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Topic: Evans FET 500 Custom LV ? |
Wade Branch
From:
Weatherford, Texas, USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2006 7:25 am |
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| How many versions of the FET 500 did they make ? My buddy has a FET 500 "Custom LV" is there just a plain FET 500.If so whats the difference between the two ? |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 1 Feb 2006 9:26 am
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That's a great question. I've often wondered about the history of Evans amps. I would like to know about the evolution of the company, from the early days (Texarkana?) to present, as well as the various models that have been produced over the years.
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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande
Mullen U-12, Evans FET-500, Fender Steel King
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 1 Feb 2006 11:14 pm
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Wade, I have a "Custom LV" , too.
It's about twenty-twenty five years old. I'd like to know some of those subtlties myself.
Chipper |
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Robbie Daniels
From:
Casper, Wyoming, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2006 8:39 am
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I have a custom Evans FET500LV that I purchased around 1982-1983. I was told that my model was built specifally for steel guitar. Maybe the customs has a 15" JBL E130 like mine. Dont' know for sure, but I know it outperforms my 1999 Evans SE200. When I only use one amp I always use my FET500.
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Carter D12, MSA D12, MSA S12, 1956 Rickenbacker D8, Evans FET 500LV, Evans SE200, Peavey Transfex Pro
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Wade Branch
From:
Weatherford, Texas, USA
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Posted 5 Feb 2006 9:26 am
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| Still dont know the differences between the two ,does anyone know for sure ? |
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autry andress
From:
Plano, Tx.
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Posted 5 Feb 2006 10:08 am
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| I believe the High Voltage Series thing was the design when the amps were being built in Texas by Evans. The FET LV came about when the operation was bought out. I think Darell Stephens started the Fet 500 LV series around 81 & the JBL was the stock speaker at the time. The Larger cabnets had the best sound & tone to me that was built by Darrell Stephens. The SE 200 Series replaced the Fet 500 being a lighter amp using a different speaker & lighter transformer & smaller cabnet from what I've been told. I'm not sure when the SE 200 started but I think it was around 95/96 |
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Derrell Stephens
From:
Shreveport, La. USA
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Posted 5 Feb 2006 10:20 am
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FET 500; through 1994. After that time frame you will need to refer ?'s to Ed Buffington.
The 1st generation FET 500 amps were engineered with high voltage FET's in the preamp and employ a HV power supply. The FET 500 LV Series used lower voltage FET's in the preamp, careful to keep the FET's exclusively in the signal path. These are the main differences. The LV Series came about due to the reluctance of FET manufacturers to make high quality, HV FET's. Hence, the necessary design of the LV preamp with the gracious help of such great legends as Mr. Hughey, Mr. Beck, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Rugg .... the list goes on & on.
Speakers; we stopped using JBL for many reasons, the main being consistency of product. I do not recall the exact time of the change (mid 80's?), but I can tell you that the people at Eminence Speaker Corp. are much more customer oriented and that most of our clients liked the Eclipse speakers ... ask Buddy Hrabal. Those that had to have something other than the eclipse, we assisted as much as possible with finding the speakers they wanted ... non of which were terrible speakers. |
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Derrell Stephens
From:
Shreveport, La. USA
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 5 Feb 2006 12:19 pm
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Derrell - You built my Evans for me in 1985 and it has the Eclipse speaker in it. I remember you telling me at the time I ordered it that you just couldn't depend on JBL to supply you with the quality of speaker that you needed.
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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande
Mullen U-12, Evans FET-500, Fender Steel King
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Gary Glisson
From:
munford, tn 38058
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Posted 9 Feb 2006 7:37 pm
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i have a evans FET 500lv was wandering when my amp was built. it was built in sheveport and serial # is 8531. does anyone know how to find out?
thanks gary |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 10 Feb 2006 6:08 am
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Gary - I believe the first two digits indicate it was built in 1985. Mine is #8550, a close cousin to yours.
Lee |
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Dave Seddon
From:
Leicester, England.
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Posted 14 Feb 2006 7:04 am
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Mine's even closer, #8526
Cheers Dave. |
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 16 Feb 2006 7:19 pm
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Hi Derrell,
Just been checking my Evans, again, and want to publicly thank you for coming up with just a tremendous pedal steel amp.
A long-time pal, John Macy, where we met on Cape Cod back in the late 70's was playing an Evans amp. I said, after hearing John play one night, what is that amp you're using. Of course he told me it was an Evans, made in Mississippi, and very hard to come buy. I'm not siure if your first one's were tube or not, but John loved the subtle power and understated in-house reverb. He swore by Evans. And I can say he sounded just great. He played a lot of swing stuff then and plenty of originals with "John Lincoln Wright And The Sour Mash Boys".
Anyway, my amp is an FET CUSTOM LV 500. On
the back of the amp itself to the far left is #8630. On the speaker is ECLIPSE [15"]
serial #16137, model EVA 15C
Much thanks, Chipper[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 16 February 2006 at 07:21 PM.] |
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Derrell Stephens
From:
Shreveport, La. USA
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Posted 18 Feb 2006 11:40 am
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Chip: Thanks for the kind words. Keep pickin my friend.
D |
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