Fender Steel King Sound:

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 10 Dec 2004 7:53 pm

And the "Steel Queen" would sell well in SF.

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 10 Dec 2004 7:57 pm

Yeah, and they could make a practice steel guitar amp and call it the "Steel Jack!"

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 10 Dec 2004 8:05 pm

Well, I wasn't serious about the name but I like the thought of a small light weight Fender with a big sound, headroom and bottom end.

Maybe the the "Steel Prince" would be a better name.

Maybe not. Let's leave to the Fender marketing department!

DZ

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Dave Zirbel-
ZB Custom D-10 8 x 5, S-12U Kline 7 x6, Dobro Cyclops reissue, 1967 Fender Telecaster, Webb 6-14E, Fender Super Reverb
The Mother Truckers
The Cowlicks

[This message was edited by Dave Zirbel on 10 December 2004 at 08:06 PM.][This message was edited by Dave Zirbel on 10 December 2004 at 08:08 PM.]

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 11 Dec 2004 5:58 am

I think I will wait until they come out with another model, and then a mod for it, and then a box to plug into first that really improves the sound, and makes it sound just like???????

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 11 Dec 2004 6:54 am

That's what makes this amp a pleasure to play
through. You don't need a mod, any extra
boxes or outboard gear! Just plug in and pick!
<img src=http://home.hvc.rr.com/jsganz/BigSmile.gif>

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 11 Dec 2004 7:26 am

Hey Jay---and anyone else who has both----now that you've been using this for a bit, can you give more impressions of this amp in comparison to a Webb? FWIW, I have an EVM in my Webb, a speaker I believe you are partial to.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 11 Dec 2004 10:23 am

Jay I am sure that's the case but that's how it was with the Nash400,Session 400, 500, and Nash 1000. They were THE amp to own, along with the Twin and all the others. The next thing you know somebody has come up with one gadget or another to make your amp sound so much better. That way a guy can spend 600 or so for the amp, think he's got THE amp and then a couple months later somebody can come up with a 2-300 dollar gadget to really improve the sound. It's an endless circle. It's no small wonder steel players are dying out. Before you get all our gear you have $5,000 or more in it, and two months later something in your arsenal is old hat. Who can afford it?

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1985 Emmons push-pull,Evans SE200,Hilton pedal

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 11 Dec 2004 11:13 am

Jon,
The Steel-King has more high end available
(if it's needed). That's mainly due to King's
speaker compared to the EVM. With the original
JBL in the Webb you'd get some more highs but
also more upper mids along with it. The
Fender has more low end punch than the Webb
with the original JBL. Stick the EVM back
in & you get some more lows back.
If you play both amps (alternately) through
the Fender speaker, the Webb tends to have a bit more upper mids than the Fender. This is with the EQ switched off on the Webb. The cabinet resonance on the Fender sounds slightly different than the Webb as well. The Steel-King's width is narrower & deeper
(front to back) than the Webb. They're
both great amps for sure. Each just has their
own character I guess.
Craig,
They'll always be more gadgets to experiment
with if you really want to. Hey, listen....
the folks who make those gotta eat too!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 11 Dec 2004 11:17 am

Craig, you really don't need all those "gadgets" that most players buy. What you need is a good steel, a good amp, and a decent volume pedal...PERIOD! Once you have those, the remainder of the sound comes from the hands!

If you're one of the players that base your sound on gadgets and accessories, you'll never be happy, because there's always more "gadgets" and accessories being made.

"You can't buy the sound, you have to make it!"

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 11 Dec 2004 12:25 pm

My point exactly Donny. With me it's push-pull to Hilton to the amp 90% of the time. Once in awhile I try a little delay. I know the other guys have to eat too, but the Hilton was just getting hot and was the new messiah toy for sound and then comes the black box. It is stated you got to have one or you will sound like last years country singer. I always remember that Jimmy Day went from guitar to Sho-Bud pedal, to the amp, and he was great. It is more in your hands and heart than in your toys. If a guy can't sound good without the toys, then he needs to take that money he's spending on them and buy some lessons or something. Toys are cool by the way when used to enhance and not cover up.

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1985 Emmons push-pull,Evans SE200,Hilton pedal

Ron Shepard · Post by **Ron Shepard** » 13 Dec 2004 8:20 am

Is the reverb in the steel king the same as in the twin?

Sam Marshall · Post by **Sam Marshall** » 13 Dec 2004 12:22 pm

The reverb on the Steel-King is not the same as the Twin. The circuitry on the Steel-King is solid-state and the reverb pan is different, too (6-spring instead of 4).

Regards,
Sam

tom anderson · Post by **tom anderson** » 14 Dec 2004 8:27 pm

I just got a steel king & the amp has some low end hum to it. If I keep the volume or gain low, like 8:00 it isn't noticible, or if I am playing I don't hear it, but with the amp on & no playing, there is quite a bit more hum than I am used to. I also have a reissue twin & don't have that problem. My guitar is a single coil. Also the reverb is present, but not nearly as strong as the twin's reverb. I can really only tell there is reverb if I switch it off. I am hoping Sam can respond to me in an e-mail so I can see if there is anything I can do.

