In search of the ultimate amp!

James Turner · From: Jackson, MS

I play lap steel in a country-rock band. Our sound is old-school.We play everything from Hank(1,2,and 3),to some rockabilly. We play small to medium bar gigs.
I was using a Fender Hot-Rod Deville 410 but it was too big and heavy to lug around. So I'm looking for a smaller combo amp that will do it all(sweet clean country to dirty blues). There are so many medium sized combo amps out there. I'm overwhelmed.
I'm lookin' at spending about 500.
Gimme some input y'all!

Jay Fagerlie · From: Lotus, California, USA

I know it's not the first thing that comes to mind- but give a Roland Cube 80XL a try.
Small, doesn't weigh much, and is loud as hell.
It has models of some pretty cool amps- and let's face it, models are getting pretty good these days for live playing....you'd probably be using a stomp box anyway, right?
The big plus is that you can plug guitar/lap steel/ pedal steel/ anything into it.

And on a bandstand- it will sound fine.

I'm a tube guy- I bought a Cube 80XL and couldn't be happier with it.

Jay

James Nottage · From: Indiana, USA

This suggestion might be a surprise as well. You might try out a Fender Blues Jr. It is comparatively easy to move around, has a surprising amount of power (can also hot rod it up; do a general google search); and can be a bit dirty or clean. Todd Clinesmith recommended that I try it with the D8 he built me and I have been very happy with it. Cost on sale at a big box store can run $400 to $500 and there are good used examples out there as well.
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Clinesmith S-8; Pettingill P6; Rick-Style Vintage 47 Amp

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

Yo might think a bout taking your favorite steel to a music store & trying what's on hand there. Maybe it will help in your selection for the sound you are looking for.
Seems like more folks are using the house PA these days (if it's a decent one), instead of hauling some big heavy amp around. Then a small good sounding amp will do the job when miked.

Mike Anderson · From: British Columbia, Canada

If Todd recommends something that's good enough for me. Before I even knew that I was planning on one - the tweed Hot Rod Blues Jr in fact, available pretty much everywhere for $600.

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

You should search for amp recommendations in the Electronics section. I'll move this over there for your convenience.
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Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

I've been using a Roland Cube 80X (the previous model of the 80XL) and am very happy with it. It's light, loud, sounds great clean, and has a number of different Roland effects built in. I switch between the clean channel and the overdrive channel using a foot pedal. I'd agree with Jay that this is a good choice for your needs as you describe them.

My band mate uses a Fender Blues Junior and it's a great amp. It's plenty loud enough for our seven piece band in the venues we play, and it takes pedals well if you use them. BillM Audio has plenty of mods for these amps if you feel the need.
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Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Another vote for the Blues Junior, both Ian Miller and Russ Blake have been using them a lot here, and I played a set last year through Russ's unit with smiles all around: Great sound right out of the box and you just mic it off and fold it back into the monitors if you need more gain.

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

If you are a tube guy....

Deluxe Reverb Reissue (one of the good reissue amps), sells for $600 used, lots of them around. Many steel players use them for small-to-medium (or mic'ed) gigs. A little more clean power than a Blues Junior...

Has a nice reverb already...fine as is, but can also swap out the rectifier tube for a solid-state recto for a few dollars for a tighter bottom end. Clip the bright cap on the reverb channel for a smoother tone, if desired.

EDIT: Just realized you are a lap steel guy.....the Blues Jr. is a better bet for you, you can get it to break up at a more reasonable volume...
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Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

James, if you're playing at moderate volume, or miced up, you might be interested in this one: http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=247052
Not a modeling amp, but designed to be able to dial in the sound of various combos from Vox to Fender to Marshall, and does an amzing job. small, light, and loud.
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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
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Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Scored a nearly mint dead stock Blues Junior from August, 2000 off the local Craigslist for $200.00 last Tuesday. Wanted it just for a home practice amp for my D-10. After a few days of hard playing, it’s been determined a winner. Sounds absolutely awesome with the B-6 Rick. Nice with the Tele, too (but not as nice as the Princeton Reverb). Probably not enough headroom for gigs with a drummer in its stock configuration, but it sounds great in the studio. As noted above, there is an entire website devoted to modding the Blues Junior. These are versatile little amps, and Fender has sold a gazillion of ’em. Took a while to find a real bargain; jumped on it when it finally presented itself. They seem to sell for $300.00 to $400.00 used in the Twin Cities. Might have just got lucky (for once).

Gary Meixner · From: New York, USA

James,

I would encourage you to check out the Fender Blues Junior. The stock amp is surprisingly loud for 15 watts and is quite versatile. Used ones can be had pretty cheap and there are a number of easy to do modification that make this great little amp even better. Check out www.billmaudio.com as a source for modification kits and services. I kind of got hooked on working on my BJR and have done practically every modification that Bill M offers. The basic tone mods and power supply upgrades really make the amp come alive and they are cheap and easy to do. This amp is also pretty rugged and I have had no trouble with it. Feel free to send me an email if you want here more about my experiences with this amp. By the way I am a western New Yorker as well and often play just up the Thruway from you in Buffalo NY if you ever want to check out my amp for yourself. Good luck with your search.

Gary Meixner

James Turner · From: Jackson, MS

Thanks everyone for the input. Now I have something to work with.

Jan Viljoen · From: Pretoria, South Africa

We have a lot of different amps available in South Africa, which may not be available in the US.

Please let me know how the Peavey Valve King 112 differs from The Peavey Classic 50.

I am using the Roland 80xl, but I am constantly looking for other sounds as well.

Thanks.
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Sierra S10, Stage One, Gibson BR4, Framus, Guya 6&8, Hofner lap, Custom mandolins, Keilwerth sax.
Roland Cube 80XL, Peavey112-Valve King and Special, Marshall 100VS.

Jim Kennedy · From: Brentwood California, USA

I have a Mesa Boogie 50 Caliber, 2 6L6 power tubes, single 12 inch speaker. Fatalistic clean sounding amp. That's what sold me on it. It has a volume and master volume on the clean channel, and can be used to dial in some nice over-driven sounds without going over the top. My lapsteel sounds great through it IMO. It also has a 2nd over-driven channel that is ok. I prefer using a pedal in the clean channel if i need more grit. They are a powerful 50 watt small combo and weigh in at about 40 pounds. I can attest also that they are as tuff as an amp can get. Mine fell out of the back of a moving trck at about 20 mph. Left a few scuffs on the tolex. A complete re-tube and it was good as new. Also, I gig a Blues Junior, no mods. They are great sounding amps and a do good job as long as the band is not really loud. If you play louder venues and you can mic it they are excelent little work horses.
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ShoBud Pro 1, 75 Tele, 85 Yamaha SA 2000, Fender Cybertwin,

Steven Pearce · From: Port Orchard Washington, USA

Peavey TKO 80 Bass Amp. Its sound is HUGE.
I DID take the Peavey logos off and its now a
King Tone. Sounds great- lots less Peavey ribbing

Im just sayin..
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