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Topic: Dual Purpose NV 400 |
Jim K
From:
Arizona....USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2002 5:44 pm |
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Can I get some input on settings for the Nashville 400, when using it with a Gibson 335. I tried the settings in the owners manual, but I can't seem to get some what close to that warm, rich, sound of my Ampeg (circa 1963), Now in someone elses hands. That was a tube type, this is not, hopefully I'm compensating for that variable in my mind. Avoiding another purchase for the 6 string would be ideal. What do you think? Regards....jim |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 8:50 pm
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| Just put the bass,treble and presence controls straight up and keep fooling with the two interactive midrange controls - that's where all the difference is.When the mids sound about right,add or subtract highs and lows to suit your ear.And don't worry,that amp can sound great for guitar. -MJ- |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 4:13 am
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Jim, ahh yes, the old Ampeg's from the 60's. I used to play thru an ET-2 ( Echo Twin ) 2-12's dual channel, great tone ! It's biggest drawback was it was probably a 30 watt amplifier when I wanted 60 to compete with the Fender Super Reverb's ! here goes my lousy weak opinion ! You will never get the Nashville 400 to sound like the old Ampeg with a 335 ! If it was a good amp for a 335 Larry Carlton would be using it ! The N 400 is a Steel amp. And that's what it was designed for. Now, you can probably fool with it and get a reasonable tone but the mid's are to strong on the 400. AND..it gets back to solid state vs the great warm tube tone of the 60's. ( ampeg 6V6's ) Had Ampeg been smart enough early on to make an amp with output power and high end tone that could compete with the Fender amps they would probably have had a much larger market share other than the small Jazz club players. But , having had a few old Ampegs, they had great tone for guitar and that little B15N Bass amp was really cool. Just no volume. I actally played with a guy who had a B18N bass amp. That was one big stinkin' speaker ! Same deal though, no reserve volume.
PS , My Fender Twin was ,all things considered in my opinion ,the absolute best amp for the 335. The depth of the 335 couldn't drag that baby down !
I just had to add this, true story. I was on a gig back in the late 60's with a guy who had a Dual Showman. Well he brought the big stinkin' 2x15 cabinet in and forgot the amp head. So when he went to back up his car and park it, he found the Amp head. He backed up over it. Unbelieveable, no real damage other than the cabinet had a few scares. it was like driving over a rock ! he brought it in plugged it in and never looked back !
Oh well so much for opinions and stories..
TP ( former 335 owner/player/ fan )
Carter D10
Sho-Bud Professional D10
Nashville 400 ( I love it )
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe ( I love and need it )
Fender Guitars [This message was edited by Tony Prior on 03 February 2002 at 04:24 AM.] |
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Fred Murphy
From:
Indianapolis, In. USA
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 8:44 am
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| If you haven't already modified it, that is what I would do. I always hated NV 400's until I installed a Lemay Mod for a friend, and now it is one of my favorites of all the amps I own, for steel as well as guitar. I feel the Session 500 sounds a little better with the modification, but it is too heavy to move around. I think the 400 is perfect for Tele's and Strats, and will sound great with a 335, but you have to use a little more treble, add some delay, and it is better than a twin in my opinion, and lighter to haul around. Of course if you are looking for a lot of distortion and rock sounds, I would look elsewhere. |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 10:13 am
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"PS , My Fender Twin was ,all things considered in my opinion ,the absolute best amp for the 335. The depth of the 335 couldn't drag that baby down !"
The best sounds I ever got out of my old 335 was when I was running it through an old Fender Vibrosonic, with the original JBL 15" speaker. (My Emmons P/P sounded pretty darn good, too!)
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Lee, from South Texas |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 11:03 am
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Hey Lee..I forgot to mention that my Twin had a JBL D130 15" in that baby, The 12's were ok, but the 15 was , well you already know ! And Fred, one thing we can surely agree on is that the Twin is sure worth it's weight ! I wouldn't call the Nashville 400 a weight slouch though.
Many of us were playing with Twins back in the early thru late 60's and I guess it would be fair to say that there were no Session 400's , or Nashville 400's etc. at that time. So I guess the Twins earned their reputation during that period.
Geeze..Tuff crowd !
TP[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 03 February 2002 at 11:13 AM.] [This message was edited by Tony Prior on 03 February 2002 at 11:16 AM.] |
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Fred Murphy
From:
Indianapolis, In. USA
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 12:54 pm
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Yeah, I have two twins also, and they are setting right beside my session 500, in the closet. After you reach 60 or so, it just ain't worth it anymore. Most of the people you are playing for, don't give a hoot about your tone anyway. All you have to do is please yourself.  I separated my NV400 into two pieces to lighten the load. I agree, that a twin is probably the all time favorite amp for lead guitar, and it is also a classic sound for the old fender straight steels, but I don't think it compares as both a lead guitar amp, and a pedal steel amps combined into one unit. They just don't have the bottom end or the clarity on top, to play at most live bandstand volumes for pedal steel. I have owned about six or seven twins, and a vibrasonic and none of them done the job to my satisfaction for steel. If I was rich and famous and had a roady, I would take two twins for my guitar, and two modified session 500s for my steel. [This message was edited by Fred Murphy on 03 February 2002 at 01:23 PM.] [This message was edited by Fred Murphy on 03 February 2002 at 01:26 PM.] |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 2:44 pm
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Hey Fred, I fully agree once again with your "TWIN" phioosophy. Where we differ though is if I was extremely rich and money was no object and never would be, I'd buy new stuff and have it sent to the gig, leave it there after the gig is over, repeat repeat repeat...but until then , at 53, I'll jsut carry the Carter and the Gnashville 400. If I need to play the Tele I'll bring along the Deluxe, at least I can still lift that one easily !
TP |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 7:44 pm
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Hmmmm, curious...very curious. When a straight guitar player wants "that tone" again, it's usually an amp that's suggested. But when a steelplayer wants "that tone" again, they have to get an Emmons P/P (or at the very least, new pickups).
Am I the only one who notices this? 
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Glenn Austin
From:
Montreal, Canada
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 8:01 pm
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| A Line6 POD as your front end on the Nashville will give you the best of both worlds, and it weighs about a pound. |
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Kenny Forbess
From:
peckerwood point, w. tn.
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 9:57 pm
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Jim, the Webb amp does exactly what you're asking about.
you can have two totally different settings and access either by just a flick of two switches, (the selector & the EQ in-out).
If you need more info, you can e-mail me.
KF |
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