Session 400 problem

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

I have a 1979 Session 400 LTD amp that I wasn’t using because the reverb made a buzzing sound when it was turned up. I wanted to try something I’d read online to fix it but when I turned it on, it was dead. No light. Nothing. I checked the fuse and sure enough it was blown. I tried a new fuse same voltage and amps and it blew immediately when I turned the amp on. Has anyone had similar problems with this amp?
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GFI Ultra, Gibson, and Fender.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Did you replace with a fast blow or slow blow fuse?
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

I don’t know. I went to the parts store and bought a box of 250 v 6 amp fuses.
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GFI Ultra, Gibson, and Fender.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Every amp I have ever owned used slow blow fuses. Amp draw a hood amount of current and will take out a regular fuse (also known as fast blow) almost instantly. But even when you verify the type of fuse, if it still blows, you need to find the reason.

The only problems I had with one was the power transistors kept failing. I ended up just using it as a speaker cabinet using the awesome Peavey JBL. Of all the amps I have owned over the years, the Session 400 was the absolute worst. I hated it from the first day I bought it.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

If you're blowing fuses it needs to be examined by someone who can find and fix the issue. Very likely the power supply capacitors are shot due to age and need to be replaced, just for starters. If you're lucky that's all it needs.

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

Thanks for the info, guys. Sounds like it might be a serious issue. I don’t have anyone locally to look at the amp. Like Richard, I have never really cared for the amp to begin with. I think I will junk it maybe save the back widow speaker and look for a different amp. Thanks again.
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GFI Ultra, Gibson, and Fender.

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

Joe the LTD is considered a sought after amp. Rather than junk it offer it for sale. I know I would have it fixed. They seldom come up for sale in my area.

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

I’ve seen two versions of the Session 400. One looks like it’s about the size of the Nashville 400 and the other is a little wider. I know one version is sought after as you say and the other is not. Mine is the wider model. According to the serial number it was made in 1979. I don’t know if it’s the popular model or not.
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GFI Ultra, Gibson, and Fender.

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Talk to these guys...
https://www.guitarsofmontana.com/

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

Thanks. Great Falls is a long way from where I am. I have talked to a guy in Billings, Montana, but Billings is 210 miles from here. By the time I figure gas, meals, cost to repair amp, I think I’d rather just find something else. I don’t think it’s the sought- after model. It just says Session 400 on the back. No LTD like I thought.
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GFI Ultra, Gibson, and Fender.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

1979 I believe is a little early for the later Session amps.
The later editions would be marked as Limited. If your doesn't have that marking, I would assume it's one of the early Session 400 amps which is just the bigger version...same as LTD 400 of the same era.

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

I think you’re right, Jerry. I know I never really cared for the amp. It was okay paired with my Nashville 400 but not so great alone. I would be willing to send to anyone who wants to pay shipping but I think my money would be better spent on a different amp.
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GFI Ultra, Gibson, and Fender.

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

For clarity's sake, the later Session 400 Limited badged amp is largely considered to be the least desirable of the Session amps.

The early Session 400 amps and the smaller version LTD, not Limited, are considered by most to be the most desirable.

Peavey's badging of the later Limited amp has confused many an owner thinking it is the same amp as the earlier ones. It is not.

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

Jerry, so mine is just the Session 400. Were they a forerunner to the Nashville 400? I don’t what I’ll do with it. I’ve got my eye on an Evans E-150.
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GFI Ultra, Gibson, and Fender.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

The early Session 400 was the very first pedal steel amp designed by Peavey. It is considered the flagship of the Peavey steel amps. The smaller cabineted LTD is the same amp in a smaller box.

The earliest Session and LTD amps had chrome knobs with black inserts, however some say some of them were al chrome with no inserts.

The later versions of the same amp had black knobs, with blue, white etc. inserts and pointers.

I have some photos of the various stages of these amps but I'm unable to find them right now.

Yes, the Nashville 400, the Vegas 400 and various "city" named Peavey amps came later. As did the Session 400 LIMITED.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

My Session 400 was a late 70s and just said Session 400, no Limited or LTD. It was the wide one. It was a real piece of crap from the day I brought it home from the music store.

I ended up keeping the cabinet with the JBL it came with, and selling the dead chassis to someone as a project amp.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Joe, where are you in Montana?
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Dennis Detweiler · From: Solon, Iowa, US

This is the first year of the Session 400 (1974)
It had the smooth finish all metal knobs. The Peavey logo was in the upper corner of the grill and the front chassis panel was metal. I bought this new. Still have the cancelled check and lifetime warranty card. It's been road worthy, but recently had to replace all of the caps and replaced all of the Molex pins and soldered them in, rather than factory crimp. I replaced all 6 power transistors with Nashville 400 power transistors, which gives a little boost in power. Quiet as a mouse and great tone with the flat magnet 1501 speaker.
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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.

Raybob Bowman · From: S. Lake Tahoe, CA, USA

Most likely problem is bad filter caps, considering the age.
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Sierra U12 4+5 / 1933 Dobro / homemade Tele B-bender

Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

Joe, check your forum private mail>

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Some guys consider the Session 400 among the best steel guitar amps ever produced, and the LTD 400 just as good if not better (due to its decreased size and weight).

I have an old Session 400 head that sounds great through virtually every speaker cabinet I've ever hooked up to it:

Also makes a decent bass or keyboard amp through the right speaker cabinet. Mine is a keeper.

Dennis Detweiler · From: Solon, Iowa, US

I don't think there were many of the Session 400 heads produced? Definitely a keeper.
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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.

Dave Campbell · From: Nova Scotia, Canada

man, i've played a lot of amps, and the session 400 is pretty much my favourite.

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