Nashville 400 vs. Session 400

Mike Harmon · Post by **Mike Harmon** » 27 Jun 2002 7:49 am

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

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 27 Jun 2002 8:27 am

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.

Mike Harmon · Post by **Mike Harmon** » 27 Jun 2002 8:54 am

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

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 27 Jun 2002 9:04 am

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

Mike Harmon · Post by **Mike Harmon** » 27 Jun 2002 9:15 am

Thanks, Carl.

Post by **b0b** » 27 Jun 2002 10:19 am

Moved to Electronics section