Mesa Boogie California Tweed for Pedal Steel

Brendan Mullins · From: Northern California, USA

Hello, all.

Looking into getting an amplifier that can double as a country guitar and pedal steel amp. Leaning towards something with some modern conveniences, like attenuation, which the Mesa Boogie California Tweed has. Used ones can be snagged for a decent price. Seems like the 40w version could do everything I need. Anyone have experience with this amp for steel? Hard to play one first sadly, so I may buy it unheard. Hoping 40w will have enough overhead for small gigs/live band. Cheers.

-Brendan
_________________
1977 Sho-Bud Pro II Custom
1949 Gibson Console Grande
Dobro Round Neck
Plenty of other fun gear

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

I would be surprised if any steeler has tried this but you never know. The late Bobby Lee used a Mesa Boogie at one time but not this model and I don't think he played regular guitar. I have never seen that amp in use at any steel show in 30 plus years of attending. I have a Peavey Classic 30 and a 50 watt Tweed. They probably wouldn't compare but neither work for me as steel amps. I will include my Tweed Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. But they are great guitar amps. Good luck.

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

After seeing Brendan's post I tried steel through my '87 Mark III. Not bad but not great. For roughly the same bux my Milkman PS-300 sounds much better and will do double duty with six-string.

Comparing a Mark III with a California Tweed might be apples-and-oranges, but M-B has always had the reputation of being what you went for if you wanted modern rock overdrive.

They've never made a steel-oriented amplifier.

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

Brendan,
I borrowed a MB “DC” series amp on one show. The owner dialed it in and I liked it. It was around 30 ways so it had to be mic’d. if you can find one with higher headroom, and possibly try it out, you might like it. I have a couple of guitarist friends who swear by MB and claim that you have to know how to dial them in. One of them dialed in a Son of Boogie for me and it was awesome to me. And it had plenty of headroom. I once purchased a Satellite 60 and utilized a 7 band graphic with it and got it dialed in. I should have kept that one. It was easy to set and had plenty of headroom. Of course YMMV.

Good luck,
MB
_________________
RETIRED

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

Brendan,
You could contact fellow forumite Chance Duhon. He’s a guitarist/steel guitarist AND he’s a MB user. He also builds/modifies amps. He might save you some time and money by sharing his knowledge with you.
_________________
RETIRED

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Carey Hofer · From: South Dakota, USA

Or. . . Try a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV, (the newest version). Around 40 lbs, best sounding of the 4 versions (IMHO), less twang than a regular Fender Deluxe Reverb. I have tried it with my lap steel, very nice tone in my opinion.

Mark Eaton · Posted 27 Apr 2024 11:44 am

Brendan Mullins · From: Northern California, USA

Thanks for the thoughts, all. Maybe I'll sit on it. Probably would have been better if I just asked what people think of Fender Tweed's for pedal steel, since this is more or less what this amp circuit is. Cheers.
_________________
1977 Sho-Bud Pro II Custom
1949 Gibson Console Grande
Dobro Round Neck
Plenty of other fun gear

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

Tweeds?
I have a reissue tweed 4-10" Bassman that sounds a lot like the ones I played six-string thru back in the day. It was OK for steel, although not very much low end. I used to have a late '80s-early '90s 2-12 tweed Blues DeVille. It was pretty shrill and IIRC was also a little light on the low end. Might have been OK with humbuckers but I was playing Teles then and couldn't get what I wanted tonewise. Looked cooler than the other side of the pillow, though. Winking

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

Use a clean amp for steel and get your compression and grit from stomp boxes for 6 string.
I have used Fender Tone Master twin with a black Box in front.
Now using a little Walter PF89 with TT-12 and that seems to have solved most all my sound needs.
32 Lb. head, 27 Lb. speaker cab.
I wouldn't buy an amp before you could try it.

_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes

ajm · From: Los Angeles

Regarding the Little Walter PF-89 (from their web site):

The 100 watt "Paul Franklin Signature 89" has a 12AX7 preamp tube, a 12AX7 mid-amp tube and a 12AX7 phase inverter tube and 4 - 6L6's power tubes. Power rectification is handled by a GZ34.

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

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