Best Beginning Amplifier

Tom Callahan · Post by **Tom Callahan** » 7 Dec 2003 1:17 pm

Could I please get some reccomendation on what type of amp, (Watts, Speaker size and so on) would be best suited for someone in the fourth month of trying to tame this beast.
I currently have a Crate gfx 30, with all the little dials and such, but the steel has so much better sound thru my wife's traynor bass amp.
Maybe I just don't know the proper dial in for it. If some one could help I would be most grateful.

------------------
T.C.
Emmons S-10
Zumsteel S-10

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 7 Dec 2003 1:35 pm

For the price these days of a used Nashville 400 it seems like a natural choice. It will sound great and it will be there for you when you are ready to play with other people. I just can't think of anything for less $$ that will, guaranteed, give you what you need for steel. (Maybe there are some good practice amp choices but with the Nash you KNOW it will right for steel. And now that you see/hear the diff between the sound coming back at you from your wife's amp vs. the Crate, you can appreciate how much different it feels when you have good sound coming out of your axe vs. a jinky sound.)

Post by **b0b** » 7 Dec 2003 2:05 pm

This topic has been moved to the 'Electronics' section of the Forum.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 7 Dec 2003 3:33 pm

Tom, nobody really wants a "beginner's amplifier". The real question is always financial limitation, and what is the best amp to buy within your budget. I agree that if your budget is around $300, a used Nashville 400 would be a great choice. But if that's more than you want to spend (i.e., more than what you're calling a "beginner's amp"), then the answer will have to be different. Best to tell us your budget and then folks can advise you further.

Tom Callahan · Post by **Tom Callahan** » 7 Dec 2003 3:39 pm

Well as for money limit, I asked my wife and she said half of what ever I got would be my Christmas present. My main concern is with all the equalizer stuff and all. I really don't know much about tha stuff.
Yes I saaid I asked my wife. I am old not crazy.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 7 Dec 2003 8:24 pm

Hi Tom, hard to beat the Peavey steel guitar amps...NV400, Session, etc.
These amps as you probably already
know are voiced for steel guitar and have circuits for steel not found in other guitar amps....I have always contended that these specialty amps are most reasonably priced compared to the prices guitar players fork out for the better Fender and other amps....
And if you ever need to sell it, you can get all or most of your money back! You might also consider the new Peavey Nashville 112..smaller, lighter but less power and a 12" speaker...Good luck finding a used one though.

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jerry Overstreet on 07 December 2003 at 08:29 PM.]</p></FONT>

David Friedlander · Post by **David Friedlander** » 7 Dec 2003 11:14 pm

Peavys are awesome amps for sure. I've loved them since 1973. Guitar amos, keybaord amps, PA equipment, all great stuff.
But when it comes to tone, nothnig beats a Fender- even a Princton. Which would make an awesome practice amp for an S10 E9, by the way.
Just another point of view.

Charlie Fullerton · Post by **Charlie Fullerton** » 8 Dec 2003 6:58 am

Has anyone tried the Peavey Nashville 112? I had a bandit for years -- sounded good to me. The Nashville 112 apears to be a Bandit with a different pre-amp. 15-20lbs lighter, etc/
I know thirty or forty "steel players", only 10% of them have any need of a 200w amp!

Buck Dilly · Post by **Buck Dilly** » 8 Dec 2003 7:18 am

High wattage provides sufficient overhead for accurate treble and bass response. I love all my Fender amps but I really need the power of the Vibrosonic or a Twin for the overhead. Although I have never owned a Session 400, I believe it is a great entry level amp. It has the the power, sweepable mids, and a good 15" spkr.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 8 Dec 2003 10:28 am

If your just playing E9 you wattage needs will be much lower, and the NV112 might be fine, but for a D-10 steel C6 needs a lot more bottom and speaker area to sound blalanced.
it has thgose bog bass notes to reproduce.

Any reasonably priced used Fender amp over 60w will fit most small gigs and will be cool for blues tone for E9, but 100w is a safer bet for larger gigs, or louder drummers..

But once you get into a certain price range for used amps, you might as well get what you need for the ~$75 or so more you pay, and not out grow it next year.

All the suggestions here are logical.

Merry Christmas to and your very understanding wife. No wonder you tell these things, she chips in half!!

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 8 Dec 2003 11:53 am

I suggest the new Nashville 112 amp. Here is the link to it from the Peavey website;http://www.peavey.com/products/shop_onl ... shvill.cfm

$599/99 U.S. MSRP. If you have any questions concerning this product, I am here to assist.I can be reached toll free in North America at 1-877-732-8391.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation