What amp you guys use for the pedal steel?

Raj Natarajan · Post by **Raj Natarajan** » 13 Nov 2003 3:03 pm

Guys,
Is there a significant difference in the quality of tone between Peavey Nashville 400 and Nashville 1000? I recall someone telling me that Nashville 1000 has more of a tube sound. Is that really true? I have a Nashville 400, do I need to eventually trade this in for a 1000. Of course, 1000 perhaps will have a lot more volume. Any other popular ones out there? From time to time, I use a my Hiwatt DR-103, it is just different than the Peavey Nashville. Matter of fact, it is quite different. Please share your wisdom. TIA

Sidney Malone · Post by **Sidney Malone** » 13 Nov 2003 3:55 pm

The Peavey amps are very popular and dependable, great company!!

My personal favorite is the Walker Stereo Steel, it's just the one that works for me!! I've tried several different amps and when I tried the Stereo Steel I knew that was it for me.

You'll probably be like the rest of us need and to try many different amps to find the one that works for you.

Good Luck!!

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 13 Nov 2003 4:32 pm

...Webb

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 13 Nov 2003 4:39 pm

Either a Twin Reverb with EV's, or a Traynor YCV80Q, with 4-10's. Tubes!!

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 13 Nov 2003 5:05 pm

I use a Peavey Rage 108 amplifier and it can be plugged into any instrument. It is a small amplifier. I use it as a practice amplifier. Brett Day, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 13 Nov 2003 5:16 pm

The Peavey units are not to be surpassed by the high priced combos, fad rack units or the "holy grail vintage" tube amps.Peavey has invested 30 years ++ in the Steel Guitar market and their products,dedication and SERVICE is unequalled!!!!!!!!! There is no need to look further, people tend to think because an amp costs more or so and so plays it, it's better. NOT!!

Sincerely,
Bob

Session 500
2-Nashville 400
Session 400 Ltd.
DPC 1000
ProFex II
Nashville 400 DUAL Preamp.
Peavey Nasville 112 Speakers w/1203-4 Black Widows[This message was edited by Bob Knight on 13 November 2003 at 05:57 PM.]

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 13 Nov 2003 5:16 pm

Raj, I have a NV 400 and it sounds as good or better to me than the NV 1000s I have heard. They are both solid state and sound solid state. Other than having a little more power, the NV 1000 has a kevlar speaker cone, instead of the paper cone of the NV 400. Some people who switched to the NV 1000 posted on the Forum that they had trouble dialing out the midrangey sound, which I suspect was due to the kevlar cone. Somewhere I read that even though the paper cone sounds a little better, Peavey switched to the kevlar cone because it handles the higher volume better, especially distortion effects. These latter might be reasons to consider moving to the 1000, but I don't think you should expect dramatically better sound.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 13 Nov 2003 5:45 pm

Sho-Bud
Standel
Evans
THD
MosValve
depending on the venue.

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 13 Nov 2003 5:46 pm

For Nash. 1000
Try 1-2 O'clock BASS
9 O'clock MID(corrected as per Randy

)
11- 1 O'clock HIGH
800-850 SHIFT
PRES to taste.

Let us know your opinion on these settings.

Bob

[This message was edited by Bob Knight on 13 November 2003 at 06:04 PM.]

Michael Holland · Post by **Michael Holland** » 13 Nov 2003 5:56 pm

Click on the little hardwood Boogie.

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<img align=left src="http://home.att.net/~michael.holland.2000/images/littleboogie.jpg" border="0">

Randy Wade · Post by **Randy Wade** » 13 Nov 2003 5:56 pm

3 o'clock is a bit too much mid for me, I would suggest 9 o'clock, for my steels anyway.

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 13 Nov 2003 6:03 pm

Randy,
I stand corrected,You are absolutely correct! I must be lexdysec??

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 13 Nov 2003 7:06 pm

Don't pitch the NV400 for a 1000 without doing a comparison first.
The 1000 does not have a tube sound.
Both have more power than you will likely need.[This message was edited by David Cobb on 13 November 2003 at 07:07 PM.]

jay thompson · Post by **jay thompson** » 13 Nov 2003 7:22 pm

Peavey TransTube Fex's, Peavey DPC 750's, Custom Peavey BW 12's, and 15's. Can't beat Peavey stereo systems.
Regards,
Jay Thompson

Jeff A. Smith · Post by **Jeff A. Smith** » 13 Nov 2003 8:16 pm

There's a modification that Peavey markets for older (I forget before which year, sometime in the 80's) Nashville 400's. After this particular year, the Nashville 400 had the mod's circuitry already installed. The Nashville 1000's also include either the same circuitry, or something similar.

The Peavey mod, or another one made by LeMay, are installed for tonal reasons, and generally are thought to be an improvement over the non-modded Nashville 400.

