What constitutes a good lap guitar amp?...................

[Jack_Hester]

I've read comments in some of the posts as to certain amps builds being ideal or preferred for lap/steel guitars.  I've youtubed this topic and found too many to listen to.  As most most of the readers here are musicians (myself not included), I'm thinking that a better answer can be found here.  I enjoyed the Sarah Jory videos that someone linked from youtube, a couple years back.  She played mostly steel, but had an interesting guitar video, also. 

Maybe I'm being too general in that I've never considered an amp being unique to lap guitars, over others for all the rest.  Thanks for any comments.  Have a good one.

Jack

[tubenit]

David Lindley likes a Dumble amp Steel Stringer

David Lindley - Mercury Blues - The Roxy, Washington DC 1988

With respect, Tubenit

[tubenit]

What constitutes a good lap guitar amp?

Since lap steel is usually associated with traditional country, people tend think Twin Reverb or amps with lots of watts and clean headroom. However, it sure does NOT have to fit that description.

Robert Randolph uses a Crate amp although I think he has maybe used Mesa Boogie also?

http://www.crateamps.com/artists/index.php?artID=13

Robert Randolph & the Family Band - If I Had My Way {OFFICIAL VIDEO}

I love the dancing in that video!

He tears it up in this video and it looks like a Crate amp behind him?

Robert Randolph- Squeeze

With respect, Tubenit

[Geezer]

David Lindley likes a Dumble amp Steel Stringer

With respect, Tubenit

His most famous stuff (Jackson Browne/Runnin' on Empty) was a very early 50w Dumble Overdrive Special covered in snakeskin tolex.....the snakeskin is very important. 

[Jack_Hester]

Gerry Rafferty had steel in some tracks on his 'City to City' album.  I like it used in venues other than tradition country.  Bernie Leadon is another that comes to mind.

Jack

[labb]

See if you can find any info on the older tube Evans amps. They are still in production but are all SS now. They got a lot of play back in the day. '50's early 60's. Originals were built in Texarkana, Texas.

[Jack_Hester]

See if you can find any info on the older tube Evans amps.

Took a quick look on eBay, and found only modern models.  Will browse a bit more. 

Thanks All, for the good info.  I'm enjoying the new search.  What got me started on this search was a conversation with a friend who expressed an interest in taking up lap guitar.  We both wondered as to what made a good amp for these.  A couple interesting links:

http://www.well.com/user/wellvis/tuning.html

http://buildyourguitar.com/resources/lapsteel/

Not necessarily about amps.  But, keeps the interest level high.

Jack

[HotBluePlates]

I saw an Evans amp in a Nashville shop that belonged to Buddy Emmons that must have sat in the shop for years unsold.

Anyway, you have to state what kind of "lap steel" playing you're considering.

If you're thinking the more modern country style (perhaps as played by Jerry Douglas) where you're not 100% that it's not simply a slide guitar, I'd suggest this: A tweed Champ (or tweed Princeton), plus possibly a toob-screamer type overdrive.

The most awesome searing lap steel I'd heard in a country setting while I was in a Nashville studio was done with a simple Champ, plus the guy might have had a TS-9 between the steel and the amp. The amp can get that sound on its own, but the pedal was about boosting the treble and getting an over-the-top sound in the room. The lack of bass and small speaker (guess that's lack of bass and lack of high high's) really made the steel sit well in the mix with minimal EQ.

But that's the right amp for that sound when you're recording. Can work great on stage with a mic; or you can get the large high-power amps some of those other folks have. The Champ/Princeton won't be a good amp at all if you want to then switch to super clean pedal steel playing.

Lap steel seems to be mostly about a good overdrive form of distortion, like the sound of a cranked Champ, and a sound that's all midrange and upper mids (rather than bass n treble). That means the combination is a one-trick pony, but scooped blackface sounds don't work well in "typical" country lap steel applications. But then, maybe you're not looking for "typical"...

[DummyLoad]

any notice only the FET input hole is made available on that snakeoil dumble?

 

sand-state rules! 

--DL

[P Batty]

The best steel amp you can't buy...

http://www.songwriter.com/bradshaw/webb_amps.php

[Jack_Hester]

HBPs -

I realize that my post about about Gerry Rafferty and Bernie Leadon may have not said as much about my preferences.  I like the sound of a lap guitar used as a slide, like in rock from the 70's.  I like it used in more of a traditional manner, when James Taylor had it in his music of the time.  And, Linda Ronstadt from the 70's.  Am I dating myself?  I can listen to Jerry Douglas, no matter what he plays.  The friend who has taken an interest in playing one prefers more of the tradional, crying steel, of country music.  And, I love to listen to it, for the appreciation of the player's talent.  For myself, it would not be what I would purchase, browsing through a music shop.  I guess you could say that my preferences are fairly diverse, tending more towards rock.  David Gilmore, for sure.

