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Topic: Peavey Session 400 or Peavey Nashville 400 |
Austin Potter
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 8 Aug 2009 12:16 pm |
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| Hello everyone, I'm looking for a good amp for my Sho Bud Pro II D-10 I'm interested in either the Session 400 or the Nashville 400. I'm leaning towards the Session just because it would match the vintage of the guitar but the Nashville has more features. Which one sounds better? Thanks for the help. |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 8 Aug 2009 12:28 pm
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| In my opinion the Nashville is a safer bet. They are newer and more reliable. Also Nashville 400 are all the same, whereas there are many different models called Session 400 and some of them sound OK while others sound like doo doo IMO. |
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Casey Lowmiller
From:
Kansas
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Posted 8 Aug 2009 2:07 pm
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The original Session 400 or the original, small-cab, LTD 400 are great amps. Session 400s are heavy but great. The LTD 400 is great & a lot lighter.
The Nashville 400 seems like quite the turd, unless you mod it. Once modded, they sound pretty nice and are lightweight.
The Session 400 LTD is the Session amp to avoid. Most folks don't like them. I've heard some that sounded okay to my ears.
If you have a chance to compare the two in person, you really should.
Casey
_________________
Known Coast to Coast as
"The Man with The Plan" |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 8 Aug 2009 2:33 pm
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The Limited gets confused with the LTD..
Session 400s and LTDs are good sounding amps.
I like my NV 112 better than I liked My Nashville 400
Identical Amps can sound very different.
My 112 has the Fox Mod. and the Nash 400 had no mod.
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2009 6:12 am
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Then there's always the Session 500.  |
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David Higginbotham
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2009 6:39 am
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Sound is quite subjective but either of the two amps you inquired about are great sounding amps. The vintage sound you are seeking would be best heard thru the Session 400.
| Quote: |
| The Nashville 400 seems like quite the turd, unless you mod it. Once modded, they sound pretty nice and are lightweight. |
Nashville 400 amps sound great, even better with the modifications. They are the heaviest weighing in about 64 lbs.
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| The original Session 400 or the original, small-cab, LTD 400 are great amps. |
Same amp. Session is the large cabinet and LTD is the small cabinet.
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Session 400s are heavy but great. The LTD 400 is great & a lot lighter.
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Session about 60 lbs. LTD about 56 lbs.
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The Session 400 LTD is the Session amp to avoid. Most folks don't like them. I've heard some that sounded okay to my ears.
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That's confused with the Session 400 Limited. The LTD and the Session 400 are the same amp. The limited does appeal to some, but many do not like the amp. It's has a totally different circuitry than the Session 400 and LTD. |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2009 4:59 pm
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| David Higginbotham wrote: |
| Quote: |
| The Nashville 400 seems like quite the turd, unless you mod it. Once modded, they sound pretty nice and are lightweight. |
Nashville 400 amps sound great, even better with the modifications. They are the heaviest weighing in about 64 lbs.
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My Session 400 was a lot heavier than that (2 speakers)
| David Higginbotham wrote: |
| Quote: |
| The original Session 400 or the original, small-cab, LTD 400 are great amps. |
Same amp. Session is the large cabinet and LTD is the small cabinet.
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My Session 400 sounded pretty good but had hums & buzzes built in and other reliability problems, such as the heavy xformer ripping the chassis apart. |
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David Higginbotham
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2009 5:47 pm
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Hey there Earnest aka Doug , I totally agree with you that with two 12's it would be heavier. Not sure how many Peavey built with this configuratuon.
The two Session 400's I had were pretty quiet and reliable as were the NV-400's I've had. My personal choice is the NV-400 with the Lemay Modifications which is what I play through now. I just think the the Session has a more vintage sound to it.
Take care and keep on picking those tunes!
Dave |
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Casey Lowmiller
From:
Kansas
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Posted 9 Aug 2009 6:15 pm
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Electronically the Session 400 and the LTD 400 are the same amp. The LTD 400 is much smaller. The chassis are built smaller.
I wanted to point that out...just in case someone tries to confuse the original LTD 400 with that newer Session 400 LTD!!! I can't stress enough just how much different the original LTD 400 is from that newer less popular "Session 400 LTD" that is similar sized to a Session 400.
Mine are equipped with the JBLs and I believe they weigh around 43-46 lbs.
If my memory serves me the Nashville 400 is lighter than the Session 400 and definitely the Session 500. The LTD 400 is lighter than the Nashville 400, as far as I know.
Casey
_________________
Known Coast to Coast as
"The Man with The Plan" |
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Michael T. Hermsmeyer
From:
Branson, Missouri, USA
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Posted 10 Aug 2009 10:54 pm
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I have had a few Nashville 400's (narrow cabinet), a Session 400 LTD (wide cabinet), LTD 400(narrow cabinet) , Rhythm Master 400 (wide cabinet)and a Vegas 400(wide cabinet), none with mods. The LTD had a Peavey/JBL (D-130?), the Nashvilles came with BW 1502-4 "extended bass" speakers and the Session came with a BW 1501-4. Not sure what the Vegas or the Rhythm Master had.
My favorite amp of them all was the Nashville 400 after I swapped speakers with the Session. The Nashville sounded sweeter with the smooth cone of the 1501. I also liked the Session better with the 1502, which had a ridged cone.
But man, do I wish I had kept that LTD 400!!! I would also like to own a Session 500!!! Every one of those that I had played through has sounded awesome.
One other note... I have a 1979 Peavey Artist with 100 watt tube power amp and an original BW 1501-4, same size as the Nashville and LTD. The preamp is designed for guitar, not steel, so it's pretty weak. But I use the power section, cabinet and speaker along with my Evans DP2R preamp, and it is one of the sweetest rigs I have. More to carry though.
