Peavey Manager Talks Openly about the future of the Brand

Fred Poole (General Manager of product development at Peavey) tells me how they plan to get more people playing Peavey products and how the company are trying to modernize their marketing and approach to creating new guitar products. New Website - peavey.com/
A big thanks to the sponsors that made my Guitar Summit trip possible:
D'addario - www.daddario.com/
Gravity - www.gravitystands.com
IK Multimedia - www.ikmultimedia.com/
Peavey - peavey.com/
Sennheiser - sennheiser.com/pro-audio-micr...
Thermion - www.thermion.eu/
Yamaha - europe.yamaha.com/index.html
If you are reading this, you are a real one!
Comment "I love Rock n Roll" so I can notice you!
𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟
►🤘 Join / @theguitargeek
►🤘 Buy something on Reverb reverb.partnerlinks.io/TheGui...
𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗦
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙙𝙚, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪!
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨.
#theguitargeek #GuitarSummit #Peavey

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Do you play Peavey? Help Peavey help you by telling Fred what you want to see right here! Check out their new website (link in video description)

[@onbedoeldekut1515]

I used to own their Rockmaster rackmount preamp. More gain than a weightlifter's syringe and more fx loops than Elmo's tube, I just wished it was stereo, that'd have made it my go to even now, but then they brought out the (not remotely as good) 5150 and we all know what happened to amps after. The Rockmaster was a trailblazer of an amp, and if they made it into a floor unit, they'd be on more than just the right track!

[@WhyAlwaysMeMario]

F*CK PEAVEY RIGHT UP THE ASS!!! THEY ARE THE WORST WHEN IT COMES TO LABOR & WORK CONDITIONS...NOT TO MENTION THEIR REPORTED USE OF ACTUAL INCARCERATED PEOPLES TO BUILD THEIR PRODUCTS (GETTING PAID $.30 AN HOUR) AND CHARGING THOSE STUPID PRICES. PEAVEY YOU SAY "YOU'RE NOT HIDING FROM ANYBODY?!?!?" THEN ADDRESS THAT INSTEAD OF SHUTTING DOWN ARTIST THAT CALL OUT YOUR SH*TY PRACTICES. ...AND ANDY I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT SINCE YOU'RE ACROSS THE POND, HOWEVER LOOK UP AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

[@kellecetraro4807]

I thought the glib adopted stepson was supposed to take over and sell the company to China?

[@kellecetraro4807]

​​​@@onbedoeldekut1515I have a Peavey RockMaster 19-in preamp I've had it for decades, I don't use it. It sounds like you had a really good experience and fondness with the unit, what did you do to get it to sound good? Mine is and always has had that ridiculously buzzy type drive/distortion, I don't think people realize or believe It's not a 100% tube driven circuit. For example, activating the boost function routes the signal going from Valve-2A to Valve-2B through two 1n4148 diodes giving both *clipping* and noise suppression characteristics, I suspect that's the source of the fizzy / buzzie-ness

[@JimBischoff1184]

@@kellecetraro4807 I know , right? I’m not meaning to beat the dead horse , but after watching that”Undercover Boss “ tv episode , I was pretty well done with Peavey . The arrogance and indifference that Hartleys’ son-in-law (?) displayed towards employees was , in my opinion , what started Peaveys’ troubles . If he’s still there , I’m not buying .

[@raviolijunior]

the old US Peavey gear was amazing.

[@summersleepmusic]

Mine are still kicking. Absolute studio beasts.

[@mikelynchrockfordmusic4823]

I’m 74 years old and players my age all played Peavey at some point in time. We didn’t quit Peavey, Peavey quit us. Most of us are not metal players. Peavey had such a wide range of products that there was something for everyone. It seams over the last decade or so Peavey kept a few old cash cow products (good ones by the way) in their lineup and developed and expanded on only the metal genres. The last Bandit update was 2006, 18 years ago. Red stripe Bandits are selling for as much as when they were new 20 years ago. I hope Peavey can get back to what used to be its core competency, a solid choice for guitar players of all styles and levels of affordability. Walk into any club 25 years ago and there was a Peavey PA, and a Peavey back line rocking the house!

[@Scott__C]

And they were all solid, reliable products!

[@jasondorsey7110]

​@@Scott__CMuch of the old peavey stuff is still reasonably priced, and worth every penny...if anything, the size/weight can be a bit offputting these days, but that's just because current players are a bunch of soyboys who have never seen the inside of a gym or decrepit boomers who would bust a hip trying to move a twin reverb

[@Scott__C]

@@jasondorsey7110 Absolutely. But, I got rid of my VTM after a back injury. Carrying around a 60lb. amp head wasn't worth my mobility. Everything's as light as possible now.

