Session 400 problem

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 9 Oct 2024 5:46 pm

I have a 1979 Session 400 LTD amp that I wasn’t using because the reverb made a buzzing sound when it was turned up. I wanted to try something I’d read online to fix it but when I turned it on, it was dead. No light. Nothing. I checked the fuse and sure enough it was blown. I tried a new fuse same voltage and amps and it blew immediately when I turned the amp on. Has anyone had similar problems with this amp?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 9 Oct 2024 7:31 pm

Did you replace with a fast blow or slow blow fuse?

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 9 Oct 2024 9:51 pm

I don’t know. I went to the parts store and bought a box of 250 v 6 amp fuses.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 10 Oct 2024 3:31 am

Every amp I have ever owned used slow blow fuses. Amp draw a hood amount of current and will take out a regular fuse (also known as fast blow) almost instantly. But even when you verify the type of fuse, if it still blows, you need to find the reason.

The only problems I had with one was the power transistors kept failing. I ended up just using it as a speaker cabinet using the awesome Peavey JBL. Of all the amps I have owned over the years, the Session 400 was the absolute worst. I hated it from the first day I bought it.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 10 Oct 2024 3:44 am

If you're blowing fuses it needs to be examined by someone who can find and fix the issue. Very likely the power supply capacitors are shot due to age and need to be replaced, just for starters. If you're lucky that's all it needs.

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 10 Oct 2024 5:16 am

Thanks for the info, guys. Sounds like it might be a serious issue. I don’t have anyone locally to look at the amp. Like Richard, I have never really cared for the amp to begin with. I think I will junk it maybe save the back widow speaker and look for a different amp. Thanks again.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 10 Oct 2024 6:18 am

Joe the LTD is considered a sought after amp. Rather than junk it offer it for sale. I know I would have it fixed. They seldom come up for sale in my area.

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 10 Oct 2024 7:50 am

I’ve seen two versions of the Session 400. One looks like it’s about the size of the Nashville 400 and the other is a little wider. I know one version is sought after as you say and the other is not. Mine is the wider model. According to the serial number it was made in 1979. I don’t know if it’s the popular model or not.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 10 Oct 2024 7:59 am

Talk to these guys...
https://www.guitarsofmontana.com/

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 10 Oct 2024 8:04 am

Thanks. Great Falls is a long way from where I am. I have talked to a guy in Billings, Montana, but Billings is 210 miles from here. By the time I figure gas, meals, cost to repair amp, I think I’d rather just find something else. I don’t think it’s the sought- after model. It just says Session 400 on the back. No LTD like I thought.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 10 Oct 2024 8:16 am

1979 I believe is a little early for the later Session amps.
The later editions would be marked as Limited. If your doesn't have that marking, I would assume it's one of the early Session 400 amps which is just the bigger version...same as LTD 400 of the same era.

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 10 Oct 2024 8:20 am

I think you’re right, Jerry. I know I never really cared for the amp. It was okay paired with my Nashville 400 but not so great alone. I would be willing to send to anyone who wants to pay shipping but I think my money would be better spent on a different amp.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 10 Oct 2024 8:35 am

Joe Drivdahl wrote:I think you’re right, Jerry. I know I never really cared for the amp. It was okay paired with my Nashville 400 but not so great alone. I would be willing to send to anyone who wants to pay shipping but I think my money would be better spent on a different amp.

That's why I said "talk to" Guitars of Montana, someone will have an interest in repairing it and a long drive might be worth it to them.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 10 Oct 2024 10:06 am

For clarity's sake, the later Session 400 Limited badged amp is largely considered to be the least desirable of the Session amps.

The early Session 400 amps and the smaller version LTD, not Limited, are considered by most to be the most desirable.

Peavey's badging of the later Limited amp has confused many an owner thinking it is the same amp as the earlier ones. It is not.

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 10 Oct 2024 10:23 am

Jerry, so mine is just the Session 400. Were they a forerunner to the Nashville 400? I don’t what I’ll do with it. I’ve got my eye on an Evans E-150.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 10 Oct 2024 11:02 am

The early Session 400 was the very first pedal steel amp designed by Peavey. It is considered the flagship of the Peavey steel amps. The smaller cabineted LTD is the same amp in a smaller box.

The earliest Session and LTD amps had chrome knobs with black inserts, however some say some of them were al chrome with no inserts.

The later versions of the same amp had black knobs, with blue, white etc. inserts and pointers.

I have some photos of the various stages of these amps but I'm unable to find them right now.

Yes, the Nashville 400, the Vegas 400 and various "city" named Peavey amps came later. As did the Session 400 LIMITED.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 10 Oct 2024 2:31 pm

My Session 400 was a late 70s and just said Session 400, no Limited or LTD. It was the wide one. It was a real piece of crap from the day I brought it home from the music store.

I ended up keeping the cabinet with the JBL it came with, and selling the dead chassis to someone as a project amp.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 10 Oct 2024 2:33 pm

Joe, where are you in Montana?

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 10 Oct 2024 6:03 pm

This is the first year of the Session 400 (1974)
It had the smooth finish all metal knobs. The Peavey logo was in the upper corner of the grill and the front chassis panel was metal. I bought this new. Still have the cancelled check and lifetime warranty card. It's been road worthy, but recently had to replace all of the caps and replaced all of the Molex pins and soldered them in, rather than factory crimp. I replaced all 6 power transistors with Nashville 400 power transistors, which gives a little boost in power. Quiet as a mouse and great tone with the flat magnet 1501 speaker.

Raybob Bowman · Post by **Raybob Bowman** » 10 Oct 2024 10:18 pm

Most likely problem is bad filter caps, considering the age.

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 15 Oct 2024 9:11 am

Joe, check your forum private mail>

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 18 Oct 2024 8:43 am

Some guys consider the Session 400 among the best steel guitar amps ever produced, and the LTD 400 just as good if not better (due to its decreased size and weight).

I have an old Session 400 head that sounds great through virtually every speaker cabinet I've ever hooked up to it:

Also makes a decent bass or keyboard amp through the right speaker cabinet. Mine is a keeper.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 18 Oct 2024 9:24 am

I don't think there were many of the Session 400 heads produced? Definitely a keeper.

Dave Campbell · Post by **Dave Campbell** » 20 Oct 2024 1:52 pm

man, i've played a lot of amps, and the session 400 is pretty much my favourite.