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Topic: Session 400 problems: any ideas? |
Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 29 Jun 2006 1:17 pm |
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I have a 1976 Session 400 amp that I’ve recently acquired that has some problems. I know it’s hard to assess these things without getting the amp on a bench, but I thought I’d run this by and see if this sounds familiar to any Session 400 users. What happens is that intermittently, and not too often, the audio from the amp will cut out: there are no pops or anything like that, and the power light stays on, but I’ll be playing and all of a sudden the sound goes dead, then comes back after a couple of seconds. It seems completely random. The other thing that is happening is that there is a slight fizzy distortion on the high-end of the audio coming out of the amp: so, the tone is clean, except for a really slight fizziness on the highs, and this happens at all volumes. I’ve spoken to Peavey and they said to send it in, but do these problems sound familiar? Other than these things the amp sounds really good!
I much appreciate your help!
Cliff
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Bill Terry
From:
Bastrop, TX
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Posted 29 Jun 2006 1:32 pm
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I don't know about the total cut-out of the audio, although connector problems would be the first thing I'd look at, both internal and external.
My Session 400 had the exact same 'fizzy' kind of distortion you describe and a cap job cured it. Probably a good idea anyway unless it's been done recently. |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 29 Jun 2006 2:47 pm
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My Session 400 died unexpectedly a few times, just like you described. The culprit was the speaker connection. It is exposed and therefore prone to disconnection. Check it and make sure the wires are tightly connected to the connectors. The first time it happened, I almost had a heart attack - it was just before a gig. One wire was simply pulled from the connector, due to me stuffing my steel cover into the back of the amp.
As far as the distortion goes, I've never had a problem. |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 29 Jun 2006 2:50 pm
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I have a similar problem with mine. It doesn't have the "fizzy" sound all the time, but it does get really distorted sometimes, then will clear up nicely for a few minutes then do it again. Sometimes its several minutes between episodes, sometimes only a few seconds. Sometimes they last several minutes, sometimes only a few seconds.
I cleaned and tightened all the Molex connectors, next on my agenda is inspecting the solder joints to see if some need touching up. Any other ideas? Brad Sarno did a cap job on it a year or so ago, and it sounds fantastic when it works.
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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
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Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 29 Jun 2006 4:40 pm
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Thanks a whole lot for your info and tips......well, at least I'm not alone! I would not be surprised if this amp has never been touched as far a cap jobs, etc., go, but I don't know much about it's history.....it looks like a beater, but except for the problems I've mentioned it sounds great with both my steel and my strat (the tremolo sounds great), it's a warm tone....and it weighs less than my Evans  |
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Jeremy Steele
From:
Princeton, NJ USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2006 4:02 am
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| Do yourself a favor and send it to Mississippi and let the Peavey techs work their magic. I had my old Session 400 overhauled last year, it was quick and inexpensive, sounds like a new amp now. |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 30 Jun 2006 7:28 am
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| If it's a 1976 then I guess it predates the switching type input jacks, but the symptoms are the same as what I experienced with a Session 400 Limited amp. In that case the problem was the inputs which is fairly common. Regardless of the type of inputs I would clean all the input contacts with contact cleaner before spending much money on it. |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 30 Jun 2006 7:40 am
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I agree---with all the above posts, actually.
A simple standard procedure before going any farther or sending it out is the contact cleaning thing. I also "exercise" the jacks---rapid repeated in/out action with a plug. I forget if the old Session has preamp/amp in/out jacks or an FX loop but these also want to be cleaned, even if you don't use them--they are switching jacks (in amps that have them) and dirty or partial contact can disrupt the signal--sometimes erratically/intermittently.
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2006 10:18 am
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I cleaned all the jacks in mine with contact cleaner as well as 600 grit sandpaper, didn't help any.
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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
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Mike Brown
From:
Meridian, Mississippi USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2006 10:59 am
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Cliff, you may send the chassis only, the reverb wiring and the reverb pan to the factory for maintenance. Please include a copy of this post with your amp and send it prepaid to;
Peavey Service Center
Attn; Mike Brown
412 Hwy. 80 East
Meridian, Ms. 39301
I feel that our techs can restore it to its original operational condition. Our toll free number is 1-877-732-8391, ext. 1180.
Sincerely,
Mike Brown
Peavey USA |
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Whip Lashaway
From:
Monterey, Tenn, USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2006 6:40 pm
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I used to have 2 of those amps (they are great by the way) and if memory serves me correctly all of the electronics are hanging upside down. Take the chassis out of the case and push all the IC's in. You may hear a crunching sound. That reseats the IC's. Also, the molex connectors, clean them and check out their solder connections on the back of the board. I think that cured any problem I ever had with those amps. They are killer but heavy. Good Luck. Also, if that doesn't fix it don't be afraid to ship it to Peavey. I've sent stuff to them a couple of times. They do great work, turn it around quickly and don't charge you an arm and a leg.
Whip
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Whip Lashaway
Sierra E9/B6 12 string
Sierra E9/B6 14 string
78' Emmons D10 P/P
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