To answer your question, I would go with a Nashville 400 with a Black Widow 1501-4. A Mod Kit won't hurt anything either.
_________________
Currently retired from performing music in Branson, MO
'73 EMMONS D10 FATBACK, '92 EMMONS D10 LASHLEY LEGRANDE, Bray Resonator Guitar,'95 DOBRO F60S, '85 Dobro 60DS, '95 MELOBAR CUSTOM, 1948 National Grand Console D-8, 1951 Supro Clipper S-6. EVANS, FENDER, PEAVEY,
and MESA BOOGIE Amps...
www.onemancountryshow.com
www.facebook.com/utilityman2000 |
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Bill Moran
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 6:34 pm
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The Session 400 is a great amp. Old school. The Nashville 400 is a great amp if you don't want any bottom end. Even the Nashville, with the mod's,sound muddy. I own one and the mod can not make up for a bigger cabnet. Find a Vegas. They can do it all, with clear tone. Don't mod the Vegas. You will not improve what Peavey has done!!!
Just my opinion. Don't mess with the Vegas. They are great and no one has ever improved on them. 
_________________
Bill |
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Michael T. Hermsmeyer
From:
Branson, Missouri, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 6:43 pm
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Hmmm! Maybe my Vegas was a dud, I just didn't like mine. Everyone likes something different and that's cool. That's how we learn, by tryin different things, to find our voice and our tone.
_________________
Currently retired from performing music in Branson, MO
'73 EMMONS D10 FATBACK, '92 EMMONS D10 LASHLEY LEGRANDE, Bray Resonator Guitar,'95 DOBRO F60S, '85 Dobro 60DS, '95 MELOBAR CUSTOM, 1948 National Grand Console D-8, 1951 Supro Clipper S-6. EVANS, FENDER, PEAVEY,
and MESA BOOGIE Amps...
www.onemancountryshow.com
www.facebook.com/utilityman2000 |
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Bill Moran
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 7:33 pm
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_________________
Bill |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 8:37 am
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Respectfully, most folks would not agree about modding the Vegas 400 and Nashville 400. I have well over 250 satisfied customers!! I have over 14 pages of comments from customers that I have saved, be glad to send those to anyone interested in seeing comments on the Fox Intense mod.
Here is a comment on this Forum by John Fabian:
"I just got my old Vegas back from Ken Fox. It had a LeMay mod in it and I always thought it sounded great. But, the old Vegas now has an in your face quality it never had. Bud liked it so much that he is going to have his Vegas modded by Ken." |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 11:24 am
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I've got a Sho-Bud Pro II and also have both amps. The Session 400 and The Nashville 400. The Bud sounds good thru both amps but just MHO sounds better thru the Session 400 but like was stated earlier, they don't all sound alike. My Emmons sounds better thru the Nashville 400, to me. My Rains sounds good in anything its plugged into (steel amp that is) and this is not a commercial. JMHO. I'm still searching for a rig, amp or guitar that makes me sound like Emmons, Hughey, Green, Rugg are just any of those guys that play about 100 times better than I do but don't believe I'll ever find it.
I've got Ken's mod in my Nasville 400 and also in a Nashville 112 and the mod really makes those good amps sound even better. Crisp clean highs and warm lows.--
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Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 11:35 am
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I have listened to Buddy Emmons live may times and seen him play thru a variety of amps. He always sounded like Buddy!
How do he do that???? |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 11:40 am
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It's in the hands.  |
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Bill Duncan
From:
Lenoir, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 12:25 pm
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Erv,
I have a theory. I think it's in his name! There's just something about "Buddy Emmons". It says pedal steel. Class Steel!
_________________
You can observe a lot just by looking |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 12:37 pm
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Bill,
Not to many steel players have guitars named after them.
I don't think I'll live long enought to play an
"Ervie".  |
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Bill Moran
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 1:25 pm
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Michael, you could be on to something. I could have the bad amp. My Nashville sounds so bad I would not chance having a mod put in my Vegas. I know some people love the mod. Mine must be the only one that it didn't work on.
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Bill |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 2:21 pm
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| Why don't you send it back and let me go over it, Bill? I fixed the reverb issue and will be glad to check it out again. Have you also tried another speaker with the amp? I wil be glad to fix anything that is wrong with the mod, if that's the case. However there are a a lot of other factors than the mod that could be causing issues. Still, I would like to look at it for you. |
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Jody Sanders
From:
Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 7:11 pm
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| At one time or another I have used every Peavey steel amp made. Never had one I did not like.. I kept each one , but recently have started selling them. The Session 400LTD and Session 500 and the Vegas 400 are gone. Still have a Session 400, a Session 400Limited. a Nashville 400, and a Peavey 112. We all owe Hartley Peavey for coming thru with steel guitar amps when no one else would. Tried a Standel in the early days of my career but did not like it. Played Fender amps til Peaveys came out. Jody. |
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Bill Moran
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 8:46 am
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Ken, Thanks for the offer. I sold the amp to a local guitar player. Without a doubt I just had a dud. I have never seen a post where anyone else has not liked there mod.
This guitar player plays blues and old rock so he will be running a distortion box. I think he was impressed with the power of the NV.
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Bill |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 10:01 am
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| Thanks for the reply, Bill. If I can ever vindicate myself I will be glad to help you out anyway I can!!!! |
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Austin Potter
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 29 Aug 2009 12:26 pm
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| thanks everyone for your comments, well i just bought a early peavey session 400 with a nice jbl D130 speaker, im really stoked ill let yall know how it sounds with my sho bud d10 |
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