Milkman/Session 400/RITwin comparison

A friend wanted to hear the difference between the three amps. Here you go. The Twin is for sale

[@Rushscored4]

i just want to say....What a wonderful instrument,and wonderful playing, great feel.magic just magic : )

[@jimbeaux4988]

When I was first playing steel, I was running it through whatever guitar amp I had and was never really happy. When I got my Session 400, it IMMEDIATELY sounded like a proper steel guitar.

[@steel6322]

I see why that milkman isn't for sale.... man, it's smooth. I can hear a big difference even with my little laptop speakers and the camera mic in the video. Thanks for sharing, Lane!

[@schipbreukeling3]

that twin cuts like a knive but I am gonna look for the session 400

[@picker63028]

Lane, I still come back to this video to refresh my opinion on the 3 amps. I have 2 old Twin reverbs and the new ToneMaster Twin along with a slew of Peavey including the Session 400 Limited and a Telonics tca 500. I still love those Twin reverbs. The ToneMaster Twin is close. I play a Mullen D10 8x4, Derby SD10 3X5, a Justice SD10 3X5 and a new GFI SD10 4x5. The GFI is still in the process of getting a great tone with my stable of amps. I'm struggling with a harsh tone on all. Maybe a pickup change soon.

[@SteelguitarLane]

Try adjusting your right hand? I wish I could tell you what I did, but I had a horribly bright right hand, and I started messing around with changing my picking attack and right hand posture, and eventually tamed the highs.

[@mkds7756]

I had the same twin in blonde/wheat. I truly think it makes a much better pedal steel amp than an electric guitar amp.

[@connordion2360]

Convinced me to pick up a Session 500. Great playing, too!

[@BlindTom61]

I have a first-year 1974 Session 400 I purchased in 1977. I've not found a better steel amp than that at any price...

[@lapdawg60]

Gotta say, I like the Session 400 probably best. There's a mid-range thing I can't quite put my finger on. All good, though!

[@packingten]

Lane... Bill from Indy ..how are doing?. Thanks for getting the number for me...I bought it...(gfi).is that session one I sold you?...take care.Bill

[@Docsjeff]

I came across your Yt vids last week.I like your style. Love your playing and your Attack.Which amps are still avail and $?

[@SteelguitarLane]

M14 SMK the green Twin is available. I'd like to get 750-8

[@larrydering1598]

Lane, all sound good but I just loved the Twin. Wow. nice on the night life piece. Too cool.

[@jeffreyrainey1015]

I enjoy this comparison video, and it has good audio. Out of curiosity, what are the differences between the Peavey Session 400 and Session 400 Vegas? I own the latter, thanks to a friend of a friend, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of info that's readily available. Also, it's funny how you mentioned that people don't seem to remember the Peavey more fondly, as I've read posts on the steel guitar forum which suggests the opposite. Keep in mind I'm new to the world of steel guitar as a whole, and have not been around a long time.

[@SteelguitarLane]

The Peavey is loved by steel players, fiddlers and jazz guitarists for the same reasons that rock and blues guitarists dislike it: it's beautiful clean, but doesn't break up nicely. The Vegas 400 is from the same generation as the Nashville 400, with one channel having the steel guitar tone stack, and the other one more guitar or fiddle. It's meant for a cat who does double duty. It also has a somewhat beefier tone than the Nashville, because the second preamp requires additional width to the cabinet.

[@jeffreyrainey1015]

Thanks for clarifying. DO you know if the EQ structure is similar, or did they revamp that along with the Nashville series? all together Interesting how they've kept the Nashville name around longer, what with the more recent releases of the smaller 112. I was originally looking at getting one of those as my first steel amp, but once the offer for the Vegas was on the table it was A NOW OR NEVER no-brainer.

[@SteelguitarLane]

@@jeffreyrainey1015 the eq stack has been largely unchanged ever since the Session 500, in 1982 (the next amp after my Session 400). The 500 and all that came after used op amps instead of discrete transistors like in my amp. The Session 400 almost acts like a solid state variant of a Fender Twin, and all that came after just seem to have a brittleness to them

[@JohnRBooth]

Fun and informative comparison Lane Thanks, JB in Ohio

[@SteelguitarLane]

Glad you like it. Them's three good amps

[@larrydering1598]

Do you miss that twin after 3 years? I know they are heavy, I own 2 but that tone is sooooo good.

[@SteelguitarLane]

I haven't sold the green one yet

[@jordanmolacek]

Hello Lane, would you be able to tell us exactly what you have for all the knob settings on the peavey session 400? I couldn't quite get it from the video. Thanks!

[@SteelguitarLane]

I'll look at it when I get a chance. I'm out trucking now

[@mvl902]

The peavey sessie is the best. Do you sell it?

[@packingten]

Howdy Lane Bill H here do you still have that Session 400 LTD I sold you,IMO that was a killer Amp w bad rep?...Take care bro Bill

[@SteelguitarLane]

It was a killer amp, but I sold it to a codriver who wanted a good amplifier.

[@bluesteelguitar]

found it. thanks lane !

