The sound of a Peavey Special 212

Pat Chong · From: New Mexico, USA

As a practice amp, I have been using a Peavey Bandit. Reading reviews, it seemed to be a good gig amp too....until I tried it. I could barely hear myself.

Now, I have available, a Peavey Special 212 amplifier, with "Trans Tube" effect, and 200 watts output into 2 Sheffield 12" speakers. I tried looking this up, but there are not many reviews on this particular amp in this forum. It would be loud (powerful) enough, but I have a complaint: The high notes seem to be too shrill. I have tried turning down the hi frequency knob, turning off the "brite" switch, etc. All have some effect, but it still sounds shrill (high pitched and piercing......).

I have a Dekley S10, with stainless steel strings. May the strings be it? Or is the Special just not an amp for the steel? Or is the shrillness just something that is normal with a good amp?

Thanks................................Pat

James Holland · From: Alabama, USA

What sounds good at home often gets lost in a band environment. Also, tone controls on a guitar amp are different than those used on stereo equipment. Look up how to dial in tone on a guitar amp. This may sound counter intuitive, but most methods begin with setting all the tone controls to wide open, fully clockwise, and then backing off selectively. Its worth investing the research and time to understanding "dial in", before changing speakers or swapping amps.

Bill Ferguson · From: Milton, FL USA

The voicing of the electronics and the speakers in a Special 212, are not voiced for steel guitar. This amp was designed for 6 string guitar.

You will probably not be able to get a tone that you are looking for with this amp.

I tried one a few years ago, but with no success. I had to go back to an amp that was designed and voiced for steel guitar.

IMHO
_________________
AUTHORIZED George L's, Goodrich, Telonics and Peavey Dealer: I have 2 steels and several amps. My current rig of choice is 1993 Emmons LeGrande w/ 108 pups (Jack Strayhorn built for me), Goodrich OMNI Volume Pedal, George L's cables, Goodrich Baby Bloomer and Peavey Nashville 112. Can't get much sweeter.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

While each of the comments above are true, the speaker itself can cause the biggest issue, , they are typically very MID strong. I have pulled many stock PV speakers out and replaced them with very bright Fender Gold Label Emmi's. I have one in my Nashville 112, and it's now a totally different sounding amp where the mids are not leading the EQ pack. And yeh, I replaced a 4 ohm stock speaker with an 8 ohm speaker, no noticeable difference in volume what so ever. It does lean toward bright now but that can be tamed.

Popular Fender tube amps/Twin Reverbs are not voiced for Steel but yet we have been using them since the dark ages ! Speakers and the response curve matter.

Try it, you never know.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

I agree with Tony, the speaker(s) is/are normally the weak link. I own a vintage Peavey 'Classic' that was equipped with 2-12" 'CTS' speakers (absolute garbage,IMO!)and my solution was rather than replace both units, I simply blocked one speaker opening and installed an Eminence 'EPS-12C' in the other. The amp is not only much lighter now, it has more headroom and far better tone. If this still does not solve the excessive treble issue however, it is a simple enough procedure to reverse the operation.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

I'll throw this in for good measure, My N-400 has a 1502/ 15" BW. It's a good sounding amp but the mids are still "quacking" away. So, in my infinite wisdom, I have yet another BW 1502, so I swapped them. The 2nd one has the smaller hole over the magnet rear area, thats the only way I can tell them apart.

So one set into the gig I am now chasing the mids big time with the 1502 swap. The next day I reversed them again. Two supposedly identical speakers, two different response curves.

It's probably the smaller hole at the back of the magnet. Laughing

_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Pat Chong · From: New Mexico, USA

Hi Folks:

James: The shrill sound may get lost in a band environment, I don't know. But I did try to "dial in" the sound I wanted, to no avail.
Bill: I suspected that, but at this time it is better than the Bandit I was using. I will try a few mods before giving up on the amp.
Tony, David: The (wrong) speaker did occur to me and you both confirmed it as a possibility.

What I will try, is 1) Use different strings (not stainless steel). 2) Look for an electronics mod (if one exists) or 3) Try different speakers.

Thanks for the help.........................Pat

I am SSSSSOOOOOOOO looking for "THAT" sound!

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

Is the Pickup an E66 by any chance?
_________________
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

What year and model was your Bandit?

I can attest that the Sheffield speakers are shrill and thin in a home playing environment.... I have a Bandit with that speaker.

However, with one of my guitars. .. an MSA U12... in a mostly acoustic band environment the shrillness disappears and the mids sit very nicely, very rich, in a mix. Not alot of lows, but big lows just wouldn't work in this situation either.

There are speakers better voiced for steel overall, but I have never really loved the aluminum dust cap 1502 which strike me as being more of a PA speaker... not musical... just flat and wide.

interestingly... one of my favorite speakers for six string electric guitar blues tones was the speaker that came in the original Nashville 112. If it was still available, that would be my first choice. It had lower mid bump in its tone... kind of like how Fender amps can have a mid honk... but for live work in a busy mix it was gold.

Pat Chong · From: New Mexico, USA

Hi, again, folks.

Dick, as far as I can tell, the pickup is Dekley oem.
Tom, I may change the speakers, but that would be my last (and most expensive) step. However, I changed the strings from GHS stainless steel to GHS boomers, and that took some of the shrillness out of the sound. I would like to try the GHS nickel strings, next.

Thanks..............................Pat

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

Try.

Bass 7 Mid 4.5 High 1 Presence 6
Power 70%

kids may have moved my settings but that's what's showing and don't have my steel out to try

Pat Chong · From: New Mexico, USA

(Interesting....That is about where they were set, except for the "Power": I suppose you mean the "Trans-Tube" dynamics.)

Bass:.....7.0!
Mid:.......4.5!
High:......1.0!
Power.....70%!
All Settings: CONFIRMED.

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3! Laughing

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

I have a Peavey Studio Pro transtube that I use for practice. I can never get nearly enough lows out of it and would never consider using it for gigging. Most of the cheap solid state amps seem to have this issue. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a nice, used Twin Reverb off Craigslist. They are going really cheap these days.

Forum Index > Electronics		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: