Peavey MAX 115 300 Watt 1x15" Bass Combo Amp

lowendblues · #1 02-09-2013, 09:01 PM

Looking for a good sounding, punchy, non "farting" combo amp for medium club gigs. I generally use a pick, but can hold my own with aggressive finger style as well.

Any good feedback for the new 300 watt Peavey Max 115? Looks to be a decent amp for the price point. Any idea what speaker might come stock?

I'll be using a Tech 21 VT for tone shaping.

lowendblues · #2 02-10-2013, 06:21 AM

Anyone?

Ibanez Bassist · #3 02-10-2013, 06:34 AM

I haven't played the Max 115 but I do have the Tour TKO by Peavey and its pretty incredible, very loud and strong little combo amp.. and some nice features..

Matt Novosedlik · #4 02-10-2013, 06:36 AM

I know I had the 50 watt max 115, the amp was really punchy and clean but again that was a 50 watt version, I use to crank it up and it was very ample with a a guitarist and still didnt distort, I have only ever used 15" speakers on my performance amps cause I have always been on a budget lol! I /had great experience with my max 115 50 watt for sound quality and over all quality and I like Peavey amps altogether! The 115 had what they called a heavy duty woofer, and thats what there saying for the new 300 watt version, you just need to play it and see if its for you I loved mine and never would have sold it if it were 2 or 300 watts!

lowendblues · #5 02-10-2013, 06:40 AM

Yeah, I've had alot of old school peavey stuff, they used to really deliver for the working musician on a budget.

Its hard to find info on the new stuff though. I really like the look of this combo, they say the cab is tuned and ported, but I cant see any visable ports. I dont really want a sealed cab.

Matt Novosedlik · #6 02-10-2013, 08:54 AM

I actually dont see any ports either I know that my 50-60 watt (what ever) original max had the hypervent ports it was great I do prefer them, I know a gigs music near by has the new max model ill stop by after work this week and check out the cab for ports!

Matt Novosedlik · #7 02-16-2013, 07:44 PM

Just so you know I did stop by the music shop that is carrying the new max 115 and we combed it for ports and nothing but still bang for your buck $300 for 300 watts theres also the tnt 400 watt bass amp for $450 CND as well just food for thought!

bryan gibson · #8 02-21-2013, 04:01 PM

Played one yesterday for half an hour or so at GC. I really wanted to like it, but couldn't bond with it. It looks good, has good specs, good price point.....and I couldn't get a tone I liked out of it at a usable volume. Maybe it was just a bad one, I dunno, but it rattled and buzzed pretty badly whenever it got to a usable volume level. I tried every conceivable EQ/pushbutton variation, 4 and 5 string basses, etc, and it still couldn't keep up with a cheapo Crate 112 50w practice rig. The one I played (with EQ set "flat") was very heavy in the upper mids and any attempts to boost the lows/low mids resulted in heavy farting and mud. The Hartke 100w 115 absolutely killed it, but then again it runs $399. The newer GK MB 115 is really the Cat's a$$ but runs $449. My suggestion? Watch MF online for a used/return/scratch 'n dent GK or Hartke, or pick up an older TNT/TKO/Tour 300 and run a nice preamp to warm it up. As usual, YMMV, IMHO, FWIW, blahblahblah....

Phlipper · #9 02-21-2013, 05:16 PM

I really like it. Got to play the 115 version. I thought it had pretty decent low end at gig volume for such a small footprint. Nice punchy tone, too. I decided to build a big rig first, though (PV Max 700 and two Avatar B212s), but will look at the Max IIs again if I need something smaller and more portable. Unless you were playing in a metal band, the 115 seemed loud enough to gig small rooms unmic'd. Never heard it farting out when I played it cranked with an active SR370M, nor with a passive US Jazz bass, and an older Yamaha RB.

BbbyBld · #10 02-21-2013, 10:45 PM

The Max's have shelf ports. The chassis and speaker baffle form the mouth of the port at the top of the amp. It fires down in front of the speaker.

bryan gibson · #11 02-22-2013, 07:07 AM

The one I played was a floor model at GC, so it's entirely possible that some idiot jacked up the speaker while wanking away. I'll try another one at a different shop and see if it does better. Can't beat the price/power/footprint/weight combination if the rattle is gone. I'd definitely like to have something similiar-midway between my big stack and my little practice room combo.

bryan gibson · #12 02-26-2013, 05:13 PM

Just so's you don't think I'm intentionally bashing Peavey just for giggles....
I hit another shop today and got to spend some quality time with new TNT. Wow, just wow

No comparison whatsoever to the Max 115 or the old TNT I had as "supplied backline" last weekend. This thing sounds just like it looks-thick, fat, deep, and heavy, and I mean that in a good way. I'm not sure about the logistics of the kickback cutaway part, but otherwise this rates a 9.5 out of 10- especially for under five Benjamins. Methinks I'll try to grab one as soon as I get thru tax season and all that mess.