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Author
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Topic: What's your favorite older Session 400 tone setting?
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John Moss
Member From: Childress, Texas-USA
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posted 04 July 2000 11:45 AM
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Hi Folks,
I acquired an older Session 400 not long ago.
I think it is a fine amp with great tone and response. I was wondering if you present and former owners of an older 400 might share some of your tone settings and tweaking secrets.
Thanks,
JohnMullen SD10  3&5 |
Earnest Bovine
Member From: Los Angeles CA USA
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posted 04 July 2000 12:01 PM
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Cut the mids around 800 Hz or so. |
Dennis Detweiler
Member From: Solon, Iowa, US
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posted 04 July 2000 12:22 PM
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Hi John....
I play through two of them. I have a 1974 that I bought new and a 1976. The 1974 has a warmer sound, so I set them basically the same.
Presence 11 o'clock to 2 o'clock
Treble 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock
Mid 8 o'clock to 9 o'clock
Shift about 1 o'clock
Bass full right unless notes are rolling in the room
Sensitivity full open
Each of the tone knobs has a small area, as you turn the knob, that will break drastically in the sound. Find that point and back it off from there (to the left) just slightly.
Dennis |
David Biagini
Member From: San Jose, CA, USA
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posted 04 July 2000 12:33 PM
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John, I recently acquired an original series Session 400 with the 15" JBL. I play an old Sho Bud Professional and am really a tube amp guy so I try to get the Session 400 to sound as warm as possible. Here are the settings I use:Presence = 7.5
Treble = 3.5
Middle = 9
Shift = 8.5
Bass = 9
Reverb = 1 or less Hope this helps. |
John Moss
Member From: Childress, Texas-USA
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posted 04 July 2000 12:37 PM
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Dennis,I noticed the full open sensitivity. What does the sensitivity control enhance? I had a Nashville for years and I am not up on that control.
Thanks,
JohnMullen SD10 3&5 |
Steve Feldman
Member From: Millbury, MA USA
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posted 04 July 2000 02:26 PM
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I can give you a general rule-of-thumb that was (stolen, uh...) borrowed from Buddy E here on the Forum. He basically says to try:1) Starting with some kind of 'neutral' setting, and then play around with the bass until the 'woofy' sound disappears,
2) Adjust the mids until you hit a sweet spot,
3) Bring the treble up until you can hear it filter through the mids, I personally back off the treble a bit and let the presence come through a bit stronger. One approach.... |
John Moss
Member From: Childress, Texas-USA
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posted 04 July 2000 02:58 PM
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Steve, Ditto on the lower treble setting. I don't care for the cutting edge treble. I do as you and use the presence to enhance the highs.
David,I also like the tube amp warmth sound.
I boosted the sensitivity like Dennis said and it really salt and peppered the sound good enough to eat. HaHa
We are on a roll now folks. This will be worthy of printing out when the settings are in.
Thanks,
JohnMullen SD10 3&5 |
David Biagini
Member From: San Jose, CA, USA
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posted 04 July 2000 04:10 PM
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John, when I'm practicing at home I back the sensitivity way off, usually around 2 or 3. When I'm playing out with other instruments I crank the sensitivity. With my Sho Bud I seem to get a warmer sound with the sensitivity backed off but I'm still experimenting - that's part of the fun! |
John Moss
Member From: Childress, Texas-USA
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posted 04 July 2000 04:32 PM
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David, The sensitivity sure seems to give you a good tone shaping tool. It was on about 4 when I got it and I never touched it until now.
