lap steel amp

Mike Ruffin · Post by **Mike Ruffin** » 27 Nov 2004 2:19 pm

What amps do ya'll favor? Which vintage lap steel amps are considered good or not?

Thanks!

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 28 Nov 2004 1:14 am

I like Music Man HD 130s, the 70s model with the tube preamp. I usually use a Music Man and a Peavey Session 500 with stereo reverb & delay (Boss DD6 and RV5) The Music Man has warmth and the Peavey has clarity - together they sound pretty amazing . .

http://rickalexander.com/BigSteel

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Rick Alexander
57 Fender Stringmaster T8, 57 Fender Champ, Remington Steelmaster D8, 47 National New Yorker - Music Man and Peavey Amps . .

Kevin Ruddell · Post by **Kevin Ruddell** » 28 Nov 2004 6:32 am

I'm pretty happy with my Peavey Classic 30 although any vintage American tube amp would work well. The Fender Pro Jr. sounds good if you retube the four poor stock tubes with JJ tubes.

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 28 Nov 2004 6:44 am

I have a little Vintage amplifier that came with my National Dynamic Lap Steel.
This amp is a Supro distributed by the Valco Mfg. Co and National.
The copyright on the little booklet that is with it is dated 1950.
Trouble is it does not work when plugged in altho the tubes light up. I have been meaning to get it checked and put back in working order but don't know who to take it to?

[This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 28 November 2004 at 06:45 AM.][This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 28 November 2004 at 06:46 AM.]

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 28 Nov 2004 8:11 am

I have been using a National Dynamic or a Harmos Model One through a Mesa Boogie DC-3(35 watts) for Medium to Large rooms, and a Fender Blues Jr. for small rooms. I have a Peavey Classic 50 (50 watts) with two 12's that was a wider coverage that I like to use for out side jobs. [This message was edited by Terry VunCannon on 28 November 2004 at 08:30 AM.][This message was edited by Terry VunCannon on 28 November 2004 at 08:32 AM.]

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 28 Nov 2004 8:23 am

I have a 30w Peavey Delta Blues, with a 15" speaker. Don't know if it's waht I 'prefer' or not, there's probably better choices out there, but it's what I got and it works for me.
I've been told that they're not the most reliable though, an amp tech I know described the construction as an accident waiting to happen (but admitted he liked the way they sound), but so far I've had no problems with mine (knock on wood).

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 28 Nov 2004 8:53 am

I have been very happy with my silver-face Fender amps (Princeton Reverb, Deluxe Reverb) for lap steel. For reference, I am playing an Airline Rocket 6-string and a Supro Grand Console 8-string w/o any effects.

Paul Arntson · Post by **Paul Arntson** » 28 Nov 2004 12:02 pm

I have had the best luck with anything tube, preferable Fender. Also, the new Roland Micro Cube is a pretty good emulation.
One vintage amp I would hesitate to spend a lot of money on (although I'd like to sell mine on Ebay for a lot heh heh ) is the MOTS Dickerson amp. There have been three on Ebay this fall. They have absolutely no controls, just an input jack. The circuit doesn't have much gain and the tubes are rare. Also the speaker is a field coil, and so emits a low hum all the time.
The other more elaborate ones, like Oahu are wonderful.
Try before you buy, as always.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 28 Nov 2004 3:48 pm

I have seven amps around here, and the best sounding one is a National I bought new in 1950. The next best one I have is an old Gibson Tremolo. They are both around 12 to 15 watts. My big Fender has a 15 inch speaker, and it just has too much "presence". 12 inch speaker amps are my favorites.
BILL

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 28 Nov 2004 6:07 pm

An old Tweed Fender Deluxe fit's the bill when I'm playing lap steel ....Jim

A Brown Deluxe (61/62) doesn't sound too bad either !!....

Michael Devito · Post by **Michael Devito** » 29 Nov 2004 5:36 am

My steels sound great through either BF Deluxe Reverb or BF Super Reverb. The Gibosn EH-185 Charlie Christian p/u sounds especially fine throught the Deluxe. Treble down to 5, bass up to 6, volume at 5 (volume down somewhat on the steel). Great midrange presence and definition.

Mike Ruffin · Post by **Mike Ruffin** » 30 Nov 2004 7:32 am

Thanks, everyone, for your input. I am going to work on getting a tube amp. I made the mistake of getting solid state the first time around. I should have known better. My home stereo system is tube.
I was relying too much on info from the PSG side.
Thanks again. This is a great place to learn.