Peavey Responded

[@FlameFlickers]

If Peavey want to salvage their reputation, perhaps they'd consider getting their CEO to take part in an episode of "Undercover Boss". What could possibly go wrong..?

[@veenoir1991]

lmao good idea

[@stephenfoley1261]

I suspect it wouldn't go well. 😮

[@mattyk2676]

Oh, dude. That episode is one of the cringiest things ever. 😂

[@shottyunstable6129]

​@@mattyk2676ooof yeah that didn't help them at all, especially when they showed what happened afterwards

[@odjurensland]

Oh man, lost all respect for Peavey after that 😑😅

[@PurposefulPorpoise]

"Prison Labor" Era Peaveys will be worth a fortune some day

[@KarlKarsnark]

"We have no record of something that didn't happen." Do any of us? Come to think of it, I don't have that Billion dollars I never had either. Thanks Peavey!

[@haywire8008]

That shit went so far over your head

[@brians1793]

@@haywire8008 What do you mean? Peavy says they have no record of an NDA with Lynch, but Lynch said he never signed one. On Peavy's part I think they assume people are stupid and when they see that statement will think they're accusing Lynch of lying where the audience then assumes Lynch claimed to have an NDA, or maybe Peavy just dropped the ball that hard there. It don't know which would make Peavy look worse TBH, if Peavy did/does use prison labor it'd make them look better just to admit it IMO, now it just seems very sus. Even if it was well into Peavy's past, them apparently lying about it makes them still seem corrupted.

[@haywire8008]

@@brians1793 my bad I thought he was talking a the prison labor not the NDA

[@throbbinwoodofcoxley6830]

@@brians1793why exactly would it matter if they used prison labor?

[@brians1793]

@@throbbinwoodofcoxley6830 It really depends on why and if they abuse and exploit it, but another comment from someone that's worked at a prison was saying some companies would pay a lot more than the prison does for labor and the prisoner keeps a third, a third is for room and board, and the other is for savings for when they're out of prison so it can be a good thing. But if for profit corporations abuse it for maximum profit that can hurt law-abiding citizens too that could work for a company like Peavy, much like hiring illegals and paying way less than minimum wage, and actually he(the guy that worked at a prison) mentioned the prisoners were being paid the minimum wage but that was another company.

[@Eliphas_Elric]

KDH, if you see this, you could always file FOIA requests with all the prisons within the vicinity of Peavy HQ to see if they can produce documentation about manufacturing contracts with Peavy.

[@hydorah]

That's a solid idea!

[@synonyx]

FOIA would probably work if they were state/local government owned prisons. Private prisons may not be subject to FOIA requests.

[@jeddak]

Not sure if a non-US citizen can file a FOIA. But a US citizen certainly can.

[@Eliphas_Elric]

Non US citizens absolutely can make FOIA requests. @@jeddak

[@Eliphas_Elric]

Worth trying. @@synonyx

[@jingaijigokumoto6119]

Peavey is so good at digging their own increasingly deep grave.

[@robbirose7032]

They get others to do the digging.

[@breilly66]

​@robbirose7032 Savage. But true, it appears.

[@LeftyPem]

And they use prison labor for that too.

[@plantain.1739]

We gotta get Josh Homie a new amp before it's too late.

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Looks like they asked for advice at Gibson.

[@rocktorrocks]

Not keeping proper records would be a real Pet Peavey.

[@UnclePhill33]

Someone needs to name their son "Peavis"

[@rocktorrocks]

@@UnclePhill33 Yup. Peavis & Amp Head

[@MartyHagwood]

Like I said in the other video. I have lived in Meridian, MS all my life. I worked at Peavey in the 80's. I have never heard of Peavey using prison labor until this interview with Lynch. Meridian, MS is a small town where everyone knows everyone. If this were true, I would think that it would be well known here.

[@nuclearpurification7260]

Correct, And let’s keep this in perspective, George Lynch is not the most trustworthy person either, just ask Don Dokken.

[@rkk578]

I think sooner or later he will run into problems, as he has made allegations before based on hearsay, made statements on circumstantial evidence, or based on him misunderstanding/not knowing data. I like to watch him, but there can be a bit too much conspiracy here and there.

[@XChristianNoirX]

For all we know, they hired prisoners when they were released, helping them reintegrate into society.

[@oprymusicstore4851]

This is the reply I was waiting on. Thank you kindly sir.

[@MrWill9894]

For what it’s worth, the amp that Peavey was working on for George was in the late 90’s/early 2000s I believe. They released it without George’s endorsement as the XXX. It’s possible that if the prison labor story were true, it may have been a relatively more recent development

[@mcfats7652]

I went to prison for three years, the state operates a farm where I was and uses slave labor. I got paid 1.75/hr and I was required to work 7 days a week for a minimum of 12 hours per day. They provided lunch, it was four pieces of bread, 1 piece of bologna (or some other meat-like), a cookie, a half pint of milk, and a handful of corn chips. It was blisteringly cold, my clothes were provided by the state and I my overalls were too small and riddled with massive holes. The zippers didn't work. The water was undrinkable, loaded with lead, copper, and radium. The DNR people came by and said they wouldn't even water their gardens with the farm's water. The cows drank it though, and we were supposed to drink the milk! My boots had holes and my feet froze. The terrible levels of animal abuse I witnessed by the staff and other inmates is something I try not to think about. It brings me to tears. It is why I ultimately quit the farm once spring came around, and quitting makes you look really bad in the guards' eyes; they don't like you after that. That* is slave labor. If Peavey offered jobs to prisoners, they were blessed to work there. Peavey would've paid them VERY similar to what they paid free people. This is much more than what Mississippi Corrections would pay. They would've hired "risk assessed" minimum security inmates if they did. I'm too young and not even from Mississippi, so I have no clue if they did or not. This is an interesting topic, but you're taking an uninformed and narrow approach to it. Peavey should be given praise, not ridicule for offering prisoners a chance to prove to the community that they can work outside the fence without something bad happening. People can get reduced sentences, parole, actually pay restitution to their victims, save money for their eventual release as a result of working outside of the prison grounds. You need to understand it's a steppingstone to inmates who are releasing soon. Some of these inmates may have never even had a job before, but they were low risk assessed by the DOC and applied and given an entry level position. They hopefully learned how to be an employee at an actual company, and hopefully learned a skill that may help them down the line. I know many ex-prisoners who make great money welding because of programs such as these. I'm basing all of my statements on DOC living, my beliefs, life, and experiences. Hartley Peavey is an American Treasure. If not for HP, I'm not even sure if I would know how to play guitar. In my youth, my family and friends were too poor to afford Fender amps and Gibson guitars. We played Peaveys and we loved every second of it and we were thankful to have road worthy, professional gear at an affordable price. I don't understand why you are grasping at straws trying to hype up your channel with literal bullmess. Have you researched work-release programs? Did you have a good understanding of their purpose before you made the videos? My guess is that you did not. I bet you thought you had controversial details and wanted some clicks for the algorithm. Shame. Your other videos are alright, though.

[@fenderpicker57]

I worked at a state prison for 35 years before retiring. I only remember two or three times where private companies would use prison labor. Once was a fishing lure company. The other was a plasma collection outfit. Inmates were paid the federal minimum wage which was way more than what the prison paid for regular prison jobs. Inmates could not have cash. Each inmate had a bank account. The inmate got 1/3 the wage to spend, 1/3 went to the state for room and board and 1/3 to a savings account for when the inmate was released from prison.

[@tobins6800]

State and federal have to abide certain rules, regulations, and laws. For profit/ private do as well, but, probably don't have to disclose anything they don't want to

[@12to3Guitars]

The 1/3 savings account thing is smart. I like that aspect. I almost feel that should be standard for inmates who have the desire to work (and they should be paid at the very least minimum wage)

[@ZacksRockingLifestyle]

⁠@@12to3GuitarsTLDR, I’m not for forcing prisoners to “save” their meager wages, for the reasons I get into below. inflation is higher than interest in savings accounts. Plus, that’s ignoring the massive 1/3rd for room and board? The fk? If the state doesn’t want to pay the costs to lock these people up, then let them out! The state tried and convicted them, or strong-armed them into a plea “bargain,” so they can shoulder the housing costs! If these people are capable of working in for-profit enterprise, they’re capable of existing in society. Unless we are to allow inmates to participate in the stock market, forcing them to “save” so much is rather doubly meaningless, as they’re certainly not getting out of prison, buying a home, and retiring. The point of prison labor and today’s low median wages is to work people such that they have nothing during life and then find themselves no longer alive. Are you unfamiliar with indentured servitude? How about “Scrip” and Company Towns/Company Stores? Plus, plus, forcing prison slaves to “save” their money allows the prison to work with banks to do things like loan out that money for profit. In my opinion, if a prisoner can work, the prisoner doesn’t need to be a prisoner. …and if they did something so truly awful that it can’t be forgiven, but they can still work, then we should euthanize them, anyway, instead of enslaving them. I’m not really for either of those things, but I know I’d rather be euthanized than enslaved, and I believe I can agree with the notion that *some* things cannot be forgiven.

[@roberthaskin1723]

A third for room and board though? .....like really bro lol?

[@12to3Guitars]

@@roberthaskin1723 yeahhhh that part of it is sus. I like the savings account though!

[@catdumpling]

This would probably go a long way in explaining how Peavey, during their heyday, could put out so much high-quality, US-made stuff at prices well below just about every other US manufacturer at the time. I’m not sure how it would’ve been in Ireland, but during the 70s and 80s Peavey sold millions upon millions of dollars worth of music and PA equipment to seemingly every school and venue throughout the country. It was unremarkable, but very well made, affordable and reliable as hell - you could beat the shit out of it and it would just keep working for years. But being that affordable and ubiquitous was something most other music equipment manufacturers in the US at the time couldn’t compete with (Yamaha was probably the only one anywhere who could, but they aren’t an American company), and that’s when you see a lot of them begin to move manufacturing overseas to get a cheaper product. I don’t know if this is what actually happened, but it would explain a hell of a lot about Peavey’s success during its best years.

[@richardturk7162]

Think of all the inmates that learned a valuable skill or trade because Peavey took a chance on them and offered a chance to succeed when they got out of prison.

[@richpryor9650]

@@richardturk7162 Yeah, think of all the withheld wages and illegal labor practices that they had to endure to learn how to glue a cabinet together. Also, nice attempt at framing slave labor as a benevolent act of a company taking their chances on poor hapless inmates like they won the lottery or something. Just think of all the Blacks who Plantation Masters took their chances on to teach how to share crop for free so they'd have a skillset once they earned their freedom. That's what you sound like, you dumbass.

[@Notawhitchhunt]

Peavey used to be a great company with great products. Some of the best pa amps in the seventies and great guitar amps for many many years.

[@kiezersosay49]

Dude thank you so much for the hardwork. You present the news we want/need and in a way we all like. These are important matters and we definitely appreciate what you're doing... keep it up!

[@GuitarQuackery]

Slander is not easy to prove in court. First they have to prove that someone’s comment was in fact a lie. Then they have to prove that it hurt their business and reputation. It will be interesting to see if there are any further developments.

[@MrWill9894]

They would also have to prove malice- that George lynch KNEW it wasn’t true and said it anyway in order to harm Peavey’s business. Good luck proving that in court

[@elijahmuller2521]

The best Guitar journalism, keep up the great work!

[@USSLIBERTYREMEMBERER]

So much better than all the joke guitar “news” sites out there. Good to know there’s reporting out there not owned by Thomann lol

[@yakfishin4912]

The original Peavey Bandit was one of the best damn SS amps ever. Built like a damn tank. I still have both of mine from the early 80s Toss a Boss HM2 In front set to A more bass driven tone and not that ice pick crap........man those were the days. Add a charvel or Kramer and the world is great again lol.

[@paulketchupwitheverything767]

Just realised that it might have meant 'made by a bandit'.

[@kospandx]

Pretty much as expected: this looks very much like a least-effort way of denying something that you know that you are guilty of.

[@breilly66]

Yup. Opaque as hell.

[@nychold]

Or just more evidence of their poor management and internal company communication. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing type of thing. Never ascribe to malice or corruption what you can ascribe to incompetence, and keeping your employees in the dark is the easiest way to look incompetent.

[@anthonyb5279]

I saw that episode of Undercover Boss. That guy is shady as hell I would not trust him.

