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Author
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Topic: What Amp is better for Pedal Steel!!!
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Keith Ballmer
Member From: Michigan, USA
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posted 25 October 2006 03:37 PM
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I hope Bob dose not hate me for all my post asking questions! I have an option of buying a Fender 212 blues Deville or a Roland JC-120 for $300. Which is a better amp for pedal steel? Should I save my money and keep looking? |
David Dunn
Member From: Tomball , Tx USA
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posted 25 October 2006 03:45 PM
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Save a few more bucks and buy a Peavey Nashville 400 from a forum member. There are always a few for sale in the 300-350 range, plenty of power, never break, and you can dial in just about any sound you want. Just a good solid amp for the bucks.Dave |
David Nugent
Member From: Gum Spring, Va.
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posted 25 October 2006 03:46 PM
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Keith,
I would consider a Peavey Nashville 112. Very lightweight, an amp that you will not outgrow as you progress, and not much more money than you are currently looking to spend. Many working players, myself included, swear by them. |
Jim Johnson
Member From: Rogersville, Al. 35652
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posted 25 October 2006 03:59 PM
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For my money, You can't beat the Nashville
400. I have tried 3 different 112's and
could never develop a taste for that sound.
I love my Nsv 400.
Jim |
Lefty
Member From: Grayson, Ga.
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posted 25 October 2006 04:19 PM
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I did read where Dan Dugmore played through a JC-120. I had never considered that for a Steel amp, but he sure sounded good through it (still does).
Lefty[This message was edited by Lefty on 25 October 2006 at 04:20 PM.] |
David Higginbotham
Member From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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posted 25 October 2006 04:37 PM
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If the choice is between those two particular amps, I would chose the Roland.
Dave |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 25 October 2006 05:00 PM
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Dan Dugmore plays through a Fender Black Face Twin both studio and live. |
Jim Sliff
Member From: Hermosa Beach California, USA
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posted 25 October 2006 05:09 PM
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Keith, without knowing what style of steel you play that's an impossible question to answer. Clean-country players need one type; country rockers another; full blown rock players might take another approach entirely.It also depends on WHERE you play - if you gig, what kind of venues? Are you mic'd? If not, do you just play at home? Then you need a small amp - anything overpowered will sound awful at low volume. Simply, there is no BEST amp - it depends on what you are doing with it.[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 25 October 2006 at 05:11 PM.] [This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 25 October 2006 at 05:11 PM.] |
Donald Dunlavey
Member From: Jonesboro, Georgia, USA
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posted 25 October 2006 05:10 PM
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Keith, Between the two amps you suggested, The Roland JC-120 would be a good choice. Was originally designed for Jazz Archtop, which needed to be clean. Also has good verb and chorus. If you set the controls for steel I think you would be surprized. Also if you don't already know, speakers make a tremendous difference in most any amp. Learn what you can about, different speakers. Don |
Sonny Priddy
Member From: Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA
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posted 25 October 2006 06:02 PM
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I've Had Session 400's Ltd's And Nashville 400's I Now Have A Nashville 112 It The Best Of Them All For Me. Bobbie Seymour at Steel Guitar Nashville Has A Good Deal On The 112's. SONNY.------------------
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Nathan Delacretaz
Member From: Austin, Texas, USA
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posted 25 October 2006 06:52 PM
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For that money, if you're braced for ths possibility of repairs or tube replacement on the DeVille -- go DeVille!! I've had both, and my DeVille wins hands down. The JC chorus effect is lovely, but it'll only get you so far. A good tube Fender is very hard to beat! (Lloyd Green, from what I understand, uses the smaller cousin of the DeVille, the Deluxe)...[This message was edited by Nathan Delacretaz on 25 October 2006 at 06:53 PM.] |
Bill Moore
Member From: Manchester, Michigan
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posted 25 October 2006 07:22 PM
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keith, you're just starting out, any amp will do for now. Save your money for a few months, then get a nashville 400. |
T. C. Furlong
Member From: Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA
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posted 25 October 2006 07:53 PM
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What Jim Sliff said and I will echo his wisdom... It depends on what you are doing. Keith, why don't you fill all of us eager to help guys in and we'll be in a better position to offer advice.
Also, a JC-120 is a noisy amp. OK for stage use, but IMHO way too noisy for recording.
TC |
Curt Langston
Member From: ***In the shadows of Tulsa at Bixby, USA***
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posted 25 October 2006 08:02 PM
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quote:
A good tube Fender is very hard to beat! (Lloyd Green, from what I understand, uses the smaller cousin of the DeVille, the Deluxe)...
Only if it is tubed correctly. Tube amps will break up quicker with the hotter steel guitar pickups going into them. You can keep a tube amp almost completely clean while playing a six string electric through it. But, it is a whole other story when you run steel guitar through the amp. The steel guitar will overdrive the preamp faster. |
Lefty
Member From: Grayson, Ga.
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posted 26 October 2006 02:53 AM
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Kevin,
I read a article from the Guitar Players interviews archeive (on the web). This was during the Rondsadt era. In the interview he stated that he used the JC-120 in conjunction with his Sho-Bud, and a Musicman HD130-210 with a 4-12 cabinet for guitar. Not what I would have thought.
Lefty |
Daniel J. Cormier
Member From: Lake Charles, LA, USA
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posted 26 October 2006 07:27 AM
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Buy the JC-120 .I use them on Festival venues instead of a fender twin any day. ------------------
Daniel J. Cormier
Mullen D-10 .