[@jasondorsey7110]

@@Scott__C I have a mark iii bass head from the late 70s, pretty heavy for an amp that's maybe 200 watts under max load, but that sound is killer and it's surprisingly versatile...sorry to hear about your physical limitations, hope you found a revised setup that works for you

[@Scott__C]

@@jasondorsey7110 Thanks, the 20 watt heads and 1x12s are manageable. I've also got a couple of Carvin heads - the V3M and the Vai Legacy 3 along with a Peavey ValveKing 20MH. The Peavey is good, but the VTM was of course, better. I'd love for them to have a 20 watt of the VTM with the switches.

[@JoshuaPatrickGarrett]

His candor and self-deprecating humor is definitely appreciated and he doesn't candy coat things like a salesman. I'm interested in checking out the Peavey catalog now.

[@derekhand7904]

Lol

[@ginoames]

I like that he does not gloss over Peavey's failures and missteps. Peavey is so ingrained in so many of our guitar DNA. I would like to see them come back at the forefront.

[@XXjg_]

Peavey was the PA system used by everyone I knew, growing up in the ‘80s. Great mixers, speakers, and power amps. Everyone had their small practice amps, too. The stuff sounded great, was dependable, and tougher than anything else out there; built like a tank.

[@billyfields7722]

I remember "The Undercover Boss" disaster a few years ago. Hopefully they can remake and rebrand the great guitars and amplifier.

[@markbteeps]

Yep, that's the first thing I think about when I hear Peavey too.

[@mycosys]

Nothing could make me buy their junk while he is the one profiting

[@davidmurray9193]

The tricks the boss played on his employees made me think, company with no integrity and fucked people who could of moved on to a better future he stopped and ruined their lives, knowing he was cutting back and sacking them anyway, that's stuff you cannot forgive and destroyed their own reputation. So never bothered with Peavy after that, prefere Laney, orange and h&k, blu amps, uncover boss was a P R disaster for the company and still sickening to watch

[@jjcollins]

for a lot of us, the undercover boss situation was the final nail in the coffin. I mentioned that in the comment I left as well.

[@murphyg400]

Amen, brother. To the any of you that haven’t seen the episode, I suggest you find it and watch it.

[@JustAGuitarPlayer]

I hope Fred will read this. One of the best products Peavey ever offered was the Tweed colored classic 50 and classic 30 guitar amps. Dann Huff, legendary 80’s LA session musician/studio guitar player (originally from Nashville) and in more recent years producer of people like Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Martina McBride and many others recorded an instructional video for how to become a session musician. He had his band at the time Giant record a few different songs in various styles demonstrating how to approach playing the songs. One part of this instructional video that you can find on KZbin shows him sharing what gear he uses on sessions. One of the main amps he used was one of those tweed/beige or crème colored Peavey Classic 50 watt head (or was it a combo?). Anyway I remember teaching guitar and a student had one of the combos and it was great and a fellow working guitar player had the classic 30 and again, it was a great sounding amp. You guys should re-release those and keep them in your product line always. My memory is they were all tube, unlike the Peavey classic from the late 1970’s that was a different amp altogether. The amps I’m thinking of were available I think in the 1990’s and maybe the early 2000’s but time is a blur as I’m coming up on my 62nd year. Anyway I’d love to see those amps come back both as a combo and as a head and cab (for us older full time working musicians who need to split up the weight into 2 parts head/cab). The amps were competitors to Fender Bassmans or any tweed amp fender put out because of the classic vintage look but they had their own sound. Sorry for the long rambling message but I hope Peavey folks will listen.

[@feldsparsongs2331]

Just bought a classic 30 after using amp modellers for 10 yrs.Having a real tube amp again is such a difference! Amazing sound !

[@Alfgunnarp]

Those amps are great! I have a Classic 50.

[@melverntaylor402]

The Classic 30 is an awesome amp!!!!

[@sams2960]

Peavey used to put on sound seminars at dealers (early 1980's) and I learned more in one night as a fledgling sound engineer than I had learned in years. THANK YOU!

[@MoreMeRecording]

Did you learn on that horrible AMR console?

[@sams2960]

@@MoreMeRecording Those old seminars were not so much to promote their products as to teach newbies like me at the time how not to abuse ANY piece of sound engineering equipement. LOL "little things" like understanding unity gain, matching the correct size amps to speakers, speaker placement, room eq, all the basics a lot of people take for granted but hey you have to learn either the expensive hard way (blown equipment) or take the time to sit down and listen to someone who knows what they are talking about. Yeah, older Peavey consoles were pretty noisy back then, but for entry level stuff, affordable and still able to learn the basics without being in debt for life.

[@peterhall4852]

For my 20th birthday (85) with my first decent paycheck ,I bought a Bandit Solo 65. Absolutely fabulous amp and perfect (hard as nails) for the Manchester pub circuit. Amazing clean tone and fuzzed up great.