[@mikeclemens795]

​@@anthonyb5279Which episode please? For Peavey? A comment above says maybe the CEO should do that show, has it already been done?

[@scott6588]

I doubt after undercover boss that they volunteer themselves to every person looking under rocks for more dirt. Easier to shoo it away. Besides their sales numbers are better than ever, which would be expected being completely overseas now. Some KZbinr who doesn't think they suffered enough damage isn't going to be anything more than a mosquito bite to them. They'll just keep rolling. If anything it helps them as any publicity is good publicity. Even Bud light who has the whole planet taking a side, will walk away larger than ever.

[@TheFlutecart]

My amp is so Metal, it was made by convicts. Actually, I really like my old 90's Classic 50/50 rack tube amp. Hard to get any better amp for a pedalboard rig. Plus it heats the studio in the Winter. Weighs a bloody ton. Sounds f'king amazing when you push it hard.

[@alderoth01]

I live 30 minutes from Peavey headquarters. Ive applied for jobs at peavey hefore theu shut everything down accept their carbon fiber acoustics, i went to Junior College with a woman that had me try out for a model shoot they were doing on a new form of the bandit 112 amp lol. I even was talking with a band out of California that had connections with Peavey to be their bass player, but it all fell apart lol, and ive never once heard that Peacey used prison labor for any of their manufacturing. I even bought my very first accoustic, a martin, and first electric, a Peavey Accelerator F floyd rose, from the storefront where it supposedly all began. I lived here consecutively for 19 years before I moved and i never once heard that Peavey employed prison labor for manufacturing. They definitely lost quality control, gave up on innovation, and gave up on Mississippi, but i dont think they ever employed slave labor lol. Hell my english teachers son was an electrical engineer for Peavey and he never mentioned anything like that. He won some award for a bass amp design or something. His family was very liberal from what I remember. I dont think he wouldce worked for someone using prison labor, but I could be totally wrong lol. Sounds like George Lynch didn't like this area lol. It is a rough place. Besides Peavey there isnt anything else going on out here lol. Maybe casinos and a BS music museum called The Maxx with a high end studio nobody can get a job at lol. George could use any number of reasons not to work with Peavey, but prison labor seems like a stretch lol. Hell, ai could drive to their corporate office and ask them on Monday if you want 😂.

[@austinfailz]

They wouldn't "have record of any NDA with George Lynch" because he didn't sign it, apparently. You likely won't keep record of something that wasn't signed or enforcible due to being signed or implied to be signed (such as if it were included within a stack of legal terms for a contract).

[@madmusicianmagician]

I'm so happy my peavey amps were made in prison, I hope the poor inmates got to play a guitar through the amps after they built them to test and jam out. Prisoners who built peavey amps we salute you for those who built the Rock soild amps while in the slammer sincerely hats off to the crafty inmates that possibly have a job now in the guitar industry from all that they've had experienced building peavey amps in the pin.

[@billy0936]

@@neinnonon make those prisoners work. keep them busy doing something positive.

[@gwtaylor8468]

Well if Peavey did use prison labour, good on them because clearly the folks they used were some of the best amp builders around. My old Peavey gear is still running faultlessly whereas EVERY other brand of gear I've used over the years (and there have been a few) have long since given up the ghost.

[@RaspySquares]

💀lmao true.

[@larrydering1598]

Absolutely true. Myself and a great many steel guitar players owned all sorts of Peaveys gear. Reliable as hell. In fact I'm still using much of that gear including PA gear. I also own a few of their guitars. So they used prison labor. Are they not Americans? I think someone is looking for a angle to nitpick Peavey. Go buy the stuff made by child labor. Lol.

[@IndelibleAndy]

The allegation makes me feel conflicted. I love my XXX amp. It is the second tube amp I bought. Had a little 30 Hughes & Kettner 30 Watt for a few days before returning it. I still have the Triple XXX after all these years. I will never get rid of it. Everytime I hear a story about Peavey it's not a feel good one for sure. To be frank, the USA has a wanton love affair with unbridled capitalism that tells the ugly story of cheap labor and putting profits over people over and over again. Without any legislative guardrails this is the natural outcome we will see again and again. If a company wants to grow and stay in business because more and more people want their products; they will engage in whatever it takes to survive. We can hate the players, but we should be hating the game too. We are a part of this and we keep choosing it in the voting booth and at the store. Not defending this, just saying we can feel outraged and bummed as much as we want, but it's just ideological masterbation unless we do something differnt.

[@Vykk_Draygo]

Look up work release programs before condemning the practices. The allegations, even if true, aren't what are being purported. This complaint is predicated upon one man's very biased opinion about a nuanced (and arguably beneficial) situation.

[@iankinzel]

It sounds like Peavey would be the easiest company in the world to rob. Steal their money, and when they try to press charges, ask them "Do you have any record of possessing this money?" Peavey: "...oh shit."

[@poorman9259]

im sure thats the only records they are worried about

[@FunkyKikuchiyo]

I’ve been hearing about the prison labor thing since the ‘90s. I assumed it was a legit prison program that would benefit the prisoners, as someone else mentioned in the comments. Pros and cons aside, it would have been a good faith effort to help the prisoners. Or, it could just all be an urban legend that refuses to die. If that is the case, then clearly Peavey is clueless how to handle this.

[@stallionstudios]

I am thinking the exact same way you are.

[@stevelacombe5291]

It could have been a prison program, or maybe Pevey hired former prisoners that had been released. Who knows. If they made some effort to hire former offenders, they should be commended fo that, but if that were the case you’d think they would own up to it.

[@thebenefactor6744]

Yeah, I mean it depends on how the issue is framed. Some prisoners might have learned some skills; or at least become motivated by discovering something about their aptitude that they really turned their life around and pursued electronics as a vocation. I'm not saying anyone became the next Ken Fisher, but it's gotta beat making license plates. Opportunities start in the weirdest spots.

[@stevelacombe5291]

@@BravoSeven Well, that was the George Lynch claim, which seems to have been misinformation.

[@richpryor9650]

Bro, this is the south, where the 13th Amendment is really put to use down there. Also, the "learning valuable skills" is what any company that have abusivee labor practices, i.e doesn't pay their workers, use to cover their ass in PR speak. Mainly MLM's

[@michaelgallegos8811]

Nice work as another said u ruffled some feathers 😂 prison labor has always been associated with license plates 😂 now with fairly expensive amps I would kinda worry about the craftsmanship not implying that they are not hard working folks ! But do they understand the technical works of building amps now Peavy is manufacturing in China which pisses me off cuz folks lost their jobs in the states very disappointing..

[@That70sGuitarist]

A Peavey Classic 50 4 10 was my main amp for nearly 25 years as a working musician (lead guitar/vocals). It was an outstanding product, made in the US of A, very rugged and reliable, and always sounded great whether I plugged straight in or used a pedalboard. It sounded equally great in very small pubs as well as much larger venues, and that's "value for money" by *any* reasonable standard. The only thing I didn't like about it was the spring reverb, because I dislike any spring reverb unit I've ever used or heard. The *very* best reverb I've ever heard came from a custom-made reverb unit another player I knew had; it was a 110 volt AC all-tube circuit that his amp builder created for him, and man, that thing sounded *so* lush! I was forced to give up being a working musician some years ago due to physical disabilities, so I started looking around for something lighter. I eventually sold my 62 pound Classic 50 4 10, and almost bought a used Classic 30, but once I learned that Peavey had relocated all their manufacturing to China, that really turned me off. A few years ago, my sweet sister bought me a Vox AC4C1-12 (also made in China, but a great little amp in its own right) for my birthday, and I fell in love with the little beast right away. At less than 24 pounds, it was the lightest all-tube amp she could find, and I finally had something I could take to occasional open stage jams without hurting myself in the process. I have no issue with companies using prison labour just as long as the inmates are earning a fair wage and learning valuable job skills for when they get released. Either way, it definitely beats Chinese sweatshop/child labour!😉

[@dnews9519]

If anyone at Peavey has or knows where I can buy an early 90s Blues Classic with 1x15 speaker please let me know. That's the best damn amp I've ever used and I want another one for a stereo rig. Great amp!

[@donsmith5385]

If you own Peavey equipment like I do, it’s frustrating to get parts let alone info. Nobody there knows what cable is used to link the 5150 cabs, nor do they know about the casters for the 5150 cabs. So if they can’t give you customer service for there most popular product line, how would they be able to help with anything else?

[@TwistedIdentity]

This kind of thing makes me wonder if I should sell my Invective and grab an EVH 5150 instead. I have a local tech I go to who says the exact same thing, that they are a nightmare to deal with even if you're an authorized repair center.

[@donsmith5385]

@@creamwobbly you must work at Peavey lol, how much time you got left for your jail sentence? 😆

[@bjthebrain968]

1/4” ts speaker cable to link most older cabs. With a lot of modern cabs you would still use 1/4” speaker cables, but many now have speakon combi jacks which can use 1/4 ts speaker cable or speakon, much like combi jacks on interfaces and powered speakers that accept both XLR and 1/4” instrument cables.

[@stimpsonjcat26]

Has anyone considered that this rumor may have spawned from peavey hiring ex cons? Not a single person has came forward to say they built peavey amps while they were in prison so I doubt it ever happened.

[@alecmullaney7957]

The prisoners likely wouldn't have known what the components they were assembling were going to

[@stimpsonjcat26]

@@alecmullaney7957 I'm sure that at least a few of them could figure out it was an amplifier or sections of an amplifier. There is no way someone wouldn't figure it out. Also someone at Peavey would have let it slip out by now.

[@g8189728]

why would it be a secret?@@alecmullaney7957

[@MichaelTheLibertarian]

Not having "any record of a NDA with George Lynch" doesn't mean they never asked him to sign one. It means it never got past the "Hey, would you be willing to sign ..." stage.

[@georgebailey7219]

NDA is standard industry practice and NO big deal. Hell, Sweetwater and Musician's Friend even have a confidentiality NDA notice at the bottom of their price quote emails!

[@TrashMarineMusic]

"Peavey don't have any record of me contacting them, but its a good thing that I do" Possibly the coldest statement you could have made lmao

[@DaveDurango]

😐

[@christopherlewis1847]

That was beautiful. He has the receipt.

[@Greyson2015-r8f]

Hartley needs to dump Courtland Gray and get Peavey back on the rails where they belong.❤ Peavey fan for life.

[@ecdubytecdubyt]

I really appreciate your logical analysis of issues. It seems like logic is a rare commodity these days. Thanks!

[@dejadejayoutube]

KDH always shows receipts GIGACHAD (the only other official correspondence we have on the issue now is that peavey lied to guitar world about your request, KEKW, gottem); classic peavey digging their own hole

[@maykolllopez1585]

I was just rewatching the Peavey video today 😂 I didn’t think they’d actually respond.

[@SNOwyte]

As an excon, it aint that bad...the tans u wear, the original white t shirts ur issued (not the ones u buy off commissary) all made by female inmates at the only womens prison out here. So if peavey has inmates making amplifiers its like 'ok, so what?' To me, and i come from prison.

[@jonnyvelocity]

Because they're selling them at a profit. These aren't prison unifroms

[@JeremySheppard]

There's also a large air force base in Meridian. It's a pretty big town and Peavey left a big hole in it's economy.

[@gooseabuse]

Saying we have no record of something that happened like 20+ years ago isn't necessarily shady. The guy who's making these statements for Peavey probably didn't work for Peavey when this happened, in fact there's probably not a lot of people from that time still at Peavey. The PR guy probably did a basic search of these topics found nothing, had no one else to ask and just wrote that he had never heard of any of this.

[@thechameleon2636]

If it’s true that peavey used prison labour, why would that be a bad thing? If the quality is up to par I don’t see any problems with it as long as both parties were “happy” with it. If they mean slave labour or some variation of it, then ofc it’s a problem.

[@jonnyvelocity]

You could do some research about it. Would you draw the line at slaves building amps?

[@presmasterflash7555]

On another note I can imagine Peavey employing people coming out of that prison if they’re the other big industry in that locality.

[@craigrobichaud2354]

I can tell you..I’ve chatted with Peavey Engineers, over the phone, and if their prison help..Their pretty educated..They were polite and took the time to help me trace a circuit issue….so maybe it’s just the building of the amps, which if true..As a repair shop..I can say they do an excellent job with the building of their products.!!

[@RichardGutierrezRG]

Some states do have statutes that state that inmates can as part of serving their sentances be required to work during their incarceration. They may also get paid but their hourly can be as low as .50 cents an hour. A municipality may have to pay the cost of a guard that escorts them to, during and from a work area. You even see a scene in the movie 'A Shawshank Redemption' when the local businessman is imploring the prison warden to not bid on a big job he desperately needs to avoid going under because with cheap labor, the warden can undercut anyone's lowest bid.

[@darwinsaye]

Doubt it’s true, but I wouldn’t care if it was. Convicts work in jail. What does it matter if it’s stamping license plates or assembling amps?

[@rkk578]

Peavey probably not lying about "not receiving" the email. there is no point in doing that, given all emails go to a sent folder, so it is easy to evidence it. It may have been overlooked or it was stopped by their mail filtering system, etc. Also, departments not always talking to each other in these big companies on a daily basis, and finding the right team for an email can be challenging too - if you have ever worked for a multinational company, you know - so the person who was told to write a statement likely had no information of the email.

[@kospandx]

This is one place I think Peavey can be defended somewhat. KDH wrote Peavey on 24 July and uploaded his video on the 30th. I have had to wait longer than that from businesses to get a reply, especially during the holiday season.

[@MatthewBlackMetal]

Thanks for the detective work. Batman of the guitar world... doing God's work my friend

[@aryinc]

Peavey. The amps to play some "jailhouse" rock with.

[@jimihendrix991]

IKEA has a history of this..... This is from an article from 2012... ''Ikea says sorry to East German political prisoners forced to make its furniture. Peter Betzel, head of Ikea Germany, apologises for the flat-pack furniture company's use of prison labour in the 70s and 80s'' Slaves working in GERMANY in the 20th Century............................................................................................................................. must be just another 'conspiracy theory'......

[@papa_pt]

well if you say EAST GERMANY then it's not too surprising

[@jimihendrix991]

@@papa_pt ...there was no East Germany (GDR/DDR) from 1933-1945 but there were certainly SLAVES in GERMANY.

[@TheNickLavender]

@KDH You need to reach out to some of the prisons in the area around Peavey and see what THEY have to say concerning their inmates working and where they work. You might find something.

[@guitfreaker]

Or you might find nothing. Could have been a deal on the down low between Peavey and said prison. This is the south we're talking about. before ya'll pile on , I'm originally from Fla.

[@shanemiller6982]

I live in the South , in between La. And Ms. It's common for companies to use work release prisoners. It's a win / win situation. It's not slave labor.

[@Hobinator17]

It is slave labor. They're forced against their will to produce products while being paid fractions of a dollar per hour. Im not against it, because theyre convicted criminals. 14th ammendment says slavery is only legal as punishment. Well, if that isnt punishment, what is it? What euphamism would you like to refer to it as? The slavery, that is

[@barbmelle3136]

@@Hobinator17 Sir, you know nothing about it. NO one is forced to participate in anti-recidivism programs. It is an opportunity and a benefit.

[@12ealDealOfficial]

Nuanced take. Prison labor is often used for civic improvement projects like lawn mowing, trench digging, and various other sundry landscaping projects. It costs the city very little money, which means it costs taxpayers very little. These work release programs are always volunteers, who are permitted to volunteer only if they are incarcerated for minor crimes. Doing more complicated work, like with Peavey, gives inmates practical skills for gainful employment when released. Really is a win/ win.

[@jenniferlawrence2701]

It undercuts other American companies who are trying to pay their (non-criminal) American workers a decent wage.

[@shanemiller6982]

@@Hobinator17 Have you ever been in a work release before? I have. It's a great program that gives inmates a marketable skill while putting money in their savings so they don't go outside as a broke and homeless person , more likely to just go right back in. I was paid 9$ per hour , of which the facility took 63% of for transportation,housing and food. After taxes too , I have averaged 75$ per week in my savings. When I got out , I had a nice nest egg to comfort the change back to being free. I don't know if Peavey used inmates to build amps , but I would have loved to have that job.... Even without getting paid. Anything beats looking at bars ,walls , fences ,razor wire and the apes the place is full of. I for one commend Peavey if they did help out inmates. Remember , they will coming back into the community at some point.

[@Goldsteinphoto]

Nothing plays the blues like the Peavey Prison Amp. series. Models include, Killer, Assault and Battery, Molester, White Collar, Psycho, Solitary, Food Fight, Riot, Warden's Revenge, 10 to 20, Good Behavior, and Early Release. Seriously, if they do use prison labor there would have to be a lot of people involved. The info. Would get out.

[@simonpark843]

Thank you for your hard work and your honesty.

[@lotuscorpse]

Peavey still owes me a free bass, as they never sent me a notice of a recall for the electronics on their Cirrus BXP models. Because the 3 Band EQ had a wonderful board in it that was missing an entire piece that allowed the pickups to work and stop going through 9 Volt Batteries in about 18-20 minutes.

[@Steve.Cutler]

Not once did they clearly say, as they would if it's not true, we are not and have never used prison labor to build any of our products.

[@louparte1]

OT Mr. Lynch is wrong about one thing. Meridian Mississippi is famous for something else. One of America's great songwriters, Jimmie Rodgers (b: 1897-d:1933) was born in Meridian & the town has a museum in his honor. It also hosts an annual festival. He is known as the Singing Brakeman or the Father of Country Music. He was inducted into both the Country & Rock & Roll HoF in the 1st year they opened. Famous for: Blue Yodel, Mule Skinner Blues, T-for Texas, T-for Tennessee, Waiting for a Train, a huge influence on Western music, Hank Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis et al.

[@SeagoGuitarist]

For those struggling to understand why prison labour for a big company is a problem, it's exploitation, pure and simple. Feels odd to have to explain this as an English person, but there's a loophole in American law whereby, as soon as you're convicted of something, you lose the right to refuse 'work'. Essentially states, slavery is still legal in America, assuming you are convicted of committing a crime. A big brand like Peavey requires an enormous workforce. Imagine the number of staff required. Then imagine the potential that the majority of staff, aren't employed, but, in fact enslaved. Working for practically nothing, assuming they're paid at all. Then imagine how many tens/hundreds of thousands of jobs that, in other circumstances would provide a decent wage, instead are removed from the general public. You might be able to successfully argue that this is on 'legal' grounds, technically fine. BUT there's absolutely no way you can argue this is morally right. This is, if true, total BS. Qudos to George for having the balls to say something about it. Also to KDH for putting wider attention on this. Curious to see where this goes. Seems like Peavey have a lot to answer for.

[@tomrafal3655]

I'm english and came here to say exactly this. The 13th never abolished slavery, it just moved the goalposts.

[@kospandx]

For anybody interested in some of the history I would definitely recommend Knowing Better's video Neoslavery. It cuts off at the WWII mark, but shows a lot of the legacy of institutions that are still in place, and how they ended up being like they are. Spoiler alert: a lot of it has to do with trying to bring back slavery under other names.

[@CasaDelWhacko]

Bought literally anything from China, huh?

[@SeagoGuitarist]

@@CasaDelWhacko for the record, I'm not ok with any exploitation full stop, but that doesn't necessarily make it easy to know who's doing what and when. Big corporations and CEOs aren't exactly yelling about their exploitation from the rooftops. Although I fully accept there's an obscene amount of it done for profit in the world and, all of it sucks. Like I said though, I'm curious to see where this goes. Meaning, I'm not necessarily going to assume this is true. But if it is, it deserves to be talked about, exposed and either prevented or boycotted IMO.

[@tomrafal3655]

@kospandx the documentary The 13th is also a good watch. It shows how various big companies use the loophole to their advantage.

[@craigrobichaud2354]

I’ll also add…SO WHAT, if they used prison labor..at least it was in the US and not Asia…Peavey is/was one of the last few companies that actually did everything in the US..and though it may not be a lot…Prisoners get paid for their work..

[@Starflyer0059]

Guitar world is the tabloid of guitard news.

[@the-np4mr]

You're watching the tabloid of guitar

[@nathanbloomfield211]

I spoke with someone in Peavey's purchasing department and she told me a few months ago that they don't manufacture anything electronic at their Mississippi location. It is all made in Asia somewhere. I'm not sure if many are employed in Mississippi for manufacturing purposes, likely just desk jobs.

[@jimjambananaslam3596]

George said he had knowledge of them using prison labour and it wasn't until they wanted him to sign an NDA not to discuss it that he decided he didn't want to do business with Peavey. So his own wording makes it sound like he was more against being told not to talk about it than he was against the actual practice of "slavery". And despite him being so opinionated about it on that podcast, he's never mentioned it since and can't be contacted for statement now.

[@JohnWiku]

Hypocrisy at it's finest 😂😂

[@scott6588]

George not only drank himself delusional, he then got into weight lifting and of course heavy steroid use. -"Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is implicated in maladaptive behaviors such as increased aggression and risk taking. Impaired judgment due to changes in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system may contribute to these behavioral changes."

[@stonephilips9361]

Reach out to one of the Amp builders from that era. Designers for the EVH and Others are still working in the industry.

[@martymcfly1776]

If Peavey did employ prison labor, I don't see anything wrong with that. Finding convicts useful work where they can make some money, and perhaps learn employment skills towards their eventual release is usually considered to be a good thing. Convicts usually have a difficult time re-integrating into society after their release, and anything that will ease that transition is good. We even had convicts cleaning our offices at the college where I worked for a while. That turned out to be not such a good idea, but that makes the point that just looking at convict labor as cheap labor is not very realistic. There are some unique challenges to working with convicts.

[@jayartz8562]

Prison labour for the community is fine, when using it for private companies it creates an uneven playing field for companies that don't use prison labour.

[@martymcfly1776]

@@jayartz8562 They get paid minimum wage. Beyond that there are difficulties associated with employing convicts. In the situation with my college, it was the janitorial contractor that agreed to hire the convicts. The contractor backed out of the deal because they were getting too many complaints regarding the conduct of the convict employees. It's not just cheap labor.

[@papa_pt]

Bought a made in 2004 made in US Peavey Classic 30 about 5 years back for $400. It's been a workhorse! Not the best amp ever but still lots of tube goodness.. in terms of tone/breakup I'd put it somewhere btwn a fender and Marshall, maybe close to a hiwatt type thing

[@347Jimmy]

Absolutely killer blues tones

[@dannygray-mi3xn]

The name "Peavey" perfectly sums them up.

[@FadeToBlack1989]

My lord. You know you got to peavey if they responded

[@mrcoatsworth429]

Well, peavey don't have any record of him getting to them.

[@jonlohrenz5446]

Why do you think they called it the Peavey BANDIT??…I’ll show myself out.

[@gingerstar9195]

I live approximately 6 hours east of Meridian, Mississippi. It is certainly not uncommon for businesses, including corporate entities, to employ prison labor in southern states. Not sure about the rest though f the country but down here it’s just another day. Not saying it’s right but it is what it is and doesn’t look like we’ll see any reform with this anytime soon.

[@dylansmith880]

Not taking sides here but wanted to explain how “Prison labor” could be taken out of context. Keep in mind I know nothing about this story just a little about prison/jail work release. As far as I know, no state inmate can work for a private corporation while incarcerated, but a county inmate (misdemeanor) who is awarded work release is allowed to drive and work at their job. So if an employee of Peavey got a misdemeanor charge but was awarded work release, they would be able to resume their regular schedule at Peavey while incarcerated. Using state and federal inmates to work at a private company would fall under corruption laws for the prison and the company.

[@TheBeardedDiver]

I feel we can reach out to the prisons it should be public record what they would have produced

[@McBurnside6380]

The prisons are a private industry. I'm not an attorney, but I do not believe they have to reveal their clients identities.

[@shanemiller6982]

Work release is not slave labor.

[@Vykk_Draygo]

@@McBurnside6380 I don't know why so many people think that all prisons are private. The majority are owned by governmental entities, therefore they are public.

[@McBurnside6380]

@@Vykk_Draygo we are specifically talking about the ones allegedly used by Peavey.

[@valdazis]

I do not see the issue of incarcerated prisoners working for any company, firstly - they are paid for this work (which is legislated and regulated) and secondly - their incarceration maintenance costs huge tax payers' money, so working is part of their resocialization.

[@ravenslaves]

There have been rumors about Peavey using prison labor for decades, about 40 years. Going back to the Predator guitar series. George heard rumors and believed them. Then there's the prejudice factor of something being made in Meridian Mississippi, to consider. If something is made in Mississippi, then it _must_ be made by prison labor (mostly black) with Ku Klux Klan prison guards watching on behind mirrored sunglasses, on horseback, with their shotguns and whips ready. I think George might be tapping into that trope, as well. What we have here, is a failure to communicate.

[@Exercise-01]

😂 Damn horses,whips, KKK guards.

[@ASM881]

You forgot the mandatory moustaches. Additionally the judges and the prison guards and the DA are all family and they all meet up at the weekend BBQs. Also for some reason Matthew McConaughey is there and he says “now imagine if she were white”.

[@randomjones8753]

Some men you just can’t reach….

[@Ixodiusixi]

i get that prisoners don't just make license plates it wouldn't be the most unethical thing to give opportunities to prisoners that translate to future opportunities. Ethical assurances to say the company is part of a rehabilitation program and not just solely relying on prison labor to create products they profit off of would be somewhat reasonable though finding out someone that is locked up for life is producing a product is similar to slave labor. No one wants that product. I avoid products from China cause of reports. Peavey would do good for themselves if they have a rehab program set up aiding the community to go public even with a few stories of individuals. I am quite alright avoiding them until i find more out my first amp long ago was a Peavey.

[@RandyWillcox]

It's funny, George specifically states in that podcast that he remembers it so well because going to Meridian, MS stuck out to him, as well as the number of prisons there compared to any other industry. So the likelihood that he confused them with some other manufacturer is beyond slim. Peavey is shady. Undercover boss made that abundantly clear. And, pretty much as soon as EVH passed, they started selling the HP 2. When EVH left Peavey, they changed the Wolfgang to the HP Special. (HP = Hartley Peavey). They relocated the pickup selector just like Music Man did. However, the HP2 relocates it to the original Wolfgang position. The guitar was released a month after Eddie passed away. 🤨 I mean, is it possible GL was mistaken? Sure. It's possible. But it also isn't like he went on some slander spree either. He mentioned it very matter of factly. They won't sue him because they already have a shite reputation. But if it isn't true, they certainly could. However, if it IS true, they absolutely won't. Because in the evidentiary discovery proceedings, it would be revealed as fact. Then, well, big deal if they caught him sharing internal data...the world would know he was telling the truth. Now, a really interesting story would be, "how the hell have Peavey stayed in business this long?" People CAN'T be buying that many Invictive amps, can they? Who's buying 6505s over EVH 5150s? Perhaps if they considered using prison labor to build product, the cost savings would help. I mean, since they aren't, maybe they can look into it...

[@Mr.Monster1313]

I still have original 1970s and 80s Peavey amps... i still play them..still work and sound great..lol just saying..love old peavey..not sure about todays stuff...

[@oprymusicstore4851]

I love your channel first off. Second id like to respectfully stand with Peavey on what I know to be true. I own a music store and have had good experiences only with these people. Until i see otherwise with my own eyes I will continue to support these folks. Thanks to KDH and Peavey for making my musical journey more fun!

[@anthonyb5279]

Yeah I'm gona side with George Lynch. Having worked a lifetime in this industry, most music stores are shady as hell too. George gets the benefit of the doubt not you.

[@richardmckenney9434]

Half you are so hung up on the Term prison Labor, There's two forums the Regular & Industrial work for the state/government that pays cents per hour or a few bucks a day & then there's the Private Sector/companies like Peavey that can hire prisoners to work, which is Voluntary and paid federal minimum wage (but they may or may not see all that as usually the prison would divide its splitting it up between Room & Board, Commissary/Book, Savings for release and any restitutions). This Private Sector work benfits every one as the prisoners learn real jobs and training they can use when relased and may actually retain there employment after relase and make more then most other prisioners, the prsion is being paid a the prison a small amount for rent of space and utilities at the prsion whjere the work is prefromed and the company like peavy finds a workfroce that willing to work and a location/factory there renting for cheap.

[@joseramirez2310]

KDH: Did you use prison labor? Peavey: New phone who dis?

[@garycoates4987]

Peavey really lost their way in the early 90s and have just been on a decline since then, I think if they really want to save the brand they should do something radical and bring back their legacy designs like the t60 and t40 as a retro thing and they still make their own version of the "Wolfgang" with a different name and the rest of their resources be spent on making amps ,great solid state and tube amps are what built their "good" reputation back in the day.

[@khloaris5206]

Peavey definitely didn't use prison labor. They use to employ about 4,000 people in central Mississippi and there were factories all over Meridian and other nearby cities. They still own most of those now-decommissioned factories, and trucks, etc., which are still all around the area. They used to have a "Peavey Family Fun Day" that was attended by about 10,000 people and major artists like Journey and Kenny Loggins played at the event. I know that George Lynch had a big falling out with the designers there before his signature amps came out, and I've heard there's plenty of bad blood, and bad behavior - which I won't get into here - but what he's saying is very provably untrue. Talk to anyone who was around that part of Mississippi before Peavey offshored, and there were visible signs of Peavey's manufacturing everywhere, and everybody knew dozens of people who worked there. There was, and is, one state pen in Mississippi, the infamously brutal Parchman (of which the oft-covered song "Parchment Farm" is based on). Peavey amps, guitars, and especially sound reinforcement equipment were fairly complex beasts, and there's no way in hell anything with a circuit board, or even any electrical components at all, were manufactured there. This is the worst kind of internet telephone game: talk to literally anyone who knows anything about that company and that area, and they'd be able to debunk Lynch in a second, but people believe what they want to believe.

[@obdacz]

If Peavey have never used prison labour, then I do not see a reason (other than plain stupidity) for them not to state this explicitly. So either this is a very stupid PR mistake on their part (which is possible), or ...

[@khloaris5206]

@@obdacz Peavey has very few employees anymore, and they probably don't feel the need to respond to something so baseless and honestly stupid. Peavey has certainly had their issues over the years, but their once-enormous workforce has been well-documented, including a tour of their factories by a sitting president in the 1980s that was well-publicized. The tiniest bit of research should debunk this for everyone interested, but people love believing bad news, even with the evidence in their faces.

