Amp for Steel & 6 string - Milkman, Dual Showman, Vibrasonic

Tim LeBlanc · Post by **Tim LeBlanc** » 19 Jun 2018 7:24 am

Iâ€™m a 6 string player and am pretty new to pedal steel. It would be great to have an amp to cover both and be able to switch back and forth easily. I play a vintage tweed Fender Bassman but would need something with two channels. Dual Showmanâ€™s are pretty reasonably priced as are Vibrasonics. The Milkman Sideman also looks great and was designed for this application. Do any of you Steelers have experience and recommendations?

Thanks,

TL

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 19 Jun 2018 8:08 am

All of your options should work well. But this might be really dandy:

viewtopic.php?t=279163&highlight=milkman

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 19 Jun 2018 10:31 am

I have a Vibrasonic in a head with a 1x15 cabinet underneath that I am just about ready to sell, if you are interested.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 19 Jun 2018 10:58 am

Where are you located in California? If you are in Nor Cal you could come to my place in Placerville and try playing through a 68 Dual Showman non-reverb head, and a 71 Twin Reverb (that has been put into a separate head cabinet, so it's pretty much the same thing as a Dual Showman Reverb.) They are NOT for sale, so there's no pressure. Both are excellent for pedal steel and get used for gigs regularly.

Tim LeBlanc · Post by **Tim LeBlanc** » 19 Jun 2018 1:05 pm

Paul Sutherland wrote:Where are you located in California? If you are in Nor Cal you could come to my place in Placerville and try playing through a 68 Dual Showman non-reverb head, and a 71 Twin Reverb (that has been put into a separate head cabinet, so it's pretty much the same thing as a Dual Showman Reverb.) They are NOT for sale, so there's no pressure. Both are excellent for pedal steel and get used for gigs regularly.

Thanks Paul. If I were up there I would take you up on it. I am in Sherman Oaks / L.A. I'm looking at a 66 Dual Showman that's in great shape.

Tim LeBlanc · Post by **Tim LeBlanc** » 19 Jun 2018 1:07 pm

Tom Wolverton wrote:All of your options should work well. But this might be really dandy:

viewtopic.php?t=279163&highlight=milkman

That looks cool Tom. I didn't know MM made a dual channel version of the Half-n-Half.

Tim LeBlanc · Post by **Tim LeBlanc** » 19 Jun 2018 1:38 pm

Michael Brebes wrote:I have a Vibrasonic in a head with a 1x15 cabinet underneath that I am just about ready to sell, if you are interested.

Thanks Michael. Is it one the the 90's versions? Any photos?

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 19 Jun 2018 7:57 pm

Tim LeBlanc · Post by **Tim LeBlanc** » 20 Jun 2018 12:50 am

Tom Wolverton wrote:

Thatâ€™s exactly what I was thinking of doing. So the Showman isnâ€™t too loud for 6 string?

Chris Boyd · Post by **Chris Boyd** » 20 Jun 2018 4:30 am

My setup is a '69 Dual Showman Reverb with a Fox cab w/ 15" EV SRO ...looks just like Tom's rig... Sounds super and it's easy to haul...

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 20 Jun 2018 7:18 am

The '90s Vibrasonic has two channels, one dedicated for steel and the other for 6 string.

Erv

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 20 Jun 2018 11:07 am

If your back and finances can handle it, I can't see how you could possibly top a vintage Showman that's been regularly serviced and in top operating condition.

Keep in mind that the original Showman wants to see an 8-ohm load, and the Dual wants to see a 4-ohm load to operate at peak efficiency.

Putting a vintage Fender reverb unit on the front end would be a nice touch.

Patrick Ickes · Post by **Patrick Ickes** » 20 Jun 2018 11:24 am

I have a 2 channel Milkman 15.
I've only used it for Pedal Steel, Fiddle, and Electric Mandolin.
All sound excellent.
Patrick

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 20 Jun 2018 11:36 am

Tim LeBlanc wrote:
Michael Brebes wrote:I have a Vibrasonic in a head with a 1x15 cabinet underneath that I am just about ready to sell, if you are interested.
Thanks Michael. Is it one the the 90's versions? Any photos?

It is the 80's version Silverface, that has been modified with Blackface biasing and reverb/vibrato on both channels. Vibrosonic, not Vibrasonic. Looks similar to Wolverton's pic of the Showman, with a 1x15 cabinet that is just a couple inches wider than the head. I will take a pic and get it up. I am in Northridge, very close to you.

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 21 Jun 2018 4:17 pm

In fact you could just stop on by and give it a try, see if it is what you are looking for.

John Groover McDuffie · Post by **John Groover McDuffie** » 27 Jun 2018 6:06 pm

I do a lot of doubling and have used a modified SF Deluxe Reverb, a modified BF Bassman* head, a BF Dual Showman head, and a SF Dual Showman Reverb head, all with great results.

With so many great reverb pedals available these days I don't find using a non-reverb amp a problem, and it doesn't splash when it gets jostled, unlike the spring reverb in most amps.

*I modified the Bassman's "bass" channel so it has the same EQ as the "normal" channel.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 28 Jun 2018 6:12 pm

How about getting an A/B pedal? Unless you need to set the volume and tone controls different for each instrument.....

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 29 Jun 2018 6:41 pm

A two-channel amp is conceptually the simplest way to double,but you can do it with a one-channel amp as long as a passive A/B box is the last thing in the signal chain before the amp input.You'll probably want to EQ the amp for your steel and stick another EQ between the six-string and the A/B box to compensate for six-string and steel needing different EQ from each other.I've gotten some really good six-string AND steel tones with my Session 500 that way.

Tim Heidner · Post by **Tim Heidner** » 2 Jul 2018 4:56 pm

Dr. Z Surgical Steel sounds great with both.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 13 Jul 2018 4:01 am

I just found a `68 Showman Reverb head. Sounds great with guitar and pedal steel.
Works great with any of these cabs.... EPS15, K130, D120F.

Marvin Born · Post by **Marvin Born** » 18 Jul 2018 5:02 am

The Telonics rack system with the PRE1000 has two inputs, one for steel and a second for guitar or dobro. There are separate eq controls for each. The PRE1000 was designed to be used with their power amp, but will work fine with any power amp.

It has a built in reverb and dobro simulator as well as a full stereo effects jack system for any rack mounted effects processor.

All Telonics amps are analog, there is no digital conversion of your primary signal. Only the effects is signal is procrssed and returned as a fully wet signal.

Marvin

Mike Marsh · Post by **Mike Marsh** » 18 Jul 2018 11:06 am

Milkman, Dual Showman and Vibrosonic's are a couple of resistors apart from being the same amps. All Are good but heavy choices depending on configuration.
2cents,
Mike

Dale Foreman · Post by **Dale Foreman** » 19 Jul 2018 9:48 am

Did you every try a Peavey Vegas 400? It's exactly what you're looking for. I have on I would be willing to sell but it's a heavy ole girl!

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 19 Jul 2018 12:25 pm

1964 Dual Showman

The Steel Guitar Forum

Amp for Steel & 6 string - Milkman, Dual Showman, Vibrasonic

Amp for Steel & 6 string - Milkman, Dual Showman, Vibrasonic

All good

Re: All good

This is dandy too

Re: This is dandy too

Guitat and steel into one amp

Steel Guitar AMps.

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