The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Pedal steel amp opinions
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Pedal steel amp opinions
Rob Clot


From:
Petaluma, California USA
Post  Posted 14 Jun 2021 3:31 pm    
Reply with quote

Hey all,
I've been looking around for a good pedal steel amp. I have been using a Peavey Nashville 400 for quite a while now. Back in the day, I used a Fender Twin. Loved that sound, but the twin became too heavy and now I am thinking I would like something even lighter than the Peavey. I've tried my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, which sounds great for my guitar but not so much for the steel. Milkman has a 85 watt tube and also a Half & Half? Quilter Lab Travis Troy?
What are you guys using out there?
Thanks for any info.
Robert
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Dennis Ellerbee

 

From:
Jackson, Georgia US
Post  Posted 14 Jun 2021 3:40 pm     Amps
Reply with quote

I use to play a Nashville 400 but have switched to theTravis Toy Quilter 12 amp. Light weight and sounds great. Own two of them. Never had any problems with them.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Greg Lambert

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 14 Jun 2021 5:30 pm    
Reply with quote

I have been using two amps with an ABY box.

Amp number one is a Nashville 112. Heavy
Amp Number Two is a Tube hybrid JOYO using a Bugera 12" speaker and cab. 2 pound amp around 15 pound cabinet.

I use both amps in unison and I also switch between the two amps. The JOYO sounds absolutely Great with a 6 band MXR eq. I will probably end up using the JOYO full time and leave the NV at home.






View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 14 Jun 2021 6:02 pm    
Reply with quote

For what I play (Emmons guitars circa 1973), I've never heard anything that compares to the sound these things put out (with the possible exception of their big brothers, the Sessions):

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=370167

Not lightweights by any stretch, but a NEO mag on the Black Widow helps (albeit marginally).
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

K Maul


From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
Post  Posted 14 Jun 2021 6:05 pm    
Reply with quote

I like Evans and Quilter. An older SE150 Evans is hard to beat.
_________________
Kevin Maul: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Decophonic, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Rob Clot


From:
Petaluma, California USA
Post  Posted 14 Jun 2021 7:40 pm     Steel amp
Reply with quote

Thanks to all for the input. Gotta say, the forum is a great place to be a part of! Thank you b0b!!
I am checking out all of the suggestions. I like the Quilter 12, but the Evans is interesting too. The Joyo would be killer, I have extra speaker cabinets, but I guess you would have to add reverb??
In search of my next steel amp,
Robert
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

John Palumbo


From:
Lansdale, PA.
Post  Posted 15 Jun 2021 2:40 am    
Reply with quote

Maybe take a look at the Fender Tonemaster Twin
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Rob Clot


From:
Petaluma, California USA
Post  Posted 15 Jun 2021 7:24 am    
Reply with quote

Looking into the Fender Tonemaster Twin. That has some great reviews! And half the weight! Thanks John.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Karl Paulsen

 

From:
Chicago
Post  Posted 15 Jun 2021 9:29 am    
Reply with quote

I have a half and half. More expensive but really light and sounds great.
_________________
Nickel and Steel. Sad Songs and Steel Guitar.
https://www.facebook.com/NickelandSteel

Chicago Valley Railroad. Trainspotting and Bargain Hunting...
https://chicagovalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Dave Hopping


From:
Aurora, Colorado
Post  Posted 15 Jun 2021 3:48 pm    
Reply with quote

I also have the Milkman Half & Half. Pricey, but it's THE ONE.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Anthony Parish


From:
Austin
Post  Posted 15 Jun 2021 4:15 pm    
Reply with quote

+1 for the Tonemaster Twin.

Enjoy all the Twin's goodness and lift the whole amp with one finger.

"Great Taste! Less filling!"
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 15 Jun 2021 6:06 pm    
Reply with quote

I think you've heard my Milkman Half & Half, Rob. It's the best sounding steel amp I've ever played through. The tone control on the reverb circuit is real icing on the cake.
_________________
-๐•“๐•†๐•“- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website

Rob Clot


From:
Petaluma, California USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2021 7:13 am    
Reply with quote

Yes Bob, I thought you had a Milkman, but wasn't sure. I do love your sound! Seems a lot of you guys have one.
More investigating, thanks everyone.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Norbert Dengler


From:
germany
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2021 11:16 am    
Reply with quote

tonemaster replaces my former solid state and tube amps
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2021 11:50 am    
Reply with quote

