The Steel Guitar Forum

I've been using a Nashville 112 for 5 years and love it. I'm thinking of buying another one. Are the new one's the same as the original models? The only difference I see is the power switch has been moved to the front. Also, is Peavey putting out any other Steel amps in the near future? Any help out there?

Doug Palmer

Are the new one's the same as the original models?

No.

Most of the new ones have the IC sockets soldered in. Much harder to install the latest chips in.

On the other hand, I have a 4 year "like new" Nash 112 with the Jim Eaton Stainless Knob Gaurd on it, that will be for sale in the very near future. I have already installed the latest chip upgrade.(OPA2134s) Amazing sound difference.

If you buy an amp that is supposed to be designed for a steel guitar,,why does it have to be modified?..Regards,,,Carson

Because they weren't built using the best chips in the first place. Makes you wonder doesn't it? Cheapo. Huge difference with the chip upgrade.

Not everyone has done the chip change. I put them in mine and then took them back out as I didn't like the new sound. Several others that I know have either not modified theirs or have taken the new chips out.

Although not directly related to the NV112, the Preamp section of the Nashville 1000 is identical (actually they used the same preamp board that was in the Nashville 1000 for the Nashville 112). The mod in the Nashville 1000 improves it 100% and I had it in the NV1000 I had (it was sold last year). The Nashville 1000 has a "digital" power amp and the amp section in the Nashville 112 is "traditional" analog.

Old chips here. I tried the new ones and didn't like them as well as the stock ones. The biggest improvement in the amp was just breaking it in.

Just one more example of finding what works for you. It's the same with strings, tunings, guitars, amps, cables, everything. Find what works for you !

Bud I couldn't agree more.... to each his own. I too bought new chips put them and and two days later took them out and went back to the originals. I find that the more I PLAY the better my NV 112 sounds. Just my two cents. However, I did just buy a Black Box from Carl Williams and I am looking for magic from my 112 next week.

Are the new Nashville 112's built overseas?

I think they are, but won't state definitely. However, I saw a stock of NV112's at Bobbe Seymour's a couple of years ago and all the boxes had "made in China" on them.

Great. More American jobs shipped out of the country.

One sorta gets the opinion that Peavey does not care for people "modifying" their products. Rather than trying to stymie the "experimenter", they'd do well to come up with a better reverb.

I just received a new NV 112. I am sitting here looking at the box and it says Made In USA.

Well, all I know is that Ken Fox has sold an awful lot of those chips.

'nuff said!

I had a Nashville 112..It was a nice sounding little amp, and if I was out playing a lot,,I would have kept it...It was light-weight and very user friendly with the XLR out on the back that put out a pure signal..I think a person would be hard pressed to find a better sounding amp for steel than one of these, that's if the quality is still there like it was...Mine didn't have any chips changed either..A friend of mine wanted to trade me for a Webb and it's a great amp too,,but heavy..I still have my old NV 400,,which has been a great work-horse and still is..Me and that old girl have put a lot of food on the table in the last 30 years...Cheers,,,Carson

"has sold an awful lot of those chips."

Yep and lots of steel pickers think they can buy tone by getting what ever the other guy has..just sayin'

Carson said it very well..

out of the box it's a great amp for the price that gets better as it gets broken in and you learn to use it.
For your average steel picker it's a great amp, pros use it too...it's a great value.. buy 2

sure some say "you spent $5000 on a steel why would you run it thru a $500 amp", (especially when I have a $2000 amp to sell you )

Remember you can't buy tone, an ear , or skills

I tried ..

Bo,,you are correct.. For the money,,I think a little NV-112 is hard to beat..One thing I would like to add to this, is the fact that you have to take time to get to know your amp..It takes time and patience to find the sound you are looking for..It doesn't take much of a turn on these dials to change anything..For me,,it's just a little at a time,,about 1/8" increments....Also,,as has been said before,,give the speaker a chance to break in..All of this is just my opinion and YMMV... Regards,,,Carson

Have any of you heard Mike Johnson's recent appearance on Larry's Diner? Those are the new Burr Brown chips. I did all of Mike's amps at his home shop on my last trip to Nashville (112's and even a N1000, as well all his other N-400 amps). While at his home we also did an amp for Donna Hammit. Also did two N112 amps for Larry Sasser and in his words 125% better, not even the same amp after the chip change.

We have sold 1000's of these chips in the last two years. Maybe not everyones cup of tea, but a lot of folks can hear and feel a great improvement. I guess it is all in what you want for your sound.

Ken, I did intend to infer that the chips were not good or didn't make a difference in the amps..
When a manufacturer saves $1.50 on a product by using a less expensive component in the build, and they sell 250,000 units or more that means more profit..
My intention was to say , most steel pickers won't HEAR the difference like hearing cabinet drop.
I've heard your mods and think they are great

I've been using one of these amps for a few years now, and all in all I think I like it. There seems to be several different good sounds in it. The country of origin is a little confusing.

I haven't played a modded one yet...love my stock one for steel!
I actually used mine with a Tele on a live gig and didn't hate it...
It ain't no Twin with JBLs but it sounded fine!

The NV-112 I had was made in the States and I think it was built around 07 or 08..Are these amps being made in China as well...? I wonder how much other stuff Peavey has made in China...Regards,,,Carson

We have a new Peavey P.A. amp in our band, an XR8600D and it is made in China.

I just put OPA2134 chips in my N112 last night, a very low priority task since I prefer tube amps. The sound is now much clearer, and the amp is now much more responsive. (Using stock speaker.) The amp is now alive and a joy to use.