Peavey Session 400 Limited tweaks?

graham rodger · Post by **graham rodger** » 3 Dec 2010 9:09 am

Well it arrived today,my used Session 400 Limited,it is in pristine condition!!to look at,but alas it has a couple of wee issues.
I bought it from a London Stage Company that rent out to TV and stage people.
The reverb spring is broken at one end,do these things need soldered in?
Also it wont amplify without the foot switch connected,is this normal?
Also it shoots up in volume when I press the first switch of three,namely the EFX.1 switch,this aint normal right?This is without anything connected to the effect patch.I'd like to try and fix these problems,am reluctant to send back as its in such good condition apart from these electrical problems which I hope to fix.
I got it for £150+£30 shipping which I think is a good deal here in the UK

Any thoughts guys?Anything I can try,can anyone enlighten me as to what the problem is?I can replace the reverb unit easily,I can also leave it unconnected as I will use a Digitech RP 150 for effects...

Cheers in advance Graham

graham rodger · Post by **graham rodger** » 3 Dec 2010 9:21 am

AND! to top all that I have noticed a little rattle that sounds like an untuned radio signal when i let a single bass note ring out,am wondering how good the cone in the speaker is gee

graham rodger · Post by **graham rodger** » 3 Dec 2010 9:58 am

Speaker is fine,it was just my pedal settings oops silly me

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 4 Dec 2010 4:20 am

1) The fact that your amp does not function without the foot switch installed does not appear to be normal. The 'Limited' that I formerly owned did not have the foot control and worked fine. I am assuming that the three positions on the switch are for turning the two effects loops and the reverb on and off. You might try disengaging the broken reverb pan with the switch or disconnecting it completely from the unit and see if that produces any results...2)Your effects loops should be labeled "Pre Gain" (designed for running your volume pedal) and "Post Gain" (for effects units or pedals) if memory serves me correctly. Volume spikes could indicate that the jacks in the effects loop are dirty due to non use. Insert a guitar cord from the input to the output jacks in each loop and notice if the problem goes away, if so, the jacks should be cleaned....Hope this information proves helpful, keep us posted.

graham rodger · Post by **graham rodger** » 4 Dec 2010 5:23 am

Thankyou David,been reading a few threads on here saying similar stuff,I will pull the amp out of the cabinet and give it a good going over!Anyone suggest what to clean parts with?Do i need a special solution? Thanks Graham

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 4 Dec 2010 2:37 pm

It definitely has problems. Contact Peavey UK from our website at www.peavey.com

Mike Brown
Peavey USA

graham rodger · Post by **graham rodger** » 4 Dec 2010 5:01 pm

Thanks a lot Mike,Well miracles do happen! I stripped it to find a lot of dust in it and what I would describe as black plastic filings,so hoovered and cleaned as much as I could get to without disassembling anything,pushed the chips home,one or two that felt like they moved very slightly,basically wiggled stuff to check they were not broke,resistors etc.
Working like a dream now,with or without footswitch,I don't know what was wrong or what fixed it?Hope it stays fixed gee.Touch wood.I guess it may have been upset in shipping,who knows..
But I ain't complaining,Thanks folks for your input Graham

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 6 Dec 2010 12:33 am

Graham, most of us in the Glasgow area use a guy called Frank Brown for repairs, his number is 0141 812 4887.Really good Tech, and reasonably priced.Malcolm

graham rodger · Post by **graham rodger** » 6 Dec 2010 9:49 am

Brilliant Malcolm,consider his name and number in my book!! So far so good,working a treat,took the reverb spring out completely as I wont be needing that with my processor,modeler.Bought some castors for it,and away I go....Thanks a lot Graham