Peavey MegaBass Club

[cosmo440]

Welcome to the group and we are glad to see you have stumbled onto Peavey’s secret bass weapon. If you need any help getting it dialed in, give us a shout. Many here run a dedicated preamp into it first, which really opens up its abilities.

We really aren’t doing numbers here as the page is being kept going by a few diehard fans of the megabass. Feel free to post pictures and tell us any stories you have as we keep this alive. I use mine that I bought brand new in 1986 pretty regular these days, after rediscovering again after many years.

While they might not be the latest fashion these days, they will still rock as hard as you can.

Thanks! I've been trying to get my hands on a Sansamp RPM but they always elude me. That may wake things up a bit.

 

[EdBo]

I Love Tech 21. I run The VT Bass Deluxe Programmable Pedal (on the recommendation of dUg Pinnick) and I'm so Happy with my tone's. I run it into the the PWR AMP IN to bypass the preamp section, Driving 2 Cabinets . It brings the Thunder !

 

[Count Bassie]

Although I never owned one? I watched Will Lee use his on Late Night wit David Letterman for years. Always wanted one. I worked at a Peavey dealer when I was a young player, used one a lot in the store. Never bought it. Years went by. And this one showed up at my door, basically. I've gathered some decent gear over the years, but this thing really performs. I play tons, in a wide variety of projects and rooms. And have fer a long time. Tried and owned tons of rigs. But this thing is nuts. I do play Fretless, and the chorus works with it well. I also use two 8 ohm cabs, generally. I had two gigs today, used just one cab because two would've been overkill. So, it's a hundred watt amp. Ha ha ha... This thing is quite loud for that rating. Gain at 4, master at 3, it easily kept up at an outside gig. I've been reading thru the thread, folk talk about the EQ only bein "so so". Well, I tried something I remembered from old, passive graphic eqs I used about the time the Peavey was new. I turned all the sliders down. All the way. I set my gain an volume that way, and as I suspected, the volume loss was minimal. But, now I have basically a boost only eq, and I had no issue getting a lot of great sounds out of it. A hundred watts? No way, ha! I appreciate you checking yours, I've a feeling my issue is just a design thing. But I'm thorough when checking out gear. And I happened to notice it. Thank you, man. Fer all yet help. I'll get a pic posted asap. Just too long a day today. Heh.

You are the gauntlet. This here is testimony...

 

[EdBo]

Yeah, I kinda hoped it was a symptom common with a few, but it figures it'd be mine alone. Ha! I've used it at a gig. It was fine. I have not yet run it with two cabs, as my two are at two different locations, and I haven't had a gig that needed two. This Saturday I do have a gig needing both cabs, I'll put it thru it's paces then. Everything else works great, I'm thinking a bad pot or switch could be leaking a small amount of signal to the other side. We shall see. I thank you for your input. Thanks fer takin time.

If you have any other problems just chime in here. I know of a remedy for a few of their common problems. It seems a bunch of them have a cold solder joint on the EQ board.

 

[The Nameless]

Sorry fer the late update, gents. Heh. I've been battling a flu, and had a monstrous schedule, a little Halloween pun, over the past two weeks. Ain had time t'sit.
After four shows, several rehearsals and running it with two cabs, the Peavey is a beast. I can't say it out performs my reference rig, but it get the job done. Well. It is also a strange rig, in that it takes awhile to master it's functions. Getting "gain" right to make the EQ work it's best is a challenge. It still has the distortion issue, if I have cabs on one side, turning up the other side's master creates a distorted signal thru the speaker(s). But both sides function flawlessly. Pretty hip amp. Very fast response, power ratings are off by a mile, 'twould seem, and the only real issue now is figuring the D.I. I take it the xlr outs do not function with the output control on the front of the amp. Does anyone know if the 1/4" outs are TRS? Or standard two way quarter inch outs?