[@peterhall4852]

Also, the New Generation guitars were great. Best tele copy I've owned.

[@ronsheehan]

If Peavey wants to recapture the market, they need to fix the PR disaster that resulted from the closure of the facilities in Mississippi following the Undercover Boss episode. The feelings of betrayal need to be addressed.

[@ronmesic]

Completely agree. How? I'm trying to think about what it would take for me to get excited about anything Peavey. I can't come up with anything. They could pay off the people they screwed over, but I still look at them as maliciously inconsiderate at best and evil a$$holes at worst. An apology video would feel insincere. I truly can't think of what would recover from that.

[@TreyB.]

I hope Peavey makes a huge comeback and blows competition out of the water. They're the hungry, motivated, underdog. I started off at 14, (1989) with a Peavey Bandit state amp in Vicksburg, MS. Excited to see them taking off once again in the guitar industry! Of course many of their amps are legendary and still packing a wallop, tonally speaking. Go Peavey!!!!

[@Jay-bk7lu]

Lol, there's nothing left of the company. There just pushing Chinese made crap and using what's left of their brand name.

[@startover125]

Sad to hear , everyone is selling out to China for cheap labor

[@soundofwinter]

The best thing to do now if you want a Peavey is to keep an eye out for the older USA made stuff on the secondary market.

[@zz-.-]

Nice to hear humility and honesty for a change

[@Lowtech14]

The Bandit, 5150, and Classic 30- what a great legacy.

[@dancromwell5265]

Still jamming my T60 had it since 91'

[@justmehere6094]

Peavey Amps, were known to be pro quality and working man prices. It's when they moved all their manufacturing overseas, BUT kept the same prices or increased them, that they started declining imho. AND, the Undercover Boss episode, promises made to employees in that, when CEO KNEW they were closing that plant in 4 months has made me say no more Peavey for me.

[@papawx3]

A company that will shit all over their employees like that, will also shit all over their customers when $ is involved. And it always is.

[@mattmcgrath3244]

I’m loving the personal and humanizing 2024 guitar content so far, across multiple Guitar KZbin accounts. Canada has really suffered from a lack of Peavey support since Long and McQuade no longer carries Peavey products. As a metal musician, I owe so much to Peavey’s innovations. Some of my favorite guitar tones have been 6505/5150, XXX, JSX, etc. All amazing products! Please, Peavey, get back in there!

[@mycosys]

It is a public relations campaign after the undercover boss disaster where they showed they are inhuman and pure evil - dont believe the marketing, Peavey himself - the owner - is an evil heartless lizard who makes Zuck look human

[@BCarpenter2314]

This is a great video. Its refreshing to see someone at a large company openly admit to product failures and shortcomings as a business. Lots of accountability and openness to welcoming customers back to trying their brand.

[@mycosys]

It is a terrible video throwing softball questions at a marketing guy representing a truly evil man who owns that company. Hartley Peavey is a truly bad person who makes Zuck look compassionate.

[@jlmoses16]

@@mycosys How so?

[@mycosys]

@@jlmoses16 Go watch the Undercover Boss episode featuring the Peavey family, they are just evil

[@cmgazelle2950]

@@mycosys Someone asked you for the justification of why Hartley Peavey is deserving of ire - 4 months ago. Besides the common failures of living breathing humans, is there something specific about Hartley Peavey that inspired your comment?

[@mycosys]

@@cmgazelle2950 is it beyond your capability to google? I CBA typing a reply again with no idea what bit YT doesnt like.

[@craigharrison5406]

My first amp was a Peavey Bandit 112 in 1988 as a 12 year old. Back then Peavey was the only game in town for combo amps. Basically everyone I knew played a Peavey. I own a bunch of tube amps now EVH, Marshall, and Mesa but I recently bought a Peavey Vyper amp to keep at my dad's house to play when I'm visiting. It's a great sounding amp.

[@chiefjoseph8154]

Some of my Peavey gear is 50yrs old. Still working!

[@DarylT64]

What a good interview. I really hope Peavey brings back affordable amps. It's really great to see a company that takes advice and criticism of their products from their customers and tries to improve them. I believe a company that listens to its customers will have life long repeat customers. I'm that type of customer. Peavey may have just gained a new customer.🎸🤘🏻

[@mycosys]

Maybe watch their undercover boss ep first - where they promise their employees ongoing jobs to their faces to prevent them getting decent jobs elsewhere, then fire them for christmas to send the jobs to china.

