Mesa Boogie California Tweed for Pedal Steel

Brendan Mullins · From: Northern California, USA

Hello, all.

Looking into getting an amplifier that can double as a country guitar and pedal steel amp. Leaning towards something with some modern conveniences, like attenuation, which the Mesa Boogie California Tweed has. Used ones can be snagged for a decent price. Seems like the 40w version could do everything I need. Anyone have experience with this amp for steel? Hard to play one first sadly, so I may buy it unheard. Hoping 40w will have enough overhead for small gigs/live band. Cheers.

-Brendan
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1977 Sho-Bud Pro II Custom
1949 Gibson Console Grande
Dobro Round Neck
Plenty of other fun gear

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

I would be surprised if any steeler has tried this but you never know. The late Bobby Lee used a Mesa Boogie at one time but not this model and I don't think he played regular guitar. I have never seen that amp in use at any steel show in 30 plus years of attending. I have a Peavey Classic 30 and a 50 watt Tweed. They probably wouldn't compare but neither work for me as steel amps. I will include my Tweed Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. But they are great guitar amps. Good luck.

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

After seeing Brendan's post I tried steel through my '87 Mark III. Not bad but not great. For roughly the same bux my Milkman PS-300 sounds much better and will do double duty with six-string.

Comparing a Mark III with a California Tweed might be apples-and-oranges, but M-B has always had the reputation of being what you went for if you wanted modern rock overdrive.

They've never made a steel-oriented amplifier.

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

Brendan,
I borrowed a MB “DC” series amp on one show. The owner dialed it in and I liked it. It was around 30 ways so it had to be mic’d. if you can find one with higher headroom, and possibly try it out, you might like it. I have a couple of guitarist friends who swear by MB and claim that you have to know how to dial them in. One of them dialed in a Son of Boogie for me and it was awesome to me. And it had plenty of headroom. I once purchased a Satellite 60 and utilized a 7 band graphic with it and got it dialed in. I should have kept that one. It was easy to set and had plenty of headroom. Of course YMMV.

Good luck,
MB
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RETIRED

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

Brendan,
You could contact fellow forumite Chance Duhon. He’s a guitarist/steel guitarist AND he’s a MB user. He also builds/modifies amps. He might save you some time and money by sharing his knowledge with you.
_________________
RETIRED

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Carey Hofer · From: South Dakota, USA

Or. . . Try a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV, (the newest version). Around 40 lbs, best sounding of the 4 versions (IMHO), less twang than a regular Fender Deluxe Reverb. I have tried it with my lap steel, very nice tone in my opinion.

Mark Eaton · Posted 27 Apr 2024 11:44 am

Brendan Mullins · From: Northern California, USA

Thanks for the thoughts, all. Maybe I'll sit on it. Probably would have been better if I just asked what people think of Fender Tweed's for pedal steel, since this is more or less what this amp circuit is. Cheers.
_________________
1977 Sho-Bud Pro II Custom
1949 Gibson Console Grande
Dobro Round Neck
Plenty of other fun gear

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

Tweeds?
I have a reissue tweed 4-10" Bassman that sounds a lot like the ones I played six-string thru back in the day. It was OK for steel, although not very much low end. I used to have a late '80s-early '90s 2-12 tweed Blues DeVille. It was pretty shrill and IIRC was also a little light on the low end. Might have been OK with humbuckers but I was playing Teles then and couldn't get what I wanted tonewise. Looked cooler than the other side of the pillow, though. Winking

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

Use a clean amp for steel and get your compression and grit from stomp boxes for 6 string.
I have used Fender Tone Master twin with a black Box in front.
Now using a little Walter PF89 with TT-12 and that seems to have solved most all my sound needs.
32 Lb. head, 27 Lb. speaker cab.
I wouldn't buy an amp before you could try it.

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MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes

ajm · From: Los Angeles

Regarding the Little Walter PF-89 (from their web site):

The 100 watt "Paul Franklin Signature 89" has a 12AX7 preamp tube, a 12AX7 mid-amp tube and a 12AX7 phase inverter tube and 4 - 6L6's power tubes. Power rectification is handled by a GZ34.

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

I agree with Patrick. I just plugged into my trusty old Mark IIc+ yesterday and reminded myself what great little amp it is. For clean steel, you can get two very distinctive tones by switching from “rhythm” to “lead” settings if you set Volume 1 at around 6 and leave the Lead Drive at no more than 2. The rest of tone shaping and volume balancing is up to you.

As far as why MB amps are not on steel players’ radar, it’s probably because they get lumped into the Marshall-Dumble camp of rock amps more than the Fender-Peavey line, and they are known for having a major feature that most steel players have no interest in exploring.

Joe A. Camacho · Posted 8 May 2024 9:36 am

I used to have a Boogie Tremoverb half stack set up at home that I used to play through. Sounded great.

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

Indeed, Patrick. Mine looks like it has been through the 20 year war that it fought for me, though, and there seems to be a lot of concern for cosmetic appeal in the resale market. There is an authorized MB tech in Sacramento and I have been meaning to make the trip to him because this baby needs a little non-cosmetic work as well.

Dave Stagner · From: Minnesota, USA

I've used a Mesa Mark I as a steel amp, but frankly, my Milkman The Amp works way better for steel. It takes a lot of fussing to get the mids under control with a Mesa. I haven't owned a California Tweed, but I've played one, and it's pretty close to what I like about the Mark I clean sound for guitar (the Lone Star gets it too).

I find I can switch back and forth between guitar and steel on the Milkman without even changing settings, although it's more of a Jerry-type tone on guitar - brighter and clearer than what I'd do with the Mesa.

For steel guitar purposes, though, the Milkman is the best tube amp sound I've tried, better than both Mesa and Fender, AND the head is just 2.5 pounds!
_________________
I don’t believe in pixie dust, but I believe in magic.

1967 ZB D-10
1990 OMI Dobro
Recording King lap steel with Certano benders

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

The Mark IIc has graphic EQ. Tame those mids, sound like buttah.

Nothing against Milkman, Quilter, or any other of the great steel guitar amps out there now. I just decided a while ago that after 100 years of buying gear, I’m just going to make do with what I have because it’s good enough for the girls I go out with.

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