Amp suggestions for fiddle

Marty Nemanick · From: Madera, California, USA

Our fiddle player is in the market for a new amp and I told her I would ask members on the SGF for some suggestions. She was looking seriously at the Roland cube 80XL, but not quite sure if it would be suited for, or have enough headroom for fiddle. We play mostly club venues, but the band plays at a fairly loud level. Any input from you guys would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Marty

Jim Cooley · From: The 'Ville, Texas, USA

Marty,

I've seen several fiddler players using Peavey amps: Nasville 1000, Vegas 400, Nashville 400. Our fiddle player who doubled on Telecaster used his silverface Twin for both. I sounded great, but it's a Twin.

Jack Goodson · From: new brockton,alabama (deceased)

marty, i mostly use one or both of my nv112 amps. i have played venues where the sound man would mike everything. i do not have any problem getting in the mix if there is no sound man (which i actually prefer as far as tone). i have used about every amp that peavey has made for steel guitar and they sound great also, just as i get older i like light weight....thanks jack

Marty Nemanick · From: Madera, California, USA

She is pretty much looking for a single 12 lightweight amp. The 112 could be an option with a neo speaker.

Jack Goodson · From: new brockton,alabama (deceased)

marty, my 112 has an esp12-4 ohm with the mod reverb pan....thanks jack

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

When I was gigging recently I used a Red-Eye preamp/DI to the board and we used In-ears in the band and it worked great. About $200 for that little box but it was made for fiddle, though they say it was made for all acoustic instruments. Don't know if your PA is set up for that, but worked and sounded great for me.
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Mullen RP D10, Peavey NV112, Hilton volume. Hound Dog reso. Piles of other stuff.

Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

Any idea what sort of pickup your fiddle player uses? That would be a huge factor, choosing an amp, for me, at least...
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â€œTONESNOBâ€

Lynn Stafford · From: Ridgefield, WA USA

My wife uses this amp in our band for her fiddle and it sounds great! Lots of great features and it's easy to set up/break down and transport.

Fishman SA220

http://www.fishman.com/product/sa220-solo-performance-system
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Best regards,
Lynn Stafford

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http://www.steelguitarwest.com
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John Dowden · From: Louisiana, USA

There are so many variables involved with buying an amp for fiddle. Typically we're pushed to buy something designed for acoustic instruments, which usually end up disappointing us when we're put in a loud gig situation, or a guitar amp that tends to want to distort way too early.

I'm going break away from the group and speak out against most solid state amps because they've just never really worked for me. I've tried every Peavey amp and the only one that I felt didn't sound "solid stateish" was a massive Session 500. That's not to say you can't use a Peavey amp, but most of the time they just don't cut it for me. That being said, I have a lot of friends that use older Sessions and Nashville's that get a really useable tone through their rigs.

How much is your fiddle player willing to spend? I recently acquired a Milkman Half and Half head from Tim that I couple with either a 1x12 or 2x12 cabinet and it has far surpassed my expectations. It does have a slightly solid state feel from the class D power amp, but the tube preamp and reverb section really give it 90% of a tube amp sound, without the fear of ever actually making it distort before feedback. I should say that before getting the half and half I was exclusively using the all tube Mini for my day to day gigs and an old 68 Dual Showman Reverb for the festival gigs.

Wesley Medlen · From: LaCygne,Ks

I've played with several fiddle players using the 112 I thought they all sounded great. JMHO Wes
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Justice S10 Jr, Gibson Electra 6string, Boss Katana 100, Steelers Choice ,Gretsch 6 string lap, Hilton VP

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

the pro fiddle players i know use pv nashville 400s.

John Dowden · From: Louisiana, USA

There was a post a while back about someone that put the chassis from a Nashville 400 into a Peavey Bandit cabinet with a 1x12. That would certainly cut down on the weight a little. Based on where you guys are located I would just take a road trip to see Tim at Milkman and see if she likes playing through his amps.

Marty Nemanick · From: Madera, California, USA

Thank you all for your input here, she has a budget of $400-500 which pretty much will keep her in the solid state category. A few members have emailed me that have worked with fiddle players using a Nashville 112 with favorable results. Weight is definitely an issue as she was in an auto accident a while back and cannot lift a lot of weight. But we are still open for suggestions.

Thank you,

Marty

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

I have one more suggestion for that budget. Fishman Loudbox. Made for acoustic instruments. I had one and it worked great for fiddle. Just stopped using it because the Red-Eye preamp worked so well with our rig and I can fit it in my fiddle case.
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Mullen RP D10, Peavey NV112, Hilton volume. Hound Dog reso. Piles of other stuff.

