The Steel Guitar Forum

Here's what I hope is not a silly or unfounded question for everyone, especially you steel players that have been at it for awhile . . .

Why, in this age of modern gear and especially modern PA gear, microphones and sound systems, do pedal steel players need a really powerful amplifier, I'm thinking of the 100-200 watt amps, to perform on-stage?

I understand the need for a larger speaker to reproduce the lower frequencies of the instrument, but I'm puzzled as to why players don't just put a microphone or direct line into the monitors or sound system at shows and run a smaller amp at moderate levels.

I usually just bring a small(ish) amplifier to gigs and run a microphone to the amp or a line-in and it seems to sound/feel/fit-in just fine. I don't play stadium shows or crowded bars with no sound systems. Perhaps that's my problem! (:

Don't mean to step on anyone's toes, just curious. My back hurts just thinking about hauling too much equipment...

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Larry Chung
ZB D-10 8+4; ZB Custom S-11 4+4; ZB Student Model 3+1 Yeeeeahhh, Bay-Bee.

<SMALL>I don't play stadium shows or crowded bars with no sound systems. Perhaps that's my problem!</SMALL>

That is exactly the reason. Bands in general, and especially guitarists, started getting louder in the early 1970's, and steel players needed more power to compete.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Some run their amps through the pa.Are we programed to think watts first when buying an amp?In a recording studio is the sound blasting ?Where does the tone go when we really crank it up?Is your tone more important then blasting?Can you have great tone while in a blasting contest with the rest of the band?Do you have great tone?

"In a recording studio is the sound blasting ?"

Actually, some of the loudest sounds I have ever experienced have been in recording studios....

John,
Are most recording sessions blasting?Do you think that the tone is as good when the volume is blasting?

Moved to 'Electronics' section of Forum