 

[JGbassman]

Sorry fer the late update, gents. Heh. I've been battling a flu, and had a monstrous schedule, a little Halloween pun, over the past two weeks. Ain had time t'sit.
After four shows, several rehearsals and running it with two cabs, the Peavey is a beast. I can't say it out performs my reference rig, but it get the job done. Well. It is also a strange rig, in that it takes awhile to master it's functions. Getting "gain" right to make the EQ work it's best is a challenge. It still has the distortion issue, if I have cabs on one side, turning up the other side's master creates a distorted signal thru the speaker(s). But both sides function flawlessly. Pretty hip amp. Very fast response, power ratings are off by a mile, 'twould seem, and the only real issue now is figuring the D.I. I take it the xlr outs do not function with the output control on the front of the amp. Does anyone know if the 1/4" outs are TRS? Or standard two way quarter inch outs?

I’ve never used a direct out of the amp, I’ve either put a mic on a cab or ran a dedicated preamp with its own di.

Another thought might be something like a countryman di to get the best of both worlds if you run full range

 

[The Nameless]

I prefer running simply. Part of my process in selecting amplification over the years includes weighing features, such as an integrated D.I. with variable level control. The Peavey has these features, but using em isn't as easy as it first appears. Most of my gigs involve covers, and not a lot of space or time to set up. Just hooking up an amp thru it's D.I. has worked for me to keep one less thing in my bag. But, if I can't use the Peavey's xlr, tho not a deal breaker, just means it may not be my first selection for a lot of my shows. My other three rigs, a Demeter preamp, an SWR Redhead, and an SWR 400s, all have ridiculously accurate D.I. capability. But I like the idea of using the Peavey. If only to, and please forgive my smart alec, if only to amaze a few of the gear snobs who give me heck fer my gear choices, but love my sound. If I can figure a way to use the MegaBass D.I. with decent results, I'd rather. But, if I have to mic it? So be it. The darn thing, with very minor tweaking, sounds as good as my Demeter. Maybe lacks a bit of the top end transients and "air" in the Demeter's tone, but in a live room, at volume, not a lot of folk would hear a difference. I'm very impressed overall with the entire amp. My fretless loves it! So, I'm hoping I can learn to use the D.I. in it. Just to say I'm runnin an old ass Peavey head and sound great. Ha! This amp is fun.

 

[EdBo]

Sorry fer the late update, gents. Heh. I've been battling a flu, and had a monstrous schedule, a little Halloween pun, over the past two weeks. Ain had time t'sit.
After four shows, several rehearsals and running it with two cabs, the Peavey is a beast. I can't say it out performs my reference rig, but it get the job done. Well. It is also a strange rig, in that it takes awhile to master it's functions. Getting "gain" right to make the EQ work it's best is a challenge. It still has the distortion issue, if I have cabs on one side, turning up the other side's master creates a distorted signal thru the speaker(s). But both sides function flawlessly. Pretty hip amp. Very fast response, power ratings are off by a mile, 'twould seem, and the only real issue now is figuring the D.I. I take it the xlr outs do not function with the output control on the front of the amp. Does anyone know if the 1/4" outs are TRS? Or standard two way quarter inch outs?

The block diagram in the manual is so very helpful to help understand everything.

 

[JGbassman]

I prefer running simply. Part of my process in selecting amplification over the years includes weighing features, such as an integrated D.I. with variable level control. The Peavey has these features, but using em isn't as easy as it first appears. Most of my gigs involve covers, and not a lot of space or time to set up. Just hooking up an amp thru it's D.I. has worked for me to keep one less thing in my bag. But, if I can't use the Peavey's xlr, tho not a deal breaker, just means it may not be my first selection for a lot of my shows. My other three rigs, a Demeter preamp, an SWR Redhead, and an SWR 400s, all have ridiculously accurate D.I. capability. But I like the idea of using the Peavey. If only to, and please forgive my smart alec, if only to amaze a few of the gear snobs who give me heck fer my gear choices, but love my sound. If I can figure a way to use the MegaBass D.I. with decent results, I'd rather. But, if I have to mic it? So be it. The darn thing, with very minor tweaking, sounds as good as my Demeter. Maybe lacks a bit of the top end transients and "air" in the Demeter's tone, but in a live room, at volume, not a lot of folk would hear a difference. I'm very impressed overall with the entire amp. My fretless loves it! So, I'm hoping I can learn to use the D.I. in it. Just to say I'm runnin an old ass Peavey head and sound great. Ha! This amp is fun.

Im sure if you mess around with it enough, you will find a way to get a di out of it. I've never used it, but now you have me interested in finding out...

And yea, I too get a kick out of using a lowly peavey to crank out a great sound

 

[JGbassman]

Ok, I looked at the megabass manual, and if you plug into to "low range" balanced (mic) output on the rear, in full range, that is where the di out is.

If you run biamped, it's looking like you are forced to run the two outs, at least I couldn't find anything that noted anything different. I suppose you might be able to go out of the preamp out on the back and into a direct box, I've not tried it but in theory it should work

 

[EdBo]

I prefer running simply. Part of my process in selecting amplification over the years includes weighing features, such as an integrated D.I. with variable level control. The Peavey has these features, but using em isn't as easy as it first appears. Most of my gigs involve covers, and not a lot of space or time to set up. Just hooking up an amp thru it's D.I. has worked for me to keep one less thing in my bag. But, if I can't use the Peavey's xlr, tho not a deal breaker, just means it may not be my first selection for a lot of my shows. My other three rigs, a Demeter preamp, an SWR Redhead, and an SWR 400s, all have ridiculously accurate D.I. capability. But I like the idea of using the Peavey. If only to, and please forgive my smart alec, if only to amaze a few of the gear snobs who give me heck fer my gear choices, but love my sound. If I can figure a way to use the MegaBass D.I. with decent results, I'd rather. But, if I have to mic it? So be it. The darn thing, with very minor tweaking, sounds as good as my Demeter. Maybe lacks a bit of the top end transients and "air" in the Demeter's tone, but in a live room, at volume, not a lot of folk would hear a difference. I'm very impressed overall with the entire amp. My fretless loves it! So, I'm hoping I can learn to use the D.I. in it. Just to say I'm runnin an old ass Peavey head and sound great. Ha! This amp is fun.

The Full range Pwr Amp Out is Mono Hi Z Post EQ, Pre Chorus and the Level is controlled by the front panel knob labeled Full Range Pwr Amp Out. The High and Low Range Low Z XLR PreAmp Outputs will both be Full Range in Full Range Mode but, the High Out only can/will have the Chorus Effect if selected.

I Love this Amp(both of mine) and I'm also very fond of my Peavey T-MAX Amp(I like the x-over better than the MegaBass's).

Peace
Eddie

 

[The Nameless]

Well? I'm a guy that truly likes to understand the gear I use. So, I try to learn how to use each piece independently. Hey, if I gotta run a nice mic or D.I.? Cool. But I like the idea of stereo xlr outs for the PA support. If I can learn a technique to use em, or make cables that help? I'll try it. By the way, finally got a chance to open the amp up. My gosh, it is crowded in there. Heh. And, must have never been opened before. There is about three pounds of dust inside. Could be some of my channels' slight crosstalk issues could be centered around it bein so filthy. I'll clean her out, and find out.

 

[The Nameless]

And, not to be terribly wordy, heh, but I'd love to have the xlr outs controlled by the front, full range output level. After reading the manual, I don't think they operate that way. The signal out of them when I tried using em was SO hot, I couldn't get them into a channel. The other gigs I used it on didn't require FOH support. After using it a few times, I think I realized the key. My old SWR amps need their gain set quite high to get full power out of them. So, I made a mistake in running my gain on the Mega too high. Having it at home with my other rigs, doing comparisons, I can get plenty o'loud out of her at minimal gain settings. So, it's possible, if the XLRs are not independent of the gain control, that I just had my gain too friggin hot. Peavey calls their gain "Pre", but I believe the function is the same. I'm gonna do some experimenting with it this week. Again, I couldn't be more impressed with it's performance. Now to give her some tlc, get her clean. And play the heck out of her. After I read the manual a few times. Thanks guys. All of ya. I appreciate greatly all yer help.

 

[EdBo]

And, not to be terribly wordy, heh, but I'd love to have the xlr outs controlled by the front, full range output level. After reading the manual, I don't think they operate that way. The signal out of them when I tried using em was SO hot, I couldn't get them into a channel. The other gigs I used it on didn't require FOH support. After using it a few times, I think I realized the key. My old SWR amps need their gain set quite high to get full power out of them. So, I made a mistake in running my gain on the Mega too high. Having it at home with my other rigs, doing comparisons, I can get plenty o'loud out of her at minimal gain settings. So, it's possible, if the XLRs are not independent of the gain control, that I just had my gain too friggin hot. Peavey calls their gain "Pre", but I believe the function is the same. I'm gonna do some experimenting with it this week. Again, I couldn't be more impressed with it's performance. Now to give her some tlc, get her clean. And play the heck out of her. After I read the manual a few times. Thanks guys. All of ya. I appreciate greatly all yer help.

Did you try to switch the Pad/attenuation on the channel you was trying to go into ? Most boards have that option for Hot Imputs.
Eddie

 

[The Nameless]

Man? The head, not a board but a PA head, I was running into that night was pretty typical. A P.O.S. Heh. I'd love to be all the guys I read about here. Doin all my gigs thru the best of everything for gobs of moolah. Ha! But I'm the guy that does ALL the other gigs. Heh. The ones in the dirt, the gutter, in a van down by the river. I play in some incredibly low dives. Yet, I don't let that hold me back in my quest fer my tone. Learning how to put A line bass gear in D line house P.A. systems has taught me a ton. Possibly more than having A line PA support would have. That PA head, and many I use, just don't have the same options newer, more advanced, professional gear have. That's why I try to maximize the options I have in the gear I carry. And, maximize my understanding of the gear on hand. Some nights, I gotta use a CRAZY selection of gear, an try to get a tone I am happy with. I'm a bit of a tone Nazi when it come to my own sound. But I've had to learn compromise. I won't lie. Sounding good, to me, is far more important than LOOKING good. Names just don't matter. Thus my handle. Some nights I have excellent back line and house PA. Some nights I have none. Just like most of us. So, knowing I may take this head into the worst of conditions, I wanna preemptive troubleshoot. You are correct. Using the MegaBass input pad, or, a decent board's input pad or low cut, I prolly coulda defeated in one way or the other the signals strength. And it is something I will try the next chance I get. But I hadn't had the head long enuff to figure it out. So I came here to learn. And share. This friggin head is brutal. Ha! I wanna use it all the time. As simply as I can. A good D.I. is probably the best solution. But if I can learn to use the MegaBass alone? Just makes my nights that much easier.

 

[Count Bassie]

Man? The head, not a board but a PA head, I was running into that night was pretty typical. A P.O.S. Heh. I'd love to be all the guys I read about here. Doin all my gigs thru the best of everything for gobs of moolah. Ha! But I'm the guy that does ALL the other gigs. Heh. The ones in the dirt, the gutter, in a van down by the river. I play in some incredibly low dives. Yet, I don't let that hold me back in my quest fer my tone. Learning how to put A line bass gear in D line house P.A. systems has taught me a ton. Possibly more than having A line PA support would have. That PA head, and many I use, just don't have the same options newer, more advanced, professional gear have. That's why I try to maximize the options I have in the gear I carry. And, maximize my understanding of the gear on hand. Some nights, I gotta use a CRAZY selection of gear, an try to get a tone I am happy with. I'm a bit of a tone Nazi when it come to my own sound. But I've had to learn compromise. I won't lie. Sounding good, to me, is far more important than LOOKING good. Names just don't matter. Thus my handle. Some nights I have excellent back line and house PA. Some nights I have none. Just like most of us. So, knowing I may take this head into the worst of conditions, I wanna preemptive troubleshoot. You are correct. Using the MegaBass input pad, or, a decent board's input pad or low cut, I prolly coulda defeated in one way or the other the signals strength. And it is something I will try the next chance I get. But I hadn't had the head long enuff to figure it out. So I came here to learn. And share. This friggin head is brutal. Ha! I wanna use it all the time. As simply as I can. A good D.I. is probably the best solution. But if I can learn to use the MegaBass alone? Just makes my nights that much easier.

