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Topic: Bass amps for steel |
Dan Beller-McKenna
From:
Durham, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 18 Jul 2012 9:11 am |
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I recently bought an old (early '80s) Peavey TKO 65 amp with an eye towards pulling the chassis and using it as a speaker cabinet for a 15". It's probably too heavy for that (darn particle board!), but it really sounds remarkably good with my steel (currently has an EV Force 15: in it). Certainly more punch on the bottom than any steel amp or any Fender Twin I have. I think others have sung the praises of using bass amps for steel around here, and I know my buddy Carty uses one (actually two!) for home and rehearsals.
Assuming that one can control the boom on the bottom, what are the drawbacks? I'm imagining that it might not cut through as well at stage volumes as an amp voiced more for the steel's midrange. Also, taming the boom may be easier in my study than out at a gig. Finally, this TKO is only 65 watts rms, so perhaps that big fat sound will disappear when it has to crank a bit, but for now it's shaking the walls when its barely turned up at all (master at 5). Sounds like it would be fabulous for smaller gigs where (some day) I would play more C6th.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Dan |
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Jim Mathis
From:
Overland Park, Kansas, USA
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Posted 18 Jul 2012 6:34 pm
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I had to use my SWR bass amp for a few steel gigs when my Nashville 1000 was in the shop and I was amazed at the sound. The only drawback is I had to use an outboard reverb unit. I now know that if I am playing both bass and steel on the same date, I can get by with just one amp.
A good bass amp is a very versatile piece of equipment.
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Jim@MathisPhoto.net |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 18 Jul 2012 7:58 pm
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the biggest drawback that I see is in speaker cabinet design. Bass amps are traditionally made from MDF and have a closed back with ports. Guitar amps are traditionally made with solid cabinets and either have an open back or a closed back with no ports.
The MDF allows for more low end because it does not rattle like solid pine would at those low frequencies.
Pine is not great for bass because the low frequencies eventually rattle the speaker against the rigid baffle.
MDF cabinets sound kind of muddy in the frequency range that the pedal steel sits in (in my opinion). The pine really helps the midrange pop, and has more of a tone to it.
bass cabinets often have a crossover built in and an internal tweeter, which is not ideal for a midrange heavy instrument like a guitar or pedal steel. If you use a single 15 you avoid this
as far as the amplifier circuit on its own, you may find that some guitar amps offer much more low end than a bass amp. Plug a Fender champ into a 15" speaker and you'll see what I mean. It should be considered on a case by case basis - but in a pinch I think you are probably good to go with a bass amp
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Milkmansound.com |
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Peter Harris
From:
South Australia, Australia
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Posted 19 Jul 2012 3:26 am
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FWIW, my Telecaster (C6 open slide with 6-lever Bigsby Palm Pedal...  ) sounds ok through my 59 Bassman RI...along with everything else I push through it from time-to-time...
..which includes a Roland-Ready Strat through a GR-30 guitar-synth..
(the Tele is also set up with a Roland synth pickup, just to keep the locals on their toes)
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Steven Pearce
From:
Port Orchard Washington, USA
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Posted 27 Jul 2012 5:25 pm
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GO FOR IT!
I have been using my Peavey TKO 80 Bass Amp for lap steel and guitar(strat) for about 2 years now. It cuts through the mix like a Mutha! Im using basic pedals for reverb and compression.
The 7 band EQ settings on the amp, ( lets use 1-10 for ease of explain: 1 being all the way down):
2-2-1-0-5-5-5- The lows and lower mids are off..the last three silders set mid way.
In the bedroom, in a club, or at The Seattle Center for an outdoor gig last Sunday, this amp just SINGS!
Good Luck,
Steve Pearce[/img]
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http://www.fentonstwang.com/fr_home.cfm |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 27 Jul 2012 6:35 pm
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Tony Arrowood plays through a TNT bass amp. See what you think about his tone.
Click Here
_________________
Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande
There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.
Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat |
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Gary Walker
From:
Morro Bay, CA
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Posted 29 Jul 2012 3:29 pm
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| For years, Curly Chalker played through two 1959 Fender Bassman amps and could clear your ear wax with them. |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 29 Jul 2012 7:09 pm
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| Gary Walker wrote: |
| For years, Curly Chalker played through two 1959 Fender Bassman amps and could clear your ear wax with them. |
Yeah, but we all know that those aren't bass amps.
Just only the bestest, most collectable guitar amps made. |
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Peter Harris
From:
South Australia, Australia
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Posted 30 Jul 2012 3:42 am
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| Stephen Cowell wrote: |
| Gary Walker wrote: |
| For years, Curly Chalker played through two 1959 Fender Bassman amps and could clear your ear wax with them. |
Yeah, but we all know that those aren't bass amps.
Just only the bestest, most collectable guitar amps made. |
....I was trying to avoid saying that, but since you brought it up... 
....but to just add to the confusion, I HAVE been known to play a certain couple of Jazz Basses through mine at times, too.... |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 30 Jul 2012 2:20 pm
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Bass amps usually only have two drawbacks, their weight and size, and their (almost universal) lack of reverb/EFX. If you can get past these "problems", you'll discover a world of "fat" sounds and you'll also drive the bass player wacko.
In short, they kick butt big time. |
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Lyle Bradford
From:
Gilbert WV USA (deceased)
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Posted 30 Jul 2012 3:10 pm
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| I have an 80 model bassman needs repaired but can't wait to try it. |
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Dan Beller-McKenna
From:
Durham, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 30 Jul 2012 5:15 pm
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Donny: driving the bass player wacko is one of my primary goals in life.
(Hi Chris  )
Dan |
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Harold Dye
From:
Cullman, Alabama, USA
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Posted 6 Aug 2012 10:18 am
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| I have two MM bass amp heads. One is a 150 watt HD and other a 65 watt. I use the 150 into a cab with a Peavey 1501 and I use the 65 into a cab with a 1502 (bass speaker). Either of these amps to my ear sound as good as anything I have ever used. I have used Session 500, Sessions LTD, NV 400, Fender Vibrasonic, and a rack system with Walker pre and Stewart power amp. I plug into the Bass inputs and I like my sound using one or both amps (if I want stereo). I have no idea if either of these sound differently than a combo bass amp. The 150 weighs about 35lbs and the 65 about 25, and then there's the cabs. But that sure beats hauling around a 60-70lb amp. |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 7 Aug 2012 5:10 am
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| Recently purchased a Tubeworks 'Mosvalve 300' rack mount bass head. When coupled with a 15" cab loaded with a vintage Chicago era 'Jensen', I found it to be a great sounding unit for steel guitar. One thing that I find particularly useful is that it features designated controls for the input and output levels of the effects loop. |
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Curt Langston
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Posted 7 Aug 2012 5:08 pm
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This is where it's at!
Notice the mid shifting possibilities.
Run an RV-3 with it, and it's over............ |
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Jay Ganz
From:
Out Behind The Barn
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Posted 8 Aug 2012 12:38 pm
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Then again....there's this as well > > > >
Anyone checked these out? 1/2 rackspace 250 watts |
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Curt Langston
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Posted 8 Aug 2012 7:30 pm
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| Looks good Jay, but does it really have enough mid control? |
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Jay Ganz
From:
Out Behind The Barn
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Posted 9 Aug 2012 4:35 am
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I really have no idea. I have noticed in the past that certain amps (or preamps) don't really need a parameteric mid control since
the single knob just happens to cut the right frequency. Actually, I've never checked out any of these bass amps.
I got an email from TC about this new amp, so I figured I'd stick it on here. |
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Murray McDowall
From:
Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 10 Aug 2012 2:32 pm
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G'Day Curt,
Have you actually tried the Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0?
The Shuttle 6.0 looks good with the Tube front end and paint peeling power, I just wonder if the "Sound" would be OK for Steel.
I've been looking for something a fair bit lighter than my old PV Session 500.
Thanks,
Murray. |
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