May Birthdays 
Friends,
As a player of Fender Showmans for almost 30 years, I can tell you that there are not many amps that can sound like one. However, I believe that I have come across an excellent alternative.
I submit too you the Peavey Session 400. Before you start squawking blasphemy, I am as surprised by this as you may be. Let me tell you the facts.
The Session 400 was designed in 1974 by Peavey to be the first purpose built Pedal Steel amp. It was designed with input from Curly Chaker and Buddy Emmons. If you don't know who they are, look em up. The Session 400 has all discreet circuits, great reverb, and a 15" JBL or Black Widow. It is 200 watts, and it is LOUD.
My Session is a 1979, is quiet, sounds absolutely fantastic with my Emmons pedal steel, and as good with a Jazzmaster. It is certainly better than most Twins, and a lot of that is due to the 15" speaker.
I paid $300 for mine, and it came with a JBL D130. That is like getting the amp for $100! These came originally with a K 130, but they had too many blown speakers, so they designed the Black Widow as a replacement for the JBL. Wonderful speaker. I took out the D 130, and replaced it with an Emminence EPS 15. This is a direct JBL copy designed for Pedal steel, and is rated at 300 watts.
The original Session 400 or Session 400 LTD is the one to get. There is a later Session 400 Limited. Avoid this one. And Peavey still stocks all the parts for repair! Not that that is likely, but good to know.
Laugh all you want, but I'm telling you , your ears will be happy. So that no one will know, you could recover it to look Fendery,I suppose. And if you play pedal like I do, well, there is a reason it is still a standard 40 years later.
Good luck, and flame away!
Mel
Phantom Surfers
