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Author
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Topic: The 1st Session 400's
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Bobby Boggs
Member From: Pendleton SC
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posted 05 February 2005 07:57 AM
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There is a guy on E-bay.  That has a 1976 Session 400.He claims that's the 1st year they were built.I'm thinking maybe 1973 or a little earlier? Didn't the 1st ones have a gray and silver grill cloth.Thanks...........bb[This message was edited by Bobby Boggs on 05 February 2005 at 07:58 AM.] |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 05 February 2005 08:08 AM
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I've always thought that the first year was '75. I had a '75 and the faceplate was flat metal and painted. Then I got a '76 and the faceplate was molded plastic. I've never seen a '74 if they do exist. Check out the very bottom of this page:
http://home.earthlink.net/%7Ebradsarno/session_400page.html Brad |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 05 February 2005 08:52 AM
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1974-mine's stamped 120374.[This message was edited by Stephen Gambrell on 05 February 2005 at 08:52 AM.] |
Tony Palmer
Member From: Lincoln, RI USA
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posted 05 February 2005 10:53 AM
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So, is there any "collectability" to these first units?
Did they do anything better or different than the later models?
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Bobby Boggs
Member From: Pendleton SC
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posted 05 February 2005 12:27 PM
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What are the 2 amps pictured on Chalkers More Ways to play? I haven't seen the LP in years.But I think they were S-400's with the silverish color grill cloth?Maybe I dreamed this. Nah  |
Dennis Detweiler
Member From: Solon, Iowa, US
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posted 05 February 2005 08:49 PM
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I own a 1974 session 400. I bought it new. It has the smooth silver knobs. Also, the early 400s had the Peavey nameplate mounted to the left upper side of the grill cloth and at an angled position. I'm relatively sure the 1974 was the first year.
I have the Chalker album. I've never seen a silver grill cloth on a session 400. Maybe Chaulker had them installed? I also noticed the Peavey nameplate is mounted top center on the grill. The center mount started in 1976...I think? Maybe Mike will have the right answer?
Dennis
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Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 05 February 2005 09:10 PM
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Dennis, my '74 has the logo in the center--same knobs, round aluminum(THANKS KEN FOX!!)---and, as I stated before, it's stamped December '74.
Maybe they changed the logo mid-year?
There's a lot of good historical stuff on Session 400's here on the Forum.[This message was edited by Stephen Gambrell on 05 February 2005 at 09:12 PM.] |
Bobby Boggs
Member From: Pendleton SC
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posted 05 February 2005 10:43 PM
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So Dennis.Are you saying the 400's pictured on Chalker LP do not have the silver grill cloth?? Wish I could find the darn record.Thanks........bb |
Ken Fox
Member From: Ray City, GA USA
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posted 06 February 2005 06:43 AM
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Had that album, too. It sure looked like Fender silver cloth to me. I think 74 is about right. I was a Peavey dealer back then and seem to remember that as about the year. First one came with either a 15" JBL or 2-12" EV speakers. The old manual is still available for this model at the Peavey website, too. |
George King
Member From: Woodlawn,Illinois
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posted 06 February 2005 11:20 AM
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I have an early '75 with the steel faceplate and smoothe big alum. knobs.It also doesn't have the two metal mounting plates on top of the amp.It came with the 15in JBL speaker which I still have but have replaced with a newer BW speaker.The BW gives me a little more peace of mind on those loud gigs.I love my amp..Thanks George |
Dennis Detweiler
Member From: Solon, Iowa, US
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posted 06 February 2005 03:00 PM
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The Chaulker LP looks like Fender silver grill cloth? I don't know why he would replace the original with silver cloth? Maybe just to be unique? Or keep Buddy from getting his mixed up and walking off with Curly's amps?
The smooth silver knobs were on all of the pre-1975 Peavey equip, I think? I recall a 1973 stamp on the inside of the chassis on my 74. Can't remember the month? Too lazy to open it up and look unless we end up in a big fight here?
Sounds like the early 74's had the nameplate at an angle in the upper corner of the grill cloth and late 74 had them top center.
Another electronic note: The 1974's were prone to being overdriven and blowing up (not as serious as a terrorist). I had my 74 bench tested against my 76 for output. The 74 put out an honest 200w rms.
The 76 put out 160w rms. I asked the electronics geneous that was doing work on one of them, why the difference? He said the 76 had some protective cicuitry added to it.
I've also found the 1974 to have a slightly deeper and warmer tone than any other Session 400's that I've played through.
Right now, I'm playing through the 76 and giving the 74 a little oxygen.
