| Author |
Topic: How do you rate PSG Amps that you have used? |
David Hartley
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 11:26 am |
|
On a scale of 1 to 10? and your personal opinion without any other comments, JUST A SCORE...
Here we go..
1/ SESSION 500? RATING? =
2/ SESSION 400? RATING? =
3/ NASHVILLE 400? RATING? =
4/ NASHVILLE 400 LTD? RATING? =
5/ FENDER STEEL KING? RATING? =
6/ NASHVILLE 112? RATING? =
7/ OTHER? RATING? =
You should be able to copy and paste this chart above. There is ONE space for ?? anything I don't know about too! BUT please don't mention the Nashville 1000 as you can't get them over here with a 240V supply!
I REALLY liked the LTD I used in the Rains booth in Dallas, and the FSK too but am interested in your comments. I am sure this has been done before but
if you don't mind participating in my survey, Thanks. |
|
|
 |
Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 11:36 am
|
|
I tried out a Fender Steel King and really liked it a lot. I compared it with the Peavey 112 that everybody likes so much and felt that there was no comparison in terms of the way they sounded.
Unfortunately there was also no comparison in how much they weighed, and I'm to old to carry around a heavy amp anymore.
Maybe if I had roadies.....
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
|
|
|
Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 11:46 am
|
|
I won't participate in the rating per se..I don't have enough experience with different amps to do that. But I would like to say this:
The little 112 is my biggest bang for the buck. Sure, it might be too small at big venues . If so, youuse 2 112's like so many players have these days. There's your light weight and your portability plus great sound, plus about the same money as a big one. |
|
|
|
Tim Tyner
From:
Ayden, North Carolina U.S.A
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 12:28 pm
|
|
David,just my opinion:
I have never used a Steel King so I am not qualified
to comment.I have always used Peavey Steel amps.
I used Nashville 400's for yaers and liked them
a lot.I played some with a Sessions 400 ,the earlier
one that was just as good or maybe a little better
than the Nashville but a little heavier probably
due to the cabinet size which also contributed to
the sound being a little better.I now have two 112's
that I love but only play through one at the time.
Keep one at home and one in the band trailer.I have
always had adequate power and great tone for any gig
I have played.I took it to a longtime friends house
when I first got it.He is an awesome professional
steel guitarist.At first hearing it in his den,he
wasnt that impressed,but called me two weeks later
telling me he bought one after taking it on a job
where it really made a favorable impression.So
don't judge in your living room but play a gig with
it.I wouldn't want do use anything else now.
By the way your playing really blows me away man!
Keep posting on youtube wen you can.
Regards,Tim
By the way I use an Emmons Legrande and a GFI ultra |
|
|
|
David Hartley
|
|
|
|
Sonny Priddy
From:
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 12:46 pm amps
|
|
| 1st. Nashville 112 2nd Session 400. SONNY. |
|
|
|
Greg Booth
From:
Anchorage, AK, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 1:00 pm
|
|
I used a Session 400 and liked it for a few years, then went to the Session 500 and have been lugging it around for 25 yrs. At a big club house band gig I used 2 of them in stereo for years...great amp and very adjustable for different rooms. A great match for my maple MSA D12 with flat eq. Combined weight, 180 lbs.!! Whew. Good thing I get to sit down to play.
_________________
Greg
Kathy Kallick Band
www.youtube.com/user/aksliderdobro |
|
|
|
Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 1:26 pm
|
|
I haven't used all of those amps to rate, but I've had Seesion 400's and Nashville 400's, and I like the Session a lot more. But just as good is the Evans FET500. Consider one of the newer Evans: they are light, loud, and sound great.
There is one for sale in Germany on the forum right now:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=130994
My main amp right now is an Evans SE150. It sounds great, is plenty loud, cuts through live, and weighs 35 lbs. 
Since using this Evans I leave my Session 400 and my Fender Twin Reverb at home. I know people love their NV112's, and I'd like to try one, but this Evans is light weight and does everything these bigger amps can do, and it has a 15" speaker if you like that. |
|
|
|
Les Green
From:
Jefferson City, MO, R.I.P.
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 1:32 pm
|
|
Session 400 - 7
Nv 400 - 8
_________________
Les Green
73 MSA D10 8&4, 74 MSA S10 3&5, Legrande II 8&9, Fender Squier 6 string, Genesis III, Peavey 1000 |
|
|
|
Terry Kinnear
From:
Erie ,Pennsylvania
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 1:44 pm
|
|
I have used a sessions 400.and had it repaired by Ken Fox. before he worked on it 4 and after he repaired it.9 Then i bought a nashville 400.that Ken Fox had set up. 9 and 3/4.just plain awsome.Ken knows how to set up.peavey amps. Ken Fox 10...tk
_________________
Terry Kinnear [ steel wondering] |
|
|
|
John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 2:13 pm
|
|
BTW, there's a Session 500 for sale on ebay. "$300 Buy It Now"
There's also an Evan's. |
|
|
|
Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 2:19 pm
|
|
I don't really know how to apply numbers to these amps, but I've either owned or played through all of them. Here is how I would rank them.
#1 Other - Evans FET-500LV
#2 Fender Steel King
#3 Peavey Nashville 400
#4 Peavey Session 500
#5 Peavey Session 400
#6 Peavey Session 400 LTD
#7 Peavey Nashville 112
I might consider swapping #3 and #4.
_________________
Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande
There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.
Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat |
|
|
|
Antolina
From:
Dunkirk NY
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 3:31 pm
|
|
NV 112 
_________________
The only thing better than doing what you love is having someone that loves you enough to let you do it.
Sho~Bud 6139 3+3
Marrs 3+4
RC Antolina |
|
|
|
Tommy R. Butler
From:
Nashville, Tennessee
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 3:35 pm
|
|
For me.
#1 Nashville 400 with KEN FOX Mod = 9
#2 Nashville 112 with Burr Brown Chips from KEN FOX =8
#3 Session 400 Sorno Mod. = 8
#4 Evans = 7
#5 LTD 400 Sorno Mod. = 7
#6 Fender Steel King with BW 1501 = 5
#7 Session 500 = 5
#8 Pro Fex II, Stewart 1000, Peavey 112E's = 5
NOW !!!! on that note I heard RANDY BEAVERS yesterday on an Emmons P/P, Tonic and a powered speaker cab. Best sounding rig I have heard in a long time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last edited by Tommy R. Butler on 6 Apr 2008 4:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 4:10 pm
|
|
LTD 400......8
Nash 400.....7
Session 500..8-3 for weight |
|
|
|
Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 4:47 pm
|
|
Peavey Rage 108-8
Fender Champion amp-6
Peavey Nashville 112-10, the best!
Brett |
|
|
|
sonbone
From:
Waxahachie, TX
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 5:06 pm
|
|
The Nashville 112 is a very nice blank canvas to use. I use a Korg A1 in front of it and it works much better for me than a NV400 or FSK. However I do think that pretty much every amp in your list has more of it's own individual character than the 112. While the NV112 sounds fine on it's own, I think it really shines when combined with a black box, multi effects, tube preamp, modeler, etc.
_________________
Sonny Morris sjm227@hotmail.com |
|
|
|
Marlin Gengenbach
From:
New Mexico, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 5:23 pm amps
|
|
| I sure like the 112. Have used Fet 500 and the session 400...and '65 twin reverb. Like the 112 the best. |
|
|
|
Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 5:38 pm
|
|
| You don't have it on your list but I run from my Rev Preamp into the back of a Nashville 1000 quite a bit and it always sounds outstanding! |
|
|
|
John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 5:40 pm
|
|
I'm goin' with "other."
Fender Twin with a 15" JBL is my favorite.
First steel amp was a Lab with a 15" speaker. Not bad. But not "warm."
2nd amp was a Vegas. I'm a tube amp guy. Never warmed up to it.
3rd amp was my '64 Vibroverb. Sounded great through a powerful PA system.
I've played almost every other amp in this poll. But only at "Battle of The Bands" or at benefits. So, on that extremely limited basis, I can't judge. But I did blow up my boss Jerry Brightman's, Evan's amp once at a Christmas jam 20 years or so ago. Not enough power to cut through a loud band. It sounded good right before it blew up though! Jerry loves his Peavey.
I don't like amps with a lotta knobs. The Fender's have all the EQ that I need or want. My old 53 Pro Amp sounds great for lap steel. It only has a tone knob!
Different strokes, and all that!
Edited to add that Jerry's old amp might have been a Webb. Too long ago to remember fer shure! Edited again for horrible diction, and equally bad spelling!
Last edited by John Billings on 7 Apr 2008 3:52 am; edited 3 times in total |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 6:36 pm
|
|
I haven't used a lot of different amps, but these are my favorites:
Webb 614-E - tops for clean, loud steel
Mesa/Boogie Mark II-B - full, loud steel with rock overtones
1967 Fender Princeton - rich and pretty at very low volumes
I usually gig with a Mesa/Boogie Maverick prototype that's sort of a a cross between a Mark II-B and a Princeton, to my ears anyway. A Tone Tubby speaker really mellows it out nicely.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
|
|
|
John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 7:10 pm
|
|
| b0b, I have also used my highly modded Princeton Reverb in the studio. As long as you don't have to push it for volume, they sound terrific! |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2008 10:11 pm
|
|
Webb amp is my favorite, and has been for 30 years (w/JBL K-130)
But I've heard great sounds from:
Peavey Session 500, 400
Nashville 1000, 400 (1000 is much better)
Gerry Walker Stereo Steel
I played a bit through a Fender Steel King, it had a vibey tube sound, but man did it accentuate pick noise for some reason!
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
|
|
|
Dan Beller-McKenna
From:
Durham, New Hampshire, USA
|
Posted 7 Apr 2008 1:42 am
|
|
David,
the only amp on your list that I have owned is the Nashville 112 (with BB chips) that I reently purchased from a forumite. On its own I'd rate it a 7. Pretty portable (although not as light as I would like a small amp to be), and decent sound, but the highs are very dull, even with treble and presence cranked all the way. I tried it with my Podxt, but I couldn't quite get teh eq I was looking for without messing up the basic sound of the amp.
However, last night our guitarist lent me his matchbox 6A. Oh my! This made huge imporvement on the tone. I was bummed when I got home from rehearsal to see the one for sale here on the forum had sold while I was out(!) I will definitely use one with the N112.
As for other, I love my Twin with a 15" BW. I'd give it a 10. Put in a 1502-4 this week and got rave reviews on the sound from a gig Saturday night. I have the head and cab split for ease of carrying, otheriwse they are a bear.
My 2 cents.
Dan
_________________
Durham, NH
dbmCk mUSIC |
|
|
|
