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Topic: Peavey Nashville 400-DIY fixes and general maintenance |
Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 29 Apr 2021 4:06 am |
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Applies to Vegas 400, Session 400 Limited as well
Having worked on around 500 plus Peavey steel amps I have seen the number one issue to be a high resistance on the contacts on the power amp in jack. A quick fix, plug a short 1/4†audio cable from the pre out to the power amp input. When I get one in for service I check the resistance on the contact closure at the power amp in jack. I clean and burnish to contact to assure there is zero resistance there
Other issues:
-Mid pot causing a popping sound when turned, very loud. Pot must be cleaned or replaced
-on the reverb issues:
You might check and make sure the connections are cleaned. Check and make sure the reverb springs are clean. Some of the older tanks had some foam weather stripping above the springs to help dampen external vibrations. Often the foam rubber would rot and fall into the springs
Best bet then is a new reverb tank. The original was a 2 spring tanks, 4EB2C1B by Accutronics.
-Post gain and Reverb pots scratchy and need cleaning
-Molex connector for reverb exhibits poor connectivity
Pins at chassis need to be cleaned with a Qtip and alcohol, female contacts on Molex need to be tightened
-Input jack contact dirty, need to be cleaned and or realigned so they close the input hot to ground properly when the jack is not in use. Realignment can be tricky. I insert a 1/4†plug into the jack and then use the plug as a point for resting a flat blade screwdriver to align the grounding contact. Takes a bit of practice and patience.
-Molex connector used for speaker connection needs to be serviced same as reverb connector. Later amps had the wires soldered to the male pins at the chassis to avoid problems
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 29 Apr 2021 9:28 am
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Thanks,Ken!
This is a real"public service"post!
SH |
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Lee Warren
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 29 Apr 2021 2:10 pm
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I agree!
Thank you Ken.
Perhaps these tips can become ‘Stickies’ on this page ... |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 29 Apr 2021 2:18 pm
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Thanks guys. Just a collection of some old post and other added ideas
Hope it’s helpful |
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Dirk Edwards
From:
Homedale ,Idaho USA
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Posted 2 May 2021 8:37 am
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When I turn on my Nashville 400 after the peavey pop,
there is a louder pop that makes the speaker cone pop out a inch. Even scares my dog.Does not do it all the time?
Any thought's? |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 2 May 2021 8:55 am Pops
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Not really. I would have to have one on the bench to check out that sort of issue
Does your mid pot cause noise as it turns. It is the one thing that can cause a very loud pop. Cleaning it is a must |
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Dirk Edwards
From:
Homedale ,Idaho USA
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Posted 2 May 2021 10:10 am
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Mid does not have problem. Have another 400 that had that issue though that you speak of. Cleaned it and no problem
This ones not consistent. You can turn it on 5 times
and not have a problem. Than it will do it.
Its a old one, 83 I think. Bought it from GC. 
Seems like people bring in there broken amps
there, and they give them next to nothing for trade in.
Which the guy is happy knowing there's a problem.
The corn ball at GC puts it up for sale on there
site.Claiming they have checked them out. Than come the sucker "me" to get it.
I was going to take it back, but put your chips in it and it improved the tone very well!! Sounds too good to take back  |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 2 May 2021 11:52 am noise
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That is an interesting problem. Does it generally do it when noting is plugged into the amp?
Reason I'm asking is that the grounding contact on the input jack may be open. That can create noise when nothing is plugged in and the amp is turned on. |
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Dirk Edwards
From:
Homedale ,Idaho USA
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Posted 2 May 2021 2:03 pm
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Never tried that with out steel being plugged in.
Makes me wonder if is not a grounding issue though.
I went to dis-connect input cord before turning on amp, and got a static shock from cord? Had rubber flip flops on, but if the amp is grounded properly I should have not been shocked?
It didn't make the sound |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 2 May 2021 2:39 pm Grounding
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| Hopefully your duplex outlets are properly grounded Would not hurt to get a plug in tester to see if they are wired correctly. Also check to AC cord ground back to the chassis to be sure the chassis is grounded |
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Dirk Edwards
From:
Homedale ,Idaho USA
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Posted 2 May 2021 4:48 pm
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Will Do Thanks  |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 2 May 2021 5:27 pm Static
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| If it was just static electricity then the amp is probably grounded ok. Static electricity on you body will go to ground very quickly |
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Dirk Edwards
From:
Homedale ,Idaho USA
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Posted 2 May 2021 7:31 pm
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It was just static electricity.
