The Steel Guitar Forum

The Fender Hot Rod Blues Junior I've been playing on for a while now crapped out and I need to get something new. After doing some research I'm really leaning towards the Nashville 112. I like the fact that it has kind of a "flat" tone that seems like can be shaped in any direction. If someone has a different perspective, please let me know.

I'll be playing lap steel almost exclusively through it, and occasionally a Telecaster. I am looking for a beefy "round" sound, possibly with a Fender Reverb pedal for certain tunes. I've heard it's also possible to play bass through it with good results, but I have no idea if it's true. I gig regularly with all three instruments, so something that could handle all three would be ideal.

Before pulling the trigger I wanted to ask on the forum to see what you guys have to say about it. I've read the existing threads, and for the most part they have me sold. Just wanted to bring it up again (the most recent thread I read is from 2011 I believe).

I have two Nashville 112's, and also a couple of other Peavey steel amps, but the amp I use the most is the Gallien Kreuger MB200. The is a ultra small bass amp, 200 watts, 2 lbs. It's a head, so you can try out any speaker you like. I have a few speaker cabs, but usually use a 12" speaker. The MB 200 has no effects, but that gives you the option of using any kind of reverb or delay, or anything else. If you do a search for the MB 200, you will find a lot of info. It's a good sounding amp, and of course, you can use it as a bass amp too. Take a look at this thread:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=189990

I wouldn't play bass through a 112. It's an open back, for one thing.

I love my 112 for steel and jazz guitar. But if you want crunch for lead guitar, maybe it's not so good.

But they are solid, reliable, light, powerful, and Peavey service is great.

Chris

Cool, I think I'll get one after all. Thanks for the feedback.

Bill, your MB200 recommendation intrigued me and after looking around at all the info out there I'm actually really leaning towards getting one. I noticed that a couple of years ago you were actually recommending against getting one, or at least expressing huge reservations about the MB200. What's changed since then?

Johnny - while I am new to this site and a complete beginner with PSG, I have played guitar and bass for over 30 years. Not pro, but, ahem, "seasoned".

I was not impressed with the NV112 when running my Tele through it. Just had that awful SS crappy sound that made me seek out quality tube amps as the 80's drew to a close. Mind you, I like an electric guitar tone with early breakup and smoothness, not clean and spiky. That said, I have been very impressed with how the NV performs with my BMI S-10 and my cheapo Peavey lap steel.

I agree that you might get a good clean jazz tone out of the NV112 if you fiddle with EQ on the amp and on the guitar while using the neck pickup...or not.

Bass, personally, I don't think you'll get a great bass tone out of the Peavey. As mentioned there's a lot to be said for a sealed and ported bass cabinet. Not so for an open backed guitar cab. At lower volumes, it might work. At stage volumes, probably not.

In your situation, I'd maybe go for a Deluxe Reverb or Princeton reissue and run your bass though the PA (with a DI like a Sans Amp Bass Driver).

I like my 112 I used to use a DD3 on it but now am using a Lexicon MX 100. I have heard fiddles on them ain MYHO I thought they sounded very good. Wes

Yes, I had some problems with the MB200 at first. The amp is very sensitive to the speaker cables that you use. I happened to have a bad cable, one that did work OK with other amps, it would not work with the MB200. I just put the amp away for a while. Later, I found the problem, and used other cables, no more problems since then. I've found it's a very clear sounding amp, that does allow a lot of control over the tone. I now have 2 of them and I use them most of the time. I always the Digitech RP155 for effects; delay and reverb and the 4x10 speaker sim. I'm really happy with this.

I read the OP and immediatly thought of my GK MB200. I run it with a 12" Black Widow or 15" Telonics neo. Sounds great. It would work well for PSG, lap, tele or bass. You might want a diff speaker cab for the bass. Drives pedals really well. I've played mine for over 2 years. No complaints.

Can't help but throw in my 2 cents worth. I have a 112 and they are super amps. However, I use the GK500. It has the effects loop in the back and a limiter. I tried the GK200, but paid the difference. If you have a Guitar Center try it for 30 days and if not satisfied return it. I use mine with a BW 15 and quite satisfied.

I still have my NV112, modified with the OPA 2134 op amp chips. It is a "steel guitar" amp and not a tube Fender guitar amp. Thus bashing it as a Lead Guitar amp is not warranted, especially from someone that is a "must have tube" amp. Same with the bashing of Peavey for bass. I owned an original Fender Bassman amp, played using an original Ampeg B15N, and I've owned a Peavey TNT115S bass amp and the Peavey, although heavy, was a much better amp.

I occasionally use my NV112 for recording as I now use an MB200 with an Eminence EPS-15C speaker.

I've played through Ray's MB500 rig and it sounds very good, but not enough to make we want to ditch my 200 and spend the $$ to upgrade to the 500.

Mr. Stoner, not sure if your last post was directed towards the comments I made, but I'll reiterate my position nonetheless in the event that I didn't make sense with my last post. Certainly didn't think I was "bashing Peavey" with my comments.

For the OP, playing lap steel and wanting to use the same amp for Tele and bass, the NV112 is probably the wrong choice.

In my opinion, the NV112 is:

- excellent for pedal steel (I just bought one and it sounds great, so I think we agree on that)

- potentially good for lap steel (my lap steel sounds OK through the NV, not sure what your experience has been)

- probably not going to give you decent tone with an electric guitar (don't think we can argue there either, based on your assessment)

- very likely going to result in flabby, farty tone for bass at any kind of stage volume (it's an open backed 1x12 @ 85W....not a big ol' TNT with a 1x15 Black Widow in a ported sealed cabinet)

I believe that the negatives outweigh the positives in Mr. Rojas' situation. Hence my suggestion that the OP, already having come from a tube Fender amp, might be more satisfied staying with a smaller tube amp (Fender....or not) for lap and guitar and run his bass though a DI into the PA.

I have no opinion on the MB, but can give you one on the Ampeg PF series...

Your mileage may vary.

Fraser

So, thanks everyone for your thoughts. I ended up going with the MB200, after a lot of research and consideration. I put it through a 12" Emminence Commonwealth and pretty much instantly got the best lap steel tone I've ever had. I did two gigs in one night with the setup this weekend and was convinced. This is my rig from here on out, without question.