I'd like some advice on strings, volume pedal etc.

Doug Ferguson · From: Burnet, Texas, USA

I have wonderful mid 70's MSA Classic D12 that I'm starting to play again after 4-5 years of "life". I need to stock up on strings and wonder what you folks recommend? I've typically bought GHS strings over my past playing years.

I have a volume pedal that crunches static when I pedal up or down. Any resurrecting it by shooting some magic juice into the pot or am I wasting my time?

My Session 500 went legs up durning my non playing period and makes a loud buzz and pops the fuse every time it is turned on. I pulled the top out and looked for any obvious issues, like a dead lizzard or something shorting, but everything looks fine. It visited the Peavy factory a year or two before I stopped playing for an overhaul and was working great the last time I played on it before we moved back to Austin. I bought a Behringer V-Ampire to practice through, and haven't quite gotten used to it yet, but in time I'm sure I can find the right mix of effects through it. I wouldn't expect anyone to be able to troubleshoot the 500, but I sure miss that 15" black widow and the tone I got through it.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!
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Fergy, MSA Classic D12, MSA Classic S10, Peavey Session 500

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Doug a very popular choice of strings is Jagwires -
http://jagwirestrings.biz/

you can also get them from Bob here on the forum.
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Doug Ferguson · From: Burnet, Texas, USA

Paddy, is there a difference in tone between the stainless wound and nickel wound strings? Just wondering why they offer both.
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Fergy, MSA Classic D12, MSA Classic S10, Peavey Session 500

Karen Sarkisian · From: Boston, MA, USA

stainless are brighter. i love my goodrich pedal tho people here swear by hilton
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Michael Robertson · From: Ventura, California. USA

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

Pull the Session 500 head out of the cabinet and send it to Peavey. They will get it running again and will charge far less than anyone else. Call Peavey and ask for Mike Brown. He's very helpful to the steel community.

Mike Schwartzman · From: Maryland, USA

I'm currently Jagwire (nickle) guy as well. I gotten them here from b0b now for a couple of years. AAA+ product and service. Little to no breakage on my Carter and sweet tone to boot.

I have also tried the Cobra Coil brand from Mr. Bobbe Seymour as well. Those are also very nice strings with sweet tone and very little breakage. Fine product and service too. Those are my two favorites.
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Doug Ferguson · From: Burnet, Texas, USA

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice. I'm going to call Mike at Peavy to see about the repair. The Jagwire strings seem to be the most mentioned here and most other threads so I'm going to order them. I've had the volume pedal for 25 years, so it might just be time to upgrade. Any more suggestions about vol pedals? I saw Goodrich and Hilton...
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Fergy, MSA Classic D12, MSA Classic S10, Peavey Session 500

john widgren · From: Wilton CT

The Telonics FP-100 is my choice as the finest volume pedal available. Multiple tapers, bullet proof construction, state of the art electronics, variable impedance loading, drag, return spring tension, and minimum off settings, a cool pedalbar LED, great customer service.....

And you will never have to buy or replace a pot, ever again!

I've sold a lot of them, and everybody who has got one loves it.

In stock now.
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Doug Ferguson · From: Burnet, Texas, USA

The Telonics is pretty expensive for me to afford, being I'm not gigging anymore and just getting back to playing, eventually in our church worship team band, so as much as I'd love the best, I went ahead and ordered a pot from Tom Bradshaw and hopefully will get many more years out of my old boat anchor!

Again I thank you folks for turning me onto Tom's potentiometers on his site as an alternative to buying another one! You folks have been so much help! I really appreciate you all.
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Fergy, MSA Classic D12, MSA Classic S10, Peavey Session 500

Mike Christensen · From: Cook Minnesota

Doug: I will also agree with what others have said about strings. Jags,either stainless or nickle or the Cobra. For some reason I have settled on Jags,ya gotta try em for yourself. As far as volume pedals go I say it depends on what your plans are for your steel. It is my belief that ANY volume pedal can give grief and if you play out quite a bit ya should have two just in case. If ya only play at home it wouldn't matter if you're broke down for a week or two. I prefer the Goodrich L120. Just my thoughts on the subject. Happy Trails.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Just my guess, but; I'd say probably the volume-pedal of choice nowdays is either the Goodrich 120 or the Low-Profile L-120 model.
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Marvin Born · From: Ohio, USA

Doug,

I have worked on a few Session 500 amps. The chassis is two parts, The power amp and the pre-amp. There are several cables that interconnect the two. When you get ready to send it to Peavey. Disconnect, the speaker, and the reverb unit and slowly remove the back chassis. Take a marker and number the chassis and the connector for each connector as you disconnect it.

Some may go either way, so be sure to mark the direction as well. Mark it well, because you have to put it back when it is repaired.

Peavey has excellent service and reasonable prices.
The turn around is about a week to 10 days.

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