The Steel Guitar Forum

Is it better to place the Amp or Speaker on the floor and tilt it back a little or place it higher--like on a stand about three feet off the floor?

Bob Jennings

Bob, depending on your needs. On the floor it's a bit darker sounding. On a chair you get better mids and highs. Try both then decide.

Larry Dering,

Thanks for the info. I tried them both--I would up putting the Fender Amps on the Floor and a Speaker Cabinet with a 15 inch speaker and large tweeter about three feet off the floor. I tried the opposite set up and found the best tone (my ears) was the way I indicated.

We're all looking for that Special Tone and sometimes wonder if we'll ever get it--I guess the only way to know when you got it is when someone asks, "Hey, how'd you get that tone?"
Then you can answer, "I guess I just fell into it one time." They probably don't wanna know or hear about all the times you moved amps/speakers, fiddled with the tone controls, used Effects Units, etc., etc., etc.......

Bob Jennings

I've developed the habit of setting my tone with the amp tilted, and then switching to flat-on-the-floor during actual playing. I'm older and can't take the thing being pointed at the back of my head anymore. The tone sounds better being flat on a wooden stage, too. Decades of loud music, shooting, and explosive handling have taken their toll on my hearing and tolerance for really loud music.

Strange but true.

Donny Hinson,

Thanks for this info--I'll try the tone tilted back and then on a hard wood floor.

If you don't have them, I suggest getting your ears checked and a pair of good hearing aids--I got them a couple of years ago and found the sounds of the steel are a lot different with hearing aids. You may even hear that you sound better than ever.

Bob Jennings