[@mycosys]

Peavey makes the original Scrooge look charitable and kind

[@kennethfisher1004]

I remember Fred and his band. I am still good friends with his partner in crime, Doug, who is a fantastic drummer, BTW. Those dudes worked at the local music shop and were always super helpful. I own many Peavey products and they are still holding up after years of use and abuse. The Peavey Bandit 112 Sheffield paired with its twin cabinet holding a second 12 inch Sheffield is a great combo. 100 watts of delicious solid state TransTube technology that is an excellent example of Peavey innovation. Unfortunately, due to basement flooding, I had to replace the Sheffield speakers. Otherwise they would still be the originals to this day. The amp sounds awesome and works just as well as the day Fred sold it to me. I also have a Peavey MH20 Valveking that I run thru a 4×12 Valveking Cab. It absolutely cranks. Gone are the days of high wattage amps. This little 20 watt head is a monster. Thanks so much, Fred. I hope you can find a way to revitalize the Peavey brand and give us more of what once was. I trust that you are the guy that can pull Peavey back to its glory days.

[@Mr.Batsu12]

Back in the mid 80s my first amp was a solid state Peavey Bandit. It didn't sound amazing but it was rock solid, loud and got the job done. It was an amazing amp for a kid who wasn't old enough to drive himself to the story so I had to talk my Mom into driving me. It was also affordable enough for a kid that young to save up money and be able to buy.

[@chriswallace9113]

I had one of those as well.

[@slartybartfast6526]

Thank you for making this video. I love Peavey. I don’t feel like they get a fair shake most of the time. They have provided so many people with affordable quality gear for so long. I think it’s wonderful that Mr. Peavey has kept ownership of his company. Thank you Fred for all you do. I look forward to the wonderful products to come. A new T-60 sure would be cool!

[@Ramiiam]

Peavey used to be an American brand. I remember seeing their innovate (but) heavy guitars in the store window in the early 1980s and thinking, "wow."

[@Ottophil]

I used to play peavey. Strange how that works huh? Got nearly 20 years out of my 6505+ I got one as soon as they took eddies name off and added 1355 to the nunber

[@timothyflyte9443]

I've played Peavey , and owned their PA equipment. Monitors & Mains. I have their B3 organ module which is fantastic. I was using their Peavey amp as my main guitar amp that I bought used in 1985 , right up to 2017 !!! It's in storage now , but still worked as of last summer.

[@ChristopherOrth]

In the 90s when I played live for a living I had a 24 channel peavey mixer and two big PA stacks with power amps that were all peavey, stage monitors, and it was a killer PA at a great price and nearly indestructible. Worked with peavey gear all over the place as it was the affordable workhorse. I also had a Profex for a while. Honestly, I didn’t even know if the company still existed because I just don’t see it anywhere or hear about it anymore. Great to hear you were still around and ready to come back strong! All the best to you.

[@Mattguitarmania]

Great video! I appreciate his honesty and willingness to learn and transform the company

[@fredgibsonabe]

I have a 4 x 12 cab and Peavey Festival tube amp. It still rocks after 40 years. Many of my favorite bands used Peavey. The Peavey Mace is the amp of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Peavey amps were always well built, rugged and long lasting.

[@900dr34u]

Had a Decade in High school (1983). Fast Forward to 1999 or 2000, finally had a Marshall head. Six months later, played the first Triple XXX at American Music in Seattle, ran home grabbed the Marshall and traded it straight across and never looked back. Now running all kinds of stuff but that Triple XXX is something else!

[@pastorofmuppets1968]

My first Amp was a Decade back in 84.

[@louderthangod]

A decade in high school, wow?!? Not to brag but, it only took me 4 years to graduate :)

[@pastorofmuppets1968]

@louderthangod a Peavey Decade 10w. Come on man!

[@levkamenev3904]

The XXX is a highly underrated amp! I also really like it’s relative the JSX!

[@louderthangod]

@@pastorofmuppets1968 I was joking. I’m well aware what the Peavey Decade is.

[@markstrasser2578]

I’ve been an avid Peavey user since 1990… I use a “Rockmaster” 3 ch. tube preamp / with an ART SGX 2000 tube efx rack …. That’s my sound … call me old school … but it works every gig ! I have a 2nd backup if each … and still haven’t had to use them. I sold and still sell and Install Peavey Sound products every month .. with my company. I’ve even attended Peavey Audio School with “ Marty Mccan”. And Kent Morris from Atlanta. We’ve made suggestions to your R&D guys and they’ve listened. Your products meet the price points with my customers. P.S. ( I also own a Peavey XXX combo 40 FX) Thanks for being there and being in tune !! Mark S. Florida

[@rogerarts1]

Love my Delta Blues, more than 20 Years old but still rocking!

[@cmgazelle2950]

My 20+ year old Delta Blues 210 with Blue Marvels sound wonderful, and just was playing it tonight!!!

