Hi, I'm new here....and I've got some questions. I've been playing steel for about four months now, and I've played it through my zoom guitar effects pedal and into my CD-player's amplifier. Now I've been thinking about getting some "real" stuff, but what should I buy? Any tips on an amplifier and a volume pedal that is not too expensive? I need an amp for practising at home, but one that I can use for smaller live work too, when I get ready for that...
Beginner's gear
Moderator: Dave Mudgett
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Tim Rowley
- Posts: 957
- Joined: 23 Dec 1999 1:01 am
- Location: Pinconning, MI, USA
Hi Niklas!
If price is a concern, and if your upcoming gigs won't require a lot of watts, a good used Peavey Bandit 112 or Bandit 65 will fill your needs just fine for now and can be purchased cheaply. Use the clean channel, high gain input, and run the low control at maximum. I say this assuming that Peavey amps are available where you are living.
If Peavey amps aren't available in your area, a good used Fender amp (Vibrolux, Pro Reverb, or bigger) will get the job done but will probably cost you considerably more money. Or you can hunt around for a good used keyboard amp (15" speaker preferred) which will serve the purpose for now. Don't waste your money on one of the newer rock-n-roll guitar amplifiers, they are not voiced for steel guitar.
If you don't mind spending more money, a good used Peavey Nashville 400 can always be purchased on the "Buy and Sell" section of this forum. They are a top-notch steel amp and run $300 to $375 U.S. used, depending on year model and cosmetic condition.
There are a number of good volume pedals out there, but get a good cast aluminum one made for steel guitar use. Stick with brands like Goodrich, Sho-Bud, Emmons, or Fender for now. These are all extremely well-built string and pulley potentiometer pedals made expressly for this purpose. Use a 500K Ohm Type J pot. Your steel plugs into the forward jack and the cable to your amp plugs into the rear jack. Any of these pedals can be bought in good used condition here on the forum for $100 or less U.S.
Hope these recommendations are helpful to you.
Congratulations on choosing to play the greatest (IMHO) musical instrument in the world!
Tim R.
If price is a concern, and if your upcoming gigs won't require a lot of watts, a good used Peavey Bandit 112 or Bandit 65 will fill your needs just fine for now and can be purchased cheaply. Use the clean channel, high gain input, and run the low control at maximum. I say this assuming that Peavey amps are available where you are living.
If Peavey amps aren't available in your area, a good used Fender amp (Vibrolux, Pro Reverb, or bigger) will get the job done but will probably cost you considerably more money. Or you can hunt around for a good used keyboard amp (15" speaker preferred) which will serve the purpose for now. Don't waste your money on one of the newer rock-n-roll guitar amplifiers, they are not voiced for steel guitar.
If you don't mind spending more money, a good used Peavey Nashville 400 can always be purchased on the "Buy and Sell" section of this forum. They are a top-notch steel amp and run $300 to $375 U.S. used, depending on year model and cosmetic condition.
There are a number of good volume pedals out there, but get a good cast aluminum one made for steel guitar use. Stick with brands like Goodrich, Sho-Bud, Emmons, or Fender for now. These are all extremely well-built string and pulley potentiometer pedals made expressly for this purpose. Use a 500K Ohm Type J pot. Your steel plugs into the forward jack and the cable to your amp plugs into the rear jack. Any of these pedals can be bought in good used condition here on the forum for $100 or less U.S.
Hope these recommendations are helpful to you.
Congratulations on choosing to play the greatest (IMHO) musical instrument in the world!
Tim R.