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

If you get a 112 change the speaker out for an Eminence 12" acoustic speaker. It will make a world of difference with the warmth of the fiddle.Acousti N2012 model. If you need one I am an Eminence dealer and will get you a special Forum member price.

Jim Peter · From: Mendon,Mich USA

Another vote for the red eye. The fiddle player in our band was looking for a new amp and he found with a red eye he did not need a new amp.

Henry Matthews · From: Texarkana, Ark USA

I use a Roland Cube 80 with a Fishman pickup on my fiddle and tone is very good. My fiddle is also a good sounding fiddle acoustically. Don't care what kind of pickup you use, if the fiddle doesn't sound good, no pickup will make it sound good with the exception of the Zeta that has a pickup on each string. The Zeta doesn't rely on the tone of fiddle, just from the bridge.
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.

Scot Buffington · From: North Carolina, USA

The fiddle is perhaps the most perfect acoustic instrument ever built. It's body size is perfect for it's frequency range. However, it's also one the most difficult instruments to amplify correctly.

After working with many fiddle players, I discovered that the secret to correctly amplifying a fiddle is to make the E string as warm as possible. That way when she plays and people are crying, you'll know it's for the right reasons.

I have an Evans RE300 touring amp that she can try out for about a week or so with absolutely no obligation to buy. I'll also be available during that week to give her a short tone control tutorial and help her optimize her amplified tone.

Here's more information about the touring amp: http://www.evansamps.com/re300-touring-amp

Based on the current list the touring amp should be in CA by April. Call me at 336 270 5700 to get on the list for the touring Evans RE300 combo amp.

Kevin Mincke · From: Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA

Nice Scot!
Can't go wrong with an offer like that. After all, it us an Evans Smile

Bill Moran · From: Virginia, USA

I had a fiddle player in a band that used an old Peavey Studio Pro 40. Sounded great, has a XLR out. You can find them on eBay for $100. or less.
Sounds good with a Tele just not a lot of power. Smile

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Bill

Kyle Strauser · From: Crawfordsville, Indiana, USA

Marty, My name is Kyle Strauser and I just saw this post. I don't know if your fiddle player has found an amp yet but I am a fiddle player and have been since I was 9. I am now 46. I have owned a session 400, 400 Limited, 500, Nashville 400 and played through a rack with a preamp, delay and power amp for a while and I have found one amp that I absolutely love, and I found it by accident. I was playing somewhere one night and my amp went down and I had to borrow an amp. It was a crate guitar amp with 2 12" speakers in it. I borrowed it reluctantly thinking I was going to hate life for the next three hours because I am very picky about my tone and want it to sound very natural. I have played the same fiddle for about 20 years and its worth about $4,000 so I'm pretty picky about my stuff. This amp is probably a $150 to $200 dollar amp. It blew me away! It is the best sounding amp for my fiddle I've ever had. I went out after that show and found one just like it for $200. I play guitar (telecaster) also and my teli sounds like crap through it but my fiddle sounds like a million bucks! It has built in effects that are pretty good too if she likes a little delay or reverb. I don't use much effects except on a nice slow song playing pads or something like that, but it is fantastic. It also has a tuner but it's not very accurate. I will add a pictures so you can see the amp. I hope this helps. It's also very light. I'd find one and try it. She might have different tastes than I do but I love it. Oh, and I always mic my amp. It gets a more natural sound. I learned that from Johnny Gimble. Have a great day! Kyle

Patrick Ickes · From: Upper Lake, CA USA

Peavey RENO 400. Same basic "pick your city" 400 series with a HiFreq Horn.
It was a back up/stand by amp of mine that I loaned to a guest Fiddler. WOW!
Patrick

Steven Finley · From: California, USA

I played a job this past Sunday with a female fiddle player who used a Quilter Aviator. Great sound. She liked the fact that it only weighs approx. 16-17 lbs. Two channels, 100 watts per channel, covered the large hall with power to spare and almost half the price of other comparable amps. Also made in the USA.

Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

Johnny Gimble and Bill Dessens (River Road Boys) use Polytone amps.

I use a Peavey Ecoustic for fiddle with the bridge built-in pickup. This amp has two channels each with a EQ, and a 'feedback' filter. Also, there is an output, on back for going direct to the PA.

Thanx,
Jim

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

Ive done a few gigs recently with David Russell on fiddle. He is using a Peavey Session 400. He has been in house bands for many years at the St. Louis ISGC.

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