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Topic: Nashville 400 Vs Steel-king |
Jaclyn Jones
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 12:15 pm |
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I know this has for sure been asked before. I have a NV400 and I am considering a Fender Steel-King. I know everyone tends to like what they have but what makes one better than the other? Is the Fender a better choice if you also are going to play a Tele part of the time? 
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http://www.myspace.com/jaclynjones
http://www.youtube.com/user/jackiej1950
Lots of guitars, banjos, mandos and a Mullen G2-D10,PAC D10, 1966 Marlen D10,Line6 x3 Pro, Peavey Powerslide, Michael Kelly Dobro and a "Fox Vintage Amp" model 5F8A. Oh Yea, a very patient husband. |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 12:55 pm Amps
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| The Nashville 400 you are using is practically bulletproof, the Steel King by all indications is not! (Quality control on these amps as well as other Fender units has been questionable at best.) As for tonal differences, that would depend on your ear alone as to what sound you are looking to achieve and which amp accomplishes that better. |
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Jaclyn Jones
From:
Texas, USA
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 4:51 pm
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| I've owned about five different NV 400's and never found one I liked. They all worked fine and Peavey has a reputation for quality and are great amps for the working musician. I'm about to buy a new Peavey PA head next week so I'm a Peavey fan. Having said that I've played a Fender Steel King for at least the last two years in about every situation I know of including the studio and it's been the best amp I ever heard for steel guitar. I still have my old standby 75 Session 400 that's been the best amp until I ran into the Fender. I've had 2 Evans amps, 2 Webbs, about six Session 400's, a Fender Vibrosonic, and a Fender Twin and none of them can match the Fender Steel King for my taste. I'd play something lighter if I could find one that sounds as good or better because I hate dragging this heavy beast around but it's got the tone and that's what counts. |
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Jody Sanders
From:
Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 6:42 pm
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| I like Peavey. Jody. |
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Jimmie Martin
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 1:50 am amp
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| Fender Steel King is well just plain King of amps. My opinion only. Mileage may vary and demand you ampfax. |
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Lonnie Zsigray
From:
Saint Louis,Mich., USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 2:08 am amp
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I have always used a Peavey,usually a Session 400.Only had problems with one of them.I got myself a Steel King now and it is the best sounding amp.Little heavier than the others but well worth the effort.The casters help once it's on solid ground.For my ears it's the amp for me.
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If I hear it,I'm gonna try to steel it |
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Craig A Davidson
From:
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 5:30 am
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| I have also owned three or four Nashville 400's, a Webb, an Evans, a Session 500, a Twin, and now a Steel King. I never liked the Nashville 400's. They always had a grainy sound to them. I do like my Steel King. Yes it is heavy but it seems like when you play steel that is a constant factor. Of all the Peavey's, my favorite was the Session 500. But there again it weighed a ton. |
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Jack Francis
From:
Queen Creek, Arizona, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 6:33 am
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I have a NV400 That knows the inside of MANY repair facilities from Arizona to Meridian....and it's acting up again!!
I don't know of the durability of the Steel King but I do of the Peavey...I don't have the money to be buying a new amp now..but it would say Fender on the front for sure...plus they sound better...especially if you want to put a Tele through it!
_________________
DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3 |
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steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 6:54 am
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| Never had any problems with my Peavey LTD, Nashville 400s, or the Nashville 112s and the sound has been just fine from all of them as far as I'm concerned. I must say though, I prefer to play solid state amps. Different strokes for different folks. steve t |
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Jack Francis
From:
Queen Creek, Arizona, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 6:57 am
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The Steel King is solid state.
_________________
DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3 |
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steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 7:01 am
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Thanks, Jack, I was aware of that also but many players swear that tube amps have a much better sound than do solid state amps. I'm basically pretty lazy and cheap which is why I prefer the solid states. I also probably have tin ears & can not tell much of a difference.  thanks, steve t
Last edited by steve takacs on 14 Aug 2009 7:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Joe Drivdahl
From:
Montana, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 7:02 am
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Jaclyn,
I have been considering a Steel King too, but I have heard they are a bit strong on the treble side. In your avatar it looks like you are playing a Mullen. If you buy a Steel King, I'd like to know how it sounds with your guitar.
Joe |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 7:03 am
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Most of these were played through a Steel King:
http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Licks/Licks.html
I have owned (for steel use) the Webb, Peavey Vegas/Session/Nashville 400, Sesion 500, Evans, Fender Twin, Original Emmons amp, Revelation rack system and last the aptly named Fender Steel King.
The Steel King has the volume, warmth, clarity and bass response that I like best. It is my all time favorite amp and the easiest to dial in or modify the tones I like to hear.
I have heard all of the above amps sound real nice in the right hands. In the far sound field, most of these amps all sound the same. Up close in a small club or in a practice setting, the Webb and Steel King seem to have the thundering bass and warmth and clarity that I am looking for.
Lately I've bought 4 Fender tube amps, and I think Fender has a great product line. A few days ago I powered up a Fender Vibro-Champ that someone gave me for fixing an old Gibson KEH amp. Hearing that Fender tone reminded me of why I like the sound of a guitar.
Greg
Last edited by Greg Cutshaw on 14 Aug 2009 11:32 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 7:18 am
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I've owned at least 7 NV400's since they first came out and while they are a good steel amp,they tended to have a slight harshness and tonal quality that bothered me.