[@MarbsMusic]

I grew up with Peavey, especially their amps. I bought an HP2 last year NOS finished in Eastern Europe that is one of the best guitars I've ever owned in 40 years of playing. My question, when can I place my order for my Vandenberg?!?!? I saw and shared pictures in Nov but haven't seen anything since. I didn't get one back in the 80s so I'm super excited (as are a couple of my friends) so you probably have 3 orders right there! Personally I don't care if stuff is made in MS or Czech, quality is what matters.

[@Frettedchaos]

I too grew up with Peavey. Back in the 80’s and 90’s, the products were bulletproof and if you needed to repair something, their parts department was absolutely incredible. I hate that they have fallen so far. I’d like to see a return to their roots. Forget the gimmicks and poorly executed products and start making awesome stuff again. There are a ton of people like me who know what Peavey was and now we’re middle aged and have money to spend. The guitars are horrible even for entry level players and the amp line is tired. A lot of the new products are geared toward metal players. Make affordable amps, guitars and PA gear that appeals to the market. Basically, stop what you’ve been doing and do the opposite.

[@kmatax9237]

Good luck to them. Glad to see the vandenberg back! Hopefully more cool guitars to come!

[@czzham]

I worked at "The Auburn Musician" in central upstate NY, from Jan '86 to July 1991 (dedicated Peavey dealer). Taught a pile of guitar students, did guitar setup work, and yes, sold a lot of Peavey Products. To me, one of the most undersung and forgotten amps, was the "Bravo." Lil ol' tube combo, 2-3 pre tubes, and el84's in the power section. Single 12 spkr. Man, that lil dog delivered tone in spades! Wish y'all still had something like that. Tones all the way from Carlton to Lukather, and lots of stops in between. Thanks for the memory...!

[@channtastic]

Would love to see modern versions of coveted T-40s and T-60s. Back in the day everyone I knew used 6505s. They were cheap and sounded heavy. Peavey has made so many great amps over the years 5150, 6505, the Butcher, VTM, the classic.

[@MrSmiley1964]

I would love to get my hands on a Butcher, there's a VTM that's keeps showing up for sale locally. It's in rough shape and the way it keeps getting flipped it must have serious issues. I'll keep looking for the fabled Butcher, they are rarer than Unicorns.

[@purtis99]

Something that Wright about 50 lbs less

[@SkeeterDigs]

Bring Peavey back to USA!!!

[@user-qd9mm5mt4i]

Big goofy loud solid-state amps from Peavey literally dominate certain genres of Weird Metal.

[@frankhughes5702]

I agree 100% on they should come back to the USA!!

[@JimBischoff1184]

@@samizdat113Outsourcing is the eventual downfall of any business .

[@cmgazelle2950]

I would suggest that people who want American manufacturing back in America need look to Washington, D.C., and the lobbyists who sought MFN status for China before the turn of the century, and about a decade after the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The good Mississippi folks in Meridien are just reacting - years later and long after their competition - to what the Congress has done to hollow out American manufacturing.

[@ChristopherJWalton]

I love my Peavey Classic 50 bought in the 90s and still going strong. A fantastic amp.

[@Partybob1]

#comehometopeavey My simple contribution to a peavey comeback. Like a lot of the other comments, I grew up (in the southeast US) playing Peavey gear. Amps and PA. I was a rock star (for a minute) and always loved peavey gear. Bring it back. Come home to Peavey. Thanks, Robert Sledge

[@real_fjcalabrese]

Improve the quality and bring manufacturing back to the USA. My old gear is awesome. The newer products are not on the same level.

[@jjcollins]

I worked in guitar retail for over ten years. I carried the flag for that gear and the company for years (mid 90's to early 2000s). I sold thousands of your products. As a gigging musician, and pro player for 15+ years I used the original 5150 exclusively. I've owned 2 original vandenbergs, as well as the original Sarzo bass, and several Wolfgangs, as well as a ton of their recording gear in the 1990's, mics, mixers etc,...and back then they were GREAT. Amazing products for the money and value. That being said I no longer play Peavey, and truthfully, when I think about it it saddens me. I loved the company and the gear for so long, it truly was the "poor mans" gigging and touring gear, made in the USA and was great. After your product move to china, your quality dropped by a thousand percent. Built like absolute garbage, and the icing on the cake for me was the undercover boss fiasco that all you old fans will never forget. I've been involved in the "guitar industry" for over 30 years, as a player, in retail, as a guitar tech, and a back line guy among other things. Unfortunately my love for the original brand and product will never return.

[@StillLivinginthewoods]

Agreed 100% I owned so many Peavey amps in the 80s 90s and well into the 2000s. The last one I had was a TrplX combo made in the USA. I don't own any of their stuff now, and am not running out to buy any anytime soon either.

[@loftsound]

I had a Peavey Deuce guitar amp. It fell out of my truck on the way to a gig right into the middle of the street. I swore if it worked I’d never sell it. It worked. Lost it in a flood many years later but my SP4s were some of the loudest PA speakers I ever heard and i still have my M4000 power amp. Can’t kill it. Most reliable gear I have ever owned. Never cared for the guitars but its been a very long time since I tried one…. Thanks for being such a staple in my history of making music. Whenever I saw the logo, I knew it worked.

[@michaelcrenshaw4387]

Good luck to Peavey. I once used Peavey PA equipment and mixing boards. It was great stuff.

[@doctersound9630]

Manufactured, designed, and built in the U.S.A. Point to point hand wired. No more Chinese junk. Use better speakers. (Eminence, Celestion, Jenson, Fane etc… not Sheffield or “Scorpion” drivers)

[@christopherlewis1847]

What is peavey gonna do to rebuild their reputation and trust after what they did to their employees at the US factory? Those folks worked hard for Hartley, and he stabbed them in the back. They deserve some respect.

[@scottc4471]

Love Peavey… still have my TNT 130 bass amp from the mid 80’s along with my 1979 T40 and 1989 Dyna-Bass. All US all awesome! I proudly wear my Peavey T regularly to support the brand. Here’s to future success and growth!

[@vasotoe]

Great interview, appreciate his honesty as well!

[@soapboxearth2]

After undercover boss, I would never support this company. Period. Ever again in my life. The owner is a total POS. You'd really.have to have zero principles to buy anything peavey after seeing that episode..

[@jacobpittman1996]

Fred, thank you for sharing openly. RESPECT. My first amp was the silver stripe Peavey Studio Pro 112. I loved it. I played through peavey solid state PA boxes. The TNT was the bassiest bass amp which I had ever bassed. They were all rock solid. I quietly moved on from peavey products. I have looked at some of their offerings for both bass and electric amps, but just never connected with the max or newer valve amps. I still have a sweet spot in my heart for Peavey, but my wallet hasn’t gone back there. I love some of the concepts they have developed, but haven’t pulled the trigger. I will look to see what’s coming. I still love Peavey - MPGA!

[@dhays423]

Fun interview! First amp was a Backstage 30 (solid state). Then I bought a Classic VTX 212 (tube preamp/ss power amp). Final Peavey amp was a Studio Pro 112 Trans Tube. After that I wanted to go all tube and the Classic 30/50’s weren’t out yet so I bought a Fender Hot Rod Deville 212. Still have it today. I honestly loved Peavey and hope they make a comeback. Good luck Frank!

[@oggorat]

Stoked to see that Cirrus headstock in the background, my first bass was an import Cirrus 4 string, and for an affordable instrument, the electronics and build quality were fantastic.

[@pbass2go]

I started playing bass in 84... My first amp was a Peavey Combo bass amp.. 300 watts into a single 15" combo amp. I loved that amp. Will always have a spot in my heart for Peavey. Hoping for the best for the company

[@4low395]

still got it and Is still top of the game, nothing compares to it on stage

[@jagpanzer16]

I miss Peavey from the early 80's, I owned a Mark IV bass head and a Combo 300, AWESOME STUFF!!!!

[@neocollective]

We also appreciate the honesty, so refreshing from a company exec that at heart, is still one of us, failed rockstars ! LOL. He and his team found a mission and purpose in supporting other musicians with their gear. I hope they can carve a place in the hearts of the younger generations as they did with those that rocked the 80's

[@patrickshannon4516]

Was very surprised by the Peavey vyper amp bought one out of curiosity and it was so amazing

[@chiba131]

My first amp at age 16 (in 1985!) was a secondhand Bandit 1X12. Used it for years until getting into tubes. Later got a Classic 50 2x12, modded it with a Peavey kit to add an effects loop. Traded it for a guitar, but missed it so much I got a C50 head, which I toured with and still have & use to this day. It has never let me down and sounds great for everything I need it for from surf to metal. Thanks Peavey for your Classic series of amps!

[@natashanyxx9486]

Excellent video!

[@ThatCaymanGuy]

I bought a 6505+ a few years ago, what a fantastic amp. i passed it down to my nephew who is in a band and he loves that amp too.

[@ckaras100]

My first tube amp was a peavey Windsor studio, I loved that amp and still have it.

