.........JH in Va.
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Robert Leaman · From: Murphy, North Carolina, USA

When I need two amps, I use a NV1000 and a Session 400 LTD. I fed the 400 with the XLR output from the NV1000 to avoid ground loops. Usually, I run both amps at about 90% gain so that there is absolutely no mistake that a pedal steel is present. Since the NV1000 can achieve 300 watts and the 400 LTD can achieve 210 watts, I feel that no one misses what I play.

In opinion, this is why most players use two amps usually placed on either side of the stage. They want people to hear the steel above the sound of an electric guitar pushed through five or six distortion effects boxes.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I have a "stereo" rack system. I don't use it much, but when I do it seems I'm the only one that "knows".

I don't use it to see how loud I can play as no one in our band is trying to play louder than the other band members.

In the last 2 years, 99% of the time I've just used a Nashville 112 (with the controls set at 1/2 volume).

Alan Kirk · From: Scotia, CA, USA

Some people use two amps because they play steel and double on another instrument. When changing instruments, it's easier to quickly switch from amp to amp rather than resetting all the control knobs for the second instrument.
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Bill Dobkins · From: Rolla Missouri, USA

I use a Peavey stereo chrous 400 which is a great six string amp but also a great steel amp. so I only carry one amp for both. I seen one on Ebay a couple days ago.

Delvin Morgan · From: Lindstrom, Minnesota, USA

Tell me more about the ground loop problem with two amps. I am about to employ two amps, a NV112 and a VK100 head, both fed from a Hilton pedal. Will I get hum from this, or is it dangerous? Oh yeah, the VK will have a 15" BW if that makes a differnce.

Joe Shelby · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

I want to add this as a small demonstration of how
some very rational rules about using two amps can be
deliberately broken and wind up with (what is to the player, him/her) a positive effect...
One very visible pro uses two of the same brand of amplifiers and sets them up specifically out of phase.
I have no knowledge of his settings or mods to one or both amps, but this is someone who has probably tried and discarded enough tone shaping ideas(and the
gear to do it with) to cover a couple lifetimes and fill a warehouse or two.
I'm sorry that I can't mention this person by name, but the real point here is that the rules can be broken; what makes perfect sense electronically doesn't neccessarily make sense musically.

Joe.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Well Buddy, it's a couple of reasons. Mainly for performance.

One can be pointed at you for a monitor, with a sound that you prefer more than the one that is pointed at your victims, and you can put more reverb on it as opposed to the other one. Often the sound you hear onstage from your amp sounds too piercing if it's going to sound clear offstage.

You can have a nice stereo sound that reinforces your playing.

You can as TP said use one for another instrument sometimes.

One can be pointed at a guitar player across the stage if he or she needs to hear more steel.

I got a Hod Rod Deluxe 112 yesterday that might not have all the watts that my Nvl 400 has and I might want to mike it, and have it at a lower level than my Nvl400, and possibly as TP does, use it only for my 6 string. (I don't remember being happier with an amp since I got my Session 500 in '79., and I've been up most of the night breaking it in..)

One, you can set in front of the stage for all your "steel playing friends" to adjust the knobs so they can hear "what they think you should sound like", and you don't have to hear it yourself.

Smile

EJL

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I use 2 NV400's when possible. I can play each at a lower volume which really puts a "sparkle" into my tone. I also use a Boss RT20 rotary speaker effect, which seems to sound better if I take it out of the signal chain and run each channel through the post-eq jacks on the amplifiers. My regular signal chain plugs into the input of both amps.

Larry Hamilton · From: Amarillo,Tx

Yeah, like Tony said "Because we Can" I have always wanted to use 2 amps just for fun. With the Nashville 112 it became possible economicaly. Yes I am the ONLY one that can any difference in my sound. I have used them side by side, One pointing a little toward the rest of the band ( by their request). In the joint I usually play I like to stack them. This configuration gives me as much bottom as I desire.

But more than anything just becuse I can and it is fun.

Just my opinion and thoughts. Thanks.
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Keep pickin', Larry

Joe Shelby · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

I can't add anymore information at this point than
what I now realize was far from enough. I was just
trying to bring forth an idea that is more involved
than I was aware of. Kindly excuse my ignorance.

Joe.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I don't often use my stereo systems, but last night I did just to see what it sounded like. Had a good sound but just too much equipment to lug around. I'll go back to just using the small Nashville 112.

But, my setup last night was a POD XT, Crate Power Block and two 12" BW 1203-8 speakers. The speakers are 8 ohms so I didn't get the full power capability of the Power Block but it was still loud enough for a VFW hall. The Crate power block is rated at 75 watts per channel into 4 ohm speakers.

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