Lightening the load

Russ Little · Post by **Russ Little** » 13 Jun 2006 9:37 am

My wife bought me a vintage peavey mace 212
in a garage sale last month.
Its a great tube amp 160 watts, but a pain
to tote around at 80lbs.
I just converted it to a single 15" speaker
Its great now on my steel. Hope it doesn't
devalue it, not that I plan to part with it
Whats your thoughts on it
Russ

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 13 Jun 2006 6:27 pm

I didn't remember a Mace being that heavy.Is a Mace heavier than a Deuce with the 15 SRO? ...........bb

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 13 Jun 2006 6:55 pm

I just took a Mace head in on consignment- great amp- 6 6L6's! I also have a 2-12 Peavey speaker cabinet to go with it and it sounds great~~

Russ Little · Post by **Russ Little** » 13 Jun 2006 7:43 pm

This one looks vintage and had two 12s I weighed it and it weightd 80lbs.
I removed the 12s and put in a 15 and a lighter
support panel and droped it to 66lbs.
It looks like it came that way now.
Im loving it. Looks like the tubes are all
original

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 14 Jun 2006 2:13 am

I didn't think any amp could be heavier than my old Duece of many yrs back. It was dependable as it could be though. You central Texas guys may remember Sefcik Hall. We played a sunday afternoon gig there and I dropped it down the flight of 14 steps I believe there were. We left to play another gig about 2hrs later and we had made plans for me to play through the PA. When we arrived I plugged in the duece and it purred like a kitten. My youngest son has played it in a rock band all these yrs and it is still purring. CC

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 14 Jun 2006 7:08 am

Years ago I played a twin with JBL's then peavey 500,session-400,session-400 ltd NV-400,then something wonderful happened to LIGHTEN MY LOAD.ALONG CAME THE NV -112!!!! I never dreamed an amp with one 12 inch speaker Iwould handle a d-10 [I play 98% C6th]without breaking up and sounding like crap.All of the overkill monsters mentioned above sound GREAT NO DOUBT,but the difference in the weight,IMO is not worth it.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 14 Jun 2006 8:15 am

It all comes down to whether you want tube tone or not. If not, the solid state equipment is getting lighter and lighter. You can use digital modeling to add some tube tone to solid state. It's not quite the same, but it is getting closer and closer. You can put a tube preamp in front of a solid state amp or powered speakers, but you end up with as many pieces of equipment, and almost the same weight as using a tube amp head and separate speaker. If you want true tube tone in the preamp and the power amp, and need the headroom a big watt amp provides, you may always be stuck with very heavy equipment. I deal with it by breaking it up into amp heads and separate speakers. Solid state amps sound okay (not great) up to moderate volumes, and small to medium tube amps can work in situations of moderate stage volume and miking through the PA. But for loud stage volume and unmiked raw amp sound, there is nothing like a big all tube amp. Is it worth the extra weight and maintenance hassles? It is for some, not for others. Many guitar players, bassists, organ players, drummers, etc. carry around huge heavy rigs. They consider it part of the job and wouldn't think of cutting corners simply to save weight. Others are beginning to change over to lighter equipment taking advantage of digital modeling and new lightweight materials. I think we are in a time of transition where everyone has to find his own way.

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<font size="1">Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

Russ Little · Post by **Russ Little** » 14 Jun 2006 9:21 am

Charles,
your right about the nv112.
I use it when I have to travel
and leave the big boy at church.
Sure cuts down on the setup time.
and lots easier on the back

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 14 Jun 2006 9:55 pm

I fully understand the guys that love their BIG amps,and yes they sound great.In the past year I have played gigs in 6 states,indoor and outdoor,except for maybe two or three jobs every thing was miked.This past weekend play a large amphitheater with my 112,had a good sound man and monitor mix,my 112 sounded as GOOD if not BETTER than any of the overkill amps I have used in the past.For a long time I to thought BIGGER was BETTER,the 112 changed my mind.

Mike Archer · Post by **Mike Archer** » 19 Jun 2006 9:21 am

i agree charles
the 112 is great!!