[@JoseCruz-ft2qb]

I’ve been playing Peavey amps and cabs for nearly 30 years. From the amazing Bandit for home (loud) practice, to the unique 5150II and Triple XXX for rehearsal/live situations. Nothing else I’ve heard or tried can match any of them. Thank you Peavey and keep going! 🤘

[@yancyhebert9937]

I own a " transtube series" studio pro 112 60 watts and I love it for 20 years and counting. Thanks for sharing

[@TheHitmann069]

The only time I've played a Peavey product was back in the early 90's when a band mate had a Bandit Red Stripe. In combination with his metallic pink tele (maple neck and rosewood f/board) it always sounded great. He lent me it for a couple of weeks while he went abroad for a break but I could never dial in the sounds I wanted from it or that he dug out of it, and it didn't seem to take my pedal board well. So I never tried anything from Peavey after that. Nice to see a brief Mr Vandenburg cameo.. Thanks for sharing. 🎸

[@johnkosh6495]

My first Great experience was with a Pevey Renown 2x12 and I connected a Pevey 2x15 bass cab with it, Oh boy when I pulled the “Thick” knob on the amp it literally blew me and those around me away. Oh My I’ll never forget that day.

[@ns2joel]

My first amp was a Peavey Rage 108. This guy was really transparent, thats pretty cool to see.

[@deeberdave8190]

I still have a guitar rack I put together in the 90s with a Peavey Rock Master tube preamp, and a Peavey Classic 50/50 stereo power amp ( love the EL84s), still sounds great today! With the new found love of 80s rack gear the stuff is worth more today than what I paid for it then! Thanks Andy, Peavey needs more recognition for their contributions , Rock On!

[@zeusapollo8688]

Have a 50/50 rack as well as profex 2

[@stephenthomasma7524]

I had a Peavey Dyna-Bass and it was an awesome instrument. It sounded great and it felt good. I loved it.

[@danielleissner9430]

Peavey was my first amp! I'm 67 now, and I still use a peavey, a classic 20 mini with a vintage 30 speaker in a 1×12 black walnut cabinet that I made. Had a delta blues w/15 speaker, that I traded in for the classic 20. Hope yall had a good time at namm!

[@markpiano4676]

It's great stuff at a good price. Best recipe for continuing success. Still playing my (prs copy) Peavey and loving it.

[@lrowlands53]

I had a CS800 bass amp and it was a beast; more power than was reasonable and a great sound. It was well thought out and bomb proof, was absolute pro gear and I was never more satisfied with a gear purchase. Thanks Peavey. Utter respect.

[@TheShayneMay]

My first amp was a Delta Blues 210. I loved that amp!

[@lancefisher573]

Love the classic 50 - and love the peavey logo

[@samadams1076]

We used Peavey PA and those iconic White mics. Loved them! Peavy stood behind their equipment. Can’t say enough.

[@angusorvid8840]

I love Peavey. Great company, and great gear at a great price that can hold its own against much more expensive gear. My first amp was a Peavey and I'm about to get another. This is a brand that deserves to make a comeback.

[@mariovillalobos276]

I used to have a Peavey Bandit Transtube 112, and I absolutely loved it! I miss that amp. I am thinking of buying another one

[@bmckee5430]

I love the clean tones on a Classic 30 and Delta Blues. Never loved how they break up though - if you're looking for improvement ideas, adjust the gain breakup so instead of fizzy it gets a warmer growl. Thanks for the great interview!

[@ronmercer7766]

Still playing a Bandit 65 . Works great with fuzz pedals, works great in general. Where I live, on the far east coast of Canada, in the 80s/90s Peavey was everywhere. Since the early 2000s, disappeared. I truly did not know it was still a functioning entity. The Bandit, Special 1x12 and 2x12 and the Classic Chorus 2x12 are products that paid mortgages and put kids through college in my circle of musician friends. The bass amps and the Classic 30 , Classic 50 410 and 212, unbelievable gear when these products came to market. The Tracer, Falcon and Vandenberg models were classics along with the original Dyna Bass series. I do hope you folks can turn your get the business model back to where I could purchase quality Peavey gear again at my local shop. Good luck to you.

[@glennmichaelthompson4112]

Loved the first Peavey Classic amp I played back in the late 1970's. Every TransTube amp I've come across sounded great.... and solid state tend to be reliable. Their guitars & basses have been amazing quality for working musicians too. Looking forward to what's ahead for the company.

[@jasonericksen4545]

Great to see Peavey is still in the game. Love seeing the Vandy back in production. I loved the auto tune guitars. I think a lot of it not catching on, was in the instore marketing. The few times I saw them, they were either set-up in high traffic areas were you could see it as you pass by, or tucked in a corner. In store sales people were pretty clueless, when asked questions.

[@TexAgsArmyVet]

I owned the Triple Ultra and the JSX. Both were awesome. Definitely will try to get another.

[@peterelford2695]

I just bought an old bandit 112 trans tube and love it peavey is an awesome brand

[@clintlagerberg]

I used a Peavey power amp and two 4x12 Peavey cabs in the early 90s with my ART SGX 2000 and ADA MP1. Today Peavey is about nostalgia for me... Peavey was a warm, happy part of my childhood and for that alone I want them to live forever. I'd love to see some spec for spec re-issues of some Peavey classics from the 70s and 80s. I gotta take a trip from Nashville to their headquarters soon... I'd love to go through and try out everything!

[@hellhorse01]

One of my favorite amps ever is a Mississippi made Peavey Delta Blues. What a great amp. A lot of gear has passed in and out of my hands over the years(Old failed rockstar here too, lol), but I still have that Delta Blues....and smile every time I play through it.

[@brucelittle3958]

My first keyboard amp was a Peavey Bass Combo Amp in the 70's and it was a great keyboard amp when they really didn't make keyboard amps! toured the Peavey factory in the 80's and was amazed at the quality and people there! Just bought a Peavey Studio Pro 112 Red Line amp used and very amazed at the sound and quality as well as how loud it gets! Peavey basses were always great and not as expensive as Fender. They make some great stuff, but I like Line 6, Gretsch and Fender, too!

[@HeadhuntersUnion]

Played a Peavey Renown with 2x12 extension cab and a Peavey 65 watt Bandit from the 80's I believe. Loved them both when I was young. I can't say I have been back to play a Peavey since 1998 with a Triple X and JSX head, which I also loved dearly. It would be awesome to have a Peavey in the studio again. Keep improving the brand guys! I would love to see the "JSX" or whatever it became in a 25watt studio friendly head someday!

[@Zomby_Woof79]

Good luck Peavey! My first amp was a Classic Chorus 212

[@clayroundtree]

Mine too! Great amp

[@gregmiller7123]

I had one as well! Great sounding but heavy as a boat anchor!

[@jmegown52302]

Thanks Fred! I started playing bass in 1979. I bought a TKO, then added a TNT, then added a Mark IV Bass head with 2x15 enclosure and a T40 bass. I played for local dance/jazz bands around Cedar Rapids, Iowa area in the early 80's, then got away from playing. In the last year I'm getting back into playing (bass, guitar (electric and acoustic), banjo, fiddle). I just got a good deal on eBay for a 1991 Rage 108 and am awaiting delivery. I do plan on buying a new Peavey bass amp. I really want Peavey to stick around and succeed. 👍👍👍

[@nicknixdorf]

Bought a bandit 65 a year ago. Love it. My other amp is a fender 50 xl. Love it too. Both are simple and sound good. What else could a person want

[@JackSpencer-hb2gj]

I'm a bass player, been playing for 53 years. I've played Peavey most of my time playing, and have never been disappointed! Still use a Peavey MiniMax bass amp, and it works awesome! Back in 1982, a guitarist buddy of mine and I actually went to "Hartley's Melody Music" in Meridian, Mississippi and bought a huge Project One PA!

[@frogfriends1886]

I bought a Peavey Classic 50 212 combo as my first proper amplifier back in 1994 after I started playing a few months earlier. I’ve bought several more guitars since then, but it’s still my one and only ever amp. I’ve never felt the need for any other. It sounds incredible, is versatile enough to do everything I want, and in 30 years has never let me down.

[@patrickpaolicelli8808]

My first guitar amp was a Peavey. It was a solid state with a pull knob boost that was massive. So massive I don’t remember even having to use it. Our band later purchased the 150 TNT bass amp and keyboard amp with the tweeter and horn speaker configuration. We were a top 40 cover 0:06 band in the 80’s.. We enjoyed your product then and wish the best going forward.

[@I-Libertine]

Yup! Peavey Century Bass amp with black widows. (Always blowing them because they sound so good loud!!) Love em.

[@JohnHorneGuitar]

I have never owned a Peavey amplifier, but learning to play in the 80s, they were everywhere and I often played them at friends houses or for high school jazz band. They were rock solid for sure.

[@jasonleblanc6276]

I love Peavey. I had a Peavey G90, was customized and was sanded down to the natural wood and a Bandit 65. I love the Vandenberg's and the Tracers. I would love to have one of those guitars now😊

[@Bulletisred]

The Bandit with Sheffield on clean with some classic distortion pedal and some reverb. Sublime

[@patrickdoherty1966]

I had a Peavey Bandit 112 amp in the the late 80's . Fantastic little amp & very popular in my local area

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

I bought a ‘91 Peavey Classic-50 4x10 & it’s a great amp. I’ve had to change-out the tubes a few-times, but it’s never given me any problems & it sounds great with my pedals. Great clean-channel. I may “upgrade” someday, but I’m in no hurry.

[@tactime28]

I have a Composite Acoustic “Cargo”. For 7 years I worked on Cruise Ships and kept it in the bar/lounge. Hundreds of people have played it and most loved it. It is still in terrific condition. Best travel guitar ever!

[@truce11]

That was refreshingly honest. I'm intrigued

[@scoutrifle6827]

That interview actually made me want to look at Peavey again....