Amp for steel guitar

[Leevi]

I'm asking your opinion about good steel guitar amp.
I think Fender is a right brand but what model?
The bigger headroom the better.


/Leevi

[sluckey]

Twin Reverb or Showman.

[Leevi]

I investigated a bit more this topic and it seems that Little Walter amp
is based on Fender 5C3.  I just wonder how you can get 22W out of a pair of 6V6s.


http://www.proguitar.de/ProGuitar.de/Twin_22_50_files/Little%20Walter%20Tube%20Amps%2022%2050.pdf


/Leevi

[sluckey]

I just wonder how you can get 22W out of a pair of 6V6s

Build a Fender AB763 Deluxe Reverb.

If I was a steel player I would use my Sunn Sceptre, or any of the other Sunns with two KT88s. And a cab loaded with two JBL 130s.

[kagliostro]

I just wonder how you can get 22W out of a pair of 6V6s

Fixed Bias ?

Franco

[Leevi]

Fixed Bias ?

Might be but the original 5C3 is cathode biased
/Leevi

[John]

I investigated a bit more this topic and it seems that Little Walter amp
is based on Fender 5C3.  I just wonder how you can get 22W out of a pair of 6V6s.


http://www.proguitar.de/ProGuitar.de/Twin_22_50_files/Little%20Walter%20Tube%20Amps%2022%2050.pdf


/Leevi

It says the amps are biased pretty hot, and you should figure on replacing power tubes pretty often. ;)

[sluckey]

When I think about amps for steel guitar, the 5C3 doesn't even come close to making the list.

[HotBluePlates]

When I think about amps for steel guitar, the 5C3 doesn't even come close to making the list.

Unless you wanted a distorted lap steel type sound (which often gets confused for someone playing slide guitar on a country song).  But in that case (if recording) a tweed Champ or Princeton would be the way to go.

[Leevi]

Both sides (22W and 50W) of the Little Walter amp look like they are based on 5C3.
Both sides are cathode biased and running very hot.
The original PI using 6SC7 is replaced by 6SL7, have no idea why?
22W is running with 6V6s and 50W with 6L6s.


/Leevi

[PRR]

> 6SC7 is replaced by 6SL7, have no idea why?

6SC7 is becoming scarce. I would NOT plan to use it in a production amplifier.
EDIT-- there is a new-made Sovtek 6SC7, price comparable to metal 6SC7. NOS glass 6SC7 prices are very high.

6SC7 also has one cathode for both units, which is very awkward in many circuits.

6SL7 was more widely used for more years and I think is back in production.

6SL7 has separate cathodes.

22 Watts is about possible with 6V6 if you fix-bias and over-voltage. Original 6V6 specs "under sold" the tube, because most users did not need over a dozen watts, and big amps could afford to pay for 6L6. But over the decades the 6V6 has worked fine well past the spec-sheet suggestions.

[Leevi]

6SC7 is becoming scarce. I would NOT plan to use it in a production amplifier.

There is anyway one 6SC7 used as the first preamp tube.

What could be the reason to use those rare and expensive tubes?
IMO Deluxe AB763 as sluckey proposed having fixed bias and general preamp tubes
would fulfill better the requirement of high headroom. And if more power is needed then use 6L6s instead.


/Leevi

[sluckey]

Unless you wanted a distorted lap steel type sound

I keep forgetting about those R&R steel players out there.

[HotBluePlates]

Unless you wanted a distorted lap steel type sound

I keep forgetting about those R&R steel players out there.

 

I'm never quite sure if you're joking... But if you (or others) needed an example, this is a good one.

I'm 90% sure that's Jerry Douglas playing a lap steel with either a Tubescreamer distortion pedal or an actual tweed Princeton.

[Willabe]

I investigated a bit more this topic and it seems that Little Walter amp
is based on Fender 5C3.  I just wonder how you can get 22W out of a pair of 6V6s.

I don't understand how Little Walter came up about steel guitar amps? 

Little Walter was a '50's Chicago electric blues harp player that started out playing on Muddy Waters records then had a solo career with hits records of his own. 

Walter had a distorted sound.

