Dave Kirk wrote:I tried a Webb amp Ted was selling at on of the Irish festivals, it sounded great, but if I remember quite heavy.I have gone full circle with amps going through session 500 session 400 Nashville 400, fender Vibrosonc, Twin Reverb, Evans Fet 500, Nashville 112, and have settled with an Evans EH 200 with 1x15" Telonic speaker, it is mainly due to getting old and lazy, and trying to keep weight down to a minimum when gigging. Everyone I speak to have said the amp to have these days is a Teleonics, as their sound is just right, the trouble is they appear so expensive, and although have a specially designed cab, with the corners and grill, they look like someone has built it themselves from Maplins parts. I think you have one Ken, I know Dave Hayward bought one and said no matter what settings he dials in, the sound is fantastic. I know you have had many amps in your time Ken, what are your thoughts mate?
Hi Dave
I do indeed have a Telonics TCA500, and I have swapped out speakers a few times and mine now has an Eminence EPS 15C speaker in it. The weight of the amp is amazingly light taking the size of the combo amp into consideration. I have also got a custom built Webb 614E amp which I love very much. Again I have swapped out a number of speakers in the Webb, including Telonics and Black Widow, but have finally plumped for the Eminence TT15, designed by Eminence in conjunction with Nashville steeler Travis Toy. Like me, Travis dislikes the ice pick high end that neodymium-based loudspeakers give out. The TT15 to my ears has a nicer mid range than most Eminence speakers, and is less shrill in the top end.
My Webb was given a thorough service and capacitor replacement by my steel playing friend Danny Hughes from West Sussex. The amp is almost silent now, and the TT15 has reduced the weight to a manageable level. Tommy White played a Webb for many years, before Peavey gave him a couple of Nashville 112 amps. Tommy didn't like the stock speaker (Blue Marvel) and replaced it with the EPS12C speaker, and the spring reverb in his NV112 let him down on a gig in Broadway, Nashville which he duly replaced with an upgrade reverb tray. That is his go-to gigging amp now, but I think he also uses a Little Walter valve amp. I have two almost brand new NV112s, and I have the Eminence TT12 speaker in each amp. The NV 112 amp is okay, but in my opinion doesn't compare tonally with the Telonics TCA500 or the Webb 615E.
I still think that for reliability, the Webb takes some beating. Tone-wise it's a doddle to dial in a very good sound from the Webb, and I would recommend anyone looking for a s/h Webb give one a thorough work-out should they come across one. Another amp that is pretty good is the older Peavey Session 400 and the Peavey LTD derivative.