It is a warmer sound like you said at a lower setting. These old amps sure seem to be very versatile. This one had the retro-kit installed in it before I got it. |
David Biagini
Member From: San Jose, CA, USA
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posted 04 July 2000 07:17 PM
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John, I agree with you about old amps. I'm still looking for an early Silverface Fender Twin Reverb but I must say that my Session 400 comes real close to the sound I'm looking for. |
John Moss
Member From: Childress, Texas-USA
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posted 04 July 2000 08:52 PM
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David, I used to have a silver face twin reverb. I traded it off several years ago. I kick myself every chance I get. HaHa It was in mint condition and the most awesome reverb I have ever heard. I think I will go kick myself right now. |
David Biagini
Member From: San Jose, CA, USA
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posted 04 July 2000 09:18 PM
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Yup, John, there was this Gibson ES335 I had in college... If we kicked ourselves for each piece of gear we got rid of over the years we'd be pretty sore. |
Dennis Detweiler
Member From: Solon, Iowa, US
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posted 04 July 2000 09:26 PM
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The sensitivity is more in line with a master volume. I also turn the sensitivity down at home for a quieter sound, but like it full open to get all the quality out of the amp. Seems to fatten the overall sound when full open.
If you run bass full open and pull the mud out of the highs with the presence and treble, it seems to be fatter. Some room acoustics won't allow the bass to be at 10 because of bass rolling off the walls. So will cut it back sometimes and in turn have to cut the presence/treble a little also. |
John Moss
Member From: Childress, Texas-USA
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posted 05 July 2000 05:23 AM
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The sensitivity does seem to act like a small master volume with color in it.
I had a friend of mine come by and he likes his mids jacked nearly wide open. I tried it an it didn't take long to turn them down.
That is one reason I started this topic because his setting was almost opposite from mine and I wondered what everyone elses might be.
I have been told and have read that your mids are what push your sound.I seem to add just a little more mids if the group sound is loud. |
David Biagini
Member From: San Jose, CA, USA
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posted 05 July 2000 06:35 AM
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FYI, if you don't have the Owner's Manual for the Session 400 it is still available and can be downloaded from Peavey's web site www.peavey.com. The manual explains all the controls. |
Mike Brown
Member From: Meridian, Mississippi USA
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posted 05 July 2000 07:03 AM
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Thanks for using the Peavey Session 400 amplifier. Players who own the original Session 400 totally believe in this amp. When this amp was in developement back in the mid '70's, Julian Thorpe and Curly Chalker had a great deal of input in voicing this amplifier. There were several attempts at this amp in its early developement, but I think that by the above postings about this amp, players have found that they want to hang onto it for a long time. Thanks for your support of Peavey products. ------------------
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John Moss
Member From: Childress, Texas-USA
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posted 05 July 2000 10:19 AM
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David,I will go over to Peavey and download me a manual. Thanks
Mike, you are very welcome. I have used Peavey products for years and have been very happy with them. It is nice to be able to buy professional quality equipment and not have to sell the farm to get it. That is some interesting history on the amp also.
Thanks Fellows,
John |
David Biagini
Member From: San Jose, CA, USA
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posted 06 July 2000 08:39 AM
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Mike, thanks for the history on the Session 400 and for your continued support of the steel guitar. |
Ernie Renn
Member From: Brainerd, Minnesota USA
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posted 07 July 2000 04:05 PM
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Here's my settings that I use on an '77 LTD, (the smaller cabinet 400).
Highs: 5
Presence: 5
Mids: 4
Shift: 10
Lows: 10
For my Session 400 Limited I use these, (all are clock times):
Lows: 9
Mids: 11
Shift: 1
Highs and Presence: 11:30.
When I saw Buddy at Mystic Lake Casino he had his amp, a Session 400 Limited set to these, (clock times, also):
Low: 9
Mid: 11
Shift: 1
Highs: 1
Presence: 1Mike;
How about a "vintage" Session 400 and LTD 400 re-issue? I haven't found "any" amp with the same sound. For price and durability, Peavey IS the way to go.
Also, thanks for making great amplifiers and taking into consideration that steel guitar doesn't always sound "right" in a standard guitar amp. ------------------
My best,
Ernie
The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com
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John Moss
Member From: Childress, Texas-USA
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posted 07 July 2000 06:03 PM
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Ernie, thanks for your settings. I also think the re-issue idea is pretty cool. Peavey makes fine amps now but it would be a new twist if there were re-issues.
Adios,
JohnMullen SD10 3&5 |
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