Anybody else like Peavey stuff? I had one of their older guitars,

[old mark]

now have a 92 Foundation US made bass and an old plain jane 30 watt amp I use for bass. I love all their gear that I have ever owned. I am planning on buying one of their 212 amps early next year.

Anyone else Peavey fan?

mark

[charlie]

1. I tried one of their early guitars

when they first started making them, a T-something or other if I remember right. I wasn't expecting artisanship and didn't see any, but it was solid and obviously built with some care. For whatever reasons, it felt unnaturally stiff in my hands, I couldn't tell you why, it just seemed to require a good bit more effort to play than I was used to. Though it wasn't for me, it was decent, and the price was way right.

I have a 5150 I haven't fired up in eons, but I really liked it when it was new. I was chuffed to have the saturated stomp of a Soldano, Laney, or hot-rodded Marshall at a fraction of their cost.

That's what Peavey has been dependable for, even back when no one took their stuff seriously -- you always got something at least a little bit better in some way than you'd ordinarily expect for the price.

It makes me wonder how they've managed to stay in the US and not just survive, but innovate and thrive when so many were clobbered by foreign competition. Even stalwarts like Gibson and Fender had a rough go of it for a time, but Peavey somehow just kept on keeping on.

[old mark]

6. Check out Peavey's website - they are still innovating like crazy.

Hartly Peavey still is sole owner, which might have something to do with their great quality. They are making some amazing stuff right now in Meridian, Miss.

mark

Sorry if I get worked up - I'm used to paying a lot for a name brand instrument and not getting what I think I should.

[MilesColtrane]

2. My first bass was a Peavey T40.

It was aptly named because it weighed about the same as the Russian tank.

I remember listening to Jaco Pastorius on the "Heavy Weather" album, and not understanding why I couldn't get that sound out of the Peavey. Hey...I was fifteen!

I even went so far as to install a Dimarzio J-bass pickup in the bridge position at one point. (it sounded only marginally better)

My first year of college I ran into a guy who actually had an old Fender Jazz bass. I was blown away by how light and thin its body was. And of course, there was that sound, the sound I'd only heard on records before then.

It finally dawned on me that electric guitars and basses were more than the strings and pickups....the wood actually made a difference.

Fortunately, I was able to sell the Peavey to a sax player before it gave me a herniated disc.

[old mark]

3. You will probbably be amazed to know that T40's have a large following

and many people have collections of them. I just never liked their looks, but I have a '92 USA Foundation bass that will knock the sox off any Fender I ever played. My favorite bass.

mark

[SacredCow]

4. One of my former band-mates has always loved their amps...

He's now using one from their JSX series (but I can't recall which one).

[old mark]

5. Update to my Peavey amp buying plan - I found a pretty old Peavey

Studio Pro amp, rated 40 watts, 1 12", for $60 - m wife bought it for my birthday next month.
They are US made, very versatile sounds, extremely loud and near indestructable (7/8" plywood case).
It's probably all the amp I will need for a long time to come, and I was very happy to find it.

mark

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Wouldn't Own One. But, Have Played Them

They play OK. Problem with the older ones is that i thought they were ugly. But, i had students who had them, and they were perfectly fine. The older ones are all short scale (24.5) and that isn't my thing. But other than that, they were good for the money.
GAC