I will have to take to my amp guru and see.
Thanks for chiming in for help
very appreciated!
I have got to get a set of chips for my Vegas
Have only been playin 5 years and was a dyed in the wool 6 string, twin guy for 40 years. But I like the session 400, and nashville. The Vegas just doesn't sound as sweet?Kind of sterile. I hope the chips mitigate that some? |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 3 May 2021 2:11 am
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To add to Ken's always excellent advice.
Mike Brown noted Peavey quit using a Molex connector for the speaker connections and started soldering the speaker wires directly to the Molex male pins. He suggested owners that have NV400's with the speaker Molex connector also do this.
Eliminates another potential problem.
_________________
GFI Ultra Keyless S-10 with pad (Black of course) TB202 amp, Hilton VP, Steelers Choice sidekick seat, SIT Strings
Cakewalk by Bandlab and Studio One V4.6 pro DAWs, MOTU Ultralite MK5 recording interface unit |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 3 May 2021 3:12 am
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Great suggestion, Jack. When I was actively modding the 400 and other amp I would eliminate that speaker Molex connector and hardwire/solder it
Thanks for the suggestion |
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Dirk Edwards
From:
Homedale ,Idaho USA
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Posted 3 May 2021 5:01 am
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It has one too
I will check it out
Thanks!!!!!!!! |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 3 May 2021 8:07 pm
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Hi Ken
Do you still sell the Chip upgrade kit for a Peavey Nashville 400 ?? I have just acquired an old one fairly cheaply so wouldn't mind upgrading it ..
thanks Paddy
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
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Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 4 May 2021 3:57 am
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Paddy thanks for asking. I do sell the mod but I quit shipping international years ago due to lost deliveries and extreme long shipping times. Also international shipping required a trip to the local Post Office for each sale and filling out export paperwork
I’m glad to send instructions for the mod to anyone overseas or Canada. Just PM me an email where I can send instructions
Thanks |
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Karl Paulsen
From:
Chicago
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Posted 6 May 2021 7:08 am
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Ken,
Newbie question. Do these chip swaps you describe require soldering or are they plug mounted?
I just got a really cheap Reno 400 and just for the experience of modding an amp it sounds like something worth trying, but I don't want to mess around with soldering in an amp just yet.
_________________
Nickel and Steel. Sad Songs and Steel Guitar.
https://www.facebook.com/NickelandSteel
Chicago Valley Railroad. Trainspotting and Bargain Hunting...
https://chicagovalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/ |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 6 May 2021 7:10 am Chips
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The chips are all in sockets for you amp. Pretty easy swap out
Later N112 amps have chips soldered in. I don’t recommend the end user changing those out. |
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Karl Paulsen
From:
Chicago
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Posted 6 May 2021 7:28 am Re: Chips
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| Ken Fox wrote: |
The chips are all in sockets for you amp. Pretty easy swap out
Later N112 amps have chips soldered in. I don’t recommend the end user changing those out. |
Thanks Ken,
Will the Nashville kit work with the Reno 400?
I want to play with it for a while as-is, but I'm thinking this summer there's a few things I'd like to do to it and a chip swap is probably one of them.
_________________
Nickel and Steel. Sad Songs and Steel Guitar.
https://www.facebook.com/NickelandSteel
Chicago Valley Railroad. Trainspotting and Bargain Hunting...
https://chicagovalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/ |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 6 May 2021 8:12 am Kit
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| It would but I would need to make up a different board layout as the chips are numbered different on the Reno. Virtually identical circuits |
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Karl Paulsen
From:
Chicago
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Timothy Brown
From:
Idaho, USA
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Posted 15 May 2021 2:35 pm
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| Your mod kit for the nv 400 plug in or solder.tim |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 16 May 2021 4:03 am
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Plug in chips
If you do the mod it’s a great time to check the items at the start of this thread |
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