[@Musicenjoyer17]

I have some vintage 1978 200 watt Peavy Amp head and cab it’s an incredible amp but, I’m not buying anymore of their stuff now

[@keithangstadt4950]

I once had an issue with my bank account being used by someone in Texas. The police investigation traced the bank fraud to a prison in Texas and determined that AT&T was using prisoners to process payments. Yes, prisoners had access to banking information of thousands of customers. I think we would all be surprised by how much minimum wage work is being conducted by prisoners and how well it is being covered up, or simply ignored. That being said, if Peavey had prisoners assembling circuit boards or putting parts in bags or whatever, I don't have an issue with it. They were probably happy to have something to do other than sit in a cell.

[@jxy_vbn8156]

If you make some enemies as a journalist, it means you’re doing a good job.

[@tallthinkev]

What some companies have done, so I've heard, is to sub contract some parts. Now a, let's say an amp company (Peavey?), sub contracted cab manufacture and those cabs were made by prison labour. Now that amp company, (Peavey?), bought those cabs they didn't make them, someone else did, and can say they didn't use prison labour.

[@breilly66]

Jesus..... Peavey teaching a masterclass on how to destroy their own optics. :/

[@kernelkorn6545]

I see no problem using prison labor. As long as the compensation is proper and legal. I used to work a job where prisoners from the state prison worked also. They got paid and treated the same as all other employees. Only difference was they went back to the prison after work. Everyone else went home. George lynch is implying this is forced labor or extremely low wage labor. I don’t think that’s true. I don’t think peavy is run like the Shawshank Redemption. But I may be wrong

[@kylestewart4444]

I don’t know whether Peavey was or wasn’t using prison labor but even if they were, it’s not immediately self evident to me that utilizing the labor of prison inmates to assemble products is actually wrong or unethical. I’m certainly open to any arguments but it really doesn’t strike me as being anywhere near equivalent to “slave labor” as many people seem to believe.

[@hermespadilla]

I'm just worried that people start finding hidden messages in old Peavey amps written by the slaves that build them (like in the Shein dresses Labels) and the Slave-made Peaveys are gonna skyrocket in price due to their collection value

[@BlackHatInc]

All 3 of my Peavey amps have "help me" carved on the inside of them.

[@nothingmuch8865]

This is the power of the internet. Thank you, KDH!

[@stimpsonjcat26]

The power to spread rumors with no factual evidence?

[@nothingmuch8865]

@stimpsonjcat26 The man has put himself out there and does so intelligently. I can't fault him and he isn't trying to sell me anything.

[@stimpsonjcat26]

@@nothingmuch8865 I assume his channel is monetized so in a way he selling something and requires views for profit. He is the product he is selling you, although it isn't coming directly from your pockets.

[@theburkett67]

I don't have a problem with Peavey using prison labor. 1. It's an excellent trade to learn. 2. They have to work in prison regardless, be that in the kitchen, laundry, janitorial, or breaking rocks what would you choose. 3. They are not slaves because they are not innocently locked up and forced to work they are locked to keep them away from society and to pay for their crimes. you have to do something while you're there. Just the way I see it.

[@deplinenoise]

Thanks for staying on the straight and narrow. You’re doing good work.

[@Barbarapape]

Does any of this realy matter? as long as the amps were made to a good standard. I can understand the USA workers feeling that Peavey used the prison workers as cheap labour but this applies in most manufacturers, they employ cheap labour to keep profits as high as possible.

[@anidemolimacnauj]

To be frank, just in the same way you missed their reply they might have missed yours.

[@girhen]

Typically, when I'm going to specifically stake a claim against something happening, I double check before I speak against it. There's a difference between being delayed in a response to something and actively claiming someone didn't contact you. Take a minute to check before saying 'no, we were never contacted'.

[@timothyjames4195]

I got family that's done time in Georgia, Peavey absolutely uses prison labour

[@ChrisTWR]

The Peavey prison labour was a thing I heard talked about regularly in the music industry during the mid 2000s. If it's untrue it would qualify for urban legend at this point

[@XChristianNoirX]

If it's just an urban legend, maybe it sprang up because there are lots of prisons in the area and the gear was so cheap for the durability... Also, one must consider the other brands that didn't want their dealers to also carry Peavy. Others in the comments claim to have worked for Peavey and say that the town is very small and everyone knows everybody... As such, everyone there would know. However, the most likely possibility is... Prisoners who had nowhere to go when released may have been given jobs at Peavey, and Peavey kept that under wraps. Without FOIA requests and proof of anything, it's all a bunch of hearsay. This video kind of puts it in Peavey's court to prove that they didn't use prison labor, which makes them guilty until proven innocent in court of public opinion.

[@scott6588]

​@@XChristianNoirX yep...this forum is a lot of jurors sitting in an empty court room just handing out verdicts. Unaware that any judge who would have been sitting there, has repeatedly tossed such accusations to convict and waste the courts time, due to actual knowledge of the situation provided by all parties accused.

[@davidturkos8502]

As soon as I saw the first video. I took my Peavy t.k.o.bass Amp and dumped at my local music go round and then traded in for s.w.r. working man combo Amp. The fact they laid off employees who featured on under cover boss that's crossing the line

[@duncanbooth3778]

In the US, there is such thing as work release. I would say shit hot to peavy if they have employed a prisoner at any point. Hell, you get thrown in prison for just about anything these days … in the US.

[@stallionstudios]

The interesting thing is even if they did do this practice, so what? If the inmates made more money than the crappy prison jobs (even if the state took some) and developed new skills, + are at least able to get out of the prison during the day, isn't this kinda a win win? It may actually not be that nefarious.

[@martinhoj4434]

The Connor McGregor of music journalism! They messed with the wrong guy. Thank you for your amazing content

[@alanmcdonald6551]

Fake outrage to drive views and subs

[@daveinDc]

KDH, I'm not sure if an ExPat can do a FOIA request to the state of Missippi, but I'm sure you can find someone to make the Freedom of Information Request (FOIA). Without this, to the state of MS and not Peavey, we will never know for sure...

[@domoniquebrooks816]

I personally have no problem with prison labor itself, but Peavey could at least be honest about it instead of stating they "Have no records" of it. It just seems like a shifty way of dodging the question.