Telonics Pre 1000

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Hi All
I was at the gig in the Opry last night and can say that Davie's description of the sound was very accurate.
I consider Myself to be suitably qualified to give an opinion,I have heard Davie on many occasions with "Shooter"who are a first class five piece band.Each time I listen to Davie play I am impressed with his ability. Last night it moved up a notch,the Telonics was definitely doing a job and if it was at all possible Davie was playing better than ever.
Well done Shooter and Davie.
Billy

[Malcolm]

Thanks for the reports guys, interesting reading, though still not convinced it would make me pay that amount, when you consider you still need power amp and speaker cab it comes to more money than I would want or could afford to pay.My thoughts go to Dallas and Mike Johnson and a 112 + DD3, best sound at show.

[Ken Byng]

Malcolm
Are you sure Mike was playing through the 112 in the Show Pro room? He had his PV Ltd w/ 15" Eminence speaker in the room in addition to Jeff's 112, and when I jammed with Mike he was playing through the Ltd. I thought that Joanie played bass through the 112. You are probably right as my grey matter is turning greyer by the day. Mike has the best tone of anyone I have ever heard, but he made my Show Pro almost talk when he played on it. A real master player. He sounds particularly wonderful on his red Emmons through the Ltd. I find the PV 112 is pretty good at bedroom volume, but when you push the amp on a band gig (unless it is miked up) it loses definition. JMHO.

The Telonics stuff is expensive, but worth every penny. Build quality is as good as it gets, and their sound range is everything a player needs. The Telonics TCA-500 amp is a once in a lifetime amp for anyone still gigging. I can't see it ever being surpassed by anything else in the next 30 years.

[Malcolm]

Ken, pretty sure it was 112, it was sitting right behind him, and I wondered why mine didn't sound that good. Happy for anyone that can afford the Telonics gear, I'm just not in the position, or likely to be, to spend that amount of cash.I can say without word of a doubt that Dave and his team give superb service, as does Mark this side of the pond, and no criticism of any of there products is intended,but I'm afraid just way out of my reach.

[Ken Byng]

Well, Billy Murdoch has been a signed up member of the Telonics fan club far longer than I have. I remember seeing him trot out of the Telonics room a few years ago with a Mk2 pre amp under his arm and a grin as wide as the Forth Bridge after he had just done a deal with Dave Beaty. I just didn't get why people would want to spend 3 or 4 times the market rate on steel guitar electricals, when there were other products on the market that were as good for less money. WRONG - I get it now!!! Properly set up, the Telonics equipment can make such a significant improvement to your tone that you just cannot ignore it. Even the great Mike Johnson was all ears when I told him about the TCA-500 amp, and said that he would love to try one out. I reckon that the Telonics Pre 1000 into the power amp input of a Peavey solid state steel combo amp 400 and 500 series would sound pretty impressive with no mid range honk.

[Malcolm]

Ken, while I appreciate the Quality of Telonics gear, one thing that annoys me is the lack of prices on their web site, " phone for details",This applies to US prices,Mark has prices for UK listed, having been at Dallas I have a very rough idea of prices, but the practice of no prices , whether it be Telonics or any other company or individual ( which happens here regularly on forum)really annoys me, and I have thoughts along line of WHY ? Does that mean everybody gets a different deal or are they embarrassed at the price they are asking.Just my thoughts and again I stress this is no criticism of the products quality.

Edit, my reason for wanting US prices is that I would buy in US, normally Dallas, thus avoiding shipping charges etc.

[Ken Byng]

Very good point Malcolm. Recommended retail price (RRP) of most electrical consumables is mainly just that. The manufacturer normally leaves some 'wriggle' room for negotiation. Where a price is marked Phone/Email, I think that it is difficult to justify that approach. Maybe Mark Dunn can explain why Dave Beaty uses this approach for some of his products on their web site, although to be fair there is a page for buyers outside of the USA where Mark's contact details are given along with a price for the TCA-500. Is anyone getting ripped off as a result of the Phone/Email approach? I would suggest not, as Telonics make a loss on some of their products that have incurred massive R&D costs. Dave B produces these products because he loves pedal steel. He is very much like Tommy Bradshaw in that respect, who also made 20 re-issue 614-E Webb amps at a loss. These guys are gold dust and I for one don't mind emptying my piggy bank and supporting them. Here is a page that highlight's Malcolm's point.

http://www.tpa-az.com/page3.htm

Edit, my reason for wanting US prices is that I would buy in US, normally Dallas, thus avoiding shipping charges etc.

Malcolm
Unless you would be prepared to pay separately for PAT tests of amps, pay the VAT, import duty, oversize baggage fees etc etc, you would not be allowed to import an amp. A pre-amp would possibly be different especially if it had variable and switchable mains input. I would not have considered bringing a TCA-500 into the UK in order to save a few quid in any shape or form. If my amp had a fault, I would have had to go through the rigmarole of sending it back to Arizona, when worst case scenario I could run it or courier it up to Mr Dunn. I know that one of our Kiwi mates bought one direct, but he has taken a bit of a gamble.

[Malcolm]

Davie, wouldn't you be better going for combo? it works in at around £2000, Pre 1000 is around £1750, so if you add in getting a power amp and speaker and cab it would take you over that.Speak to Mark Dunn and see what he would suggest.Honestly don't think any s/h pre 1000's would be around in UK or Europe , possibly ordering new from Mark would be your best bet.

[Davie Holland]

I did think of the TCA 500 malc, but I like the idea of having the "tweaks" by my side...that being said, the telonics combo does have the advantage of weight. And I could sell the Nash to offset the cost,

[Malcolm]

Davie, I looked at their lightweight gig bag type rig, David wright was using one, and could hear no difference between the combo that MSA had in their room and David's rig, only thing I didn't like about combo was size (Steel King size), gig bag meant it sat at side of guitar.Could be worth asking someone at Dallas show to see what offers Telonics have on Pre1000, put it in with a single space power amp and effect, use a light weight speaker and cab.This means lightweight gear, and possibility of gig bag on flights as cabin baggage, and just use whatever speaker cab you can get at gig.