The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey guys and gals. I'm still learning steel and I'm wondering how would I get a mellow tone from my MSA S-10 Classic. All I have for an amp is a Peavey Bandit 65. This is a really good amp. I've got the west coast sound nailed, but I'd like to get the shimmering mellow sound, (ie. Lost in the Feeling, and Neon Moon). Thanks for any replys...

Chris Dufrane

Hello Chris,
First of all, thanks for using Peavey products. I'm sure that there are some Peavey Bandit users that will respond, but my experience with this amp/speaker combination is that there is that it lacks low frequency. I attribute that to the equalization circuit, but mostly the type of speaker used and how it is actually "voiced".
Some players can use it for steel application and some can't. I hope that you get some response on this as it helps those who do own this amp.

I repaired one of those about a year ago for a guitar player. I had it set up for about 4 days after I repaired it and tried it with my steel. Didn't really find any setting that I liked. But it is a good lead amp.

I wonder if a Black Widow 12" speaker would work better than the Scorpion. I think the Scorpion is an 8ohm speaker. I don't know what the black widow is. I also don't know if I would have room for the black widow that would replace the scorpion. I wonder if this would work? Any other ideas???

Chris Dufrane

the only thing that will change is the B/W will handle more power but Very little change
in sound! it will be brighter but, also takes more power to drive..as far as imp.4 or 8 ohms will work..w/4 ohms you will have around 15 watts more if trans. is set up
for 8 ohms ...around 1/&1/2 db sound
a bass amp w/ delay is a better setup

Strange...I had always heard the Scorpions were brighter than the Widows? Maybe Mike can tell us the actual difference, sound-wise. (The phrase "voiced for steel" is rather ambiguous.)

^