The Steel Guitar Forum

Has anyone used the Steelaire as a true 2 channel, clean/overdrive amp?

Can you achieve decent dirty/crunchy sound without a stomp box? (the crunch of my Pro Block with gain way up is not bad sounding at all but it's a single channel)

Can you set the output volume of a dirty channel so that it is balanced with the clean channel without needing to tweak the master volume on the fly?

Change of direction---has anybody played pedal steel through a MicroPro Mach 2?

I have a Steelaire Rack.
Its only a single channel amp. There are two preamps (separate input jack and gain control for each amp) that can be switched to one or the other and another position on the selector switch for both amps and from the manual it looks like it puts them in series.

Here is from the manual:

MASTER VOLUME AND OVERDRIVE SET-UP
Although the Steelaire is designed for musicians needing maximum clean headroom, the amp can “rock out” when called for. Like any classic amp, high GAIN settings, especially when selecting MODE 1+2, will produce increasing amounts of overdrive distortion, with the same natural tube-like dynamics as other Quilter amps. Reducing the MASTER
volume allows these tones to be used at reasonable loudness levels.
· TIP: For maximum clean headroom, use full MASTER and moderate GAIN settings.
· TIP: For more overdrive, use lower MASTER and higher GAIN settings. If desired, temper the overdrive using the LIMITER as described above.
· TIP: when exploring the dynamics of the amp, use low MASTER settings. Once a “sweet spot” is established, use the MASTER to set overall loudness.

Thanks Jack.
I've read that numerous times over the last few days and I'm pretty sure that the answer is 'no--you can't get there from here' in terms of having two presets, dirty & clean, with balanced volume outputs (i.e. that don't need master volume adjustments when you switch).

I was hoping that someone had found a magic work around but I don't think it's in there.

So far as I know there is no magic workaround. The Steelaire was never really intended to be a dual channel amplifier. It was designed to support passive volume pedals and provide a boosted signal for them. This is why on the front end of the amplifier there is a pedal send and pedal return. So the steel player in that case would plug their instrument into Ch1 in and then the pedal send to the passive pedal and return to the pedal return.

Yeah. Thanks for that.
I've got a MicroPro Mach 2 on its way. My fingers are crossed that I'll like the clean voicings. Might return it if not. But my ears are pretty flexible with any amp that sounds good with guitar and I've got some strong endorsements for this amp so I'm pretty jazzed. With its power (I got the 12" HD), flexibility and absurd 21 lbs, it could be my grab & go dream come true.

From Pat Quilter
"The only real workaround for Steelaire overdrive requires an external attenuator, a 1K to 5k pot wired across a 1/4” cable and plugged into Effects send. Use the Effects Loop bypass switch for clean. Switch in Gain 2 for desired overdrive boost, and switch on the Effects Loop and adjust the attenuator for balance. Once you set this ratio the Master will still work as overall volume as usual. But you have to flip two switches so a pedal might be better, plus the 15” doesn’t really flatter overdrive.
Pat"

Yo Jim. Thanks for that. That leaves no doubt.

My quest is for a simple, lightweight, versatile 2 channel rig with as few moving pieces as possible. And as few carrying pieces. I'm at the point where 'real good' sounding cleans is good enough, as my tone creators (hands) are getting better and I can get sound I like from something that is not specifically voiced for steel. But as I said, my fingers are crossed re: the Mach 2. I get it Monday. I gig it Friday (if it cuts it).