Best amplifier for steel playing

[James Taylor]

What do steel players think is the best amp for pedal steel playing the Peavy or Fender? Does the cheaper end of these makes have a similar tone?

Thanking you all for the answers.

James Taylor Scotland

[Bob Hoffnar]

Neither is necessary or magical in any way. If you are not planning on spending a bunch of money go ahead and try out whatever amps are available in your area. Make sure it is loud enough to cover your needs. If the amp doesn't have reverb you can buy reverb stomp boxes that are awesome for pretty cheap these days. Allot of guys will tell you you need to have a 15" speaker or tons of clean headroom but that is a matter of taste and depends on your playing situation.

I see working steel players in Texas all the time and there is no standard amp that works for everybody anymore.

[Dave Grafe]

Cheaper sounds cheaper no matter what the mark. Easy that one.

Your other question is problematic, in that you ask for a "best" between only two makers, each of which produce both truly excellent and completely atrocious models as regards their use for the the pedal steel guitar. The issue is further complicated by the differences in speakers available.

I have an old K130-wielding Fender 40 watt amp at home but I have been known to specify a Peavey NV 400, Session 400, or Session 500 for backline contractors, as well as BF or SF Fender Twin Reverbs. If any one of these has good Peavey BW or JBL speakers, works properly, and has a sweet reverb tank, we are golden.

However I imagine a great number of steelers play neither of these brands, I'm taking a Webb 6-14e to work, several friends are using Evans amps. Both Randall and Standel produced outstanding and popular amps in the past that are still in use, and Quilter and Milkman are among the new builds that are being well received.

Not to mention dedicated rack systems...

Not to discourage or disparage, you're in the right place to find answers to questions you haven't thought of yet

Happy picking, I leave you to the next respondents...

[Nick Levine]

I got a Nashville 400 after seeing it as such a standard and ended up not liking it at all. Played through a hot rod deville of all amps last night on the clean channel and thought it was great. The other steel player at the gig used a Princeton, which most people would probably tell you is too low power for steel, but works great for him. All of this is to say, YMMV, there's no one right answer for everyone's setup and you'll just have to try stuff out to see what works for you. Have fun with it.

[Michael Sawyer]

I gig with a Quilter TT12.
Before that it was a Fender DeVille 212.
I rehearse at the band room with a Fender Champion 100.
I keep a Fender Champion 20 settin out at home for practice.
If it tickles your ears and fits your budget,use it.

[Chris Templeton]

Buddy favored the Peavey Session 500. He really liked the phase shifter.
I have a nice 4 track version @ Jeffran, of "You Are So Beautiful". with it.

[GaryL]

Quilter Travis Toy 15" or a Steelaire, if you can find one. I've had the rest and the rest, and they will not do.

[Karl Paulsen]

What do steel players think is the best amp for pedal steel playing the Peavy or Fender? Does the cheaper end of these makes have a similar tone?

Thanking you all for the answers.

James Taylor Scotland

I think the overall consensus would be that neither of those companies is making the best steel amp today, but both make or have made good ones.

The forum vibe seems to be that Milkman, Quilter and Telonics currently make the best steel amps, but their prices also reflect this.

As for the cheaper end of things, the Peavey Nashville 112 is the cheapest production steel amp today and I'd recommend it over any Fender at that price or lower.

I assume the market is sparser over there, but used Peavey steel amps seem to be the budget choice over here in the: 250-400 range. If that's your budget, that's what I'd do. However, as others have implied, if $ is even tighter, then playing your way through your local market may be the best way to find something you like in the wide world of regular guitar amps, and don't forget bass amps. I've got a nearly new Fender Rumble 100 I bought locally for $100. Sounds great for steel and it's only 22 pounds!

Personally, for playing steel I've got a cobbled together Peavey Nashville substitute (Reno with Jazz Classic cab and BW and a MOD rev tank) that lives where I rehearse. I have less than $200 invested, it sounds great and I'd happily gig it. However my Milkman Half and Half is in a whole other league and sounds like pure heaven.

[Malcolm McMaster]

James, are you thinking of moving off your Roland Cube? The majority of players over here use Peavey either Nashville 400 or Nashville 112, some use Fender twin or similar, Webb, or some of the Quilter range. Or Telonics. To answer your question, Peavey and Fender are different beasts, it is a matter of personal choice as to which you prefer.
I know there are not a lot of players up in your neck of the woods, but you could always try YouTube to listen to any particular player you like and have a listen to their sound and have a look at what they are playing through.
Any good quality amp should give you a reasonable sound, a friend has used a 400, a 112, a small Fender amp and a katana recently, and to be honest he sounded the Same through them all, I believe a great deal of the tone comes from the hands and style of playing. Regards.

