Any amps with as many features as Telonics?

Dave Stroud · Post by **Dave Stroud** » 20 Aug 2016 11:25 am

I'm saving up for a new amp because... pedal steel is my only hobby

I've been considering a few things though...

1) My wife and I will be living in apartments for the next 3 years. This means limited space, and no loud speakers due to neighbors.

2) We'll probably start having kids in a year, which means sleeping babies for a good long while... SHHH!

3) I'm going to start playing out at some point, so I DO need a speaker.

Telonics has these features:

-Headphone Jack
-A QUALITY direct out, appears to be really nice for recording in silence
-A switch to turn off the speaker
-An auxiliary input to plug in my tablet/computer for simple practicing

With the exception of a very good direct out, these seem like they should fairly easy to include in an amplifier...but they are not typically included. I would go with a rack rig of some sort... but I'd like to be as mobile as possible, not having a bunch of stuff to hook up and tear down. Less time setting up/tearing down = more time playing and practicing. We travel quite a bit and I often take my steel to practice.

So here's the question- is a pricey telonics amp my only option?

Michael Maddex · Post by **Michael Maddex** » 20 Aug 2016 1:10 pm

Have you looked at the Fender Mustang and Champion lines of amps? They are solid state, lots of options, come in a variety of power ratings and have good reputations.

I recently bought a Fender Rumble 25 Bass Amp and am quite surprised at how much amp I got for the money. I guess that a lot of us have used a lot of Fender products over the years. I have. Still, I am pleased with the recent purchase.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 20 Aug 2016 3:29 pm

One of Brad's preamps should do that too, and then get a powered cab for when you need a speaker

Dave Stroud · Post by **Dave Stroud** » 20 Aug 2016 4:33 pm

Lane, that's a very good thought... My first thought is, don't tubes need a speaker load to prevent damage? But that is only with power tubes, right? Otherwise you wouldn't be able to record direct, and plenty of people have already done that..

Dave Stroud · Post by **Dave Stroud** » 20 Aug 2016 4:57 pm

Also, there doesn't seem to be a headphone jack on the revelation....

A few questions for Mr. Sarno:

Brad, is there enough room in the V8 for an aux input AND headphone jack?

Is there enough room in a revelation for a headphone jack?

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 21 Aug 2016 4:28 am

Dave..A 'Nashville 112' has all of the features that you mentioned and I believe that plugging in a set of headphones automatically turns the speaker off. Noticed that there are two for sale in the 'For Sale Amps and Accessories' section for a fair price AND they are located in Texas.

Dave Stroud · Post by **Dave Stroud** » 21 Aug 2016 5:26 am

Thanks David, but I'd like to have a 15" for that C6 neck you helped me get! Lovin the Fessy, by the way.

I wonder if the new session 115 will have these features... but my gut tells me Peavey wouldn't include a headphone jack and aux input in anything but a smaller low powered amp.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 21 Aug 2016 5:38 am

I'm pretty sure that any of the hand-built amps can be ordered with whatever features you require. You just need to ask about anything you don't see on the price list.
If I were faced with your project requirements in combination with my tastes (and an adequate budget, this ain't the cheapest rig), I'd ask Tim Marcus for a Half and Half with headphone jack, line out and power amp kill switch and the (switched) series external speaker jack.
I love the Telonics 12 in my Half and Half, and it can easily handle the low notes, but I also like the tone of the 15" extension cab.

Bill Moore (RIP) · Post by **Bill Moore (RIP)** » 21 Aug 2016 6:39 am

Go with the Nashville 112; it will work great, either practicing at home or for most gigs. You will save some money too.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 21 Aug 2016 6:58 am

Dave Stroud wrote:Also, there doesn't seem to be a headphone jack on the revelation....

A few questions for Mr. Sarno:

Brad, is there enough room in the V8 for an aux input AND headphone jack?

Is there enough room in a revelation for a headphone jack?

The V8 is not a good candidate for these features, but the Revelation is. I've added headphone amplifier/jack to Revelations before for custom orders. That's doable.

Brad

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 21 Aug 2016 8:09 am

Another very good consideration would be to buy a small, cheap Mackie or Behringer or similar mixer. Then a good sounding steel preamp could go into the mixer. The mixer would also take an aux input for stereo music to play along with. And a mixer will also have a good headphone output. Some mixers may even have some basic effects, reverb, delay, etc.

With a small mixer like that, a V8 or similar, warm, tubey preamp would be ideal.

Brad

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 21 Aug 2016 8:13 am

something like this perhaps:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1002FX

B

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 21 Aug 2016 8:13 am

And this for the preamp and tone magic.

http://www.sarnomusicsolutions.com/products/V8G.html

B

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 21 Aug 2016 8:31 am

Brad is right on the money.

I have a small Beringher mixer plugged into the DI of my rack mount Quilter. It has a inputs for both the amp & computer/iPad with separate level knobs for each.

According to the Quilter labs, it's perfectly fine to run the head w/o speakers. So I leave them in the garage, where they are a quick load for gigs. I did invest in some studio grade earphones.

The amp is in a soft bag on the floor just next to my steel & the mixer (about 6 sq inches), fits nicely next to my Mac on a small computer desk......... Very small footprint and is silent to others.

