Weak Reverb--400 ltd

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 16 Feb 2002 11:36 pm

I bought my Session 400 LTD new about 10 years ago. I always thought that the reverb was very weak and the amp sometimes turns on at a fraction of the volume.

I sent the amp to the local shop twice and was told that it is working fine. For the reverb, I've followed the advice on this column. Even so, the reverb is barely perseptable. If I "rock" the amp, the springs/reverb is very loud but the guitar strings will barely excite it even at high volume levels.

As for the volume cutting out, this happens if I haven't used it for a while. Boots up very weak and distorted. I disconect the speaker, turn the volume up full, strum the strings hard and plug the speaker back in. Then it works fine.

Anybody else have these problems? Do I just scrap it or is there hope? The shop I used was recommended by Peavy and the local shops. Thanks in advance!

Tom Jordan

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 17 Feb 2002 2:20 am

Switch the Reverb wires on the tank.

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 17 Feb 2002 9:02 am

Thanks Rick, I tried that and the plug and the mounting etc...are these reverbs just inherently weak? I mean when you turn a fender up to 10 on the reverb, you are virtually swimming under water. On my 400, all the way up my reveal a faintest hint of slap...if I hit the strings hard enough. As I stated earlier, if I shake the amp, the reverb does the earthquake thing and the neeigboorhood animals stampede...so the tank works. Is there away to adjust the depth internally or maybe add a fender 3 spring?

Thanks for the input by the way, Rick.

Tom Jordan

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 17 Feb 2002 10:44 am

Hey Tom; yeah a friend of mine loaned me a LTD once....and it had the same problem...I just couldn't get anything outta it reverb wise. I played through Lloyd Maines LTD once at a show and his sounded fine.....so man I don't know. I do know each Peavey amp I've played in the past; there is something different about each one; plus I've never liked the sound of the reverb in any of them anyway.
There is no way to get a fender reverb sound outta it.....you can try putting in another tank.....but I believe it is in the electronics that those problems exsist in the peavey....But the sound of those LTD's are pretty good for a solid state amp...cause it was before Peavey started putting the limiter/compression crap in the amp......so plop ya a nice effect in line and go to it...(I love my RV-3)
Ricky

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 17 Feb 2002 11:45 am

Ricky, thanks once again. I do use a profexII so the reverb thing was always a back burner issue. The onboard reverb would be nice for practice and the quick casuals verses dragging the effects along too. It just bugs me sometimes and has been to the shop twice....irrating like the flashing 12:00 on the VCR!

Anyhoo, I think I'll send it in one more time and try to be present when they test it. Outside of that, the amp has b*lls of steel and thats why I keep it.

Thanks Ricky,

Tom Jordan

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 17 Feb 2002 1:26 pm

The reverb should not be that weak. If you can try another tank. An easy way to tell which reverb wire goes where is to unplug the wires, turn the reverb control up, touch to the tip of the wires, the one that causes a hum in the speaker of the amp is the reverb return wire, it goes to the tanks output connector. Dirty connections on the tanks input/output connectors, reverb in/out connectors at amp, a bad transistor or other component in the reverb drive section can cause low reverb as well. Don't sub a tank out of a tube amp, its input impedance is way too low for a transistor circuit.[This message was edited by Ken Fox on 17 February 2002 at 02:26 PM.]

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 17 Feb 2002 6:30 pm

Yes, if you simply reverse the wires it may sound much better. Had this happen on my LTD. The send and return wires got reversed -- no, I don't know how -- but swapping the send and return wires to the reverb tank fixed the problem.

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 17 Feb 2002 9:22 pm

Thanks for all of input guys...yes I've tried all the info here on the forum and appreciate the adivce. I'll take her to the shop on more time. I have no doubt that the tank works (shaking and resulting mayhem)...Its just that the guitar signal is not getting to the tank. I think the faint reverb that I hear must be from the cabinet vibrating the tank because it only happens at high levels. (ran my wife off and went deaf experimenting today). Must be an internal electrical glitch.

