Mistake made in haste Peavey MAX combo

[LHbassist]

I played a weekend gig, July 3, and 4 on a small casino stage. I brought my MAX 250, which I really like. That stage is quite dark, and behind the amp space was limited. The leader handed me a 1/4" cable to be taken from the line out on my amp. I told him I was pretty sure I needed an XLR cable. As we were about to start, he was a bit ah, insistent. I was standing over the top of the amp- and with the light on my cel phone, and holding said cable, noticed a combination type of plug on the back panel, which I wrongly assumed was a line out. I plugged it in. Immediately, there was a high pitched whistle, that went away as I rotated away dfrom the amp. So, thinking I just hat the treble boosted too much on my Sire bass.. reduced it, and we played the first set. During that set the Peavey cut out once. I turned it off, then on again, and it worked. I checked after that set, and THEN saw the XLR out. I unplugged the cable. The rest of the night was fine, but I noticed that the amp/speaker was a bit distorted/ farting, something I have not heard from this combo before.
Did my neglectful mistake wound my beloved Peavey combo? Any help here would be appreciated, and yes, I have learned my lesson. At 74, I guess I'm still not done learning.

 

[WayneP]

The only combo jack I see on the back is a Speakon, for an external speaker. So yeah – not good!

To prevent future mishaps, get yourself a Nieko LED work light stick and keep it in your gig bag. Every musician who plays in clubs should have one. Amazon has them for under $40. I even keep one stuck to the side of the ’fridge at home – can always find a use for it.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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[ClassicJazz]

Honestly that might not be a bad thing. I had that same amp and it only lasted a few weeks because of how bad it sounded. One of the worst sounding combo amps I ever played through. If it does come to getting a new amp, seriously look at the Fender Rumble combos, The Peavey's cannot come even close to sounding as good as those Rumbles. I used a Rumble 500 for many years then stepped up to a Rumble 800. I played hundreds of shows using them and never had one issue. Very well built and reliable amps. I currently still have a Rumble 100 which again has been fool proof.

 

[newfuture]

Fingers crossed it's OK. When I've had an, uh, boo boo with the speaker out on a class d amp, the magic smoke immediately released and that was that-dead amp.

I see the speaker out jack on the Max combo doesn't mention not grounding the "-" output. You might be fine.

Whatever line input that was downstream of the amp could be another story.

 

[DWA2469]

Fingers crossed it's OK. When I've had an, uh, boo boo with the speaker out on a class d amp, the magic smoke immediately released and that was that-dead amp.

I see the speaker out jack on the Max combo doesn't mention not grounding the "-" output. You might be fine.

Whatever line input that was downstream of the amp could be another story.

That is what I was thinking! The channel strip he plugged him into may be fried!

 

[agedhorse]

Depends on the topology of the power amp and if it’s bridged (many class D amps are internally bridged), exactly how the protection circuitry senses faults.

If the amp works now, you may have gotten lucky. The mixer may also be damaged from this type of mistake, so check that too.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Semi-pro tip: mark you I/O in hard to see locations with little triangles of reflective tape.

If seasoned touring pros do this it’s not going to make you look amateur

 

[Nebadon2000]

Honestly that might not be a bad thing. I had that same amp and it only lasted a few weeks because of how bad it sounded. One of the worst sounding combo amps I ever played through. If it does come to getting a new amp, seriously look at the Fender Rumble combos, The Peavey's cannot come even close to sounding as good as those Rumbles. I used a Rumble 500 for many years then stepped up to a Rumble 800. I played hundreds of shows using them and never had one issue. Very well built and reliable amps. I currently still have a Rumble 100 which again has been fool proof.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/rumble-bass-not-repairable.1689159/

 

[Tim Skaggs]

The Speakon combo jack is going to put out main amp power based on the impedance it sees from the mixer channel into which it was plugged. The impedance of that mixer channel might have changed drastically once it received some amp power.