I then switched to a Fender Steel King that I played for about 3 years which at first I thought had that Fenderish sound.Thin top end,pronounced midrange thin low end and a reverb that I could never get to sound right.
Then one night Mickey Adams brought out a Ken Fox modded Peavey and I set them side by side for a comparison.
The Peavey blew Mickey and I away by the difference between the two amps.The Peavey had so much more body,cleaner midrange and smoother highs than the Fender.The reverb was also better.
There was no setting on the Fender that came close to what I was getting out of the Peavey.
EDIT: After reading Greg's post,it just goes to show how we all like or dislike a particular amp,guitar etc. so I suppose that's why there's something for everyone.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 8:22 am
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| It's Peavey (USA) VS. Fender (CHINA). Best of the two? No question. |
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Steve Norman
From:
Seattle Washington, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 8:28 am
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I have a Steel King, the speaker blew pretty quickly, and I replaced it with a Peavey black widow. With the black widow I like the steel king, but not without it as to me the sound is thin. The steel king is noticeably lighter than the 400, and has more dramatic reverb.
I would look for a peavy 1000
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GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 8:56 am
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Being a former dealer for Fender and selling many Steel Kings to you guys, we had many problems as many of you know here. Spreakers were a problem yes, but service was the number one concern from Fender.
Getting the new amps fixed was almost impossible when the customer had a problem and at least half did. The Fender Steel King is really only about 80 clear watts, the little Peavey 112 puts out that much at half the price and weight with a lot better tone and is clear way up into the top limits of its output.
I know some of you here will love to argue with my assesments but just remember that I was a happy dealer for both brands for three years and finally dropped Fender because of problems of different kinds. Iv'e studied both amps for a long time, know them both very well and am saying this after delving into the subject deeply. I'm sorry about this as my father was a Fender dealer from '51 to 65 on the east coast and Fender was a big part of my family when growing up. But things are not the same today. It's only the money that counts with this company, not quality and service. The old days of Leo are gone.
I am in the center of this and I feel most of you have figured out which amp is the better deal, if not by now, you'll know someday if you make the wrong choice. Then you'll be back.
I just wanted to add the dealers point of view on this subject (I also played the Fender on many shows) and really wish the Fender would have worked out better for myself and my customers for many reasons.
Those of you that bought a Fender from me in the past will be compensated when moving up to another steel guitar amp. Peavey, Standel, Webb, or what ever we have that you want.
Bobbe:
Steel Guitar Nashville
Last edited by Bobbe Seymour on 14 Aug 2009 9:01 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Bill Moran
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 8:56 am
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I like the tone of the SK. I do, however , have a BW 1501 in it. Like Bobbe, I wish it was made in the USA. The Nashville is a great amp though.
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Bill |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 9:55 am
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I tried the BW speaker in mine and didn't care for the sound at all. I know a lot of people prefer the BW in the Steel King. One thing for sure, there is a drastic difference in sound between the stock Steel King speaker and the BW.
I had a Peavey 112 and it was the most lifeless and dull sounding amp I ever played. Again, a lot of people love the 112 amp, so it pays to try out both the FSK and the 112 to see what suits you.
Gotta agree that Fender service and reliability suck but I do my own amp repairs so it's a moot point for me as long as I always have a backup amp around.
My FSK amp puts out 204 watts rms on the bench into both a resistive and an inductive/resistive load like what Weber sells. As far as the speaker/ amp performance, it broke up sooner with the stock speaker than with the BW.
I sold my Webb amp afer getting the FSK as the FSK was cabable of getting the Webb sound and a lot more other sounds with a few twists of the dials.
I have a lots of steel playing friends that agree with my amp assessment and some that don't. You need to try a bunch of these amps and form your own opinion on what gives YOU the best sound with your guitar and setup. And you need to try them out on a gig to really see if they will work for you.
Greg |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 10:07 am
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I can't speak for the Steel King as I've never played through one. I do have a Webb, NV112 & 400, and Twin Reverb.
My favorite is the Webb. Pricey, heavy but what a sound!
The many NV400's that are out there, I think I got the only "lemon". I've spent more on repairs than what I paid for it new. All other Peavey products I own have been trouble free. When the 400 is working, I really like it.
Geo |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 10:58 am
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George, the discription of your Peavey fits my last wife perfectly, A lotta' trouble, a lotta' noise, but OK when she was working. A little heavey and always ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,well, never mind, she's gone now!  |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 12:35 pm
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| Quote: |
| The Fender Steel King is really only about 80 clear watts |
That sounds more like a Fender Twin Reverb. The Fender Steel King is supposed to be 200 watts.
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| My FSK amp puts out 204 watts rms on the bench into both a resistive and an inductive/resistive load |
This is from an Electrical Engineer. I know mine will blow the walls off of a venue. It's every bit as loud and powerful as my old Nashville 400 and my Evans FET-500.
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| I had a Peavey 112 and it was the most lifeless and dull sounding amp I ever played. |
That was exactly the way I felt when I tried one. Could be my cardboard ears. I know lots of people like them and sound good playing through them.
As long as I'm able to lift them, I'll stick with my Fender Steel King and my Evans FET-500. The wheels work great on both of them! 
_________________
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 |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 1:02 pm Mr. Seymour
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Bobbe,
ROFLMAO.
I've had the pleasure of having the aquaintance of your uncle Doug. We have a mutual friend, Les Swanson.
Geo |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 1:04 pm
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Lee B, Good thing you don't have to depend on them for a living!
Your buddy Bobbe, |
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