It might be good if you knew if your 400 has the mod or not. If the serial number is past a certain digit (a search would probably reveal what digit), then your 400 has the mod. Or, if it is an older 400, (like mine), it may have had the mod installed after market.

Personally, if I didn't feel my sound was lacking something, I wouldn't worry about upgrading. The opinions of others about what amp someone "has to" have only have so much worth.

David Deratany · Post by **David Deratany** » 13 Nov 2003 8:29 pm

I had a pair of Nashville 400's I used for years. I can't fault them. Great sound, plenty of power, reliable. But they kept putting on weight.

Carrying two at once became a problem, then carrying one at a time became a problem. So.........I got one of Gerry Walker's Stereo Steel Amps. I sure like it; it is in three pieces, all weighing around thirty pounds each. For me it was a win/win situation.

I played a 29 performance run of the "Always, Patsy Cline" show with a 1963 Maggie (Magnatone 440). It was one of those gigs where if you could hear yourself you were too loud. I brought the SS to the first practice, tho, to establish some ground rules

[This message was edited by David Deratany on 13 November 2003 at 08:37 PM.]

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 13 Nov 2003 8:30 pm

Webb exclusively.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 13 Nov 2003 8:33 pm

Post by **b0b** » 13 Nov 2003 8:38 pm

Moved to 'Electronics' section.

Bill Simmons · Post by **Bill Simmons** » 13 Nov 2003 8:58 pm

WEBB AMP!
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'79 Emmons D-10 Black Mica, 8+6; '79 Zum D-10 Birdseye Maple, 8+5; Webb Amp

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 13 Nov 2003 9:54 pm

I have Peavey 400's, a 1000, and am currently using the Nashville 112. Love it. As I have said before, I have never had a piece of Peavey equipment fail me at any time. Jody.

David Langdon · Post by **David Langdon** » 14 Nov 2003 3:12 am

Hello Raj. A DR 103 eh? That's a great amp, however I never thought about it for steel. Do you use a 4x12 cab as well? Apart from my LeMay mod N400 I use another rarer Peavey, and I would like Mike Brown to chime in here on this one. It is a Peavey VT Artist, using a solid state preamp and a 120 watt valve power amp. Mine is also rarer in the fact that it has a factory fitted BW 1501. I don't know what this amp was designed for but it is so versatile and LOUD! I use it in stereo with the Nashville, and because its tone signature is different it smooths out the overall sound between the two amps. Tell you what though, I'll swap you it for your DR 103! Because that thing will make my Hammond organ sing! Dave.

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 14 Nov 2003 3:13 am

Peavey
Fender
Evans (Derrell Stephens made)
Webb
Not necessarily in that order. You can't go wrong on any of these, in my opinion.

Raj Natarajan · Post by **Raj Natarajan** » 14 Nov 2003 7:34 am

Hi All,
Thanks for all nice responses. My NV400 is a modded one bought about 2 years ago brand new from Remington steel, here in Houston. I think I paid about $425 for it. So, it appears that NV400 is very similar to the NV1000, although I would want to compare side by side at some point. May be Herb can arrange it. Somebody was selling a NV1000 for about $400 in very good condition, I should have bought it. Seems like Webb is another amp to try out. In the mean while I will continue to use my NV400, is not at all a bad amp by any means. Any way thanks again for your answers...

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 14 Nov 2003 7:41 am

The Peavey units are not to be surpassed by the high priced combos, fad rack units or the "holy grail vintage" tube amps

Whew... I beg to differ. I personally own the following amps:
Peavey NV400
PV PX300
Peavey Classic 50-212 (all tube)
Fender Vibrolux (all tube)
Evans FET500 Large Cabs (2)
Kendrick 118 (all tube)
Marshall DSL2000 (all tube)

I tried out a NV 1000 and it wasn't for me.
... and my baby:
VHT 2/90/2 All tube hand built power amp which is actually two separate 90 watt all tube amps in a rack mount configuration.

These are expensive and heavy. You can easily purchase two NV 1000s for what you will pay for just one of these amps. They are just the amp, so you will need a preamp and speakers.

While I am a huge Peavey fan, to state that their amps are the equal of high end tube amps is not accurate. There is no free lunch. You get what you pay for. I think Peavey does an excellent job with their amps and is a great buy. In addition to the peavey amps, I also own a PV Van Halen, Dyna Bass, 2 profex II units, and an older PV guitar which is really nice. So, it's not that I don't like PV.
I use the VHT amp with a Mesa Boogie or Evans Preamp with a TC Electronics verb into two pacific cabinets with 15 inch black widows. This system is simply a step above the Peavey gear and sounds it. I have well over $3000 invested in it. Is it three times better than a NV 400 or 1000? No, but it clearly is superior.