|
Author
|
Topic: Anyone ever use a Polytone amp?
|
John Egenes
Member From: Santa Fe, NM
|
posted 02 September 2001 11:32 AM
profile
Being one of those multi-instrumentalist types, I'm always stuck with carrying too much gear to a gig. I'm trying to consolidate my rigs into one rig, for both acoustic and electric. I'm really picky about my acoustic stuff. Have been using a Fishman Acoustic Performer Pro amp for a few years now and love it. But it doesn't like electric instruments at all. So, I also have to carry along another rig for steel, Tele, etc. I'm getting too old for this. [grin] Anyway, I've been playing with the idea (no pun intended) of going with a Polytone amp, with a 15" speaker. I've seen them around for years and have never had one. Seems like they might actually be okay for pedal steel, especially in a setting without drums or a loud band to compete with. Any ideas on this? Thanks John Egenes[This message was edited by John Egenes on 02 September 2001 at 11:35 AM.] |
Len Amaral
Member From: Rehoboth,MA 02769
|
posted 02 September 2001 02:16 PM
profile
I used a Polytone 102 with 2-8" speakers and 1-12" speaker and a Polytone Mini Brute I for years with a six sting guitar and it sounded very good. I tried the Mini Brute I with my pedal steel and the amp can is OK for small jobs but it has a Jazz vibe as that's what the amp is designed for.
You should try it to see if it works out for you.
Lenny |
Jim Cohen
Member From: Philadelphia, PA
|
posted 02 September 2001 04:19 PM
profile
John,
I've had a Polytone, with reverb and 15" speaker, for years. Winnie Winston got me into using them years ago. I like it because it's small and farily lightweight, but I must say that, moreso than any other amp I've used, I find that on some days I can get my sound out of it and some days I just can't. Unfortunately, there are more days I can't than days I can. But that might just be me, and my ears, and might not apply to you or anyone else. I'd say, give it a try before you buy. ------------------
www.jimcohen.com |
John Egenes
Member From: Santa Fe, NM
|
posted 03 September 2001 02:51 PM
profile
Thanks for the replies. I doubt I'd buy a new one, but they always seem to pop up on Ebay, so I might just pick one up. Got to play with Johnnie Gimble a few weeks ago up in Taos and fooled with his a bit. His acoustic stuff (violin and mandolin) sounds great through it (of course, with him playing, what amp wouldn't?).
Also played through Sam Bush's a few times when Bill & Bonnie were touring with Lyle Lovett, and I really liked his rig. I think the acoustic instruments will be fine through it, but I've never heard a pedal steel through one and am curious. John |
Bill C. Buntin
Member From: back at home in Cleburne, TX
|
posted 07 September 2001 02:06 PM
profile
I used to play with a fiddle player who used one, and he and I used to plug into each other's rigs on the job, just to see how close they were to each other. I liked the sound I got out of it. I actually borrowed it and played a few jobs with it. Like you said though, I doubt I would pay the $$ for a new one. I think they are pretty pricey. The other day I saw one new in a music store for about $850. Whew! |
JERRY THURMOND
Member From: sullivan mo u.s.a.
|
posted 07 September 2001 03:54 PM
profile
I have been useing polytone 15 speaker for about 5 years, there really good for small jobs, they only weight 29 lbs, but when I play large building I use pv1000. Jerry |
John Egenes
Member From: Santa Fe, NM
|
posted 07 September 2001 05:51 PM
profile
Yeah, what I'm looking for is a compact, all-around rig that I can use for both acoustic and electric stuff. I've been using a Fishman Acoustic Performer Pro amp for a few years. I usually play acoustic guitar, mandolin, sometimes dobro, and maybe even a 12 string acoustic onstage. I plug all these through an effects device, which is controlled by a midi pedalboard. I just call up the patch I want for whatever instrument I play on a given song. If I play steel, or tele (or both), I also have to bring the rig for them. I want to be able to leave that out, if I'm doing acoustic stuff. It's usally not loud, so I don't need the big time volume. This is usually without a drummer. I'll go either of 2 ways: my inclination is to just have a rack with a Rocktron Patchmate, my FX rig, and a midi pedal to switch patches. I'd send all this through my little Fishman Blender preamp and out to a powered monitor, probably something like a JBL Eon 10", or a Peavey 12". From there, I would send an XLR (mic) cable out to the PA for the house mix, and just use the powered monitor for my stage mix. I use the Fishman this way an it works great. But it's not too cool for hi-z instruments like steel and electric guitar. The Polytone sounds like it might be a good tradeoff between the Fishman and a big amp like a Peavey or Evans or something. I can still use a big amp for normal band gigs, and for REALLY simple acoustic stuff I just take the Pocket Blender and a mandolin.[g] John[This message was edited by John Egenes on 07 September 2001 at 05:52 PM.] |
Mark Cohen
Member From: Calabasas, CA, USA
|
posted 10 September 2001 02:43 PM
profile
You might consider getting a multi-effects pre-amp (I have been pretty happy with both the Digitech GSP series and the Line6 Pod), and using a good clean amp like the Nashville 1000 or a poweramp, speaker combo. |
John Egenes
Member From: Santa Fe, NM
|
posted 10 September 2001 05:25 PM
profile
>>>You might consider getting a multi-effects pre-amp .....and using a good clean amp like the Nashville 1000 or a poweramp, speaker combo.<<<That's really what I'm leaning toward. I do use a multi-FX unit ( the Digitech Studio Quad ), which is fine. I've been looking at getting a powered monitor, like a JBL Eon 10" speaker, or a Peavey 12". I know they aren't the best for pedal steel, but at lower volumes I think they'd be fine. I've always had a lot of trouble getting good acoustic tone (mandolin, guitar, dobro, etc) out of a "normal" amp, like a Fender or Peavey, and so I'm more concerned with that than with my steel tone. Basically, I want to get both. [grin] John |
Mark Cohen
Member From: Calabasas, CA, USA
|
posted 11 September 2001 12:15 PM
profile
If I had it all to do again, I would be looking at the Peavey PX300 as it is portable, contains the power amp (one less extra item) and lightweight. You could then use either the Pod (in a gig bag), a TubeFEX, a Digitech, an Alesis, or any of these other nice units.small is beautiful
[This message was edited by Mark Cohen on 11 September 2001 at 12:24 PM.] |
John Egenes
Member From: Santa Fe, NM
|
posted 11 September 2001 07:17 PM
profile
Hmmm.....I've never even seen one of those Peavey PX 300's before. Thanks for the tip. Is it just a power amp and a speaker? That's what it looks like in the picture. If so, it might be what I'm looking for, although I'd really like to have a 2-way speaker system, with some sort of tweeter, especially for the acoustic instruments. John |
Mark Cohen
Member From: Calabasas, CA, USA
|
posted 11 September 2001 10:55 PM
profile
It is a power amp/speaker combo. I am sure that Mike Brown at Peavey will give you more data, if you like. | |
The Steel Guitar Forum