John Cook · Post by **John Cook** » 16 Dec 2004 2:07 pm

Hi Gene, I have a Steel King and all I can say is I'm not sending back or anywhere else for that matter. Sets up for tone quickly. You would have to go out your way to make this amp sound bad. Good luck, john

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 25 Dec 2004 11:30 am

Played my Strat through this new amp and it sounded fine...nice and clean, good country sound IMHO. Also tried my dobro with a Fishman passive pickup into a LR Baggs Gig-pro preamp into the Steelking. With a little tweeking...not too bad at all. For the few tunes I do switching between all three should be fine...since tone is such a subjective thing, your mileage may vary.

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Sho-Bud ProII, Pro III custom,
Fender Steelking,Hilton pedal,Tut Taylor "Virginian"

Garth Highsmith · Post by **Garth Highsmith** » 25 Dec 2004 11:41 am

.[This message was edited by Garth Highsmith on 09 January 2006 at 08:53 PM.]

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 28 Dec 2004 10:02 am

Michael . I have one of the Fender Vibrosonics that came with the 15 '' J.B.L. And believe me i can make a lot of sound with it . It works great as a steel amp . As we all know if you mike your amp for sound reinforcement you don't need all that power . But i like to play loud and i can't sit in front of my Vibrosonic with it cranked up very loud . I also have two Nashville 400 amps that i like to . Lots of players are going to the smaller amps as they get older because of the weight . I also know that power gives you a better sound but when is it ''to much '' ?
As we all know each person has their own openion and this is only mine . Don't skin me to bad please !!! Gary .

Garry Pugh · Post by **Garry Pugh** » 29 Dec 2004 2:49 am

What does the amp weigh?

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 29 Dec 2004 4:37 pm

about 66 lbs....not sure what my Nash 400 wieghs but I would think they are ROUGHLY
about the same.Comes with detachable wheels.
and a heavy duty cover.Too cool.

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Sho-Bud ProII, Pro III custom,
Fender Steelking,Hilton pedal,Tut Taylor "Virginian"

tomsteel · Post by **tomsteel** » 29 Dec 2004 6:07 pm

After reading about all the comments about this amp,,,is there still a question about it being powerful enough for a loud gig?Will it preform as well as the session400/etc? Thomas Malugin Columbia,Tn

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 29 Dec 2004 8:30 pm

Jon,
Sorry for the late reply .....The Steel King has more "presence" than the Webb with a JBL.....I would imagine a Webb with an EV being on the dark/smooth side, with plenty of low end....I find the Webb to have a lot of low end, and upper mids, but not as brite on the high end as the Steel King, and my Webb has a JBL ... I can get the Steel King to sound VERY close to the sound of the Webb, but I can't get the Webb to sound like the Steel KIng ...It's funny that both amps have a very adequate EQ section, yet they sound different ... They're both great sounding amps, and sound incredible together ..They both seem to have plenty of power, and plenty of punch, so that is not a problem.... I think that the Steel King will overdrive quicker than the Webb...They are both great amps in their own right .... You wouldn' t do bad to have either amp, and you can put some change back in your pocket if you buy the Steel King ... Hope this helps.....Jim

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 29 Dec 2004 10:16 pm

I think Fender will once again prove that they are the leaders. The Steel King has only
just begun.Many more to follow. Thanks to Sam Marshall and Shane Nicholas.Fender once again will prove that they are well resourced with talent and expertise.

The Steel King is just as the name implies
King of Steel Guitar amplifiers.

Sam Marshall · Post by **Sam Marshall** » 31 Dec 2004 3:04 pm

Hi Jody!
I just returned from vacation. I am quite happy to see you posting your continued support of the Fender Steel-King.

Best wishes for 2005!

Sam Marshall

Gene H. Brown · Post by **Gene H. Brown** » 31 Dec 2004 4:34 pm

I would just like to say, that with all of the great coments about the steel king amp I am surely leaning toward getting one. The only thing that's keeping me from it is not being able to try one out before buying it. I live so far up north that just the freight alone is usually $250, so I have to be pretty darn sure before I commit myself.
I want to Thank everyone on the forum for their replys, they sure make me want to try this amp for sure. Also , I would like to wish everyone on the forum a Very Happy New Year and hope good things come your way.
Gene H. Brown

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If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!

James Pennebaker · Post by **James Pennebaker** » 1 Jan 2005 2:58 pm

I've been using my Steel King now non stop since September. I am still as thrilled with it as the day I got it. This amp is extremely versatile and inspires me to play. It's a great steel amp for sure but it sounds great no matter what you plug into it.

JP