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Topic: Which amplifiers were the choice of early steel players? |
Bryan Martin
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 11:35 am |
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I am doing a bit of research into which models of amplifiers were the choice of the early players. I am particularly interested into which ones were used in the 60s and early 70s predating the 1974 release of the Peavey Session models.
I am writing a convention paper for the Audio Engineering Society on an amplifier I have adapted from the 5F6-A Bassman circuit aimed specifically for pedal steel, and need some historical context. I will post the circuit and that paper when it is finished for the tinkers and builders out there.
Cheers, Bryan |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 11:42 am
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Fender Twin Reverb with two 12" JBLs
Fender Vibrosonic Reverb with single JBL 15
Standel with single 15 JBL
ShoBud with single 15 JBL
Do you see a pattern?
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It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. |
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Marty Broussard
From:
Broussard, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 11:52 am
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Oh this will be interesting..... I love this stuff
_________________
RETIRED
Former steel guitarist for Tracy Byrd & The Byrd Dawgs, Mark Chesnut & The New South Band, Mark Nesler & Texas Tradition, Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun, Belton Richard & The Musical Aces
"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 12:37 pm
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| Paul Sutherland wrote: |
Fender Twin Reverb with two 12" JBLs
My first choice when I started playing. Still wish I had that amp.
Fender Vibrosonic Reverb with single JBL 15
Standel with single 15 JBL
ShoBud with single 15 JBL
Do you see a pattern? |
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2016 8:38 am
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I started with a Gibson amp but really didn't care much for it, too muddy.
Then I went to an early Fender amp, forget what model.
When I went to pedal steel, I played through a Fender bassman amp, separate head and speaker cabinet, and a Fender reverb unit.
And, finally, to a Fender Twin with JBLs.
Incidentally, I still have the Fender Twin.  |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 26 Mar 2016 8:55 am
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In the 60's Buddy Charleton used a solid state Standel with a JBL 15" in it while he was on the road with Earnest Tubb. I have it sitting in my gear locker/closet right behind me. He may have used other amps also.
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Bob |
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Mar 2016 10:10 am
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Bob,
I saw Charleton play through that amp. Can't think of anything that ever sounded better !
Craig
_________________
"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name. |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 26 Mar 2016 11:15 am
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| Bob and Craig..Would either of you know if that was the same amp that he was using while taping the Ernest Tubb TV Show, the tone he was getting from that old Sho-Bud was fantastic. |
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Brett Lanier
From:
Hermitage, TN
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Posted 26 Mar 2016 12:35 pm
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| I have that same model Standel that Bob Hoffner speaks of and I can't seem to stop using it. I even bring it on the longer tours. It's from the first run of those all SS Super Custom Standel's that were made between '64-'66. It was also Pete Drake's favorite amp. Danny McKinney told me that Pete once sent Standel a list of all the hits that he used that amp on and it was quite long. |
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Bryan Martin
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 26 Mar 2016 1:26 pm
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One amp that I have never seen mentioned is the Fender Showman. It is a model similar to the Twin, about 100 watts, solid state rectifier, but was never a combo. Strange it did not seem to catch on with the pedal steel. The Bassman series, combo or piggyback, seems to have been, and still is popular.
Big thanks to all the good information, and let's keep is going.
Cheers, Bryan |
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Marty Broussard
From:
Broussard, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2016 3:31 pm
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Brett Lanier, could you please post pics and specs?
_________________
RETIRED
Former steel guitarist for Tracy Byrd & The Byrd Dawgs, Mark Chesnut & The New South Band, Mark Nesler & Texas Tradition, Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun, Belton Richard & The Musical Aces
"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin |
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Brett Lanier
From:
Hermitage, TN
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Posted 26 Mar 2016 6:35 pm
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Happy to, Marty. I'll post two. The first one is the one I was referring to, which I found on the forum.
70 watts, 15" JBL, Decco Germanium transistors
2 channels, treble and bass on one stacked knob, volume and "contour" on another. Mine doesn't have a reverb circuit, which is rare. So rare in fact that there is an input jack on the back panel marked "reverb" for a footswitch. The grill cloth is not original.
The next is a 1963 Imperial, which I found in an antique store. I've never heard of anyone famous using one of these for steel. Sounds incredible though, and doesn't feel like any other amp. It has a front ported closed back cab with a d130, tube power section (around 40 watts), and solid state preamp with the same layout as the other amp. It puts out a ton of sound. Bright, and deep and bassy at the same time. Because of it's size and the closed back is so directional, it's sort of rare that I take this one to a gig.
