Favorite Speaker Size For Non Pedal Steel Guitar

Gary Meixner · From: New York, USA

I know this topic was discussed extensively in the electronics section a while back but it seemed to be geared mostly toward pedal steel guitar. I am interested in knowing what size speaker (8" - 15") the forum members prefer for lower powered amps (under 30 watts) when playing Hawaiian and Western Swing in a band and on stage. I almost always mic my amp, and the drummer knows how to play light.

Thanks,

Gary Meixner

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

The old 8" Rola's are always good for vintage tone steel, but naturally every amp and player will need the one that suits them best.
It's an endless search and debate over speakers, costly too. Probably best not to be too concerned.

Wayne D. Clark · From: Montello Wisconsin, USA

I'm happy with my Peavy 110, but like Ron Says.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I have several Rickenbachers, both small and large pickups. I've played them thro' my Peavy Session 400
with a 15 inch Black Widow; Peavey LA-400 with twelve inch Black Widow; Fender Twin Reverb with dual speakers;and, Epiphone Electar twelve inch.

And yet, I find the ideal sound for this particular instrument seems to come from my Volu-Tone, Harmony and Oahu with my BIG Favorite is my FENDER Pro-Junior. It seems like a perfect match.

It's the little speaker that gives this olde guitar "THAT Sound".......... I wish I could have discovered this years earlier. It's a special sound that I will NEVER turn my back on.

Give it a try some time. I think you'll be surprised.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Altec or JBL 12s, particularly AlNiCo. I like big, clean chords and I also like searing gain with definition--these speakers will give me that.

15s are wrong for me. Too much bottom, not the right sweet spot, although the Altec came close.
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Paul Honeycutt · From: Colorado, USA

I've never tried a 15" but I have an EVM 15L that needs a cabinet that I want to try with my Dual Showman Reverb.

I don't have the D-8 running yet, but I like my National New Yorker through a Mesa Studio .22+ with an Altec speaker, and for jams, an old Peavey Backstage Plus with a 10". But it sounds real sweet through a '52 Silvertone "Champ" with a Weber Signature 8" in it. That amp and the NY'er were made for each other. It's just not enough amp to gig with. Maybe a coffee house deal, but even with a microphone it's going to get lost on a bigger stage.

So to answer you're original question, they all work with certain trade-offs, mostly what amp you're driving it with and what area you're trying to fill with sound.

A lot of help I am... Wink

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

I am hoping to play out this summer and have a Roland Cube 80XL that will serve double duty. It sounds very nice with built in effects. However, I just ordered a Roland Cube 40GX that has a 10" speaker, same COSM technology and lighter for practice sessions. $269.00 and will leave it in the hallway to throw in back of the car.

Jim Williams · From: Meridian, Mississippi, USA - Home of Peavey!

I just got a 40XLand it is a great little amp. Plenty of output through the ten inch speaker. My big amp is a Nashville 400 with a 15 inch. To be honest at low volume settings they both sound great. I also think you need to consider the quality of the speaker as well as the size.
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GFI SM10 3/4, 1937 Gibson EH-150, 2 - Rondo SX Lap Steels and a Guyatone 6 String C6. Peavey 400 and a Roland 40 Amps. Behringer Reverb Pedal.

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

I agree with Ray Montee in his assessment of the little Fender Pro Juniors. Unlike Ray, I only have one Bakelite Ric. Although it sounds great through virtually every amp I've played it through, it really shines through either of my older model Pro Juniors.

I have yet to find an instrument that does not sound good when played through a Fender Pro Junior. I have two of them -- an original tweed model, and a white tolex version from the late nineties.

Crank it up for a nice bluesy Strat ala Stevie Ray. Turn it down, and it'll clean right up for steel. It's easy to dial in a good sound with the single tone control. I added a reverb pedal and used one for home practice on my push/pull until I obtained a Blues Junior with the onboard reverb. Replace the first 12AX7 with a 12AU7, and a Pro Junior becomes a dynamite harp amp with most any old bullet mic.

Very versatile little amp in a lightweight package, and they usually can be had quite reasonably on the used market because Fender has produced zillions of them through the years.

Because this post was originally concerned with speaker size, it should be noted that both of my Pro Juniors are fitted with their stock "Fender Special Design" 10-inch speakers, which were manufactured by Eminence.

Gary Meixner · From: New York, USA

Friends,

Thanks so much for the input. Finding just the right gear is a never ending quest, and for me it is just another expression of my obsession with the steel guitar.

There is a particular sound, or character that I hear in many of my favorite recordings both old and new, that seems to me to come from the speaker itself. You hear it very well on Jeremy Wakefield's, Steel Guitar Caviar record. It is most noticeable on single note lines but is always present and colors the whole performance a wonderful character. It is kind of a wonky sound, for lack of a better word, like the speaker is being asked to do something that it wasn't supposed to do, but with the steel guitar it becomes incredibly musical. Hard to describe.

I have gotten close using old alnico Jensens and other vintage speakers but in this modern world I need a little more power capability than these can usually handle.

I have three guitars, a beautiful old Ric bakelite, a Clinesmith 8 and a homemade 7 stringer. They all sound great through just about anything but I am trying to seal the deal by capturing this elusive "sound".

My main amp is a Blues Jr that I modified to use 6L6 power tubes and puts out about 30 watts. I do agree that the Pro Jr. with a ten inch speaker is an exceptional sounding amp and all this is leading me to want to try a smaller, but higher power alnico 8 or 10" speaker in my Blues Jr. in place of the ceramic 12".

There are of course many other factors to consider and your advice is always so helpful. Any other thoughts are greatly appreciated and I will keep you posted on my experiments.

Very best always,

Gary Meixner

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I've got a great looking speaker cabinet that opens up into a two speaker unit. Looks like an early Rickenbacher cabinet, nice cut-outs and no nicks or gouges in the covering.

There is no amplifier inside but one of the units has a 10-12 speaker installed. Possibly used as a PA set somewhere down the line.

Ideal for installing what you want and capturing that elusive SOUND your seeking. Anyone interested?

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Moved to Electronics from Steel Without Pedals.
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