The "Best" Peavey Steel Amp--Your Opinion?

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 13 Jun 2005 8:35 am

Session 400 or LTD 400. No opamps, just discrete transistors. Simple and smart EQ circuit. To my ears, the most pure sounding of the Peaveys. Easily serviced, very reliable, good weight, last forever, plenty loud, quality components.

Brad Sarno

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 13 Jun 2005 1:28 pm

If you play any of them for long enough they will sound just right for you !! Thats what the knobs on the front are for - adjustment.
My Nashville 1000 sounds every bit as good as my old NV400 did but with more grunt -- although my DPC750/ProfexII rack rig into 2 Nashville E115's is the best sounding rig of the lot.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 13 Jun 2005 5:03 pm

*[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 13 November 2005 at 01:12 PM.]

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 13 Jun 2005 5:08 pm

I'm pretty much sold on my Nash 1000. It sounds very full compared to my Nash 400, with the mod and JBL E-130. I used the 1000 on an outside job and never lost the tone or volume, which says a lot about the power and cleanliness of this amp. My 400 is great for inside jobs, but, loses it, in large open venues. I purchased an old ProFex 11 recently, and I use them both for the stereo effect.They create an absolutely astounding sound together. It almost sounds like a steel symphony.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 13 Jun 2005 5:58 pm

I just finished installing a Sarno kit in my 1974 Session 400. I wouldn't trade it for 10 of anything you've got...unless I can sell the 10 and buy back my 400 for $1000?

I'm playing through the 1974 and a 1976 with LeMay kit. In front of that...a Peavey Tube Sweetener(after a tube swapping trial), Furman PQ-3 and Hilton pedal. And the usual Digital delay and digital reverb.
DD

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 13 Jun 2005 7:50 pm

If I was going to buy an "amp for all size gigs" It'd be a Nashville 400. More punch and bottom per pound, of course it has a 1/4" line out to adapt to an XLR if needed.

My favorite amp for the largest gigs and pure sound is my '79 MK IV Session 500 with a JBL K140 8 ohm speaker. It has an XLR out, and ajustable Biamp capability.

The one I use the most is the 112 for "one amp gigs" and it with the Nashville 400 for two ampers. I mike the 400 and point the 112 at my head and crank the reverb on it as I like it to keep it down in the "mixed" or "projected" amp.

The only things I don't like about the 112 are the knobs stick out and bend easily and the 'topside beer vent'. If it's as trouble free as the 400s and 500s, I'll never need another amp in my lifetime.

EJL

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 13 Jun 2005 9:52 pm

I own a Session 400 LTD and a Nash 400 - both with Peavey mod kits and I like them both just fine. The Nash is a bit more compact and easy to schlepp and sounds just as good. I had a Session 500 for about 5 yeras and I doubt if I used it on more than a couple gigs. It sounded fine but even on wheels it was just so big and heavy I didn't care what it sounded like and eventually sold it. I've used a Nash 1000 on a road tour and am about to do the same when I go out next week and I would say it too is a fine amp with lotsa headroom. I've never played a Nash 112 and if I had one I'd probably use it on small gigs and be delighted with it. I'm sure it's a great amp but to me it's a solution looking for a problem because a Nash 400 is about the same size and only slightly heavier and has a lot more power.I'm also currently using a Fender Steel King with a BW speaker and I dunno - I can get my sound out of any of the above mentioned amps without too much trouble.I'd say - only slightly cynically - buy whatever is the cheapest deal and you'll be happy with it. -MJ-

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 14 Jun 2005 2:48 am

I've used both the 1000 and the 112. I love my 112.

Rick

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 14 Jun 2005 3:39 am

I play a VEGAS 400 and bought it about a year after it was introduced. The original soundboard was recently overhauled by Mike Brown and Peavey. Mike said if the soundboard could not be fixed, then the amp part was pretty much kaputs because Peavey does not have replacement soundboards for the Vegas 400.

The amp also was modified with the John Lemay 'mod' kit. The speaker is a 15" Black Widow model #1502. In conjunction with the Vegas I use a Peavey Q1311 31-band graphic equalizer and an Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail reverb box.

