| Author |
Topic: guitar vs. amp? |
Matthew Wilson
|
Posted 25 Mar 2010 8:13 pm |
|
Hi! While I know both are important what would you say is most important to getting a good sound. A excellent pedal steel guitar or a excellent pedal steel amp?
excellent guitar vs poor amp
poor guitar vs excellnt amp
Thank you! matthew wilson  |
|
|
 |
John Neff
From:
Athens, GA
|
Posted 25 Mar 2010 8:27 pm
|
|
| Guitar first. Ideally, you'll spend more time with it than your amp. |
|
|
|
Ernest Cawby
From:
Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 25 Mar 2010 9:41 pm hi
|
|
AGREE NUF SAID,
ERNIE |
|
|
|
Jon A. Ross
From:
not actually FROM Maine...
|
Posted 25 Mar 2010 9:52 pm
|
|
A "good sound"? How "good"? Broad parameters, leaving lots of room for opinion. I would point out that a crappy sounding amp can make a good sounding steel not sound so good anymore. To get a "reeeely good sound", it's gonna be about 1/2 and 1/2. Sorta like why a concert violinist will pay as much or more for his bow as his fiddle.
Next (yes, I'm boring), define "excellent". An "excellent" steel (too me) would be a $2000-4000 expenditure. I think the price range for an "excellent" amp is a broader range. I spent $1000 on my psg and $225 on the amp. While my gtr is no Mullen, it sure ain't no CrtrStrtr either. I aspire to upgrade the gtr eventually (a Fessy or vintage wood psg might be nice!), but I can't forsee any need to improve my amp situation. I suppose one could spend thousands on a stereo, rack-mount system, but my single 15" combo rig holds its own. Hopefully this is of some value... |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
Posted 25 Mar 2010 10:31 pm
|
|
I get a good sound with a Sho-Bud Maverick and a Roland Cube amp. The thing that can really mess up your tone is a bad volume pedal. A 250k pot can suck the life out of any guitar. Same with cheap cords.
There aren't many bad-sounding steel guitars, and you can always find a good sounding amp on the cheap. The biggest mistake people make is often in the stuff that they put between the guitar and amp. Just my opinion, and probably not what you wanted hear. 
_________________
-πππ- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
|
|
|
Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
|
Posted 25 Mar 2010 10:41 pm
|
|
| I agree with Bob. I've heard good guitars with good amps that should have sounded great but then too much reverb or delay or any effect for that matter and it sounds too muddled. My Sho-Bud and Fender Twin with a little reverb and just a hint of delay does it for me. |
|
|
|
John Neff
From:
Athens, GA
|
Posted 25 Mar 2010 10:51 pm
|
|
| Yes, amps too! Amps rule! |
|
|
|
Ulric Utsi-Γ
hlin
From:
Sweden
|
Posted 25 Mar 2010 11:12 pm
|
|
Regardless of price tags on guitars & amps,"Great
Sound" is the function of:Personal touch/tone AND
the ear of the beholder.McUtsi |
|
|
|
Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
|
Posted 25 Mar 2010 11:20 pm
|
|
I'd rather have an MSA Red Baron and a Fender Twin than a Zum and a Peavey Rage. 
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
|
|
|
Danny Bates
From:
Fresno, CA. USA
|
Posted 25 Mar 2010 11:47 pm
|
|
Here on the forum, it's been proven that the guitar doesn't matter as much as the color of the guitar.
If it's black or has natural wood in the finish, it will sound great through any amp.
If it's any other color, you might as well play through one of those old Silvertone amps that's got the amp built into the guitar case.
Because... It will make no difference.
Bad color = Bad tone  |
|
|
|
Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 12:50 am
|
|
| Chris LeDrew, you are so right on. A bad amp will kill a good guitar. |
|
|
|
Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 4:04 am
|
|
The weakest link will kill you! The weakest link can be the cords, foot volume, amp, guitar, tone sucking efffects, bad technique or lack of experience in how to set up and adjust things. The good news is that there are just tons of amps that are really good for steel so finding one used is pretty easy.
Certain specific guitars and amps mey be required to get a certain type of tone or sound but having them will not guarantee that YOU will get that sound unless you have the skill to do so.
Greg |
|
|
|
Ian Sutton
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 5:17 am
|
|
| A good tip for reverb/effects that I learned in the studio: When you think it's just the right amount of reverb, etc. back it off just a touch more. |
|
|
|
Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 6:41 am
|
|
Yes, Kevin....I agree that a bad amp is usually the main problem in someone's bad tone (barring the factor of bad technique). The way I look at it is that a Fender Twin, Session 400 or any other high-quality amp can make the most dismal steels sound decent. But how can you get even the highest quality steel to sound good through an inferior amp? The best steel in the world won't save you from a Peavey green-knob Bandit.
I do agree that the less effects you use, the better your sound will be. But if you have good quality effects and cables, you can have as many effects in line as you want; it's up to you how many you have engaged at once. For simple country and jazz steel tones, all that seems necessary is a good volume pedal and a bit of reverb/delay. Adding an overdrive to that train doesn't seem like a big deal if you're doing some rock stuff. But if you're saturating your guitar with chorus, flanger, phaser and other "less-is-more" effects, your tone will get washed out.
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
|
|
|
Ian Sutton
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 6:53 am
|
|
| Danny Bates wrote: |
Here on the forum, it's been proven that the guitar doesn't matter as much as the color of the guitar.
If it's black or has natural wood in the finish, it will sound great through any amp.
If it's any other color, you might as well play through one of those old Silvertone amps that's got the amp built into the guitar case.
Because... It will make no difference.
Bad color = Bad tone |
Let's not discount Tweed. Haha. |
|
|
|
Allan Jirik
From:
Wichita Falls TX
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 7:52 am
|
|
| Just an observation: when I was actively playing in the 70s, you had your guitar, amp and maybe a fuzz tone- that was it. The effects were left to the rockers. Now I read the gear lists here and I have no idea what all that stuff is. I guess it's progress- but thank you, no, I have my guitar, my amp and... maybe a fuzz tone. |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 7:55 am
|
|
A crappy guitar amp can make any instrument sound bad, but you don't need to spend a lot of money on a "steel amp" to get a good sound. I was amazed when my brother-in-law set me up with a tiny $120 Roland Cube. We miked it on stage and it sounded great in the monitors and out front.
You don't even need an amp these days. Something like the PodXT can run direct into any house system, recording console or headphones.
Tone isn't my top priority in buying a steel. I can twist knobs to get a tone I like out of just about any steel guitar. Comfort and mechanical capabilities are the big issues with me. If I'm not comfortable behind a steel or if it won't support the changes I want, forget it.
_________________
-πππ- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
|
|
|
Paul Arntson
From:
Washington, USA
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 1:03 pm
|
|
What b0b and Greg said.
My not too experienced ear says the first thing after the steel (whether it is a cable, volume control, amplifier input or effects pedal) is the most critical.
You need the best possible signal to make it sound like you want.
Last edited by Paul Arntson on 27 Mar 2010 7:37 am; edited 2 times in total |
|
|
|
Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 1:10 pm
|
|
| Chris LeDrew wrote: |
| I'd rather have an MSA Red Baron and a Fender Twin |
I would rather have an original AC100 than those two mere common items that Chris mentions !
Please please, somebody say
FRESH " alive" STRINGS are as important for quality tone regardless of what guitar or amp you have.
t
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
|
|
|
Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 2:48 pm
|
|
just remember, leo fender built the amp FIRST. THEN the guitar.
NOTHING can sound good thru a bad amp. |
|
|
|
David Griffin
From:
Jimmy Creek,Arkansas via Cowtown, USA
|
|
|
|
Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 3:20 pm
|
|
| Ben Jones wrote: |
just remember, leo fender built the amp FIRST. THEN the guitar.
NOTHING can sound good thru a bad amp. |
Actually he built the amps for the lap steels which were already being made , K + F joined the market to build small amps for the lap steels.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
|
|
|
Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 3:34 pm
|
|
yes but leo built HIS amp before he built any of HIS guitars. he knew where the tone was and what to concentrate on first 
Im kidding , he just happened to be an electronics geek, not a lap steel player.
obvioulsy , many factors involved in tone, its kind of like asking which is more important , brain or heart..ya kinda need em both (tho some seem to get by fine without the brain) |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
Posted 26 Mar 2010 4:06 pm Re: b0bs' VP
|
|
| David Griffin wrote: |
| b0b: Just out of curiosity,what kind of volume pedal do you use? |
I use an enclosed 500k pot pedal, but some of the active electronic ones are good too.
_________________
-πππ- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
|
|
|
David Griffin
From:
Jimmy Creek,Arkansas via Cowtown, USA
|
|
|
|
