The Steel Guitar Forum

I set the amp according to the recommended settings but it's much too mellow. I can either use my old Matchbobox to tweak it up a little or start fiddling with the 112 settings.

Any suggestions?

Sorry, not a suggestion,

but I was surprised when I got my N112 a couple of weeks ago how mellow it was. I'm using a Pod xt, so I have plenty of ways to brighten it up, but I was expecting the opposite for some reason, maybe based on other small Peavey amps I've tried.

Dan

Any suggestions on brightening it up....yep...three words.......
Fender Steel King.

Any suggestions on brightening it up....yep...three words.......
Fender Steel King.

Mike, you're such a card!

Guys, the simple truth is; there is no way to make a Nashville 112 sound good with any PSG. In my opinon it is the most over-rated Peavey steel amp ever. I have heard some fanominal players using the 112 and it makes all of them sound whimpy compared to other amps.

Oh, but take heart because it is light weight...give me a break...is that the measure of a good PSG amp. Use it for practice, but leave it home on job nights!

I would just like to say that I have been playing
jobs for almost two years now with my 112 using
either my Le grande or my GFI and have had no
problems getting the tone I like from either of my
guitars.I have not had to use any effect to get it
bright enough although I do use a slightly different
setting for the GFI as opposed to the Emmons.I used
NV 400's for years but now have no desire to go back.
Just work with the eq some before you give up.These
are great amps for playing gigs,and certainly do
sound great especially with an Emmons.It doesn't
have to have a 15 inch speaker to be a goob steel amp.

I've had a change of heart with the Nashville 112. I got one about 18 months ago and it wasn't really me. So I sold it and went back to my trusty Session 400. Since I replaced the blown Session JBL with a Steel King Eminence, I've been finding the amp excessively heavy, and I don't mind hauling around heavy gear. But this thing is like an old Twin now. So I decided to give the 112 another whirl, just for kicks. I was pleasantly surprised at how it complimented my Jackson Blackjack. Even the band commented on how good it sounded. While it's true that I'm in the midst of refurbishing a '70 Twin for steel (separate head and cab of course), I am currently gigging the 112 and I can't really knock it. The little workhorse has some personality, I must admit.

I do agree that the tone can be a little "small", and I did notice this in Dallas. Every 112 I saw in use had the mids dialed all the way out, as I have mine. This goes a long way in eliminating that annoying high-mid honk.

When all is said and done, however, nothing beats a 15" in my humble, limited, intermediate opinion.

Here are my settings, if you wanna give them a whirl:

High Gain input
Pre: 3
Low: 8
Mid: -15
Shift: 800
High: -6
Presence: -6
Reverb: 2.5
Master: 6

Make sure your pre is lower than your master if you want a cleaner tone.

I have found that using a BBE Sonic Stomp really helps to brightin the tone and add the punch I like to hear. Sho Buds tend to have a little bit more darker,woody sound than some of the newer guitars.

You can pick one up for about 99 bucs at Musicians friend. Guitar to my RV3 to the Sonic Stomp to the amp. That's it when I use my Sho Bud.

When I use my Mullen I just run the RV3 because the BBE unit seems to give it a little more brittle sound(bright)So the amp EQ works just fine. Alot of tone has to do with the guitar.

With a proper tube thingy in line first (Black Box, SansAmp, etc.), try:

low 6
mid -1
shift 800
high and presence 4

I'm running (2) N–112's with my Derby equipped with Geo.L. 10–1's. My Amps. are set as follows:
Pre. 5 (min., on the job)
Low +6dB
Mid –3dB
Shift 650Hz
High +9dB
Pres. +9dB
Rev. 4~5
Master 10 (on the job)
I also have a KLEEN~KICK (Izzy+ Clone) plugged into my guitar for slightly more bite. So far I'm very well pleased with the response! I also blend a moderate amount of Ibanez AD–9 Analog Delay in one Amp.

All the 112's I heard at the last Saluda show sounded just great I was supprised at how good they sounded, I had to take a second look some of the time to make sure what amp they were using. I just like the sound of my Vegas to change altho the 112 sounds prety good.
ernie

What gets me is that after all these years of Peavey making steel guitar amps, you still have to take a hammer and break off the mid knob.

What gets me is that after all these years of Peavey making steel guitar amps, you still have to take a hammer and break off the mid knob.

Actually, Craig, it sounds like they've solved that with the Nashville 112: lots of people have complained about the knobs breaking off from normal use.

Just kidding. Mine still has all its knobs.

Dan

TTT

Looking for all the tips and info I can gather. Thanks to all that have responded so far

I purchased another 112 at Dallas this year and I think it sounds incredible with either guitar I play. Now I'll be playing thru two 112's at the bigger venues. If you want more zingy highs, you can install the Burr Brown chips. It really changes the tone of the 112 giving it those zingy highs and a little warmer bass sound,IMO.

I played thru a Fender Steel King at the convention and they do sound great but can't warrent paying that much for an amp (it's also heavy) when the 112 can suffice.

Craig, I think I understand what you mean. After all the years making amps, why is there so much mids that they have to be cut out to get a good sound. Don't know, but I think having that much control over the mids is why Peavey amps are so popular. You can dial in almost any sound you want.

After hearing Henry Matthews' NV112, I got me one.
I also have a Vegas 400 and a NV400.....I would swap either of those for another NV112 if anyone wants to trade........your choice.

Henry you just might be right although the only Peavey I really cared for was the famous boat anchor for the Titanic. (Session 500). All the other ones always sounded grainy. That was my reason for moving to an Evans. I still have the 500 but it is just a practice room amp mostly.

Interesting across the board opinions on the 112. I appreciate all the tips and hints particulalry those that took the time to email me. Through Jerry V.H. and others, I've learned a lot about these 112s and their personalities.

For me, taking the matchbox out of the loop, using the pre EQ for the volume pedal and the post EQ for my delay I now have the sound I want. IMHO this little NV is as good or better than my Sessions 400... but that's the nice thing about sound. Some pursue that elusive "tone" with a vengeance while others (like myself) find a find a sound that suits my ears and guitar. With a little tweaking I can dial in what works in various enviornments.

Again, thank you everyone for your help and input.

I would like to add that I have heard some good sound come out of a 112. I just have never been able to find what I wanted in a Peavey. Not dissing the product, I just could never warm up to it.

Michael Douchette setting are very good, just tried it and that is the sound I'v been looking for,
thanks Michael

John, glad I could be of service, mate...

I heard Mikey D. play a nice old Pro-1 through his Nashville 112 here in Wichita. He achieved that good ol' Pete Drake tone. The kind of tone that will send chills up your spine...the tone that made most of us want to play the steel.

Like Mike said, you gotta have a tube thingy in line first. That seems to be part of the secret to get that amp to sound A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!

Casey

P.s. After hearing & seeing him play, I ran out & bought a Nashville 112...being that I already had a nice old Pro-1 and all.

Casey, I'm sure Peavey appreciates the business... as I do the kind words. Hope to see you soon, my friend...