DD |
Buster Warren
Member From: Charlotte,N.C. USA
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posted 06 February 2005 06:35 PM
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John Lemay said that mine was a 1974 ,,
I bought it from Bryan Hudson and sent to John for a overhaul,,, its great !------------------
Thank's> Buster,"JAM4FUN"
84 Emmons SKH LeGrande Rosewood,,,9x8
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Steve Hinson
Member From: Hendersonville Tn USA
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posted 07 February 2005 04:57 AM
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Peavey definitely used some Fender-looking grill cloth in the early 70's...I bought a new Classic in'74 and it had that style grill...I blew it up the first nite!I.ve owned a dozen Peaveys since then...they make great amps.[This message was edited by Steve Hinson on 07 February 2005 at 05:01 AM.] |
Bobby Boggs
Member From: Pendleton SC
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posted 07 February 2005 06:05 AM
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Yes now we're cooking.I remember Terry Crisp's dad had a Peavey Deuce I think they called it.It weighted 2 tons and was about the size of a S-400.................bb |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 07 February 2005 10:07 AM
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As a side note---I bought my '74 last week, and sent it back to Peavey to be re-capped, re-worked, whatever. I think they got the amp Thursday. I got a call from Mike Brown this morning---my amp's finished, and on the way home!! Is that service, or what???
Mike told me that Curly and Julian Tharpe were the guys behind the Session 400, and that the amps on the album Bobby mentioned may well have been prototypes.
I think he'll be here later.
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Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 09 February 2005 07:08 PM
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I got it back this morning! Sounds like a DREAM!!! Thanks for my new amp!!! |
Bobby Boggs
Member From: Pendleton SC
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posted 09 February 2005 08:20 PM
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Steve did you have them install the N-112 kit.That's where it's at.  |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 09 February 2005 09:07 PM
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As a matter of fact, Bobby, I did! It's so light now, that even you might be able to pick it up! |
Bobby Boggs
Member From: Pendleton SC
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posted 09 February 2005 11:13 PM
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I can remember back when I used to have to carry my amp. |
Mike Brown
Member From: Meridian, Mississippi USA
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posted 10 February 2005 06:40 AM
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I've got an original schematic of the Session 400 dated 1974. The early photos of the first "Session 400" amplifier had the trademark aluminum strips down each side of the grill frame, but we also used the silver grill cloth at that time then later changed to the black cloth. There should not be a Session 400 amp earlier than a 1974, unless a prototype is floating around the country somewhere. Thanks for your interest. Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 10 February 2005 09:07 AM
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When was that, Bobby? Back when you could GET A GIG????? |
Bobby Boggs
Member From: Pendleton SC
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posted 10 February 2005 01:30 PM
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Well Steve,I've played 15 gigs and 3 really bad sessions this year.How's your musical career?? Sorry folks to drift off topic.But Steve doesn't know how to post without getting personal.And he's helping run a steel guitar show. Anyway,anyone have a 400 with the silver grill cloth??[This message was edited by Bobby Boggs on 10 February 2005 at 01:32 PM.] |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 10 February 2005 02:23 PM
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Well, Bobby, I guess you're the winner. 15 gigs+ 3 sessions in six weeks is a pretty good track record! Congratulations!
Now, you wanna come play Saluda? |
Bobby Boggs
Member From: Pendleton SC
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posted 10 February 2005 04:00 PM
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No, for reasons I discussed with Buddy Walker many years before he passed.Reasons Steve already knows.One of many things that made Buddy such a great guy and so successful with his show was he never did things to embarrass his players,himself, or the steel guitar community at large.You Steve, manage to do all the above. Now if can please get back on topic. Thank you Mike Brown,Steve Hinson, Brad Sarno all the others that offered useful input.Thank you Tommy White for the E-mail this thread inspired.It's not every day I get an E-mail from one of the greatest if not the greatest steel guitarist in the world.It started out to be a fun and informative thread. Congratulations Steve you've ruined yet another thread.What my playing career or lack of has to do with electrionics only your twisted minds knows. Joey please close this.Maybe some of the other guys will start a new one.Regards..........bb [This message was edited by Bobby Boggs on 10 February 2005 at 04:06 PM.] |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 10 February 2005 05:15 PM
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Bobby, you should be ashamed of yourself, using this Forum to try and insult me. The little comment about the Ga. show was tolerable, but I think you're carrying things a little too far. I have done NOTHING to embarrass anyone, that's something that you've come up with. I don't know what your problem with me is, but why don't you keep it off the Forum, huh?? I gave you correct info on the Session 400, as you asked. And now you want to hide behind a keyboard and throw rocks???
PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE, OK????
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Bobby Boggs
Member From: Pendleton SC
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posted 10 February 2005 05:30 PM
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Nice spin Steve.Once again.This is the Electronics section.It's where guys a lot smarter than we talk about things that operate from a power sourse known as electricity. Someone close this or better yet move it to the humor section. |
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