EVans FET 500 LV ,ProFex II
http://www.cajunsteelguitar.com email at djcormier@cox-internet.com  |
Nathan Delacretaz
Member From: Austin, Texas, USA
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posted 26 October 2006 08:04 AM
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Good points, all. Curt, I see what you're saying about the overdrive risk, but I have to say it's been no problem with my DeVille. It's all very subjective, but thinking strictly in terms of a $300 outlay (and potential resale), doesn't the Deville seem like more of a catch? |
Earnest Bovine
Member From: Los Angeles CA USA
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posted 26 October 2006 08:37 AM
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I never liked the sound of Roland JC-120 with my steel guitars. |
Lefty
Member From: Grayson, Ga.
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posted 26 October 2006 09:35 AM
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300.00 for a Fender Blues Deville 2-12 is a good price. Never tried it for Steel, but have heard nothing but good things about them.
Lefty |
Chris LeDrew
Member From: Newfoundland, Canada
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posted 26 October 2006 10:03 AM
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I know there's been a variety of suggestions here, but for $300 you should be able to find an early Peavey Session 400, which in my opinion makes mince meat of the 112 and 400. It's warm, big, and clean. The Session 400 keeps my faith in Peavey steel amps solid. To each their own, but IMHO the Session appeals to both solid state and tube fans alike. It's got a tube-like warmth without an inflated price tag. |
Darryl Hattenhauer
Member From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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posted 26 October 2006 10:05 AM
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Daniel J.,
That's a croc.------------------
"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman |
Kevin Mincke
Member From: Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA
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posted 26 October 2006 11:15 AM
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If only between the two I would take the JC-120. I have used this amp in a pinch (our bass player on worship team is a Roland rep and we have alot of Roland/BOSS stuff) and it can be tweaked to be an adequate steel amp. Since you're putting out $300 save a few extra sheckles & get yourself a steel amp![This message was edited by Kevin Mincke on 26 October 2006 at 04:10 PM.] |
Gary Shepherd
Member From: Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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posted 26 October 2006 04:04 PM
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This doesn't answer the question but I cast another vote for Peavey 112.You can get a new one from Bud for around $430 I think. ------------------
Gary Shepherd Carter D-10 www.16tracks.com
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Lefty
Member From: Grayson, Ga.
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posted 27 October 2006 03:51 AM
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What you are seeing here is a lot of good advice, but it varies as tone is subjective.
You should at least try some of the recommendations before you commit i.e. Nashville 1-12, Session 400, etc.
I cannot play with having a 1-15 amp, but others prefer 12" speakers. See what sounds good to you. Compare them to the JC-120 and Fender.
Lefty |
Mike Brown
Member From: Meridian, Mississippi USA
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posted 27 October 2006 07:26 AM
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Keith, I highly recommend the Peavey Nashville Series(112 or 1000 depending on your wattage requirements. I am viewing and assisting Peavey customers on this Forum on a daily basis and invite you to call me toll free at 1-877-732-8391, ext. 1180 should you have a question.Mike Brown
Peavey USA |
Michael Douchette
Member From: Gallatin, TN
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posted 27 October 2006 11:29 AM
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One that works... I bought an amp from a forum member, when it arrived it did not work, and it still doesn't... and no, I am NOT a happy camper at this point...  ------------------
Mikey D...
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Jim Sliff
Member From: Hermosa Beach California, USA
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posted 27 October 2006 12:46 PM
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Curt - tube amps don't inherently break up when used with steel. All that's usually required is biasing power tubes on the cold side; a lower-gain 1st stage preamp tube like a 5751 or 12AY7; and a speaker designed for clean tones, like a Weber California.I can set up my BF Vibroverb to break up early for blues, or play clean with steel - and all I do is change one preamp tubes and reset the power tube bias. The stereotype that tube amps distort and SS amps play clean is incorrect. If you have a tube amp, would like to use it and don't know how, read up on the subject, or find a local tech who knows his stuff. With the usual Fender SF/BF 40-100 watt amps it's a 5-minute job to set them up for steel...and the tone of a tube amp with the right tubes/speaker and set up correctly is far superior to any SS amp IMO. |
Gary Preston
Member From: Columbus, Ohio, USA
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posted 27 October 2006 03:12 PM
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The amp that ''YOU'' like the best is the one for you . We all have different set ups for just that reason . Make yourself happy and dont get caught up in this idea i have to have it because he has one ! G.P. |
Michael Johnstone
Member From: Sylmar,Ca. USA
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posted 27 October 2006 03:21 PM
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I heard Gary Morse play an 70s MSA thru a JC-120 once upon a time and it sounded pretty good. I tried one and found it lacked a parametric midrange control and that's the only thing that kept it from being a great pedal steel amp. With a $50 EQ stompbox,that problem would evaporate of course. But if I had $300,I would find a nice used Peavy amp - Session 400 or Nashville 400. I have a 2-12 Fender DeVille which I love for 6-string and non-pedal but even tho it's heavily modded with NOS 6550 power tubes and has all the headroom in the world,I still prefer other amps for pedal steel. My Stringmasters sound great thru it cause they're like big Strats anyhow but again - it's the lack of comprehensive EQ mostly that keeps you from dialing in that sweet spot for pedal steel. |
Randy Gilliam
Member From: San Antonio, Texas, USA
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posted 27 October 2006 03:41 PM
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Webb 614 Fender Steel King Peavey 400 . 1000 Or 112 They Are all Good. Randy. |
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