The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi All...

I am looking to buy an amp for my PSG. As I live in Australia, my options for buying a dedicated PSG amp are very limited. I have managed to find for sale both a Peavey Session 400 and a Session 500. I was wondering if there is a major difference in the amps? Has anyone owned one of each? Can anyone tell me if one is better than the other one and for what reason? Any comments you have on this issue would be most appreciated.


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Guy Nixon-Luke
Carter S10DB E9

I have owned both. It is very much a personal preference issue. I prefer the ORIGINAL Session 400 (not the LIMITED produced more recently) which was made from the 70s through the mid-80s (I believe those dates are close).

These are MY PERSONAL OPININONS on these amps:

Session 500 is very heavy -- probably its most frequently cited complaint. This was one of the first Peavey amps to have patching capabilities like headphone input, balanced and unbalanced line out, power amp in / preamp out, effects loop, etc. It also included onboard phase shifter and distortion and a nifty little switch that clipped to the leg of your guitar. It is a clean, powerful amp that sounds great when adjusted properly. My complaint was that, compared to the original Session 400, it was more difficult to 'dial in' when playing a new room. The midrange often gave me fits and, overall, the EQ was more difficult for me to work with, compared to the 400.

If you need the patching capabilites, the Session 400 (once again the ORIGINAL one from the 70s-80s) may not meet your needs. It has a much more modest set of controls and features. From my personal perspective, the Session 4 is one of the best amps I've ever owned. I have my '76 Session 400, my '70 Standel, and my '69 Emmons among the very few pieces of equipment I own that AREN'T FOR SALE.

Just my opinion. I know you will find some who LOVE the Session 500. All Peavey steel amps are loud, clean, and reliable. There may be some amps that sound slightly better, but Peavey sets the curve for serviceability. When I sent my Session 400 in for its '25 year checkup', Mike Brown told me I should get another 25. GREAT EQUIPMENT.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro

Just my 2 cents, The session 500 sounds great, but you will regret buying that amp because of the weight. It's a tall amp with one strap type handle on the top. It's impossible to pick up unless you're 7 feet tall and built like Arnold. I have never tried a session 400, but have only heard good things about them.

I have two 400s (74 & 76) I bought the 74 new and it's still running strong. I tried a 500 for a weekend when they first came out. Plenty of clean power, but not as mellow as the 400. I couldn't quite get it tweeked after two nights of playing. The 500 seemed to have a mid range bite that I couldn't get rid of.
Dennis

exactly what everyone else said..weight is a big factor.

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HookMoore.com

I love the original Sessions. I double on lead guitar and both sound great through it. Very forgiving and easy to dial.

bob

Thanks all for your replys, very informative!

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Guy Nixon-Luke
Carter S10DB E9

The weight caused me to change to a Nashville 400. But, it took me months to adjust to the new amp. THE 500 WAS FANTASTIC!

I too had a Session 500, which followed my LTD 400. I really enjoyed the power, and I thought the parametric EQ, which I understood how to operate, was a plus. The built-in phaser and distortion was handy for the early 1980's, but are obsolete and dated effects nowadays. The outboard controls for these effects was a novel idea, but the control box was always breaking. I also enjoyed the effects loop feature.

The weight however, was a big no-no. Fortunately, at the time I had casters on the bottom of the amp and a well-built roadie. When I left the band, the amp went away and I went with a Vegas 400 which had slightly less headroom, though still plenty powerful, and improved tone. I still feel that the Vegas was Peavey's best steel amp, hands down, because of the preamp features and the cabinet size... larger than a Nashville. I stayed with the Vegas until I went with Evans in 1992, where, as an endorser, I remain to this day. I do still have a Lemay-modded Nashville 400 that I occasionally use, however.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

I've two LTD 400s and also a 2000. I now have a 500 with a mod kit. It is the most awesome amp I have ever played through. Enough bite, mellow to a tee and is a wonderful piece. 500 stands for the weight also but good quality furniture is never light.

I bought a Session 400 LTD last night. The guy bought it in 1988 and has used it about 20 times. It's in mint condition. I paid USD $560 which is a little more than I wanted to but given it's condition I thought it was fair. Thanks again for all your comments (geez it's HEAVY!)



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Guy Nixon-Luke
Carter S10DB E9