I'll tell you what though, if I can get it solved, I'll make sure that I post the problem so that all can share it.

Many thanks,

Tom Jordan

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 17 Feb 2002 9:47 pm

Off hand, I would suspect a wire broken inside the reverb tank. Most likely,on the input side of the tank. Look at it and make sure both ends have the two wires connected to the R.C.A. plug.

You say you have a good reverb sound of you jar the amp, so this tell us that at least one end of it is working.

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 17 Feb 2002 9:49 pm

I was a Peavey distributor during the late seventies. There was a quality control problem with the tanks that Accutronics was producing (for everyone using the tanks, not just Peavey). Often the small wires from the inductor in the tank would break off at the connector. You might take a look at that. If the input wire is broken, the tank will still make noise when it is shaken. I have fixed many a tank in that condition. Tanks are cheap, check Antique Electronics Supply (less than $20.00, typically).[This message was edited by Ken Fox on 17 February 2002 at 09:50 PM.][This message was edited by Ken Fox on 18 February 2002 at 11:02 AM.]

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 19 Feb 2002 8:51 am

I checked with one of the technicians that works on Session amps when they come in for servicing. He suggests that you check the molex connection at the chassis as a possibilty and also the reverb IC might be defective.

If you wish to speak to our technicians, please feel free to call our toll free(U.S.) consumer line at 1-877-732-8391. We'll be glad to see what we can do to assist.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 19 Feb 2002 10:45 am

Thank you for your time Mike. Close inspection of the tank and connectors reveal no obvious problems. I'll have it it serviced and ask that the reverb circuitry be tested...wish me luck!

Tom Jordan

B Bailey Brown · Post by **B Bailey Brown** » 19 Feb 2002 1:10 pm

I have not used the reverb in my Nashville 400 for the last several years. Let me stop here and say that I have NO problem with Peavey products. Good grief, I am on my 4th Peavey Amp, and own 2 of their 6 string guitars. I am a proud Peavey user and have been for 25 years!!

Musical equipment really doesn’t get a lot better than PEAVEY.

A couple of years ago I changed to using the “digital” reverb in my effects unit. It just seems to be a bit cleaner, and is not subject to “outside” influences. By that I mean, if the singer, or the guitar player gets excited and starts stomping his foot on an old wooden stage, sooner or later they will “crash” your reverb! That is the most obnoxious sound I have ever heard on a bandstand…well, besides some of the notes I play

I believe that Peavey makes a couple of “digital” reverb units that are top of the line. You might consider them. The reverb in the Amp is a nice backup to have in case your effects unit goes out at some point. Personally, I like the “digital” reverb on the front line, with the Amp reverb as a good backup.

B. Bailey Brown

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 19 Feb 2002 1:38 pm

Maybe it's time for amp manufacturers to think about building digital reverb into their amps.

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 20 Feb 2002 6:43 am

Hey Jim,
I'm glad to announce that we just release two new six string guitar models that have digital effects built into them. One of them is the new Peavey Transtube 112EFX and it sounds really good for low level in home rehearsals. Just yesterday, I submitted an article to Terry Bethel for the Ozark Mountain Steel Guitar publication concerning the Transtube EFX 112 and 212 models.

Try 'em out.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

Tom Ward · Post by **Tom Ward** » 22 Feb 2002 4:04 am

Tom, I've experienced the same type problem when I worked on amps. I recommend taking the reverb tank out of the amp and check the RCA female connectors...both input and output. Some manufacturers will rivet the connectors to the tank instead of soldering. Corrosion will build between rivet and ground causing all kinds of reverb problems. Good luck, Tom[This message was edited by Tom Ward on 22 February 2002 at 04:05 AM.]

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 22 Feb 2002 8:07 am

Moderator, I think we can close this thread. I appreciate all the input and will share the the results from the "tune up" when I get the amp back.

Regards,

Tom Jordan