Quilter versus Peavey Nashville amps

Craig Bailey · Post by **Craig Bailey** » 30 Nov 2016 7:35 pm

How would you compare the Quilter Steelaire to the Peavey Nashville 400, 112, 115? Is the Quilter just a modern version of Peavey or what would be the good comparison?

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 30 Nov 2016 7:49 pm

My 2 cents on the Quilter:

http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Quilter%20St ... 20Pro.html

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 1 Dec 2016 5:52 am

Got a Steelaire rack head, using with a Sica 12 inch cab , to my ears sounds much better than my old 112 and 400.Better mid range control, and string separation, not that the Peavey's were bad, Steelaire is just better.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 1 Dec 2016 12:22 pm

Basically what Malcolm said, I haven't tried the 115 Peavey yet so can't compare to them.

Only grip I've got against Quilter is there should be a brace midway in the back. The amp won't work on a lot of amp stands because it will just fall over backward. I put a brace in mine so I could use it on a stand. The amp is light, loud with great sounding reverb. I've had mine about two years and love it.

Steven Paris · Post by **Steven Paris** » 2 Dec 2016 1:16 am

To Malcolm and Henry: were those comparisons of the Quilter vs, Nashville 400 made with a modded Peavey? As in the factory capacitor mods to the tone circuitry, and the Fox mods (OPA2134s instead of the RC4558s that were stock).

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 2 Dec 2016 1:42 am

Steven, my 112 and 400 had Ken Fox mods.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 2 Dec 2016 2:08 am

I can't make any comparisons, but I'm very pleased with my Quilter Steelaire.

I've always heard a certain tone in my head, but was never able to dial it it with any amp I ever tried previously. I found it on the Quilter. Interestingly, I found it by tweaking the tone control on the reverb.

I like the built in powered effect loop. I have a Dunlop Q-zone pedal, which has sort of a Dobro-like sound, hard wired into the loop, so I flip a switch and have an instant pedabro.

And at around 33 pounds, I can carry it around without breaking my back.

There may be better amps, but this is all I will ever need.

Steven Paris · Post by **Steven Paris** » 2 Dec 2016 3:54 am

Mike, is your Quilter Steelaire one of the later ones with the OPA 1654 ICs? According to Pat Quilter, they switched sometime in mid-to-late 2015 to the 1654s from the TL 072s; this resulted in 8 db less noise.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 2 Dec 2016 7:50 am

I honestly don't know Steve. I got it last year, right around the time they made the change.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 2 Dec 2016 8:16 am

Steven, my rackhead was picked up from factory in June this year, so I assume it is the latest model. Just in case anyone wants to know, it also sounds better than my MB200,which in turn sounded very like my 112, but obviously much more power.than the 112.

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 2 Dec 2016 8:53 pm

YOU have to hear one and decide for yourself EVERYONE hears differently. This might be just for you, or not, be open.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 3 Dec 2016 1:05 am

Good advice Larry.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 3 Dec 2016 8:38 am

If you are undecided between a Quilter amp and a Peavey, you might give some consideration to the price difference. I am a big fan of "good" used amps.
You can pick up a great used Peavey amp for $350-$400, how does that compare with the price of a Quilter?
Or if cost is no object, go the boutique route.

Dyke Corson · Post by **Dyke Corson** » 4 Dec 2016 8:27 am

I've had both. I really like the sound NV112 with the EPS12c. Yeah the Quilter sounded a little better for some things...but for the money the NV112 worked just fine for me. If money were no object I would have kept it. I sold it and the customer was very happy. I'm still digging my V8 now powered by a Ganz Straigh Ahead amp in a Rick Johnson cab. This build is still pretty economical.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 4 Dec 2016 9:26 am

Dyke Corson wrote:I've had both. I really like the sound NV112 with the EPS12c. Yeah the Quilter sounded a little better for some things...but for the money the NV112 worked just fine for me. If money were no object I would have kept it. I sold it and the customer was very happy. I'm still digging my V8 now powered by a Ganz Straigh Ahead amp in a Rick Johnson cab. This build is still pretty economical.

Dyke, that's great looking!!!

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Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 4 Dec 2016 9:31 am

One advantage Peavey has over Quilter is the midrange flexibility. I believe the Quilter low mid is always fixed at 500Hz, no way to fine tune that midrange dip. Peavey's give that sweepability so one can fine tune exactly where they want that dip to be, often at a frequency higher than 500Hz. 650Hz to 800Hz is a popular range for midrange dipping for many steelers. But then there's the audio tone quality of the electronics and signal path components. That's where the tone battle may also lie between Quilter and Peavey. There's far more to tone than just EQ shaping.

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