Old Session 400 amp

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 21 Oct 2007 11:37 am

My old original Peavey Session 400 had been setting up for years as it needed a good bit of work after years of hauling and playing. I had it completely overhauled and used it for the first time in years Sat Nite. It has the same Peavey by JBL speaker. Sweetest sound ever. The soundman told me to leave the other amp at home and bring the Session 400 to every venue. Love that amp.( The other amp is a Nashville 400). Jody.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 21 Oct 2007 1:20 pm

Jody, I hear you.
My first amp was a Session 400 back in the late 70's. It had the JBL speaker. The sweetest sound you'd ever want.
Then I blew that speaker and had a Black Widow installed. Never liked the amp after that. It had lost the warmth and the full rich body of the JBL was gone.
To my ears, the sound was harsh and on the side of tinny.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 21 Oct 2007 5:16 pm

What was the "Peavey by JBL" speaker that you're referring to?

I have an old Session 400 that has been in storage unused for probably 20 years. Back then I replaced the existing speaker (I believe it was a Black Widow) with a fresh BW (1401, I think--I haven't been to the storage unit in a while). The amp was one I bought used, or I should say, abused, and I let the fiddle player in the band I was in use it while I used my Evans FET-500LV for steel, then stored it when that band ended.

I also have a JBL D130 speaker that needs a recone, which I've had since 1976, when it was given to me by a friend who worked for a sound reinforcement company because it was blown. (I'm a packrat!) Would this be a comparable speaker to what you're referring to?

I've long (that's an understatement!) been meaning to get the Session 400 back in shape.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 21 Oct 2007 7:27 pm

When the Session 400's first came out, the speaker Peavey installed kept blowing out. So Peavey had JBL to make speakers for the Session 400's. Later Peavey came out with the black widow speakers. Jody.

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 21 Oct 2007 7:59 pm

Some one please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the JBL speaker with the Peavey label that came in the early Session 400s was a JBL D130. I have a Session 400 with this speaker, and it sounds great.

Bob Cox · Post by **Bob Cox** » 22 Oct 2007 5:19 am

I just recently took my ession apart cleaned it up and rolled the Peavey JBL 180 degrees.I am going to replace the grill cloth soon.One thing I did notice,the screws peavey used on the peavey emblem were too long and if you remove your speaker be very careful when you take it out and lift it straight up.I took my dremmel and cut them off flush.Of all my amps ,this is my favorite,heavier but so am I.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 22 Oct 2007 6:47 am

This is probably the best sounding amp I have in my collection. I built this solid white pine cabinet, with dovetailed joints, for it which probably made it sound even better. And Brad Sarno's cap job didn't hurt any either. LOL

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 22 Oct 2007 7:12 am

I wish Peavey would build that amp again as I too like them better than the amps built since. Not tht the Nash 400 is bad at all, I just like the Session 400. I guess I had three of them over the yrs. but have none in my possesion currently.

The GD Walker, Stereo Steel amp I now use is designed to have many of the same tonal characteristics of the Session 400. I like the amp very much and Gerry Walker is one great dude to deal with as well.

Sincerely,
Chris "Tiny" Olson

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 22 Oct 2007 7:53 am

I really did like the old Session 400 amp. I used to play with two and blew "Black Widow 15's" like a mad man, but they sure sounded good right up to the point where they quit!

I stll have one in my arsenal of amps. My Dad and I got two back in the '70's. I eventually traded mine off for a Vegas 400 which I played for many years (still have it too!). But, I still have Dad's and it ain't going no where!

I always thought that the old session 400 may very well have been the best sounding steel amp Peavey ever made.

Dave

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 23 Oct 2007 9:45 am

What's the difference between the Ltd 400 and the Session 400. Just bought a LTD 400. Willy Robinson in San Angelo played thru the LTD and always had the best tone. I think he owned 4 of them. Just curious as to the difference.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 23 Oct 2007 12:01 pm

Jody,

I have played through Peavey Amps ever since late 70s. My old Session 400 was the best sounding amp, I ever played through. I sold it after 17 years and got as much as I originally paid for it. Wish I'd never sold it and I've tried and tried to buy it back from the guy who bought it but he won't sell it back to me.

Then I went and bought a new Session 400 and it never has sounded as good. I also own a session 500 and it is not as good as sounding to me as either of the 400s.

Terry Wood

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 23 Oct 2007 2:00 pm

I also recently purchased a Session 400, Sarno modded it and put an EV15L in mine.....the thing sings like an angel!....

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 23 Oct 2007 3:07 pm

I had an EVM15B in mine for a while, and I really couldn't tell any difference in it and the Black Widow that's in it now. I know, it's a bass speaker, but I can't tell any difference in it and the EVM15L's. It was an 8 ohm speaker and the BW is a 4 ohm, so it reduced the power somewhat, but I never need much power anyway.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 23 Oct 2007 3:22 pm

henry...the LTD 400 is the same circuitry as the Session 400...just a smaller cabinet and the chassis is more compact....i choose my LTD mainly over my nash400....of course, the reverb doesn't work anymore like on all my peaveys..but i use slight delay always. love the LTD 400 because of it's size and sound, tho the session 400 may have slightly better resonance due to cabinet size!
replaced the old style black widow with a newer one many years ago....wouldn't mind trying an old JBL D130 if i could score one really cheap!

John Coffman · Post by **John Coffman** » 23 Oct 2007 4:30 pm

Jody, next time we get together you can try my Session 400 with a BW speaker. That Nasville 400 might just need a tune up.

Bob Cox · Post by **Bob Cox** » 23 Oct 2007 5:25 pm

Darvin you did a great job on your amp.

Terry Kinnear · Post by **Terry Kinnear** » 23 Oct 2007 6:01 pm

i have a sessions 400,[ hernia 400] . We had played a gig a month ago. when i opened up my van to get my amp out. it fell out , and landed flat ,on its face.it ripped a 3 inch gash in the speaker. I played thur the mains that nite . when i got home. I siliconed the gash, in the speaker. I tried it out the next day . It works great. I used it on two gigs since. It stills sounds great. one tough amp. TK

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 23 Oct 2007 10:43 pm

I love my Session as well, and agree that the JBL is the best speaker for that amp. I blew mine and replaced it with a Steel King Eminence. While it's not bad, the highs are really hard to dial out now. I may splurge on another JBL, and this time take it easy on the volume!

Tony Davis · Post by **Tony Davis** » 24 Oct 2007 4:12 am

I have had my Session 400 since 1975

Its travelled many miles...fell out of the back of my waggon on to its face and still played.....only been into repair once......cant rmember if Diodeor resistor breaking down when warm
It still has the original B.W 15 inch speaker in it......the only Mods I have done on it are....run the reverb leads through the foot pedalsockets and "Hard Wire "them to the board..........fit Clip out Fender Castors to it....and to Tack a Rebel flag over the Speaker cloth....Oh Yeah...and I cut triangles of Screen Door Mesh and Super Glued them on the back frame of the speaker....to protect it from the Beer cans and stuff stored in the back !!

:D:D

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 24 Oct 2007 8:09 am

used my session last week no effects just reverb and
still sounds great going to by a LTD session for home

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Old Session 400 amp

Old Session 400 amp

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