Worst luck would be you fried the power amp in your combo and the channel on the mixer. Since the amp continued working, maybe it’s OK, but,

considering this ==> During that set the Peavey cut out once,

and this ==> amp/speaker was a bit distorted/ farting,

it doesn’t “sound” like the amp was totally unharmed. You definitely need to get it out and check it for function and clarity before the next gig or risk it failing during that gig.

As for the mixer channel; since you were at a casino, it was likely their stuff? I’d let them know it’s possible your amp affected a channel, but they likely know it by now.

And the leader being “insistent”; seems you have a very good example for why you should be more insistent. Sending a signal from your amp to 99% of PAs you encounter will be from the XLR in your amp to the XLR of the PA channel.

If you ever get in a circumstance where you need to send a preamp level signal to a PA or external amp that has a 1/4” input, you might get by with plugging in to the “send” of your effects loop on your combo amp, but that scenario is very unlikely these days.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Honestly that might not be a bad thing. I had that same amp and it only lasted a few weeks because of how bad it sounded. One of the worst sounding combo amps I ever played through. If it does come to getting a new amp, seriously look at the Fender Rumble combos, The Peavey's cannot come even close to sounding as good as those Rumbles...

OP said they like the sound of their Peavey combo, so you guys probably have different tastes when it comes to tone. Rumbles may not be the amp that the OP is looking for, and he wouldn't be alone in that predicament.

 

[ClassicJazz]

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/rumble-bass-not-repairable.1689159/

As a working musician, obviously I rely on dependable equipment. I have used over the years the Rumble 500, Rumble 800 head, Rumble 800 Combo and Rumble 100. I had hundreds of gigs through them playing 3-4 days a week. Indoor venues, outdoor venues, theaters........ They have been the most reliable amps I have ever used. Not once did they ever let me down which I cannot say about the GK gear I had. Now granted, Peavey is usually known as road worth gear. Don't know about their new stuff though.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

After you address the viability of your amp, your next move should be letting your band leader know that he's responsible for any bad decisions he makes regarding your gear.

 

[NitroBobby]

also, i'd recommend keeping an XLR or two in your bag. just in case.
i've never sent a signal to FOH using a 1/4" cable. not saying you can't but i've always used an XLR for that. so, i keep a couple in my bag.

good luck with your amp. i hope it's not toast.

kgb

 

[Nebadon2000]

As a working musician, obviously I rely on dependable equipment. I have used over the years the Rumble 500, Rumble 800 head, Rumble 800 Combo and Rumble 100. I had hundreds of gigs through them playing 3-4 days a week. Indoor venues, outdoor venues, theaters........ They have been the most reliable amps I have ever used. Not once did they ever let me down which I cannot say about the GK gear I had. Now granted, Peavey is usually known as road worth gear. Don't know about their new stuff though.
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Thread 'NRD: New Rig Day - Combo Comparison - Peavey Max 300 vs. Fender Rumble 200'

Jun 22, 2023

I've been playing through a Fender Rumble 200 for about 8 years. After three years, the power board went out. But the warranty was 5 years when I bought it (now it's only 2 years) so I got a new one for free and the old one become an external cabinet. This has served me well since that time. The cabinets are not that heavy and the sound is great. I'm not a big fan of the overdrive, but I use a pedal for that anyway. I have always thought 15" speakers give the best reproduction for bass and the tweeters handle the top end. But in the last few months, I have had a couple...

• Rod Barchetta

• 

 

[nolenuttt]

I played a weekend gig, July 3, and 4 on a small casino stage. I brought my MAX 250, which I really like. That stage is quite dark, and behind the amp space was limited. The leader handed me a 1/4" cable to be taken from the line out on my amp. I told him I was pretty sure I needed an XLR cable. As we were about to start, he was a bit ah, insistent. I was standing over the top of the amp- and with the light on my cel phone, and holding said cable, noticed a combination type of plug on the back panel, which I wrongly assumed was a line out. I plugged it in. Immediately, there was a high pitched whistle, that went away as I rotated away dfrom the amp. So, thinking I just hat the treble boosted too much on my Sire bass.. reduced it, and we played the first set. During that set the Peavey cut out once. I turned it off, then on again, and it worked. I checked after that set, and THEN saw the XLR out. I unplugged the cable. The rest of the night was fine, but I noticed that the amp/speaker was a bit distorted/ farting, something I have not heard from this combo before.
Did my neglectful mistake wound my beloved Peavey combo? Any help here would be appreciated, and yes, I have learned my lesson. At 74, I guess I'm still not done learning.