I've had quite a few amps over the 41 years I've played pedal steel, including Evans and Peavey. Two amps stand out, Fender Twin Reverb and the Quilter Travis Toy 12. The end.
_________________
GFI Ultra Keyless S-10 with pad (Black of course) TB202 amp, Hilton VP, Steelers Choice sidekick seat, SIT Strings
Cakewalk by Bandlab and Studio One V4.6 pro DAWs, MOTU Ultralite MK5 recording interface unit
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

GaryL

 

From:
Medina, OH USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2021 3:33 pm     Steel guitar amp
Reply with quote

My all-time favorite is the Quilter Steelaire, hands down.
_________________
Emmons LeGrande D-10
GFI Ultra D-10 keyless
Quilter SteelAire
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Mike Perlowin


From:
Los Angeles CA
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2021 3:31 am     Re: Steel guitar amp
Reply with quote

GaryL wrote:
My all-time favorite is the Quilter Steelaire, hands down.


I also use a Steelaire. I especially like the leg mounted switch box and the powered effects loop. I have a pedal that simulates a dobro hard wired into mine. One flip pf a switch and voila: instant ped-a-bro.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Bill Terry


From:
Bastrop, TX
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2021 5:55 am    
Reply with quote

Mike wrote:
I have a pedal that simulates a dobro hard wired into mine. One flip pf a switch and voila: instant ped-a-bro.


Yeah, I've been thinking about that exact thing.. seems like a great idea. I've actually got the schematic and parts to build that leg switch, parts are really cheap and the cable is just a plain old cat-5 ethernet. One of these days I'll put it together I guess... Smile
_________________
Lost Pines Studio
"I'm nuts about bolts"
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Mike Perlowin


From:
Los Angeles CA
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2021 9:58 am    
Reply with quote

The pedal I use for the Dobro sound is a Dunlop Q-zone pedal. I thought they had been discontinued, but I was wrong. They are still available.

_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

John Macy

 

From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2021 4:40 pm    
Reply with quote

I love my Telonics. Fantastic tone and all the power you could ever want in a super lightweight package. The built on dobro simulator is the best Iรขโ‚ฌโ„ขve used, too.
_________________
John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Richard Alderson


From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2021 9:22 am    
Reply with quote



Telonics
_________________
Derby SD-10 5x6; GFI S-10 5x5; GFI S-10 5x5; Zum D-10 8x7; Zum D-10 9x9; Fender 400; Fender Rumble 200; Nashville 400; Telonics TCA-500.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Paddy Long


From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2021 4:45 pm    
Reply with quote

Telonics TCA500 !!
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Dick Chapple Sr

 

From:
Hardin Montana, USA
Post  Posted 28 Jun 2021 7:18 am     amps for steel
Reply with quote

So many good options today.
I would like to add another that is not mentioned.
I bought the new Evans SE200-19 with 10" speaker from Scott Buffington.
He spent lots of time with me dialing in the sound that my ears like. Tons of clean power, no need for added toys plugged in, just a volume pedal, light weight at about 27 pounds. We set it for my pedal steels for both E9th and C6th. I only need to adjust the volume now and it sounds wonderful. Also without touching a thing other than volume my lap steels sound terrific through this amp as well.

Thankfully Scott is terrific at knowing how to set the amp up as I would still probably be fumbling around trying to get "that" sound.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Rob Clot


From:
Petaluma, California USA
Post  Posted 16 Jul 2021 8:25 am    
Reply with quote

It's been a while since I first made the inquiry of your favorite amps. I want to thank everyone for their input. It was a hard choice, but I finally made it. I am a guitar player as well as a steel player, so my pre-CBS Twin has always been my favorite amp, (2 separate channels). Sometimes I only play steel though, so no need for 2 channels. Long story longer, I purchased a blonde Fender Twin Tone Master, and for my gigs with just pedal steel, I have on order a vanilla Milkman Half & Half. I might have gone over the top, but why not!!!
Thanks again all,
Robert
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Donn Lewis

 

From:
Maryland, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jul 2021 2:02 pm    
Reply with quote

Dave Hopping wrote:
I also have the Milkman Half & Half. Pricey, but it's THE ONE.


This.
_________________
Mullen Discovery 3x4
Milkman half and half 12" combo
Goodrich 120, Steeler's choice seat, Mud Stand, BJ's bar, Peterson Strobostomp HD
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP