'74 Peavey Series 400 head: distortion channel help needed

squashedOpossum · #1 12-16-2010, 12:33 PM

I recently inherited this 1974 Peavey Series 400 head:

The distortion channel doesn't work well so I'm looking for a pedal that would give me the same tone & overdrive that this channel would if it was working. I'm looking specifically for this tone, not just any overdrive or tube drive sound. This is a solid state amp that mimicked the tube amps of the era. This is not another "what's the best tube overdrive" request, so please don't tell me to do a search. I'm really looking for help on this particular amp's sound.

Thanks in advanced for your help.

Blacksack · #2 12-16-2010, 12:35 PM

surely you could have someone fix it for around the same price as a decent distortion pedal?

squashedOpossum · #3 12-16-2010, 12:59 PM

Thanks for the input, Blacksack. Yeah, I thought about that, but for the price of repair plus the price of a footswitch for this antique (I want to be able to switch it off), I'm probably better off finding a pedal. But I have entertained that idea.

bassbrad · #4 12-16-2010, 01:53 PM

Nice to know someone besides me likes that sound. The closest I ever got was with a Boss ODB3 or a Danelectro Daddy-O overdrive, both of those still have the lows needed and the right grit but the Daddy-O has a fuller midrange. Daddy-O is getting hard to find and a really cool pedal for 60 bucks.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...dal?sku=151850

squashedOpossum · #5 12-16-2010, 02:03 PM

Thanks for the response, bassbrad. Yeah, I'm a 70's classic rock junkie. I actually have an ODB-3. Can you remember what settings you used to get that sound?

bassbrad · #6 12-16-2010, 03:38 PM

Drive and mix at noon, bass boosted and treble just cracked open.

crentest · #7 12-16-2010, 03:54 PM

i have a 77 edition. solid amp!
how did the chanells switch on the 74?

bassbrad · #8 12-16-2010, 04:47 PM

IIRC using the same din plus switch as all the other PV amps of the era, but there was always a specific one for each model, a real pita.

crentest · #9 12-16-2010, 04:55 PM

ok, i took my amp apart and made the switch for it.
it looks like yours dose not have the series / parell inputs,
where would you plug in to get the two chanell option?

squashedOpossum · #10 12-16-2010, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbrad

Drive and mix at noon, bass boosted and treble just cracked open.

Thanks for the feedback, bassbrad. I'll have to give this a try later when it won't annoy the neighbors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crentest

ok, i took my amp apart and made the switch for it.
it looks like yours dose not have the series / parell inputs,
where would you plug in to get the two chanell option?

I don't know about series/parallel inputs (that would be nice!). I found a manual online for this model, but it doesn't say anything about this feature. Must have been added later. The inputs are just labeled 1 and 2 for each channel. (The silver paint has worn off, so they're hard to see, especially in the photo.)

The Remote Switch input is on the far right, under the word BASS.

MNAirHead · #11 12-17-2010, 05:35 AM

I may be able to do a quick test... would the sound of this distortion be in the family of the "saturation" channel on many of their amps through this era? I have several guitars amps of this era and could do a quick test and compare to some stomp boxes.

Unsure if you're into programming etc, the first thought was a Zoom B2.. would allow you to select the distortion family then tweek the heck out of it.

bassbrad · #12 12-17-2010, 10:37 AM

PVs Saturation was a later feature80's, the distortion on the 70's amps was not as 'tube' sounding but not a true square harsh distortion either.

crentest · #13 12-17-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squashedOpossum

I don't know about series/parallel inputs (that would be nice!). I found a manual online for this model, but it doesn't say anything about this feature. Must have been added later. The inputs are just labeled 1 and 2 for each channel. (The silver paint has worn off, so they're hard to see, especially in the photo.)

The Remote Switch input is on the far right, under the word BASS.

yeah, must have been added later.
mine looks like this but cleaner

it has series/parell inputs between the canells.
the distortion chanell has a switc for the fuzz, distortion and eq plus you can switch between the two chanells.

squashedOpossum · #14 12-17-2010, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crentest

yeah, must have been added later.
mine looks like this but cleaner

it has series/parell inputs between the canells.
the distortion chanell has a switc for the fuzz, distortion and eq plus you can switch between the two chanells.

That's really cool. I like the series/parallel input and channel switching ability. Wish mine had that. Honestly, I'm not sure what the remote switch would do on my '74.

crentest · #15 12-17-2010, 06:38 PM

if you're ever in thebuffalo area, you can try it out, maby even trade. i don't use it much.

squashedOpossum · #16 12-18-2010, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crentest

if you're ever in thebuffalo area, you can try it out, maby even trade. i don't use it much.

Thanks for the offer, man. I doubt I'll be up your way anytime soon, but I do appreciate the offer.

Thanks for all the help, guys. Thanks to bassbrad's help, I guess I'm going to stick with my ODB-3, although not as dirty as he has it set-- 12'oclock on the gain is a little heavier than I'm looking for.