Webb amp and williams U12

Kiyoshi Osawa · From: Mexico City, Mexico

I have been reading alot about the webb lately here in the archives. A lot of players swear by them. And they seem to be very versatile amps in the tone department. Now, I know any discussion about amps and tone usually revolves around personal opinion, so I'm trying to ask a more specific question:

I am soon to pick up a new Williams U12, and would love to hear from other players' experiences with the 614-E and this guitar (or any other universal guitar). What types of music do you play? Does the webb perform adequately for your needs? Is it versatile enough to be used for various types of music? Does it excel in any particular department?

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

I play a U-12 (Carter) and I have a Webb. My #1 amps are Fender tube amps but I used the Webb for a good number of my regular gigs. I can't say that I've fully gotten to know the Webb--I was always messing with the dials. Does that mean that I am less than satisfied with it? I don't know. I have no intention of selling it. I can't think of any negatives---there is absolutely nothing about the Webb that would be incompatible with your new guitar. I guess all I'm trying to say is that my reaction to the Webb was not "there it is" or the other things you see posted about certain amps--I'm thinking of the reviews of the new PV and Fender amps that have made the recent stirs. Either these amps are truly that special or you just have to get past a certain amount of hype or enthusiasm and recognize that there are few instant gratification miracles out there. Certainly some people have fallen in love with their Webbs. Mine is still a growing relationship.

George Redmon · From: Muskegon & Detroit Michigan.

Hi Kiyoshi;
let me give you MY...i repeat MY view. I use the Webb 614e...i have owned, or played through, just about every steel guitar amp peavey made, played through Fenders, Standel,
Magnatones, Gibson amps, Lab, Randell, Crate, Evens...you name it. When i bought my Webb, a few years ago. I COULD have bought just about ANY amp on the market. I DID NOT buy a Webb just because so & so plays through one... I bought it because I thought it did what i wanted it to do. I play an Extended C6th tuning, with a 12 string, and keyless...so i can relate to your tuning, and amp concerns. The Williams is a fine fine steel, Bill builds some of the very finest steels out there. The Webb will work just fine for you. If i can help answer any of your tech. questions, just send me an E~Mail, and i will do my best. But i will tell you right now..you better want the cleanest crisp sound on earth..because that is exactly what you are going to get with a Webb......

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Whitney Single 12 8FL & 5 KN,keyless, dual changers Extended C6th, Webb Amp, Line6 PodXT, Goodrich Curly Chalker Volume Pedal, Match Bro, BJS Bar..I was keyless....when keyless wasn't cool....

[This message was edited by George Redmon on 05 June 2005 at 11:18 AM.]

Kiyoshi Osawa · From: Mexico City, Mexico

hey there,

thanks for responding. Although I'd love to talk tech about this amp, I'm not as interested in the specs as I am in practical experience and versatility RE universal guitars and different playing situations.

Also, does anyone know if these amps are still being produced?

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Kiyoshi, I've played through a late 70's Webb with JBL K-130/8 ohms for almost 30 years: 10 years on an MSA D-10; 18 years MSA D-12; 1 year Mullen D-12.

The best thing about Webbs is they just sound great, tons of headroom, and most importantly, their tone is consistent almost everywhere I take it. Only place it has ever sounded bad was where a club had dirty or low power, then every piece of gear sounded awful. But the Webb has a voice I really love, and it never lets me down. I own two of them now, both older ones with JBL's. I hear Black Widows sound great, too.

The tone selector knob I have full right for punchy solid state sound, but that's just my personal preference, and I got to liking it better than the middle "hybrid" setting after hearing Bobby Black's playing that way years ago.

You'll be very happy with any Webb amp.

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E9 lessons
Mullen D-12/Webb amp/Profex II

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

I've just acquired a Webb 6-14 CB, same as the 6-14E, without the EQ, and with my '92 Mullen, I've got to say I've found my dream rig! The Webb sounds great no matter WHERE I put the knobs! The CB doesn't have the 3-position switch, rather, it has 2 switches that boost/cut highs and lows---a more versatile setup, at least for me. I'm hoping this will be the last amp I buy!

Tim Harr · From: Dunlap, Illinois

I have WEBB 6-14E and I love it. I put the JBL in mt NV 400 and the BW in the WEBB.

It was good move.

I recently recovereb my Webb with blonde Tolex and Wheat (gold) grillcoth..now it has the same color scheme as an early '60s Fender Amp

While the WEBB was completely disassembled, I used my blackface Fender Twin Reverb and the NV400 for a while.. I was happy with those amps but when I got the Webb finshed and plugged it back in .. I fell in love with the WEBB sound all over again..

It is a fine fine fine amp and I never see myself getting rid of it!

Tim

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Just a comment on that tone selector on the Webb. I found it kind of funny that the Webb website described the 3 settings as tube, solid state, and hybrid. That control does nothing of the sort. It's very simply a fixed EQ setting. #1 has a dip at 375Hz with a bass boost. #2, the steel setting, has a big dip at 550Hz with a bass boost. #3 is plain flat. That's all that control does, there's nothing harmonic about it that would make it more tube or solid state, that amp is all solid state. I always used the #2, but I heard that Jimmy Day used #3 at least for a while. #3 sounds very midrange heavy in comparison to the other settings.

Brad Sarno

Tim Harr · From: Dunlap, Illinois

I use the center position all of the time

Kiyoshi Osawa · From: Mexico City, Mexico

lol!

Brad, you've posted that remark in quite a few other threads on the webb. Just goes to show how the idea of tone can be influenced by non-electronic things!
(Not meant to rag on anybody, just a comment on how one guy's "tube" sound could be another guy's "solidstate" sound)

Anyway, my mind is allmost all made up. I'll have to keep an eye on the For Sale section from now on. I've still been unable to acertain if these amps are still being produced.

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

I don't believe Webb amps are being made anymore---Didn't someone on the Forum buy the very last one?

Kiyoshi Osawa · From: Mexico City, Mexico

Yeah... I actually saw that last one for sale here on the forum. Apparently it has a small plackard which identifies it as the last one...

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Williams Keyless U12

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

It has been reported here, but I have no way to know the source or the accuracy of the report, that after some legal stuff has been cleared up, Webb will be back in production.
Like a restaurant with boarded up windows and a sign saying 'closed for renovations', I will remain skeptical until I see something concrete.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I bought my Webb new in 1978. It has always sounded great with anything that I plugged into it. I wouldn't worry much about matching guitar to amp if the amp is a Webb. It has plenty of clean power, a fully versatile EQ section and a very pretty spring reverb. It brings out the best of any steel guitar.

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6)

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