I've got more tone options than fish in the sea with this rig. It's clean and string separation is outstanding.

This was a great amp before the 'add-ons' and is even greater now.

Thanks again, Mike Brown, and your great tech staff at Peavey. This Vegas 400 is just a beauty.

Oh, one more thing. The basic difference between the Vegas and Nashville 400's was cabinet size. The Nashville had a smaller cabinet. I made a beautiful natural wood case for the amp, and so the Vegas is now in 2 parts, and much more manageable, weightwise. About 35lbs each.

JERRY THURMOND · Post by **JERRY THURMOND** » 14 Jun 2005 4:21 am

I use the 1000 for big gigs an the 112 for small gigs, I like both of them. Jerry

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 14 Jun 2005 9:11 am

I have never had a "Bad" Peavey Amplifier. Like everyone else, I have had my share of different models. I have a Fender and Evans Amp that I like also. Here is a picture my Custom Cabinet, with my 1977 Session 400 Peavey Amplifier Head, sitting on top of my BW 1501-4 loaded 115 cabinet. This is my way of re-distributing the weight.
So, I vote for the Session 400 series as being the Best.

JW Day · Post by **JW Day** » 14 Jun 2005 10:24 am

AL: LIKE MOST OF THE OTHER FELLOWS, I TOO HAVE TRIED THEM ALL. MY PERSONAL FEELINGS ARE THAT IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO P.A. BOARD, YOU JUST CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THE 112 IF YOU NEED MORE VOLUMN. I HAVE A S.500,A N.1000 THAT I BOUGHT AT THE CONVENTION LAST YEAR,AND A 112 THAT I BOUGHT IN OCT.04.NOW THE 112 GOES TO THE GIGS.IT WILL DO ALL YOU EVER NEED TO DO. IT SURE SAVES THE OLE' WALKING SYSTEM.

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Lyle Clary · Post by **Lyle Clary** » 14 Jun 2005 11:31 am

A Musician 400 Mark lll series played into a 1502-4 Black Widow in a custom enclosure.
I recently played with an old band member who said I never sounded that good in the old days. I said that is because I never had quality amps and speakers before. Same antique ZB Custom D10. Diferent electronics.

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1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10,Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow

Lyle Clary · Post by **Lyle Clary** » 14 Jun 2005 11:32 am

A Musician 400 Mark lll series played into a 1502-4 Black Widow in a custom enclosure.
I recently played with an old band member who said I never sounded that good in the old days. I said that is because I never had quality amps and speakers before. Same antique ZB Custom D10. Diferent electronics.

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1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10,Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 14 Jun 2005 10:24 pm

I have owned an LTD 400 for 20 years and it's still my favorite steel amp. I have a PX 300 that I use with a Profex ll, it sounds good, but not as good as the LTD. I have played through a Nashville 112 once at the music store that I work in (Corson's Music) and it sounded great, but I would have to play through one on a gig to really get a feel for it. I love the sound of old Session 400's and LTD's, you can't beat'em, IMHO, they are the best sounding steel amps ever made!

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 15 Jun 2005 6:01 am

Thanks for all of your support.

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 15 Jun 2005 8:49 am

.......and thanks for Peavey's support too!

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 15 Jun 2005 11:28 am

My favorite Peavey amp is the Classic 30.

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www.tyack.com

James Marlowe · Post by **James Marlowe** » 15 Jun 2005 12:20 pm

My favorite is a Nv1000 for my Zum w/BL910 thru Brad's b/b. I also go through a Boss stereo chorus out to the 1000 and a Nv112.
My home set up a GFI w/TTpu through a Sessions 400 Limited. (Lemay mod kit)
I've done a lot of swapping around and this is my favorite set-up. I personally don't care a whole lot for the 112 by itself. Though the lighter weight IS a premium!
James

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 16 Jun 2005 11:08 am

My favorite Peavey Amp for Steel is the Session 500. 2 of them in stereo sound great!
AMPS

RA[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 16 June 2005 at 12:10 PM.]

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 16 Jun 2005 7:40 pm

Rick;
You’ve gotta calm down!

You’re too much!

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“Big John” Bechtel
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