[sluckey]

No joke. This is the guy I was thinking about. Very fun to watch and listen to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcsjKVprjkA

[PRR]

> There is anyway one 6SC7 used as the first preamp tube.
What could be the reason to use those rare and expensive tubes?

"This amplifier was built entirely by hand by Phil Bradbury"

I guess they think they will run out of "Phil's hands" before they run out of good 6SC7 tubes. This is clearly very small production.

[Ritchie200]

My fav is Rusty Young.  Man he can play.   Back in the day he used a Leslie speaker and amp to get that trademark almost B3 feel.  Nowadays he uses a Hughes and Kettner.  Useless info alert...  He lives about 45 minutes away from me.  He will show up just randomly at bars and events and ask to sit in with local and regional bands.  Just loves to play and always a big smile on his face.  Can you imagine!!!  "Hi, I'm Rusty Young.  Would you mind if I sit in?"  I'd pee on myself.....

You mentioned headroom.  I would have to agree with Sluckey about the KT88 style amp.  Great round response with loads of headroom.

Jim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYuHvvBd5H0

[sluckey]

This is probably my all time favorite R&R steel pickin' song. Gave me respect for a lap steel back in the '70s...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av3DXCDsABY

[p2pAmps]

It's funny you ask this question as I am a steel player myself.  I have been brainstorming a AB763 steel amp for awhile now.

Maybe a single channel AB763, BIG iron, 4 KT66s, no tremolo, 15" D130...

My hold back is I know it will be heavy as hell.  Still thinking

[Ed_Chambley]

I see a lot of Peavey Nashville 400 and 1000. Not tube, but seems to be very popular. I have played the 400 and it is a really good sounding amp. I know the horror that it is not tube, but I see more of these.
I built a steel player a amp like Sluckey mentioned. He loves it. Dynaco based running 2 kt88.

[p2pAmps]

I have a NV400 and its ok.  The mids have that Peavey honk which bugs me some but over all its a workhorse

[HotBluePlates]

... I have been brainstorming a AB763 steel amp for awhile now.

Maybe a single channel AB763, BIG iron, 4 KT66s, no tremolo, 15" D130...

My hold back is I know it will be heavy as hell.  ...

Head.  Cabinet.  Two stout pieces instead of one anchor...

[tubenit]

Jackson Brown's lap steel guy was David Lindley and he played a Dumble Steel String Singer amp.

http://www.ceriatone.com/overtone-sss-100/

Mark Hartman on the Amp Garage has a schematic for this in a Nov.7, 2016 post. It is in a  PDF file.  LarsVictor posted the file.

http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17449&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

With respect, Tubenit

[sluckey]

Now that looks like a steel amp!

[Ed_Chambley]

I have a NV400 and its ok.  The mids have that Peavey honk which bugs me some but over all its a workhorse

Yes, I know what you mean, but the one I played (remember you making fun of me playing a tele through one at a gig) had some well known modification that is supposed to smooth out the mids.  I do not know what the mad does for sure and I cannot remember what it is called, but I am sure you do.


I did know you had one and I have seen so many I was curious why you were considering another amp for you steel(s).  Now I get it and yes I also know the honk you mention, but with a six stringer it is pretty cool.


I was playing a nice steel this weekend and as usual it sounded like a room full of howling cats.    Gotta be able to walk and chew gum to play a steel.

[Willabe]

I was playing a nice steel this weekend and as usual it sounded like a room full of howling cats.    Gotta be able to walk and chew gum to play a steel.

 

[MFowler]

More watts the better for steel guitar high head room.

The 50w Little Walter is based off Tino zottola book building a 5B6 Fender Bassman.  Cathode bias.

I have built 4 of these sweet amps very good for guitar or PSG.

The 6SC7 is still plentiful in either metal or glass tube I can still fine NOS but I prefer to buy the new 6SC7 and 6SL7 tubes in production right now.

[Leevi]

I ended up to Deluxe AB763 with 6L6 power tubes where also 6V6s can be used.
The amp doesn't have vibrato, the normal channel only. The setup with 6L6s is very close
to AB763 Bandmaster. Some small details have been taken from Bandmaster.
The first tests with a real steel guitar showed that the amp is done for that purpose.


Thanks for your replies
/Leevi