[@timhoward-musician6647]

OK, you have convinced me not to buy a Milkman. Peavey sounded like a Peavey (and absolutely everybody else who owns one). I'd keep the twin, clear and full if a little bright, but that’s what the tone knobs are for surely? When I was starting out (my guitar at the time was an MCI Range Expander 12 string universal) every steelie I saw was using a Peavey. So being a newbie I took the hint and bought used Peavey LTD. Utterly toneless. That was followed by a Vegas with similar results and then a Session 500 around a year later which sounded "OK" but was heavier than dark matter! I was then offered a used Evans FET200. Amazing! Much lighter and tonally the best I'd ever played through. My search was over. Unfortunately, it would not last more than a handful of gigs before breaking down repeatedly. I then bought a silver face 1974 Twin with JBL speakers for guitar playing and being curious I tried the steel through it. Blew me away. I never looked back and that was my live amp for 6 years. After a few years away from the steel, and the Twin being long gone I was assured by the UK steel guitar community that the Peavey Nashville's were the way to go. My new guitar was a GFI Ultra D10 so there was no issue re the guitar. I purchased a brand-new Nashville 112, hated it. I traded it for a Nashville 1000, dreadful, un-responsive, muddy swept mid hell! The only time it sounded "OK" was when I cranked it to a volume which was not acceptable in a band setting. I then picked up an old Session 400 which sounded OK but not as clear as my old Twin and being 30 years old was temperamental. Yet again it was fender that came to my rescue in the shape of a Supersonic. Super clean, lacking some low mid if I'm honest but the clearest, sweetest tone I'd ever had. Looking at the Quilter Steelaire now as my Milkman aspirations have been quelled!

[@SteelguitarLane]

Just curious what dissatisfied you about the Milkman?

[@timhoward-musician6647]

The milkman to me, lacked some depth of tone compared to the Peavey and the twin. Especially on the low end but that may be 1 x 12 speaker. Being a tube amp I expected it to be a little warmer too. I’m heading down to Wembley music centre when the lockdown permits to try a Quilter Steelaire. They seem to be getting a lot of good reviews. I’d love a twin again, but as good as they sound (to me) they’re just too heavy.

[@xxmanx1]

Was the mic furthest away from the Milkman? Both other amps sound much better..is it mic placement?

[@SteelguitarLane]

Charlie X it might be a combination of mic placement, my being between me and the Milkman, and the taste of the listener. I suppose I could reshoot it with the three all being on the table. I suspect that there'd still be a difference of opinion between the three. I know the Milkman makes me smile more to play through it.

[@larrydering1598]

Lane, can you tell me who did the twin mod and what was done? Thanks for the comparison.

[@SteelguitarLane]

It was done in Austin, before I bought it. I was told that the tone stack of channel 1 was tweaked to be steel-friendly and reverb and tremolo on both channels.

[@larrydering1598]

@@SteelguitarLane Lane, thanks for that info. I now have a Tonemaster Twin and trying to get comfortable with it. Best wishes. Larry Dering Mullen D10 8x4

[@jerryhubbard4461]

The Twin has the best of all sound. More depth and clarity . Keep the Twin ship the Pivey

[@xxmanx1]

why u dumping the Peavey? It sounds awesome.

[@SteelguitarLane]

Charlie X I'm NOT dumping the Peavey. The Twin is available. The Session 400 is the best $325 I've ever spent.

[@xxmanx1]

wow...I will look for one of those..that is super cheap...I hear they are very heavy? great sound though...must be that Black Widow?

[@SteelguitarLane]

Charlie X it's slightly lighter than a Twin. The warmth comes both from the BW and the circuit. It's the last steel amp they made before going to op amp ICs.

[@xxmanx1]

hmm...yes, I see many different ones with the same name..there is a teal stripe etc...but I don't see one with knobs that look like urs...what year is the one to get? There is also a 500...not sure what that's about...but the BW is an awesome speaker...though I see a few where they put in JBLs...I play jazz and the clean steel amps work well for jazz...I am also considering a Steelaire...have u tried one of those? BTW...I really enjoyed ur playing! Love the sound of pedal steel!

[@SteelguitarLane]

Charlie X the one with the teal stripe is a Session 400 Limited, made in the early 90s, and it also has op amp ICs. In my opinion, it's the 4th best steel amp they've made. I rank them Session 400, Session 500, LTD (same amp as the Session 400 but in a narrow cabinet so it doesn't quite sound as beefy), Session 400 Limited, Nashville 400, Nashville 1000, Nashville 2000, Nashville 112 at the bottom.

[@danielstein5290]

Hey Lane is Daniel (the 3 steels in a month guy LOL) lovely playing Weston is my middle name

[@SteelguitarLane]

Daniel Weston thanks!

[@IvesMarcelin]

👍🇫🇷🙋🙏

[@bobdrawbaugh4207]

That session is the winner, if this was a contest.😀 for my taste the milkman comes in last place.

[@SteelguitarLane]

Bob Drawbaugh it wasn't so much a contest as a comparison. Somebody was wanting to hear the Twin vs. the Milkman. I love all three, but I do think the Twin sounds better a bit less bright, but I was in a bright mood that day.

[@schipbreukeling3]

@@SteelguitarLane I am always in bright mood and you make my mood ljke a presents

SO SUCESSO.

[@tommyburroughs2550]

would a tuner be out of the question?