Over the years, Peavey has earned a reputation for making durable amps with rich bass and vintage distortion effect. This brand of amplifier has been in the music industry for decades and is still going strong.
If you’re on the lookout for an amp that gives a good clean sound with exceptional build quality, look no further. Peavey amps are here to save the day! These amps are used by some of the most renowned musicians in the world because of their great tone and resilience.
Want to learn more about what makes Peavey amps good? Make sure to keep reading as we go over some of Peavey’s most powerful and versatile amps that will suit whatever style of music you’re playing.
The History of Peavey Amplifiers
Peavey Electronics is a company with an impressive history in the world of guitar amplification. Founded by Hartley Peavey in 1965, the company has been committed to innovation and creating state-of-the-art amplifier gear for every musician.
Peavey began designing tube amps during the 1960s and was one of the first companies to popularize solid-state amp technology. The company hit its stride in the 1980s, unveiling the peavey Bandit 112+ series of guitar amplifiers. The Peavey Bandit Series was known for its versatility and reliability, and it became one of the most popular guitar amplifier models in history. During this time, Peavey focused on solid-state technology, with the peavey Bandit+ Series being its most famous model.
Over the years, Peavey has earned a reputation for creating high-quality gear that can handle anything a guitarist could throw at it. The company’s 180 patents on audio equipment and instrument innovations speak volumes about its dedication to innovation and excellence in guitar amplification.
What Amps Does Peavey Make?
Peavey is a global leader in the production of bass and guitar amplifiers. Their amplifiers are widely used in rock and metal music, but they’re also used in blues, country, and other musical genres. Additionally, they produce a wide range of guitars and amplifiers, including acoustic and electric models for players of all skill levels.
Peavey amps are known for their solid, unique gain structure and ability to boost up to deliver solid sound at any volume level. Their amps typically have a bias called “hot” in the power section that produces more distortion when pushed to the limit. This characteristic makes them ideal for harder-hitting genres like heavy metal music.
Peavey has been producing and manufacturing high-quality amplifiers, guitars, and professional audio equipment for over 50 years, fusing creative design with state-of-the-art manufacturing to create products with unparalleled sound and performance.
Who Uses Peavey Amps?
Peavey amplifiers are most heavily used by rock and metal bands, with the 5150 and 6505 models being popular with big names such as Eddie Van Halen, Machine Head, Trivium, At the Gates, Bullet for My Valentine, and Deafheaven. Country and blues artists also make use of Peavey amps, with the peavey Classic 30 and 50 being used by notable performers like Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood.
Factors that Make Peavey Amp Still Good Today
Peavey amps are popular for their reliability, price, and high gain. They’re known for their durability, consistency, and ability to produce loud, clean tones. In the past, Peavey solid-state full-state amps like the peavey Rage, and peavey Bandit have been considered amongst the best amps ever. These amps are virtually indestructible, thanks to their durable construction and design.
Peavey’s 5150 and 6505 signature models have gained a loyal following among guitar players. These amps are known for their powerful tone and versatility, and the company has kept its high standards of quality products. Plus, Peavey’s products now come with many features at a reasonable price point.
Amps are “Built Like a Tank”
Peavey amplifiers are known for their reliability and durability, often described as “built like a tank.” They’re built to withstand the tough demands of the music industry. Many stories circulate of people dropping, smashing, and treating Peavey amps terribly. However, these peavy” amps continue to function as if nothing has happened. This is a testament to their quality and resilience.
Affordable Price
The company is known for its affordable prices while offering a variety of amp models. Peavey has a strong reputation for producing high-quality audio equipment and musical instruments, and it continues to invest in new R&D to stay ahead of the game. The company has moved its production plants to China, but it still maintains its high standards for producing quality amps and guitars.
High Gain Amp Models
Peavey high-gain amps are in demand for their powerful sound and versatility. These amps can be easily customized to suit the needs of individual musicians or bands. They feature various channels and inputs that allow them to be configured to suit different playing styles and sound preferences. Overall, Peavey high-gain amplifiers are ruggedly built, versatile, and highly-reliable performance tools that are suitable for both professional and amateur musicians alike.
Best Peavey Amps for Blues
These amps offer great sound quality and plenty of features that allow you to craft your own unique sound, perfect for playing the blues!
Peavey Delta Blues 115
The Peavey Delta Blues 115 has a tube-driven sound and provide clean tones, as well as distortion. They can be used for both practice and gigging, and each is equipped with a 10-inch speaker with a tonal range that spans from warm to mid-range, to full.
Peavey Delta Blues 115 30W 1×15 Guitar Combo Amp
A COMBINATION OF MODERN AND CLASSIC
Perfect For: Musical genres such as blues, rock, country, and jazz
Features:
Boasts an all-tube circuitry with three 12AX7 and four EL84 tubes to create a loud powerful 40W sound
Has a 15-inch loudspeaker for a loud tone that complements the three-band EQ
Designed with controls for volume, treble, and bass to let you control your sound more
Pros:
Shares much of its insides with the Peavey Classic 30 for an even more classic tone
Built with a blend of modern engineering techniques and classic styling
Cons:
More expensive compared to other amps and quite heavy
The TedScore: 8.8/10
Peavey Vypyr
This Peavey amplifier is another great choice for blues players. This model features 12 electric guitar models, along with bass, acoustic, and other instrument models. It also features three channels to customize your tone and includes reverb, chorus, and tremolo to add extra layers of distortion to your sound.
Peavey Vypyr X1 Modelling Amp
THE MOST DYNAMIC AMP
Perfect For: Creative guitar players
Features:
Made with ultra-effective modelling technology
Enjoy crisp, clean channel organic distortion thanks to all analogue TransTube distortion
Pros:
Play without limits – this amp has acoustic, bass, and electric guitar tones built-in
Spice up your music with an array of effects
Lightweight and compact
Cons:
Some users may find that the front placement of the jacks will reduce the amp’s aesthetics
The TedScore: 9/10
Best Peavey Amps for Metal
If you want to go hard rock or out with amazing metal bands and hard rock artists, make sure to check out these amps!
Peavey 6505 MH Mini Guitar Amp Head
The Peavey 6505 MH Mini Guitar Amp Head is a compact yet powerful amplifier head based on Peavey’s flagship model 6505 design. It offers many tones and features, including gain and master volume controls for the rhythm and drive, two channels each, a shared 3-band channel EQ, and 120 watts of power.
Peavey 6505 MH Mini Guitar Amp Head
COMPACT AND HIGHLY PORTABLE AMP
Perfect For: Every rock and metal musician
Features:
Highly portable mini amp head
Enjoy natural tube tones with 2 x EL 84 power & 12AX7/ECC83 preamp tubes
Reach maximum creativity through the 3-band EQ, reverb & FX loop
Pros:
Offers 20-Watts of roaring bass amp sounds that could fit in a suitcase
Suits any situation thanks to adjustable output settings
Cons:
Not suitable for super heavy tones or playing in larger venues
The TedScore: 8.5/10
Peavey 6505+ 112 Combo
This Peavey amplifier is a 60-watt tube amplifier with a single 12-inch speaker. It can simulate microphone response and has EQ, presence and resonance controls. It’s designed to provide flexible high-gain sounds for metal and other heavy, musical instruments and styles.
Peavey 6505+ 112 Combo
LONG-LASTING AND VERSATILE AMP
Perfect For: Musicians in a band
Features:
Provides the tone of intensity and gain power that modern players require
Patented Resonance and Presence controls to shape your tone
The exterior is designed to withstand the rigours of being on the road
Pros:
Comes with high-gain sound, versatility across 2 channels
Designed for durability
Cons:
It may not be suitable for jazz tones
The TedScore: 8.8/10
Best Peavey Amps for Beginners
If you’re a beginner looking for the best amp to start your guitar journey, Peavey has some great options for you to help you find your sound.
Peavey Classic® 50 212 Guitar Combo Amp
The Peavey Classic® 50 212 Guitar Combo Amp is a great option for beginners, thanks to its versatile sound and pedal-friendly clean tones. The amp has plenty of volume to handle live gigs. Its responsive gain structure and warm/punch double-team of 12AX7, and EL84 tubes make it ideal for blues and rock guitarists alike to play with.
Peavey Classic® 50 212 Guitar Combo Amp
RELIABLE WITH A GREAT RANGE OF TONES
Perfect For: Beginner guitar player
Features:
Built with classic tweed covering and chrome-plated chassis
With master volume control, standby switch volume up, reverb boost level control, and effects loop
Pros:
Includes a footswitch selectable channel switching and reverb
Has a great range of tones and is incredibly reliable
Cons:
Its 12 watts of power may not be loud enough for some users
Quite heavyweight
The TedScore: 8.9/10
Peavey Backstage® Guitar Combo Amp
The Peavey Backstage® Guitar Combo Amp is a great choice for beginners. The control layout is simple, making it easy to use. Plus, it’s small and compact, perfect for in-home practice. Not to mention, the price range of this great amp, is very affordable.
Peavey Backstage® Guitar Combo Amp
PORTABLE AND AFFORDABLE AMP
Perfect For: Beginner players
Features:
Comes with high and low EQ controls
With switchable clean/overdrive settings
Offers a warm, tube amp amplifier amp-like sound with plenty of output and “push back”
Pros:
Has a lightweight body and a small footprint for easy transportation
Built with an Aux-in port and a headphone jack for convenient connections
Cons:
It may not be ideal for those who need a louder bass amp or one that can produce more bass distortion
The TedScore: 9/10
Summary – Are Peavey Amps Good
Peavey amps are popular among musicians because they’re affordable, high quality, reliable, and offer solid performance. This brand of speaker is known for its durability, so you can rest easy knowing your amp will withstand years of playing.
Even if you’re a beginner, you can start with these amps and build your skills from there. Whether you’re playing the bass guitar or lead guitar, you can trust Peavey’s amplifiers to deliver powerful sound without distortion.
Hopefully, this post has given you all you need to know about Peavey amps. If you’re still pondering on the perfect peavey bass amp to take your playing to the next level, we’d love to hear your thoughts!
FAQ’s
What are Peavey amps known for?
Peavey amps are known for their ruggedness and reliability, as well as their great tone and power. Peavey has a line of guitar amplifiers made specifically for blues, jazz, and classic rock players.
Is Peavey better than Marshall?
It really comes down to personal preference as both brands have their own unique sounds. Marshall amps tend to be favoured by rock players while Peavey amps have a fuller, more organic gain channel and a cleaner sound overall.
Who makes Peavey amps?
Peavey Electronics has been making amplifiers since 1961 when founder Hartley Peavey converted an acoustic guitar into an electric instrument and built his first business and first amplifier. Many of their popular amps, and other brands such as the HP2 range brand of electric guitars and Budda amps, are still being made in the USA.
What Peavey amps did Lynyrd Skynyrd use?
Lynyrd Skynyrd used various Peavey amplifiers throughout their career, including the Peavey Road King and Peavey Mace amps.
Why are Peavey Amps so cheap?
Peavey Amps are cheap because the components used to make them are usually quite affordable, which helps keep the amps cost down.
Is Peavey better than Marshall?
Marshall amps sound gritter and crunchier than Peavey amps sound heavy and dark. Marshall’s amp is more midrange based than some peaveys which are heavier. The Peavey amp is often considered the most reliable heavy metal amp.
What Peavey amps did Lynyrd Skynyrd use?
Gary Rossington has worked with legendary rock legend Gary Rossington for an exclusive edition of Peavey’s powerful Peavey Penta amplifier, Penta Rossington Editions.
What are Peavey amps known for?
The Peaveys guitar amplifier is geared specifically for jazz, blues, rock and classical music players. The classic Series amplifier was first developed in the 1980s. The original Peavey Vintage Series of amplifiers was first produced in the 1970s. The earliest versions use a 6C10 truncation tube in a preamp NOT in solid state.
Marshall DSL vs Peavey 6505
This Marshall DSL features better midrange sounding than the Peavey 655 which sounds a lot scoopier. Marshall DSL comes in one-pack 1 W, 5-pack 220 W and 40 W combos, 1 Watt, 20 Watt, and 50 Watt heads. Peavee 6505 only comes in 20W combos and 105W combinations.
Marshall CODE vs Marshall MG GFX vs Peavey Vypyr
Marshall CoDE and Peasey Vypyr are both model combo solid-state amplifiers. Vypyr X is available in 20 W, 40 W and 100 W models while CODE can be purchased in 25 W, 50 W and 100 Watt models. Vypyr consists of 36 models and 36 effects which are compared to a CODE that consists of 15 models and 22 effects. The Marshall GGFX and Peavey VypyrX amplifiers are both solid state amplifiers. The Vypyr X is offered in 20 Watt, 50 Watt and 100 Watt variants while the Marshall GFX is in 30watt and 50watt models. The MG GFX features 4 models and 4 effect models.
Are Peavey Amps Good for Beginners?
Peavey amps are absolutely legendary solid state amps. Although they’re not the usual ‘beginning amps’ in this day and age they can make an interesting alternative such as Bandit or Rage. The sound is great even at low levels. These amps can be used without breaking and provide excellent sounds, even if you are an experienced player. And they are dirt cheap and can be used! It also has Vypyr model amps which have very high demand among beginner users. This will give people new to guitar the possibility of buying amps for their guitars.
Are Old Peavey Amps Any Good?
No simple answers can be found for the questions because they depend upon the specific Peavey amplifier in question. Some models are sought-after by collectors and fetch higher costs at used markets whereas others are cheaper and are found more commonly. It will eventually depend on the characteristics and sounds of the amplifiers in which each is installed and what it sounds like. Vintage peavey gets warmer with reverb though; this is no longer new. Peavey is incredibly bright, clear, and loud. I find it one of my favourites among friends. I got their initial bass combos, the second was the combo 300 bass amplifier. The bass amp is not my new one after I lost one during an upcoming show.