By the way, and a bit off topic, I've noticed more vinyl in music shops than I have seen in many years.  An interesting change that I like.

Jack

[Jack_Hester]

The best steel amp you can't buy...

http://www.songwriter.com/bradshaw/webb_amps.php

Is this an amp that you have heard?  Any comparisons to other configurations?  I sure would like to see a schematic.  Thanks for posting the link.

Jack

[P Batty]

I knew some guys who played them in the  eighties.  Powerful and clean, really well made,  the tone controls enabled you to really voice the amp to make a pedal steel sound good.  I don't know how the new ones compare. I have never seen one for sale.

The remote reverb control is pretty hip- you can do reverb "swells" and other, more subtle things with it.

[HotBluePlates]

Well, based on some of your referenced performers, it seems like for a distorted sound you'd want something Dumblish... something that's very distorted, but is so far over the top it sounds smooth. That's a matter of both distortion and strategic EQ.

I was referencing a sound that is actually less distorted, but sounds more raw. The best example I can find is Patty Loveless' High on Love. There is clean pedal steel in this tune (played by Paul Franklin), and also distorted lap steel (played by Jerry Douglas), both as a rhythm and a lead instrument.

The sound I was talking about is spotlighted at 1:25 during the lead break. You can nail that sound with a tweed Champ and a simple overdrive pedal to goose the amp.

For prettier stuff, a clean amp with a mid scoop is useful. For 70's distortion, you'd like the Dumble-style distortion amps with distortion EQ.

Unfortunately, you don't get the best sound quality from the clip I posted. The uploader managed to alter the EQ for the worse, and you really want to hear it through good earphones instead of computer speakers.

Oh, and I'm 90% sure the awesome distorted swell in the intro (after the fun trem guitar) is Jerry's lap steel.

[Willabe]

The best example I can find is Patty Loveless' High on Love.

Hey! Yeah!    Patty Loveless!    Now were talkin!       

That girl can sang!     


       Brad           

[Jack_Hester]

Well, based on some of your referenced performers, it seems like for a distorted sound you'd want something Dumblish... something that's very distorted, but is so far over the top it sounds smooth. That's a matter of both distortion and strategic EQ.

I was referencing a sound that is actually less distorted, but sounds more raw. The best example I can find is Patty Loveless' High on Love. There is clean pedal steel in this tune (played by Paul Franklin), and also distorted lap steel (played by Jerry Douglas), both as a rhythm and a lead instrument.

The sound I was talking about is spotlighted at 1:25 during the lead break. You can nail that sound with a tweed Champ and a simple overdrive pedal to goose the amp.

For prettier stuff, a clean amp with a mid scoop is useful. For 70's distortion, you'd like the Dumble-style distortion amps with distortion EQ.

Unfortunately, you don't get the best sound quality from the clip I posted. The uploader managed to alter the EQ for the worse, and you really want to hear it through good earphones instead of computer speakers.

Oh, and I'm 90% sure the awesome distorted swell in the intro (after the fun trem guitar) is Jerry's lap steel.

HBPs -

Great track and description to go along.  I don't have the album to hear the track as-is.  I'm in the process of trying to get a functional analog turntable.  I have a wonderful analog stereo amp and no turntable to play my albums, anymore.  The last two sat for years (that's what CD's have done to me) without use.  Neither a direct drive, one popping a belt and the other having it's belt glue itself to the table.  Gave them both away many years ago.  A friend at work (complete audiophile) never stopped using his analog system, and is looking out for one. 

Anyway, you've figured out what I'm partial to in steel.  Don't get me wrong, though.  I can put on a set of headphones and listen to a clean, crying steel for hours (though such listening, these days, tends to induce a nap).  Linda Ronstadt's early stuff was full of what I call Country Steel.  But then, she takes the same steel and makes a ballad like 'Keep me from blowing away' more than just Country.  I grew up on Country, as well as Rock of all genres.  So, artists like her kept me grounded in a Country style, while I pursued my love of Rock.  I've been watching some concert videos of David Gilmour lately, and getting lots of that use of steel.  I don't listen to contemporary Country much, unless someone points me to a good song.  Patty is one of my favorites.  That is a diverse lady, in her musical tastes.

Jack

[tubenit]

Just to throw another one in the mix that appears to be using a Dumblish clone?

Steve Kimock Band - Stella Blue - 07-20-2002

with respect, Tubenit

[Willabe]

He's very good, I like it.

Check out this palm lever for lap steel or it drops into a strat.

I posted it here,

http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=12321.0


              Brad        

[jane_t steele]

Evans amplifiers are entirely suitable using dedicated acoustic or electric pedal boards (you can just plug straight in and play too!).  It's possible to switch between acoustic Resophonic Guitar (Dobro, with a pick-up installed) and lap steel.  Use voodoo, tube screamers, heavy metal, what-have-you for distortion on the electrics.  For the acoustics, Fishman equipment allows fairly wide latitude of different sounds for different rooms, etc.