The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi everyone.
I would like a new amp. I have heard good things about the Fender Steel King and the Nashville 112.
I play a Sierra Session S-14 and it does require some power. I have a SB rack with a Profex2,700w amp and the two 15" BW speakers. Its greaat but its a lot to carry to gigs. When you count the seat its 5 items to fit in the car. The wife has to stay home because a speaker is in the front seat.

What would the my best choice Fender or Peavey?
Thanks in advance
Rich

Rich,I just got a FSK a few months ago and it seems to be a great amp so far,It has a lot of power.I friend of mine has a 112 and one of these days I'm going to borrow it and put it thru it's paces,I'm not sure how the 112 will handle those big fat chords at a loud volume compared to the FSK?

My friend, Frank Parish; sounds better than ever when he uses his FSK Amp.! I think they are very good Amplifiers! However; due to the weight-difference, I choose to use 2-Peavey Nashville 112's. Also a very good amp., with a different sound than the FSK. Either one is fine, but; you have to consider the weight-factor, if you're an older person!

Get two Nahville 112's.

Whoops, get my spelling right, two Nashville 112's.

Will the Nashville 112 handle those big strings on the Sierra 14-stringer?

I don't use the big strings much but it a big pickup to run. I haven't liked any of the amps I have had until the rack setup. It has the best sound and lots of power. Those fifteen inch black widows realy throw the sound to the back of the room. This guitar has problems with the midrange freqs. When you get the lower end at a useable tone the top bites too much. Thing is there is no one in The San Jose area that stocks any of these amps to try out. I hate to buy something then not like it.
Thanks guys.

Lee, The Nashville 112 will handle the dynamics of all, E9th, C6th,and any of the universal tunings.

Hey Rich, I've had my FSK for about 3 years. I changed out the Eminence Speaker for a Peavey BW 1501-4. The BW has a warmer sound to my ears in the FSK. The FSK weighs 60 lbs. with the BW in it. The nice feature on the FSK is the Mid Frequency Control. Took me a little while to figure it out, but that control along with the Mid Level Control allows you to adjust the amount of Frequency between 200 - 1000 Hz. Then there is an overall EQ Control.
Once I learned how to dial those in, I really like the amp. Very versitile. The overall dimensions are 20Wx21Hx12D and at 60 lbs you have a 200W amp with a 15" Speaker in it with casters. If you need to run through the PA it has a XLR out w/ Gain Control. I like mine. I would recommend the BW 1501-4 speaker change.
Can't speak to the Nashville 112, never played one.

I would take the Peavey 112 any day over the FSK. I have played through both and to my ear the Peavy is the best sounding amp.
That's just one old mans opinion.

I am not being flippant, but why do you just take one speaker, play in mono, bring your wife in the front seat and have her carry one item in to the gig. You may save money and have less to carry.

I use a nashville 112
its a heck of a amp only thing better would be 2
ill take a nash 112 anyday over a steel king
but if I got a steel king I would darn sure put
a 1501-4 speaker in it what comes in them sucks
the highs are brittle and I cant stand that
and you better have a good strong back too

Mike

I have used a Nashville 400 for many years, and on several different instruments. I just got my 112 today and I am thrilled, I think it will be a great amp too, and lighter.

GFI Ultra

And, I must say the folks over at Steel Guitar Nashville are top shelf in my book. They introduced me to the new amp.

AC

The 112 is a nice little amp, but at only 80 watts, I don't think even two of them would satisfy me after I'd been pushing a couple hundred watts. (I like a ballsy sound.)

The SK might do okay for me, though. At 200 watts, it's almost up there with what I'm used to!

Rich,

I just got a Nashville 112 this March and am very happy with it. This is a superb amp and I think the Peavey engineers "outdid" themselves on this one. I still own a Session 400 and Session 400 Wedge but never use them anymore. The NV 112 will carry every room I have played recently with ease, and I can rely on the direct-out to patch into the house sound system if I need more suds.

I have tried taking just one speaker but it just doesn't sound the same. Everything sounds kinda flat.
There are good features about each amp. I think only trying them will tell the story for me.
Thanks

I have both. They are both good amps. I do however prefer the FSK. I have it split in two cabinets therefore making it lighter and easier to transport.
A blue Tube preamp will help a lot with either amp for dialing in tone . That's my .02 worth .

Rich...Jon Jaffe has the right idea.

Georg Sørtun wrote:I've ordered a NV 112, and will probably give it a back-plate for stronger lows. A back-plate doesn't add much to weight, and will probable double the audible volume in the low frequency range relevant for a steel.

That will help, but only at the expense of making the amp very directional, and it'll also remove some of the transient "airy" sound you get with an open back. Sure, you'll gain in efficiency and low end, but you'll lose dispersion and highs. It's a trade-off that works for some, but not for others.

FWIW: to get twice the audible volume from an amp, one needs an amp that can deliver four times the Wattage. Using a NV 112 as reference that means one needs at least 320 Watt to sound convincing - and only if the speaker can deliver.

Theoretically, yes. But in a practical sense, that takes into consideration only "volume". The real reason for increased power is for added bass response, for tonal reinforcement on the bottom end. I've found that doubling the power gives a substantial audible boost in this area that is easily noticeable, even though the "theoretical figures" say that doubling the power only gives you about a 10% increase in volume (which is barely audible). For example, a 135-watt Twin Reverb has about twice as much bass response, and noticeably more headroom, than does the 60-70 watt blackface Twin Reverb.

Rich,hey man I have both amps and no wife,Give me a call (831) 229-1070, maybe we can meet up.