Session 400 questions

Mel Bergman · From: Camarillo, California, USA

Hi friends,

A pal of mine is letting me try out his Session 400,and I believe I can purchase if I want to. It has a JBL D-130 in it , and it sounds fantastic with my Emmons PP. Not being familiar with Peavey minutiae, here are a few questions:

1) I believe, if I decoded the serial # correctly, that this is a 1989 model. Is that possible? Was the session made until the late 80's?

2) This model has the colored plastic knobs vs the earlier flat aluminum (?) knobs. Is there any internal differences that matter?

3) The reverb is not working, while the tremolo is working. I do not have a stereo foot pedal. Is that the most likely culprit, or is there another way to test the reverb.

4) The pots are fine, except the volume pot. It is really touchy, and and moving it all the way around a dozen times did nothing. Probably in need of cleaner?

Sorry for the pretty basic questions, and thanks in advance to the forum for all your help!

Mel

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Can you post a photo. There is often confusion regarding the original "Session 400" and the later '80s model called the Session 400 Limited which was an entirely different animal.

The original Session 400 is an "all discrete" circuit using single transistors instead of opamps. It was a very pure and clear and natural sounding amplifier, one of the best transistor steel amps ever. The '80s "Limited" amp was not as special, sonically speaking. It's not as open and toneful. It was kind of a predecessor to the Nashville 400 that proved to be a better sounding amp.

Brad

Mike Brown · From: Meridian, Mississippi USA

The original Session 400 was introduced in 1974 and was offered as a product until the early '80's. It was replaced by the Session 400 Limited.

The knobs were a cosmetic change, but no change to the circuitry.

All that is required to activate the reverb or the tremolo effect, it to turn up or increase the tremolo control on the faceplate of the amplifier. If the reverb or tremolo effect does not come on, then you may want a technician to evaluate the symptom and evaluate to repair. The footswitch will allow you to turn on or turn off the effect.

Mike Brown · From: Meridian, Mississippi USA

The original Session 400 was introduced in 1974 and was offered as a product until the early '80's. It was replaced by the Session 400 Limited.

The knobs were a cosmetic change, but no change to the circuitry.

All that is required to activate the reverb or the tremolo effect, it to turn up or increase the tremolo control on the faceplate of the amplifier. If the reverb or tremolo effect does not come on, then you may want a technician to evaluate the symptom and evaluate to repair. The footswitch will allow you to turn on or turn off the effect.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

If it has tremolo, you read the date wrong. The later 400 Limited didn't have tremolo.
Great amp.
The reverb might just be a bad pan or bad cables
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Mike Brown · From: Meridian, Mississippi USA

The early Session 400 wasn't equipped with a JBL, so I assumed it was an original.

Mike Brown · From: Meridian, Mississippi USA

Sorry, I meant the latter(or Limited) did not come equipped with a JBL.

Mel Bergman · From: Camarillo, California, USA

Thanks one and all.

Brad, here are a few pics. Def not a Limited. I know the JBL is not original as it is a 1960s model. I'm sure that the JBL is adding some goodness to the sound.

Lane, as for the reverb, when I turn it up, it is wanting to work, but no dice. I'll swap in a good pan, and cables to see if that helps.

Mike, maybe I am reading the serial number wrong. It is 9A-XXXXXX. So 79 vs 89.

Thanks to all of you for your help. Love the forum!

Mel

Ken Fox · From: Nashville GA USA

The reverb cables can work even if backwards at the reverb pan, however not as well as they should. To ID which cable goes to the reverb pan's output you can lay both cables outside the back of the amp, turn up the reverb control to 3 or more, and then touch the tip of each cable. The cable that makes noise is the reverb return cable and goes to the pan's output connector.

This drawing is for a N-400 but might help a bit:

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

And the Session uses RCA jacks on the bottom of the chassis. Reversing is easier than anything.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Cool,

Great amp. Careful with that JBL. That amp can blow that thing, especially with too much bass.

B

Mel Bergman · From: Camarillo, California, USA

Thanks again gents. Brad, I am taking it easy on this JBL. I have used D 130s for years, and the thought occurred to me that I better be careful. If I do end up getting this amp, I will most likely put a different speaker in. Can you tell me what BW this would have been equipped with?

THanks, Mel

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

The original one would be the 1501-4.
This amp was frying the JBL speakers at a rate that they created the Black Widow out of necessity.
This amp is not now, and likely never will be, a collector's item, so there's no economic value in keeping it stock.
I'd recommend the EPS 15C and get good tone while cutting weight.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Mel Bergman · From: Camarillo, California, USA

Thanks Lane. I have an EPS 15 in another amp. I'll give that a try.

Thanks again to all of you kind folks.

Mel

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