What's a good steel amp?

Riley Hart · Post by **Riley Hart** » 6 Apr 2014 1:41 pm

Thinking about cutting down my homebrew twin cabinet. Got two tens in it, and can still barely pick it up. Twin is a wonderful amp, but if you get in a situation where the stage volume is out of control, it's not gonna get you all the way there. But mighty hard to beat if volume is reasonable. Just my opinion. Coming from a guy who can barely manage a d10 mci. My NV400 seems to have gotten heavier as well. Lucky I got a great price on a little 200 watt 12inch speaker Evans amp recently. If i had to sell it, the next choice for any situation here would be replacing the BW in the NV400 with a neo. I was using an ampeg bass amp with a 12" neo, and it wasn't bad, but even that was a bit weighty for an older guy.

Jimbo Watkins · Post by **Jimbo Watkins** » 6 Apr 2014 5:44 pm

Riley, what specific speaker are you referring to by "neo"? I have a really nice Ampeg amp head that I would like to build a cabinet for.

Thanks . . .

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 6 Apr 2014 5:46 pm

You guys who "prefer a solid state amp" have probably never played through a Milkman Pedal Steel Amp - the headroom and crisp bass of a high-power solid state, with the warmth and personality and touch sensitivity of tubes...plus a reverb to die for. IMHO, of course.

Joe Naylor · Post by **Joe Naylor** » 6 Apr 2014 5:53 pm

If you want a practice amp look at this:

I have had steel player want a GK mb 200 with a 12" a speaker and to disassemble a Roland Cube - the options are endless. Also have a tube option.

I build seats and put whatever controls and speaker you want.

Not here is the amp and controls take it or leave it.

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 6 Apr 2014 6:30 pm

You should seriously check out the new Telonics TCA500 Combo amp... this amp comes with a 500 watt power amp, all the features of the amazing Telonics Pre1000 preamp, including digital reverb and dobro sim, a 15" Neo Telonics speaker, a one rack size spare space for an EFX unit of your choice -- and it only weighs in about 30lb ...
Ive been using this amp for all my gigs since I got home from the Dallas show and it has been nothing short of phenominal.... oh and it's light and robust enough to fly with - without incurring excess baggage charges :-} !!

And did I mention it is LOUD !!

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 6 Apr 2014 11:10 pm

Paddy Long wrote:You should seriously check out the new Telonics TCA500 Combo amp... this amp comes with a 500 watt power amp, all the features of the amazing Telonics Pre1000 preamp, including digital reverb and dobro sim, a 15" Neo Telonics speaker, a one rack size spare space for an EFX unit of your choice -- and it only weighs in about 30lb ...
Ive been using this amp for all my gigs since I got home from the Dallas show and it has been nothing short of phenominal.... oh and it's light and robust enough to fly with - without incurring excess baggage charges :-} !!

And did I mention it is LOUD !!

WHAT DID YOU SAY PADDY!!!?

Riley Hart · Post by **Riley Hart** » 7 Apr 2014 4:16 am

Jimbo; the Ampeg is a Portabass250. I still use it for bass lots of the time.
It is a combo amp, and the first owner had it back when neo speakers were not as common as now.

Jimmy Gibson · Post by **Jimmy Gibson** » 7 Apr 2014 5:42 am

I know they are a bit of a lump but IMHO the Fender Steel Kings are superb Steel and guitar amps, and used with the Fender Satellite FSX System sounds absolutely awesome.

Jimmy.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 7 Apr 2014 4:53 pm

Steve Lipsey wrote:You guys who "prefer a solid state amp" have probably never played through a Milkman Pedal Steel Amp - the headroom and crisp bass of a high-power solid state, with the warmth and personality and touch sensitivity of tubes...plus a reverb to die for. IMHO, of course.

I would love to try one of those big Milkmans Steve. But, have you ever played through a mid 60's Standel super custom? Mine has the sweetest sound of my whole pile - which includes some very nice tube amps.

Jerry Hedge · Post by **Jerry Hedge** » 7 Apr 2014 8:26 pm

Brett, that's why I love my Steel King. To me it sounds a lot like a mid- late 60's Standel.

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 7 Apr 2014 9:13 pm

Steve Lipsey wrote:You guys who "prefer a solid state amp" have probably never played through a Milkman Pedal Steel Amp - the headroom and crisp bass of a high-power solid state, with the warmth and personality and touch sensitivity of tubes...plus a reverb to die for. IMHO, of course.

You were probably referring to my post..haha...I have a wall full of tube amps and speaker cabs from my guitar days...and I spent a lot of time selecting components for the most killer rock crunch tones imaginable...(and I was very happy with where I got to on that endless quest)...I do intend to refit one of these amps with 6L6's or KT66's and find the right speaker to pair with it, and I may change my opinion post haste.

Unfortunately, the quest for tone is an expensive proposition...I'm trying to keep things cheap until I get gigging again.

Jon Logan · Post by **Jon Logan** » 8 Apr 2014 4:43 am

Where are all the Evans fans ? Just had my FET500 rebuilt by the master, Derrell. I mix that up with the Telonics 500 or Nashville 112,,, one clear and crisp, the other warm and fuzzy, sounds like twin steels, which is consistent with my diagnosis !

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 8 Apr 2014 6:33 am

The OP states that he needs a practice amp and everyone falls all over themselves to recommend their favorite 200 - 300 watt amp. Any of the amps he currently has will work just fine for practice and recording. Sheesh!

Joe Naylor · Post by **Joe Naylor** » 8 Apr 2014 6:38 am

U R correct Tim

my idea with the Seat-Amp was just that - I can put what ever controls people want in them.

The GK mb200 is a popular one as well as a Roland Cube control and speaker. Both are popular with steel players. Other combinations for other instruments.

I am sure some are laughing at the idea but it is not intended for be used as an amp for everyone.

There is a big market I am finding though.

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 8 Apr 2014 7:50 am

For a practise amp, I've found the Fender Mustang I to be the best tone for the cost. Great headphone out too. Works great with my D-10 ShoBud on the Twin Reverb sim setting. I see these used on CL for $60 often.

Benjamin Wolfram · Post by **Benjamin Wolfram** » 8 Apr 2014 12:19 pm

Fender Bassman 100, 115 cab, and a nice reverb pedal...K'POW!!

The cabinet was made by a fine gentleman I had recommended to me by this forum, his name escapes me for now, and the speaker is one of those Eminence EPS15C from memory.

Daryl Thisdelle · Post by **Daryl Thisdelle** » 19 Apr 2014 3:20 pm

If you are really serious about getting one of the best sounding units out there is get the Walker SS System. First it is made special for the steel guitar. It has been around for 20 years and has been perfected all along the way. The guy that makes them Gerry, has been a steeler for almost 40 years and I think he knows a thing or two on how the steel guitar should sound. I just came back from the Dallas show and was disappointed on how many of the players sound sounded like the last guy up on stage. It seems steeler's are slow to change from that all midrange sound. The Walker SS has two cabinets and is like its say Stereo Steel and what a huge sound you get out of the two tuned cabs. Plus a choice of speakers you want in the cabinets. If ya want wattage the SS has all you will ever need and can cut through any mix.
Daryl

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