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Post new topic Amp for Steel & 6 string - Milkman, Dual Showman, Vibrasonic
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Author Topic:  Amp for Steel & 6 string - Milkman, Dual Showman, Vibrasonic
Tim LeBlanc

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2018 7:24 am    
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I’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 Showman’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
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Tom Wolverton


From:
Carpinteria, CA
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2018 8:08 am     All good
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All of your options should work well. But this might be really dandy:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=279163&highlight=milkman
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Michael Brebes

 

From:
Northridge CA
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2018 10:31 am    
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I have a Vibrasonic in a head with a 1x15 cabinet underneath that I am just about ready to sell, if you are interested.
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Michael Brebes
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Paul Sutherland

 

From:
Placerville, California
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2018 10:58 am    
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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.
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Tim LeBlanc

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2018 1:05 pm    
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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.
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Tim LeBlanc

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2018 1:07 pm     Re: All good
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Tom Wolverton wrote:
All of your options should work well. But this might be really dandy:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/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.
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Tim LeBlanc

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2018 1:38 pm    
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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?
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Tom Wolverton


From:
Carpinteria, CA
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2018 7:57 pm     This is dandy too
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Tim LeBlanc

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2018 12:50 am     Re: This is dandy too
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Tom Wolverton wrote:


That’s exactly what I was thinking of doing. So the Showman isn’t too loud for 6 string?
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Chris Boyd

 

From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2018 4:30 am    
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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...
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2018 7:18 am    
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The '90s Vibrasonic has two channels, one dedicated for steel and the other for 6 string. Very Happy
Erv
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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2018 11:07 am    
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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.
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Patrick Ickes

 

From:
Upper Lake, CA USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2018 11:24 am    
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I have a 2 channel Milkman 15.
I've only used it for Pedal Steel, Fiddle, and Electric Mandolin.
All sound excellent.
Patrick
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Michael Brebes

 

From:
Northridge CA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2018 11:36 am    
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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.
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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso

Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100
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Michael Brebes

 

From:
Northridge CA
Post  Posted 21 Jun 2018 4:17 pm    
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In fact you could just stop on by and give it a try, see if it is what you are looking for.


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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso

Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100
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John Groover McDuffie


From:
LA California, USA
Post  Posted 27 Jun 2018 6:06 pm    
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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.
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Dave Zirbel


From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
Post  Posted 28 Jun 2018 6:12 pm    
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How about getting an A/B pedal? Unless you need to set the volume and tone controls different for each instrument.....
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Dave Hopping


From:
Aurora, Colorado
Post  Posted 29 Jun 2018 6:41 pm    
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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.
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Tim Heidner

 

From:
Groves, TX
Post  Posted 2 Jul 2018 4:56 pm    
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Dr. Z Surgical Steel sounds great with both.
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Olli Haavisto


From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
Post  Posted 13 Jul 2018 4:01 am    
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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.

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Finland
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Marvin Born

 

From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 18 Jul 2018 5:02 am     Guitat and steel into one amp
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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
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Mike Marsh


From:
Florida, USA
Post  Posted 18 Jul 2018 11:06 am     Steel Guitar AMps.
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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
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Dale Foreman

 

From:
Crowley Louisiana, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jul 2018 9:48 am     Amp
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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!
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jul 2018 12:25 pm    
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1964 Dual Showman





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