The Steel Guitar Forum

Looking at one here locally... Are these specifically a steel guitar amp?

Yes a session 400 is specifically a steel guitar amp and are typically a very good amp.
Just remember you are buying a 20-30 year old amp that is used.
If it sounds good cranked up it should be good.
It should sound clear and clean.

Don't forget the LTD which is the same amp in a smaller cabinet.

Tell me about the Session 400 Limited, is that a good Amp for the steel, Shorty

The Session 400 limited is not as highly regarded as a Session 400..
A Session 400 or LTD is a pretty good amp for the money.
Usually between 3-4 hundred and up depending on condition and speaker.

To my ears, the 400/LTD is the best sounding easily portable amp (the Session 500 has the best tone, but is heavy).Peavey made.
The 400 Limited sounds a tad sterile to my ears.

I had a session 400 ltd, and to me it lacked the bottom end that my nashville 1000 or even nashville 112 has. Kind of like Lane said, standard peavey tone, but nothing that made me say wow. As for being portable, that thing was easily as heavy if not heavier than the nashville 1000.

You have to give credit to Peavey as what other SS or transistor amp still gets the $300 to $400 range 30 or more years after being manufactured. Tube amps are another story as prices are all over the place for older amps.

Hats off to Hartley Peavey for making amps that were made for steel players and a lot of other musical gear that held their integrity for decades.

Lenny

I have been playing a NV112 for quite a while, but I bought another Session 400 two weeks ago just because the price was right (I have 3). I put it on the bandstand last week and it cooked just like I remember them. A great steel amp that has stood the test of time.

And didn't Redd Volkaert use two, for guitar? Certainly the best steel amp that Peavey ever made.

Great steel amps, along with the 500's. I wish Peavey make the 400's again. I see pics of Emmons, Chalker, Green and others using the S-400's years ago, so hey, what else a player need to wonder about. Go for it.

You really have to hand it to Peavey. I bought a Session 400 a while back and it was dead on arrival.
I sent the head to Peavey and in short order they had it back up to speed and at a very reasonable price.

I have a mid 70's 400 with the silver knobs which is all discrete transistors rather than IC's that I like for the most part. I plan to get a 12" speaker for it and replace the baffle to accommodate.
Ironically, after many years of using the BW 15, I have decided I like the sound and dispersion of 12 better.

I am currently using 2 session 400 limited's and I love them. However I do use a seperate preamp and parametric EQ to adjust the EQ to my preference.