NV400 mod or NV112?

Tom Diemer · From: Defiance, Ohio USA

I hope this isn't a stupid question.

I play in a gospel group, double on steel and guitar. I don't want to be loud in this group, but I do want to sound good. I frankly don't like the sound of my NV400 at lower volume. Thin and middy sounding, not rich and full like I want. I can somewhat fix it by running the pre-gain real high, post gain real low, but then it's a little hard to control how it sounds to the whole room, even though it sounds better to me sitting in front of it. I saw someone on here I respect a lot say you shouldn't run the pre higher than the post gain for the best sound.

My guitars are a Carter D-10, E66 on both necks, and either a tele or Epiphone Dot guitar. Lately I've been using a PODxt direct to the PA with pretty good results.

My questions:

Does the Peavey mod warm up the sound of the NV400 at lower volume? Is the 112 better than the 400 at low volume? Would changing the speaker to something other than the BW help? Is this normal for a NV400, or is mine maybe not working right?

I guess I'm trying to figure whether I need a new amp for smaller venues and keep this one for the bigger ones, or just fix this one up, provided the mod or speaker change would actually help. No store around here has a NV112 to check out - not sure it would be better for my needs than what I already have.

I know most everyone on here loves the NV400, so maybe it's just me (or my particular amp). I've read lots of posts where people talk about how much power they have, etc, and I agree. Mine will really come alive played loud. But how do you get them to sound like that at lower volume like you need in a church service?

Curtis Alford · From: BastropTexas, USA 78602

Try putting a volume pot at the guitar,this will load the coil and control the out put. This way you can crank up the amp for the clean sound with out blowing the building.
Works for me.

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

I've never tried lowering the volume on my steel because it doesn't have a volume control...but on my guitars, when the volume is lowered it rolls off the highs a LOT....

I would think that it would do the same on the steel.

Curtis Alford · From: BastropTexas, USA 78602

Jack,
We just did this to a Sho-Bud ProII, playing into a Session 400 Ltd. Use a 1 meg pot. This allows you to turn you amp up to 50 to 60 percent volume to clean up the sound. This goes to the instrument in put on the amp, the VP goes to the pedal jack. It cleans it up and gives it tone you can not other wise get. I believe the new mod on the black box does basiclly the same effect. May not work on all amps but most newer amps it does.

[This message was edited by Curtis Alford on 09 August 2006 at 10:33 AM.]

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Tom, I'd say you need a smaller amp for the services. It's true that an amp "opens up" as you approach the max output, particularly tube amps. Not knowing just how much "enough" is, it's hard to recommend any specific amp for your purpose.

I think your best route would be a lower power amp. The NV112 might be just right, but regardless of which amp you choose, I'd borrow one and try it out first before spending my hard earned cash.

Personally, I'd go for the NV112. I've had one for a year and find it sounds great at almost any volume level...but I use it only for totally clean sounds in medium to small rooms.

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

I would vote for doing the factory mod on the Nashville 400. After I modded mine, it sounded fantastic with tons of bass even at low volumes. I have a Nashville 112 and I think the Nashville 400 with the mod blows it away for tone at any volume level.

Greg

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I couldn't get along without a Goodrich Matchbox when I play. With the Matchbox you have a volume and tone control right at your fingertips. About as handy as it gets.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

The mod works wonders, and takes the amp from "barely acceptable" to "pretty good", IMHO.

Stephen Winters · From: Scobey, Mississippi, USA

I actually double on steel and lead in a gospel group myself. I use a Nashville 112. I use an A/B switch with my Sho-Bud and Telecaster. I have the settings on my amp set for the steel. I have my Tele run through a digitech processor. The processor has built in eq and amp modeling. I eq it and set the amp modeling to "twin" and my Telecaster sounds great through the NV112.

All I do is hit the A/B switch.

This set up works great in small churches, large churches, and when we play civic centers I just mic the amp.

------------------
Stephen Winters
Sho-Bud Pro1
Peavey Nashville 112

Forum Index > Electronics		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: