Tele + pedal-steel > Peavey =?

Drew Howard · From: 48854

Hello,

I anticipate playing both Tele and steel at some shows, and wondered if other players ran both their guitars and steels thru the same amp for convenience. In my case it's either a Peavey 400 or 1000.

I ran both guitars thru a Zoom pedalboard into the 400, and they didn't sound bad at all, although the Zoom pedal is pretty noisy.

What rig do you use?

Thanks,
Drew Howard

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www.newslinkassociates.com
www.drewhoward.com

David Biagini · From: San Jose, CA, USA

Twin Reverb.

Tim Rowley · From: Pinconning, MI, USA

Hi Drew!

I use a home-made A/B switch and run the output of that into my amp (usually a Nashville 400 or a Session 500, both of which are single-channel amps). I put my volume pedal in the volume pedal loop. To avoid problems with tone settings on the amp, I set it up for my LeGrande with L710 Lawrence pickup, then adjust the tone and volume knobs on my Tele to get the sound I want. I happen to own 3 different Telecasters and each has a slightly different tone signature, but using this method I am able to get a satisfactory tone from all of them (remember that the volume control on an electric guitar generally will have some effect on the tone as well, depending on where you set it). Works fine for me. And because the A/B box is non-powered and completely shielded, it's dead quiet.

Hope this information is helpful. If you want to see and hear my simple setup, come over to the Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony the evening of June 29, 2001 at the Prairieville showgrounds, 3 miles southwest of Delton, MI. I'll be playing in the staff band. We can talk after the show and you can try it out if you want.

Tim R.

[This message was edited by Tim Rowley on 06 June 2001 at 10:19 PM.]

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

The A/B switch, on the input to the amp, is the way to go. I've played a couple of jobs with both my steel and my Tele using the Nashville 400. I use the pull-bright switch for the Tele and turn it off for steel. The Nashville 400 is adequate but not great for lead. My rack system with a Transtube Fex/MosValve 500 power amp and two 12" BW speakers is much better.

D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

Years ago, I used to play 75% PSG and 25% Tele through a Nashville 400. What I'd do was to plug the steel in the lo-gain input and dial that in for a good steel sound. Then I'd plug the Tele thru two stompboxes --equalizer (more 500 Hz, please) and distortion (just barely on) -- to warm up the guitar sound a bit and match levels -- into the hi-gain input. Not hi-tech but worked good enough for a bar band.

If I was doing this today, I'd look at an A/B box as previously suggested, but I'd still set the amp for a nice clean PSG sound. Then I'd run the Tele through a tube pre-amp (or line-out on a tiny tube amp) and possibly a separate EQ and/or other effects on its' way to the A/B box. Would use these to match input levels with the steel and tweak the guitar tone as needed. You might also have to turn off or adjust the reverb when switching back and forth.

Either way, I'd run the PSG "straight" and then load up the Tele signal as needed for a desirable (less clean?) guitar signal. Almost like using the steel amp as a plain power amp for the guitar.

Don Sulesky · From: Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH

Take Jack's advice.
I built an A/B switch from parts from R/Shack and it works great.The whole thing costs less the $20.00
And I use it all the time to switch from my steel to my Tele at the Local Opry on Saturdays.
Don

Pete Ballard · From: Detroit, MI, USA

I recently bought a used Vegas 400 for this very reason. And like the Nashville, I can get a great steel sound, and an adequate Tele sound (with the help of whatever stomp box). Unlike the Nashville, when I switch from steel to lead, I don't have to mess with pull-brights, A/B switches, or tone settings. So far, so good.

Paul Awalt · From: Greenwich, Ct.

Try a Fender Vibrasonic.

Adam · From: Seattle,WA

I play steel and tele too,and a Fender Twin seems to be the best for me.I've tried gigging with a Peavey,but the tele suffers going through a solid state amp.For the tele only a tube amp will suffice.I'm no tube purist, a solid state Webb is one of my favorite amps for steel,but I shudder at the thought of the sound of a Fender through it.Twin's got the best of both worlds.Too darn heavy,though.

Sam Marshall · From: Chandler, AZ USA

Twin Reverb &/or Vibrasonics. This is the only true answer. Peaveys are too sterile.

Sam in AZ

Neale Tracy · From: Birmingham England

I also use a Peavey Vegas, have been for 10 years now, I put the Steel into the first channel and my Strat through the second.I have not found anything to match the convenience or sound of this set up (Thanks Peavey). It is getting a bit old now though. Hurry up and bring something else out for us.

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Franklin S10
Fender Strat
Godin Tele

Jim Bob Sedgwick · From: Clinton, Missouri USA

I use an Evans FET 500 for both steel and a Telecaster, and also a Gibson 335. I find the tone to be very (as Bobbe Seymour would put it,) acceptable.

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

I have been messing with a new Fender Cyber Twin recently. This has a tube preamp, an effects unit and the usual knobs as found on a Fender amp, plus a couple more. I couldn't find any of the factory presets that had a good steel sound, but it didn't take long to create some acceptable ones.

I used the Vibro-King model as a starting point and then edited the "amp" settings. I believe it was the option called "full" that I found helpful. Then I added the stereo tape echo. This is all very simple, and the good thing is that you still have the knobs to tweak the sound as necessary. Treble and Presence settings are much too bright on the factory presets, but that's what the knobs are for.

The amp also works well for guitars (I really liked several of the factory sounds) and my steel settings are a good basis for a fiddle also. I don't think this is the ultimate stee amp, but it can be pretty darn "acceptable", it's easy to use, it has stereo capabilities in one package, and I can carry it. It isn't near as heavy as a regular Twin.

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Doug Earnest
Zum2000U12,Sierra12,Sho-Bud ProII D10

John O Keeffe · From: Co Waterford Ireland

I actually use the same amp for both steel and Tele.
It's a Peavey Triumph 60 (valve).
Again its not the ultimate steel amp but it suits until I can afford something better.

One thing I have to do is depress the "Bright" button when I'm switching to the steel otherwise the settings remain much the same for both Tele & steel.

I use no effects except for a Boss D5 delay pedal.
My tele is customised with three pickups.......John

[This message was edited by John O Keeffe on 27 June 2001 at 12:59 PM.]

Mike Brown · From: Meridian, Mississippi USA

I've used my Tele with my Nashville 400 and it sounds pretty good actually. However, it required different control settings which would be a hassle if you had to switch very much.

Rainer Hackstaette · From: Bohmte, Germany

I put the steel into the high gain input of my Session 400 and the guitar (Strat or Tele) goes into a POD 2. The output of the POD is connected to the return jack of the effects 1 patch. That way the tone controls of the Session can be set for the PSG sound. When I switch to guitar I step on the footswich to activate effects 1 patch. The steel is then dead, and the volume and tone for the guitar is solely controlled by the POD. The Session only acts as a power amp for the guitar. Works great!

Rainer

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Remington D 10 8/8, Session 400 LTD

Darvin Willhoite · From: Roxton, Tx. USA

I switch between guitar and steel quite often. I use a Digitech 2112 with patches set up for both guitar and steel and when I switch, I unplug the guitar and plug in the steel (or vice versa) and dial in the patch I want. The whole thing only take a few seconds.

Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

gary darr · From: Somewhere out in Texas

I came a similar problem with my session 500, I ran my volume pedal through the pedal patch, steel on one input the tele on the other. the only problem is that the pedal patch effects both inputs thus requiring the steel to be "live" to get signal from the tele. If you are most unfortunate to bump the steel with your guitar,or if there is a lot of vibration on stage, you get this crazy droning sound from the steel. I realize this could be eliminated by not using the pedal patch but the old "bud" just sounds better that way to my ears. PS I normaly use a classic 50 for most gigs for my tele, I was just trying to simplify my rig to play for senior citizens and the nursing home here in town.

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sho-bud,session 500,american standard strat,shecter tele,peavy classic 50

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