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Topic: Anyone using polytone amp? |
Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 20 Nov 2004 6:27 am |
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Hi,
I have been all round the houses with amps and become easily bored if I do not get "the sound"
I have had(over the years)a couple of fenders,a mesa Boogie,3 peaveys and a polytone mini brute II.
I know the polytone is basically a jazzers amp but I found that it performed well with my Emmons and also with the various six stringers I have.
I play at small venues but I like a lot of headroom and at the moment I have a Nash 1000 which is good for steel but not too good on six sringers.
I have been looking at ploytone amps on the web and there is a model with a 15" speaker which looks as if it would suit me.
I would welcome any comments from players who have used these amps.
This amp weighs about 22lbs less than the Peavey,I have tried the Nash112 and found it to sound exactly like the nash1000 so I am not considering purchasing one.
Best regards
Billy |
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Chuck Halcomb
From:
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted 20 Nov 2004 6:49 am
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I bought a Polytone about six months ago. I use with with the Black Box. For my steel guitar (non-pedal) and the kind of music I play (swing amd gospel mostly) I think it works great.
I know a lot of people don't like it for pedal steel but it gives me the tone I want. I bought it on the recommendation of Herb Remington who uses one and thinks it is one of the best amps he ever had.
It also has a big speaker and lots of head room and yet won't break your back when you have to lift it. 
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Remington Steel T-8 Steelmaster
Gibson Console Grande[This message was edited by Chuck Halcomb on 20 November 2004 at 06:50 AM.] [This message was edited by Chuck Halcomb on 20 November 2004 at 06:51 AM.] [This message was edited by Chuck Halcomb on 20 November 2004 at 06:52 AM.] |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 20 Nov 2004 7:37 am
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Hi Billy,
Do a Forum search on "polytone" in the electronics area and you'll find about a dozen threads on polytones and other small amps. I have one with a 15" speaker (the Mini-Brute model) and find it to be "variable" in acceptability for my steel playing. Some nights it sounds pretty good; other nights I can't get anything I like off it (come to think of it, that's just like my playing itself!). I can't explain why, but as a result I won't take it to a gig. Other people have found the opposite though, so don't go by my word alone.
Best wishes,
Jim |
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Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 21 Nov 2004 12:58 am
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Thanks Chuck and Jim for your replies.
I did a search as Jim suggested and the results are certainly conflicting.
It is a pity I did'nt discuss this with you in Drogheda Jim,will you be at Dallas next March?
Best regards
Billy |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 21 Nov 2004 5:31 am
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| Yes I will, Billy. See you there! |
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Richard Cooper
From:
Eads,TN,USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2004 6:56 am
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I got a polytone about four years ago.
I think it was the best small amp for Pedal Steel until
the Nashville 112 came out.
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2004 6:09 am
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I have an older Polytone Mini 15SL, and it sounds pretty good, but doesn't have much power. I think it is rated at 125 watts @ 2ohms, and it has a 4 ohm speaker in it so it probably puts out about 70 or 80 watts. This one also has a couple of piezo tweeters in it. The reverb is not very good, it sounds really "springy". I agree with Richard, the Nashville 112 blows it away.
I had a distortion problem with my Polytone and only found one factory authorized repair center within 500 miles. It was in the shop for a couple of months and the bill was around $250, which was close to what I paid for the amp. There really wasn't much wrong with it, but the service man told me they were really hard to work on and the hours just accumulated. I've never had to pay nearly that much to get a Peavey repaired.
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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
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