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Author
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Topic: Webb 614E vs Evans FET500 vs Randall Steelman?
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Dave Mudgett
Member From: Central Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 30 November 2005 12:51 AM
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Is there any consensus on the similarities and differences between these amps? - Tone, size, weight, volume/power, features? - Comparison to typical steel amps like Session/Nashville 400, or even a Twin Reverb? I'm thinking about one of these, but I will not get to try it beforehand. Info much appreciated, thanks. |
Larry Behm
Member From: Oregon City, Oregon
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posted 30 November 2005 04:54 AM
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Dave add the Fender Steel King and the PV 112 into the mix.Larry Behm |
Roger Kelly
Member From: Mount Carmel, TN. 37645
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posted 30 November 2005 06:47 AM
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Since you will not be able to try it out before hand...get a Peavey or Fender....USUALLY, you can't go wrong with either. I happen to like Peavey myself. If money is no object, buy a Fender and a Peavey Amp, so whenever you think you aren't sounding just right use the other amp for a while.  |
jim milewski
Member From: stowe, vermont
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posted 30 November 2005 07:02 AM
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at that size and weight, if you've never tried the older Session 400 LTD you may like that as well, I have two and love them, both have the BWs in em |
Dave Mudgett
Member From: Central Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 30 November 2005 08:24 AM
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Just to clarify, I'm asking for an objective comparison of these specific amps, as much as that is possible. I've gotten a couple of very helpful emails from players who have owned them all, thanks. I have several amps, including a Peavey LTD 400, Session 500, and Fender Twin/Dual Showman Reverbs. They're all good amps in their own way, but I'm looking for something different. I'd articulate that difference as "a little cleaner than the Fenders, a little warmer than the Peaveys, but still with plenty of punch, and able to do double duty with a jazz archtop guitar".Also, for the record, I am sure these 3 are all fine amps. I fully expect each will have their advocates and possibly even detractors, but I don't want to start a war about "which is best". I'm looking for a sense of the similarities and differences, and perhaps comparison to the Peavey and Fender amps. Of course, I'd like to try out one of each first, but there just aren't any around here that I know about. I've looked at the archives, but didn't see anything addressing this type of comparison. |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 30 November 2005 10:26 AM
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I've owned two of the three. Webb and Evans. Webb wins hands down. Far more versatile with bigger bass end. I've never heard a Randall but have heard good things about them. |
Greg Cutshaw
Member From: Corry, PA, USA
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posted 30 November 2005 11:13 AM
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I played through a Randall Steelman 500 for an hour an couldn't get a tone I liked after playing with all the tone controls for a while. After an hour of playing on any amp I can usually get a few good sounds out of it. That's just my experience.My Evan FET-500 had tons of power and clarity but not a lot of warmth and a very poor reverb regardless of which reverb tank I swapped into it. I currently own a Peavey Nashville 400 (factory mod), Peavey Nashville 112, Webb 6-14e, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and Peavey Bandit 112 transtube. Since you asked about the Webb, I'll say relative to the others that the tone is very warm, tons of clean bass and the reverb is extremely smooth and deep. The reverb tank very sensitive if your playing on a bouncy stage. I like the Boss RV-3 reverb the best but as far as amp reverbs, the Webb ranks the best I've ever had on a non-tube amp. The Webb tone controls are not very active and can be confusing. I can only get one good tone I like out of the Webb but it's my favorite tone! Great note separation and even response for all strings with no harsh tones. That's only for steel but I don't think I could use one amp for everything anymore after hearing the Hot Rod Deluxe and the Peavey Bandit with a standard electric guitar so you might not like the Webb with a guitar. I am adding a blurb about the Nashville 400 since you mentioned that also. With the factory mod, it is my favorite all around amp since it has nearly the bass of the Webb, not as much clarity or note separation, but a lot more tonal versatility maybe due to the active tone controls. A great amp for the money! If you sit back like 10 feet away and listen though, the Peavey has a mid range muddiness where the Webb has clarity without being shrill. It's hard to rank the amps! I like the sound of the Webb far better unless I get into a gig where there is sound problems and I need to change my amp settings to compensate. The Peavey's tone controls are versatile and fast enough to allow me to dial in a usable tone quickly. If I was buying another amp today, I would not pass up trying the Fender Steel King if you don't mind the weight. If has a lot of the Webb's qualities such as great reverb, mid range clarity, and it's tone controls are easy to set and are very powerful. It sounded great in the demo room at St. Louis. If you're ever near Corry, PA, drop over and try 'em! Greg[This message was edited by Greg Cutshaw on 30 November 2005 at 12:01 PM.] |
Bill Myers
Member From: Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 30 November 2005 04:14 PM
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Dave,You can't go wrong with an Evans or a Webb. They both have lots of power and great tone. The are both extremely flexible in the tone shaping for steel guitar. They both can be adjusted to sound like many different amps...they are real steel guitar amps with lots of power and EQ controls which are useful for steel. The Evans amp tends to be a little brighter while the Webb can be a little darker sounding...but either one will give you a great sound with many different steel guitars. ------------------
2003 Carter D10, 9x5 Black and 1998 Carter D10 9x5, Evans Amp
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Jim Ives
Member From: Los Angeles, California, USA
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posted 01 December 2005 09:50 AM
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Dave,
If you interested in an Evans FET500, I have one for sale. It has been gigged 7 times, no smoke, never dropped, kicked, etc.------------------
Mullen D-10 -or- Zum D-10
Lexicon MPX 100 -or- RV3
Fulltone Full-Drive II
Evans FET 500 -or-
Peavey Nashville 1000
Vox wah-wah pedal
My dog Toby sittin' on the floor listening
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