sessions 400 limited

Tommy Thompson · From: tampa, fl

Dear friend passed on and his family graciously gave me his equipment, including a peavey sessions 400 limited. I played it this week in pigeon forge in a ramada inn and it sounded great mic'd out. I wondered if anyone knows where this amp falls in line with the original session 400 and the LTD as for as the year and how it compares sound wise according to forumites. Thanks tommytstrat@yahoo.com

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Sadly, most regard it as the most forgettable of the Peavey steel amps.
It was hailed in the PR as a modern revival of the Session 400. But it just didn't sound the same.
I've seen (e.g., in the Best Amp, Worst Amp thread) every other Peavey and get ranked at both top and bottom, but the Limited gets nary a mention. I tried one, couldn't quite get my tone.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

Not the top of the Peavey heap, but not junk either. I knew I couldn't go wrong on one when it was offered for 100.00. I put it at a theater where I was working some. With some tweaking, I found a zone that was pretty good. They used the XLR out to the board and the reference CD's I heard were pretty good.
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LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Well put, Clyde. Tommy, I forgot to answer the other part of your question.
The Session 400 and LTD were made from the early 70s through about 82.
Then came the Session 500 and the Nashville 400. The Session 400 Limited came in either after the N400 or ran together with it towards the end, in the early 90s. They're certainly not junk, I'd rather have it than anything with Nashville in the name.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Tommy Thompson · From: tampa, fl

Thanks for the input so for guys. I used a Roland 120 since 1984 for guitar and 12 years ago when I started steel the Roland was still my best amp, now I'm interested in the peavey for the first time since I was given this one, tho I never liked the sound I heard others getting with them. I was told I needed a 15 inch speaker. Lane, I read some threads that hailed the sessions 500 as good, I see you have one. How is the sound of it different from the 400 limited? tommy t.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I found that the 500 gives a warm friendly sound that tames the brittle harshness of my right hand (elsewhere someone had described the right hand postures and some are warmer, but yield more pick noise: I hate the noise, so I live with overly bright, counting on my amp to control the tone), better than any amp I've played. The Hernia 500 even sounds better than my Evans. It's main drawback is the mass. At somewhere near 100, it sucks to lift it.

The Limited doesn't sound bad, it just didn't tame my right hand's shrillness nearly as well. But it did better than a 120. As mentioned elsewhere, the 15 inherently scoops the mids better than a pair of 12s.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Steven Finley · From: California, USA

Lane,I had a session 400 limited for about 10 years
and sold it,only because at the time I could fit
my ltd into my small car with more ease,and it was
lighter weight,however the session 400 ltd is no
amp to be taken lightly,they are a fine amp,just
depends what sound your after.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Agreed. IMO, their best amp since the end of the 500.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Dennis Detweiler · From: Solon, Iowa, US

I have two session 400's from the 70's and a session 400 limited from the early 80's. The limited is a good amp, but a much different preamp than the older 400's. The limited has a distinct natural treble that has to be tamed by drastically cutting the presence and treble to the left of center. I also use a Furman PQ-3 and cut the 2500 hz to further tame it. Combined with my Truetone pickup wound to 1800, it balances out very well. Plenty of punch and power through a 15"BW.
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1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8.

Tommy Thompson · From: tampa, fl

I was on peavey site and saw where you can plug volume pedal into amp, does anyone use that feature, also I see where there recommended settings have the lows up to 7 to 15 and the mids down to 0 to 3. Dennis, I'm glad to hear someone who has got good control of the session limited. I've also talked to Ken about a mod kit. tommy t.

Dennis Detweiler · From: Solon, Iowa, US

Tommy, I run my shift around 2:00 o'clock and mid at 0. Bass at noon. But, I tweak the bass and highs with the Fuhrman pq-3 (add bass and cut highs at 2500hz range). I also found the mod parts list through the forum via Brad Sarno. It consists of replacing the IC chips. I also replaced some capacitors. It didn't take away the high end harshness, but it mellowed the rest of the tonal range and quieted the amp. I don't know where the treble tone stack is located in the amp. The upgrade chips also added some punchiness to the pick attack. I bought the parts through Mouser Electronics. You can go to their online site and order. The other downside of the amp, you have make sure the loop input jacks for the effects and volume pedal contacts are cleaned up. If the amp starts to cut out or change tone, the jacks are usually the first cuplprit. But, a simple fix.
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1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8.

Henry Matthews · From: Texarkana, Ark USA

Hey Lane, you seem to know your LTD's. I've got two LTD's, both with same speaker and I think both have been moded, one by Ken Fox and the other by Darrell Stephens. One is the silver knob amp. What I'm getting to is, neither sound anything alike. The silver knob amp just won't cut it like the other. Do you know if there is any difference and have you tried both? Thanks--Henry
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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.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I do not know whether mine has mods; I bought it used from a jazz guitar player in 91.
It's currently on loan to fiddler Josie Michener, when I get it back, I'll take pictures of the gazoots.
Warm fat lows, nicely tamed mids and highs that ring crisp, not shrill.

I'm less aware of the electronics than I'd like. I just know the tone I seek. And my LTD is dang close
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Dennis Detweiler · From: Solon, Iowa, US

The LTD (not Limited) has the same guts as the 70's Session 400. The smaller cabinet is the only difference. Chaulker played through two of them when they were introduced.
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1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8.

Henry Matthews · From: Texarkana, Ark USA

Yes, the LTD (even the one I don't like) is the amp of choice for me. To me, they are a cut above other Peavey amps with the warm lows and zingy and crisp but not harsh highs. They also have really great reverb circuits, almost digital the way they sound.
I get a lot of compliments on my tone when playing an LTD. I just go straight into amp, no effects or nothing. Sounds good on fiddle and guitar too.
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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.

Jack Goodson · From: new brockton,alabama (deceased)

henry: i also have 2/LTD 400's on is i think around 1976 the other one is maybe a year newer. i had the same problem with one sounding better than the other until i sent them (at 2/diferrent times)back to peavey, now they sound pretty much the same....thanks jack

Henry Matthews · From: Texarkana, Ark USA

Thanks Jack, I may send my old one to Ken Fox and let him go thru it. On of mine has the new type knobs and other silver knobs. Don't know the years.
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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.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I've never played a Session Limited, so I can't comment with first hand experience. We have a couple people in our steel club that actually prefer the Limited model over the others and they sound just fine on them.

If it sounds good to you, that's all that matters.

All Peavey amps between the LTD and factory modded NV400 sound bland to my touch. I was only happy with mine after the John LeMay mod, but that's me. I hear other guys playing stock Peavey amps that sound great, so it's probably just me. Oh Well

Tommy Thompson · From: tampa, fl

I just sent funds and Ken is sending me 7 chip replacements, so I'm gonna play it tonight at a jam and try for second time to hear what it sounds like ,then I'll put the chips in and compare. I only played it once at a big auditorium with my mullen hwp and according to band members it sounded good then, so we will see.. tommy t.

Tommy Thompson · From: tampa, fl

Just replaced chips with mod chips that Ken sent me and all the highs and lows are very smooth and pleasing to the ear, no harshness. I'll need to try it in a bigger setting, but I'm thinking that's it. tommy t.

Mark Fasbender · Posted 7 May 2012 5:59 pm

tommy. the new chips help alot. i think there are other mods as well. check peavey's site and see.

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