Peavey Session 400 Amp?

Billy Woo · Post by **Billy Woo** » 7 May 2004 6:25 am

I've heard some postitive things about this amp but wanted to get your opinions on how it compares with the Nashville 400? also if the session comes with stock Jbl speakers or another type of speaker? Finally what kind of power (wattage) does it contain?

Thanks,

Bronco Billy

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 7 May 2004 6:47 am

Billy,
I doubt it very much if it would come with a JBL speaker. Peavey makes their own and chances are it would have a Black Widow.
Erv

Mike Kowalik · Post by **Mike Kowalik** » 7 May 2004 7:12 am

Great amp...200 watts of power...Black Widow speaker....good size cabinet...predecessor of the Nash 400...I have one and like it!!

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 7 May 2004 7:52 am

We did use the JBL early on, but then designed our Black Widow series.

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 7 May 2004 7:58 am

Erv,

I have a '74 Session with the [original] JBL speaker made for Peavey prior to the Black Widow. So yes, the very first Sessions had JBL's.
The owner's manual states " The Session 400 is available with either one 15 inch J.B.L., two 12" heavy duty eminence, or two 12 inch Electro Voice speakers for personal tonal preferences."

Dennis Wood · Post by **Dennis Wood** » 7 May 2004 10:29 am

I Have both old model Nash400 with chrome corners and a Session 400 with JBL speaker. I have a hard time deciding which i like better. Both are excellent amps whth their own tonal qualities. THe session 400 sounds different but i wouldn't say better. One day i like the session the next day the nashville...Peavey amps are great amps.
dw

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Sierra U-12 Crown Gearless, Peavey Nashville 400,
1971 Fender Twin Reverb,
Peavey Tubefex,
Peavey Session 400,
Peavey TT Bandit w/ex speaker. Regal Reso, Tele, Strat, 1970 Les Paul Std.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 7 May 2004 3:42 pm

This just goes to show that we can learn something every day. I was unaware that Peavey used JBL speakers at one time. Live and learn!! I picked up a Session 500 a while back and just received the mod kit for it. I'm anxious to try it out. If I install the mod myself, I might not hear anything!

Erv<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 07 May 2004 at 04:45 PM.]</p></FONT>

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 7 May 2004 6:38 pm

Getting away from the JBL thing and back to the original question, the Session 400 and LTD 400 are very special amps to my ears -- the earlier the better. The NV 400 is very clean but can get a bit crispy. I really like the EQ on the older ones. Check out http://home.earthlink.net/~bradsarno/session_400page.html
Brad Sarno has some great info there.

Billy Woo · Post by **Billy Woo** » 12 May 2004 9:48 am

Gentlemen

Thanks for all your input and advice, this Forum is amazing with you all. B0b we are really glad you "Got this party started"

Bronco Billy

Harold Parris · Post by **Harold Parris** » 12 May 2004 6:38 pm

Billy, over the last 30 years I've played steel through numerous brands and models of amps. There are some amps that please my ear better in some enviroments better than the old Session 400. The real deal is: " Under all conditions and day in day out, you can't beat the Older Peavey Session 400". I bought mine in 1975 and she is the only amp I have kept for that many years. By the way it came with the 15" JBL Custom speaker.

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Sierra Session and MSA Classic Guitars, Nashville 400, Session 400, and Evans FET 500 HiVolt, and Gretsch Nashville Pro Steel Amps, Keith Hilton Digital Sustain pedal and Digital Sustain Box .
Harold Parris email hparris9@aol.com

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 17 May 2004 4:43 pm

I agree, the session 400 would be hard to beat!! love it!

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 18 May 2004 5:07 am

I have an LTD400 I bought new in 1980, and have never had one problem with it. It has the old spider web Black Widow and still sounds great. I also have a Session 500 I bought new in 1981 and it still sounds great too. I have several other Peavey amps too, as well as Fenders, Polytone, Mesa Boogie etc, and a couple of rack rigs, and they each have their sound, but it is hard to beat the Peaveys for overall sound and reliability.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording