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Topic: Peavey Session 400 control knob question |
Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 23 Aug 2009 10:11 pm |
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I just got my early (1975) Peavey Session 400 amp back from my amp tech with new caps and it sounds really great. I thought it sounded pretty good before, but it sounds way better now. The JBL that was in it blew and I replaced it with a neo magnet Black Widow. The BW sounds great and the amp is easier to carry. What a cool amp! And loud!
Can someone tell me what the "SHIFT" control and the "SENSITIVITY" control do? It sounds like the SHIFT control is rolling off highs or fattening up the tone, and the SENSITIVITY control seems to be like a master volume, at least that's my impression. What exactly do they do?
Also: has anyone replaced the original silver metal knobs with another style of knobs? I like the way the silver knobs look, but it is really hard for me to see the indicator line on the rim of these knobs. I'm wondering if chicken head knobs or the old plain style Fender amp knobs (like on the blond Bassman amps) would work better. Any suggestions?
Thanks! |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 24 Aug 2009 4:54 am
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The sensitivity I believe is a type of pre gain altho is doesn't distort like a normal Pre or gain does.
Usually I turn Sensitivity up I as run the volume higher.
There are opinions to taste and it requires just trying it in different situations.
The shift control of a parametric equalizer works with two controls. The Mid control or 2nd knob is regularly at zero at 12 O'Clock and adds or subtracts mid frequencies, At Zero setting there is or should be no effect. turn the Mid counter clock wise to subtract mid frequencies, Then the Shift control selects which frequency is added or subtracted so you can search out unwanted frequencies. A typical Peavey setting for this would be. Mid 10 O'Clock and Shift at 2 O'Clock.
Then adjust to taste.
Not to hot on the chicken beak idea my self...
Ken Fox is your best bet of getting some silver knobs.
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 24 Aug 2009 7:14 am
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| As I recall, those silver knobs originally had a black sticker glued to the front. The sticker had a pointer on it. The glue on the back of the stickers didn't last all that long and they had to be reglued. I've seen a lot of those amps with missing stickers. |
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Bill Terry
From:
Bastrop, TX
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Mike Taylor
From:
Wetumpka, AL
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Posted 24 Aug 2009 1:26 pm owners manual
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Cliff..
I believe on the Peavey website you can still find the owners manual for these fine amps. It has a detailed discussion of the controls and what they do.
Mike |
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Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 24 Aug 2009 1:56 pm
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Mike: thanks! I got the manual now.
Thanks everyone for your help.
Cliff |
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Bob Cox
From:
Buckeye State
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Posted 24 Aug 2009 2:18 pm
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| When you get it set right it will have a sweet sound.Those are one of the best amps ever made as far as I am concerned.The one with the JBL is the mack daddy. |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 24 Aug 2009 3:44 pm
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| When all the paper discs fell off mine I used a Sharpie to draw a line on the knob face in line with the black notch. I can see it from much farther away now. |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2009 5:20 am
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The sensitivity control is actual a post gain or master volume for the amp. It controls the level of the preamped signal is post (after) EQ and reverb.
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