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 26 Mar 2016 7:45 pm
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| David Nugent wrote: |
| Bob and Craig..Would either of you know if that was the same amp that he was using while taping the Ernest Tubb TV Show, the tone he was getting from that old Sho-Bud was fantastic. |
Buddy told me that was the amp he used for the shows with Tubb.
From what I understand Buddy Emmons did use Standel amps in the 60's at least some of the time.
Lloyd Green is said to have used a stock fender twin on the Panther Hall lp from the 60's.
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Bob |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2016 6:02 am
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I have a ZB amp that was made by Standel.
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Ron Brown
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2016 6:20 am
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| Back around 64-65 I worked a package show of which Hal Rugg was on also. He was using a Standel. He was gracious enough to suggest that I could plug into that amp instead of using mine. That was my first exposure to Standel. I ordered one the following week. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 27 Mar 2016 6:44 am
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Ron,
Was the Standel a solid state, one of the hybrid or all tube ones ?
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Bob |
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Ron Brown
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2016 7:16 am
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Bob
If I remember correctly it was a solid state.
Ron |
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Marty Broussard
From:
Broussard, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2016 8:41 am
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Thanks Brett!!! So cool!! And if I read correctly, 70watts.....hmmmmm.....wonder about the weight.
_________________
RETIRED
Former steel guitarist for Tracy Byrd & The Byrd Dawgs, Mark Chesnut & The New South Band, Mark Nesler & Texas Tradition, Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun, Belton Richard & The Musical Aces
"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin |
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Brett Lanier
From:
Hermitage, TN
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Posted 27 Mar 2016 9:35 am
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| Marty Broussard wrote: |
| Thanks Brett!!! So cool!! And if I read correctly, 70watts.....hmmmmm.....wonder about the weight. |
I don't have a scale but it's pretty light. In the ballpark of a deluxe reverb.
Also, those 70 watts, though solid state, are closer to tube watts. It's a very loud amp. |
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John Bresler R.I.P.
From:
Thornton, Colorado
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Posted 27 Mar 2016 10:56 am
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| Back in about 1963 I met a steel player, Billy Cooper. who had just finished a 7 year run with Ferlin Husky and he was playing his Fender 1000 through a Standel amp. Don't know what model, tho. |
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Marty Broussard
From:
Broussard, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2016 4:40 pm
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Brett, when I joked about the 70 watts/weight I was thinking about the Peavey NV112.....it's ironic how Standel had it going on back then in the same wattage range.
_________________
RETIRED
Former steel guitarist for Tracy Byrd & The Byrd Dawgs, Mark Chesnut & The New South Band, Mark Nesler & Texas Tradition, Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun, Belton Richard & The Musical Aces
"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 28 Mar 2016 1:50 am
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| Bob Hoffnar wrote: |
Lloyd Green is said to have used a stock fender twin on the Panther Hall lp from the 60's. |
It was a 1968 recording...
Lloyd did indeed use a brand new rented 68 Twin Reverb with JBL's at the Panther Hall show, he said so !
70 watts back then was considered BIG time. By todays standards for Steel guitars it is considered lite weight. The N112 was not introduced to replace the 400 or 1000, it was an addition to the amp line for smaller requirements.
Each time I saw Buddy or anyone else from the period following the introduction of the Session 500's or 400's, thats what they were using.
I guess what I am saying is if Buddy or anyone else could have had a S 500 or S 400 while touring back in the 60's I am betting all of Bobs money that thats what they would have used. Power, clarity and tone, Which became the standard for the next 100 years !
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Brett Lanier
From:
Hermitage, TN
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Posted 28 Mar 2016 2:47 am
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| I'd heard that at one point Buddy Cage used the front end of Fender Showman's fed into Crown power amps. Pretty much the same thing Jerry Garcia did except he used one side of a McIntosh 2300. |
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Bryan Martin
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 28 Mar 2016 8:04 am
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I did a bit of digging on Standel amps, and apparently they are back in business. The history is there as well: standelamps.com.
Check out the Butcher Paper where the Mr. Crook kept his client list. Looks like Standels were ahead of their time.
Cheers, Bryan |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 28 Mar 2016 11:17 am
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Here is an old picture of Charleton's Standel
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Bob |
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