To gig, I just unplug the mixer from the DI, grab the amp and go!

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 21 Aug 2016 11:23 am

If you are leaning toward the Telonics combo and you can swing the cost, it seems that everything you are looking for is wrapped up in that package. It's also more convenient and less to keep up with.

Consider, if you buy an amplifier, you will probably be looking for some effects too. If you buy just a head, you are going to need a speaker cabinet at some point and possibly a preamp if none is integral.

You will just have to make a decision if you're willing to go the price tag of the complete state of the art Telonics package, or are willing to split the package and match up a pile of separate components that you will have to connect and disconnect as required.

Weigh out the pros and cons, compare the cost v. a component package, consider what you like and see if it's worth it to have everything you want in one bundle....that and justifying the cost to anyone else in the equation.

....my thoughts. FWIW.

Cameron Parsons · Post by **Cameron Parsons** » 21 Aug 2016 1:04 pm

For practice, I use the iRig which allows me to hear my steel through headphones connected to my iPhone mixed with any music I can access online or in my library. Check it out: http://www.ikmultimedia.com/mobile/products/irighd/.

Dave Stroud · Post by **Dave Stroud** » 21 Aug 2016 1:11 pm

Jerry Overstreet wrote:If you are leaning toward the Telonics combo and you can swing the cost, it seems that everything you are looking for is wrapped up in that package. It's also more convenient and less to keep up with.

Consider, if you buy an amplifier, you will probably be looking for some effects too. If you buy just a head, you are going to need a speaker cabinet at some point and possibly a preamp if none is integral.

You will just have to make a decision if you're willing to go the price tag of the complete state of the art Telonics package, or are willing to split the package and match up a pile of separate components that you will have to connect and disconnect as required.

Weigh out the pros and cons, compare the cost v. a component package, consider what you like and see if it's worth it to have everything you want in one bundle....that and justifying the cost to anyone else in the equation. ....my thoughts. FWIW.

This is also what I've been thinking about... My wife and I also travel a lot to visit family, and it would be awfully nice to not have a bunch of different components to set up while I want to practice in other places. (it'd be great for gigs too!) When I only played guitar, I loved how simple it was to just grab and go. No amps, cords, or setting up just to practice a bit here and there...

And Jerry, you're right... after adding up the cost of the multi-component rigs, the Telonics starts to seem competitively priced. I thought people were saying this as a sales gimmick before, but it really does seem reasonably priced considering all you get. I may just keep on saving my pennies.... Thanks all for the replies!

Dyke Corson · Post by **Dyke Corson** » 21 Aug 2016 6:44 pm

I use one of these: http://www.rolls.com/product.php?pid=MX122

I put the output of my V8 in one channel, Line 6 for 6 string guitar in another, my Aux mix from the band console and a iPod for quick song checks. Plug my IEMs into this and I'm all set. Very quiet and made in the USA

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 22 Aug 2016 10:23 am

Lane Gray wrote:One of Brad's preamps should do that too, and then get a powered cab for when you need a speaker

Lane,which active (or powered) amp would you suggest.I don't need much power as I'm a bedroom player,but I want something that sounds good at very low volume.
Thank you again !!!

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 22 Aug 2016 11:06 am

Danny, the Peavey Nashville 112 has all of these features NOW on the stock amplifier, ie; speaker mutes when headphones are plugged in, CD/Line input/laptop headphone output for plugging in an audio signal from the output of your IPad, IPhone or CD player. Balanced XLR line out to your mixing console

Call me for details on this amplifier and I will be glad to discuss. I can be reached toll free at 1-877-732-8391, ext.1180.

Mike Brown
Peavey USA

Dave Stroud · Post by **Dave Stroud** » 22 Aug 2016 11:22 am

Mike Brown wrote:Danny,

Who's Danny?

Sorry, couldn't resist....

Sorry, Mike. I'm looking for a 15"

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 22 Aug 2016 12:45 pm

One of my FB friends gives high marks to the Mackey "Thump", a powered 15 with a 3 band EQ.
His words, edited for typos:
"Actually good! Great low end, mids, 3 band graphic EQ on each, 1000 watt capability...plus a mix knob to dial in your sound"
I don't have any powered cabs.
If I had the desire, I'd get a >500W Class D power module (with power supply, you can find them on Amazon) and drop it in a 15 cab I already have.

Or shoot Mike Brown an email, I think Peavey has a cab with a Black Widow and a Class D power amp.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 22 Aug 2016 3:54 pm

Dave buy yourself a Combo TCA500 - buy once, cry once. You will never need another amp -- and once the kids arrive you won't be able to afford one anyway hehe

Dave Stroud · Post by **Dave Stroud** » 23 Aug 2016 7:54 am

After extensive research I'm starting to consider a Nashville 112... Is there any good, practical reason to own two of them? I'm guessing not since I don't play stadiums... or any large venues.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 23 Aug 2016 8:27 am

I would go with the Nashville 112 myself. It will handle everything you need for quite some time. There is no need for a 15" speaker. The idea that you need a 15 to play the C neck is false.

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Any amps with as many features as Telonics?

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