[Tim Whitlock]

There are a fair number of players who use Fender amps. I schlepped a Twin Reverb for almost 20 years. Even though it was heavy it was the sound that inspired me. The last few years I have found that a Deluxe Reverb is enough amp for my lower to mid volume shows. I imagine there are plenty of them around the UK. If you have access, try one out. It will give you a good idea of the Fender sound for steel guitar.

[James Taylor]

Hi everyone,
Thank you all for your input and also my old friend Malcolm.
It was my wife who asked me what I wanted for my birthday and she got two expensive indoor cats for hers I thought I would be a bit adventurous and bite the bud and demand something that would create the sound of some of the steelies I have listened to.
Yes, just as Malcolm says I have a Roland Tube and it is quite good too. Perhaps I should be satisfied with it as it is a reasonably good amp. I am 83 and got my pedal steel imported from the USA a few years ago; a Zum Steel Encore. Best Wishes to all JAMES TAYLOR

[Philip Mitrakos]

...

[James Taylor]

Hi Philip, Thank you for your advice. I am doing my best to soak in all that has been said and will meditate on all this wonderful information.

Best wishes to everyone and many thanks too.

JAMES TAYLOR SCOTLND- way up in the backwoods!

[Karl Paulsen]

I don't know what the used market is like for steel amps in the UK, but here's a dealer who it appears will import Peavey.
https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/peavey-nash ... -steel-amp

If you've already got a Cube and you want to make an investment in your amp, get a dedicated steel guitar amp.

[John Gately]

I have a musicman RD112 65 which has a wide tonal spectrum. Not a common steel amp and not enough clean headroom for a large venue but a beautiful palette of tones nonetheless.

[Paul Awalt]

I have an idea, but first I like to know how much did the cat's cost.

[Bill Davis]

On the rare occasions that I am allowed to use an amp, I have a quilter into a TT12. Great sound. I used a Katana 100 for a long time. If you spend the time tweeking, it can sound good for a great price.
Have you considered a Tonex 1 modeling pedal? I play ampless with in ears but with the Joe Rogers amp models, it sounds as good or better than any amp I ever played steel thru.

[Brett Lanier]

The new Standel hybrid amp is really good… got to play through one last weekend. It sounded pretty much spot on to an original. Germanium preamp and tube power.

[Dennis Detweiler]

Tone beauty is in the ear of the beholder.

[Eamonn O'Regan]

A difficult one! I live in Ireland and have a variety of amps, all bought used at various stages and at bargain prices and have been using a Steelaire which has my favourite sound (to my ears, at any rate! ) But on a recent gig I used my Nash 112 with an Eminence Patriot 12'' speaker and people commented that it sounded really great. My old Session 400 (heavy!!)with 1501-4 BW has come in for praise on the gig. ( I play a Mullen SD-10 E9 through a N-UX Arlantic D/R unit and Hilton VP )
I think it's very much a subjective thing- what are one's criteria for ''best?'' I think if you have something that's portable, reliable and sounds good to you and your listeners, all without costing a lot of money, then you have the best amp for you. That could be any one of a broad range of amps. Just my humble opinion.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Tone beauty is in the ear of the beholder.

...or the beerholder.

IMG_20250320_212937545.JPG

[David Wren]

Best amp for steel, the new Peavey Nashville Session 115 Actually. I'm kidding. That amp was supposed to come out in June. then July.... now maybe November? I have one ordered, for what that is worth.

A more serious response would be, there are plenty of great amps, and plenty of great speakers (and plenty of great steel guitars).... the trick is getting the right combination that sounds good to you, is road worthy, and can fit all sizes of venues.

My advice, play through some of the ones mentioned above (barrow from friends, or try at a music store).
Best of luck....

My working amp currently is the Quilter 202 Tone Block, in the TT115 cab. Lightweight, great direct out for the sound guy, and seems pretty dependable... so far

BTW, the Peavey Session 500 was a really great sounding amp (parametric EQ)... but weighed about 85 lbs, same for the older Twins.

[Jon Snyder]

I noticed that the Nashville Session 115 with a 15" speaker is on sale for $200 off and the new 112 (12" speaker) is still $1,499 on pre-order. Seems odd. Are they doing away with the 15" version? Thoughts??

[Jeff Donnell]

I just purchased a used Quiltet SteelAire Combo amp and will prob never own any other PSG amp than this Quilter.
It sounds AWESOME!
It would sound even better if a good player was using it.

[Colin Boutilier]

Tone beauty is in the ear of the beholder.

...or the beerholder. IMG_20250320_212937545.JPG

How are those TubeWorks amps with a steel anyways? I keep forgetting I have a TubeDriver 112 combo amp with an old Scorpion speaker sitting in my closet.