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I want old - big Peavey-what should I get

J

jimfriar

Dec 14, 2001
270
1
Peterborough Ontario
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#1
Lately I have it stuck in my head that I want one of the rigs I couldn't have when I was young - an old - big Peavey rig. You know the one - with the Black Widow equipped 2/15 cabinet - silver stripes down the side and a heavy old head. Does anyone know what series/models those were ? Was that the Mark series - with the different colored knobs ?
 
#4
TinIndian said:
That is exactly the rig I had back in the 80's. 2x15 Widow cab and a Centurion Mark III. Great cab, weak head. Changed later for a short while to the Mark IV, much better.
Click to expand...

I had that Mark IV back in '86, but I paired it with a (new that year) Black Widow loaded Peavey 1516 cabinet which had one 15" and two 8" drivers. I really liked the tone I got from that rig. It had gold lettering and no silver strips on the frontside. A newer look at that time for Peavey. That stuff was built to last!
 
#7
Personally I think the Peavey Mark IV Bass amps were oneof the best bass amps ever produced.
Either get an old 215 cabinet (or two) or find one of the 1820 (2x10 Scorpion + 1x18 Black Widow) cabinets.

The Mark IV with an 1820 was my small club rig for many years.

 
#8
Ahh ! I had old Peavey cabs, too. I had the 215 with BW cab, as well as the tall 118 BW reflex cab with two big ports at the top. I loved both cabs. I used my 118 cab solely with a Trace Elliot AH 150 for about 10 years. It was my rig.

I also used a MK IV, and I found it to sound fantastic, as well. Lots of power and the best on-board chorus ever made.

So, it's a good thing that the Peavey gear has always been affordable and readily available on the used market.

I have wanted to try the new (it's pricey at $1,700) Peavey all tube head. It's an Ampeg killer and weighs ONLY 33 lbs ! I forgot the name of it, though. THAT's the Peavey monster you're looking for !!!!

At the end of the gig, or the end of the day, it's ALWAYS the Peavey gear that's the last man standing.

Mike

 
#9
jimfriar said:
Lately I have it stuck in my head that I want one of the rigs I couldn't have when I was young - an old - big Peavey rig. You know the one - with the Black Widow equipped 2/15 cabinet - silver stripes down the side and a heavy old head. Does anyone know what series/models those were ? Was that the Mark series - with the different colored knobs ?
Click to expand...

I got so caught up in talking about Peavey that I forgot to address the OP. Yes, like the other guys here were saying, the amp you are talking about with different colored knobs is a Peavey Mark 6 (MK VI). It has colored knobs, graphic EQ, and super warm chorus. It's LOUD and about 50 lbs. I had one and they do sound amazing. I think all the old Peavey ss amps sound like tube stuff, too.
The "silver stripe" cabs are amazing, too.
 
#13
I still have the old PV Mk VI from the late 80's and an older late 70's 2x15 (plywood with slot ports) loaded with 2 EV15L (Mesa Black Shadow) speakers, does not get much use but it still rocks hard.
They made those 2x15 cabs with the aluminum rails for a long time with several design changes along the way. The earliest ones were made of a decent grade of plywood and had a tuned slot port with each speaker separate, great definition and punch decent lows. Later models were MDF (imparticular board) with triangular ports that were very woofy. Black Widow speakers had better power handling and had a smoother sound, Scorpions were a bit more raw.
 

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