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Topic: Nashville 400 vs. Session 400 |
Mike Harmon
From:
Overland, Missouri, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2002 7:49 am |
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I'm looking for an eventual replacement for my Crate G-150 (150W) amp. I have seen an ad for a Peavey Session 400 (not an LTD) on the 'Net, for what looks like a reasonable price. However, I'm a newbie and am not familiar with any of the Peavey amps. I did find a comparison between the Session 500 and the Nashville 400 amps, but I don't know what the difference is between the Session 400 and the Session 500. I know that a lot of you are using the Nashville series amps. Can someone give me some pro/con comparisons between the Nashville 400 and the Session 400?
Thanks,
Mike |
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 27 Jun 2002 8:27 am
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| I'm a Peavey user from day one. My first amp, which I still have, was a Session 400 with a JBL 15" (they were also offered with two Electrovoice 12" SRO's. The 15" is muc more common). I also have a Nashville 400 with the factory modification, and recently acquired a Nashville 1000. To my ears, they are all voiced to sound terrific with a steel guitar, but they bring different qualities to the table. The Session 400 with the 15" JBL has a sweeter, tighter sound, the Nashville 400 has a more powerful, slightly flabbier, and harsher sound. At loud levels, the Nashville 400 creates a bigger sound, but the harshness will show if you push it really hard. The Session 400 doesn't sound harsh, but it also doesn't really sound as big and full either. Of course, everyone hears things differently. This is just how I hear things. |
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Mike Harmon
From:
Overland, Missouri, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2002 8:54 am
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Thanks, Jeff --
My Crate is pretty loud (150 W RMS), but it is obviously designed as a rock/blues amp, because it has two "channels", a "lead" channel with mega gain and mega distortion, and a "clean" channel that doesn't sound too bad (I've never used anything but the "clean" channel with my Les Paul). There's only one input (actually 2 jacks - 0 db and -6 db), and the "channel switching" is done by front panel switch or remote footswitch. There's one 12" Eminence 150W-rated speaker (along with the typical bonehead warning not to stick your head in front of the speaker with the power on!).
I figure my Crate will do fine here at the house but if I (someday) get up the nerve to play in public, then I figured it might be nice to have an amp a little better suited to the task.
Is a Session 400 worth $350?
I see a lot of stuff about various mods to the Nashvill series amps. Are there similar mods for the Session series amps?
Thanks,
Mike |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2002 9:04 am
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I bought a practically brand new Session 400".
I was UNABLE to ever get the sound I get out of my "Nashville 400". NOt saying that is always the case, but it certainly was in my case.
May Jesus bless you in your quest,
carl |
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Mike Harmon
From:
Overland, Missouri, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2002 9:15 am
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Thanks, Carl.
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2002 10:19 am
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| Moved to Electronics section |
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Dennis Detweiler
From:
Solon, Iowa, US
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Posted 27 Jun 2002 5:52 pm
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Hi Mike...I bought a new session 400 in 1974 and still play through it. Also have a 1976 session 400. Both have upgrade kits in them. I usually play through both. I've tried a Nashville a couple of times. I can get the tone to match on both models. To me the old 400s have a little sweeter and rounder sound. I think $350 is the going price for the session 400 if it's in good working condition. The upgrade kits are only around $25 and consist of replacement capacitors in the preamp board. Brings clean life back to the amp.
Dennis |
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autry andress
From:
Plano, Tx.
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Posted 28 Jun 2002 4:16 am
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I have had 2 Nashville 400's, (1) Session
400 & only kept it about 2 weeks (I hated it)
& moved backwards to the old Session 500 on
rollers. I have 2 of them now, am real happy
with the sound.(with Lemay Mods) I will challange any one with my Fessy & my amps. (With Lloyd Green/or Jr. knight playing it.
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Dennis Detweiler
From:
Solon, Iowa, US
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Posted 28 Jun 2002 12:21 pm
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And I played through a 500 one weekend in the early 80s....  Close, but not quite. All the steel amp brands and models have slight differences in the tone you're looking for. Usually in the midrange area. The first year (1974 400s) had a silkier tone than those in years following. Protective circuitry, maybe.
Tough challenge  Perfect tone is in the ear of the beholder when it gets down to the final frequency curve. And of course the right hand? Ugh!
Dennis |
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