 

[nolenuttt]

How about the flashlight feature in your IPhone? Used mine many times….

 

[agedhorse]

also, i'd recommend keeping an XLR or two in your bag. just in case.
i've never sent a signal to FOH using a 1/4" cable. not saying you can't but i've always used an XLR for that. so, i keep a couple in my bag.

good luck with your amp. i hope it's not toast.

I would hope that the other end of the 1/4” cable was attached to a DI box.

 

[NitroBobby]

I would hope that the other end of the 1/4” cable was attached to a DI box.

I would also hope but in this situation there is concern about damage to the amp. So, I have doubts.

 

[LHbassist]

I have an Android phone, and used the flashlight feature. We were under a bit of pressure to start our first set, and I became old guy distracted. Bad excuse, but that's what happened. The stage there in that place, is SO dark, even with the stage lights out front- that I literally put luminous dots over the side dots on one of my basses! So, Mister bonehead, realized, after the first set- that I'd likely made an error, and unplugged that 1/4" t/s cable. All was fine, kinda, after that. I prefer using the gain set low, and the master up about 3 O'Clock on that combo, and in the last set, the speaker was doing a bit of farting out. I really hope my oversight didn't damage anything, like the mixer, and of course, my Peavey. If it did, I'll need to find a tech that can repair it. Finding a qualified amp tech in Reno, is like finding an honest politician.

 

[LHbassist]

Honestly that might not be a bad thing. I had that same amp and it only lasted a few weeks because of how bad it sounded. One of the worst sounding combo amps I ever played through. If it does come to getting a new amp, seriously look at the Fender Rumble combos, The Peavey's cannot come even close to sounding as good as those Rumbles. I used a Rumble 500 for many years then stepped up to a Rumble 800. I played hundreds of shows using them and never had one issue. Very well built and reliable amps. I currently still have a Rumble 100 which again has been fool proof.

I'm 74, and had a long life playing bass. I've owned so many amps, I literally have forgotten some. Ampeg B-15's, BT-15C, SVT, SUNN Coliseum, Marshall Major, Marshall 3540, Seymour Duncan, GK's Traynor, Hartke, SWR, Carvin, Pearce B2P, and a nice Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 that Andy serviced. Oh, yeah, I have that Peavey MAX 250, AND a Fender Rumble 200. I feel the opposite to be true. The Peavey is a better combo. The Peavey has more usable stand-alone watts, the Rumble has about 140 or so by itself. The thing that I do not care for, is the non-defeatable limiter on the Rumble. Although I have utilized it for some 'squeeze' on occasion. Don't get me wrong, I like the Rumble, but as far as it not coming close to the MAX 250, I feel they're both capable amps. The MAX also has an angled baffle, and that really helps. I have played the 200 on gigs where I was told to just bring that, and I'd be "In the house" Yeah, sure. Kick drowned me out in the foldbacks. Amp out of steam. 'Normal' cover band stage volume. Bass kazoo.
I've tried the 500, side by side with the 200. Fart machine. I bought the 200, a better, fuller sound at what I thought would be typical volumes. I also tried a new MAX 250 at Guitar Center at the same time. It was killer sounding. I much preferred it over the Fender and Ampeg combos on the floor. I didn't buy it, because the grille rattled badly. Apparently, Peavey fixed that. I may actually bring the Rumble and the MAX to my next gig there to compare.
I've had mixed feelings about combos over the years. If you are in a loud situation, you might be stuck with that amp, and that speaker- with no options. Usually I carry a good 500 watt or so head, a spare amp head and a good cabinet. I may resume that policy.