All things are not being equal, but less is more when yo can make it work! I'm another grub-gig-doer, I hear your epic. But you know that...

 

[JGbassman]

Ok this might help, you might already have this figured out. This was taken from the manual.

M will control the level of the preamp (DI) out, and Y or Z on the back is where you can plug into for a di output, in full range mode.

If your amp isn't workingright, or you can't find a way to get the di to work, a countryman 85 inserted in the speaker path will catch the flavor of the amp as well. (I'm sure you are famaliar with them already)

Hope this helps, if not, then I hope someone else learns from this. If you haven't already, I'd suggest downloading the manual.


Edit to say I just read your post saying you did read the manual, and might have it figured out. Looks like I'm a day late and a dollar short lol.

 

[EdBo]

Man? The head, not a board but a PA head, I was running into that night was pretty typical. A P.O.S. Heh. I'd love to be all the guys I read about here. Doin all my gigs thru the best of everything for gobs of moolah. Ha! But I'm the guy that does ALL the other gigs. Heh. The ones in the dirt, the gutter, in a van down by the river. I play in some incredibly low dives. Yet, I don't let that hold me back in my quest fer my tone. Learning how to put A line bass gear in D line house P.A. systems has taught me a ton. Possibly more than having A line PA support would have. That PA head, and many I use, just don't have the same options newer, more advanced, professional gear have. That's why I try to maximize the options I have in the gear I carry. And, maximize my understanding of the gear on hand. Some nights, I gotta use a CRAZY selection of gear, an try to get a tone I am happy with. I'm a bit of a tone Nazi when it come to my own sound. But I've had to learn compromise. I won't lie. Sounding good, to me, is far more important than LOOKING good. Names just don't matter. Thus my handle. Some nights I have excellent back line and house PA. Some nights I have none. Just like most of us. So, knowing I may take this head into the worst of conditions, I wanna preemptive troubleshoot. You are correct. Using the MegaBass input pad, or, a decent board's input pad or low cut, I prolly coulda defeated in one way or the other the signals strength. And it is something I will try the next chance I get. But I hadn't had the head long enuff to figure it out. So I came here to learn. And share. This friggin head is brutal. Ha! I wanna use it all the time. As simply as I can. A good D.I. is probably the best solution. But if I can learn to use the MegaBass alone? Just makes my nights that much easier.

I love and understand your attitude, been there done that "going to get the best sound possible no matter what it takes ! I've had to give up my MEGABASS Head to use on vocals just so the show could go on. Yep, I've ran mains and monitors with my older MegaBass head, years back. I live for that un-explainable feeling that comes when everybody is playing tight and sounding good.
**Peace**
Eddie

 

[The Nameless]

Oh, yes! Exactly, gentlemen. And good info is never late. I so appreciate you guys helping, and pointing me in directions I hadn't thot of. I am being funny about my travails. I have so much fun with my gear. I love using as little as possible to conquer rooms. And relating tales. Mr Bassie? You an I go WAY back! Bartolini pickups in a Smith, I believe. Ha! You know? My friends still talk about the bass I pulled those pickups out of, and it's tone. Those Barts were crazy good. I see you have a Trace BLX combo. Another piece from the MegaBass era that I loved, but never owned. Like the Peavey, I passed on rigs like that cuz I was caught up in big, loud, etc. I'm realizing with this MegaBass how little I knew back when. But I sure am having fun re acquainting myself with things I couldn't hear before. And another small nugget of fun. The grime inside this head is ridiculous. Never in my life would I have left this unattended this long. But the fact that the head works flawlessly, the fan is quiet, the overall noise floor is WAY low, and all it's functions remain intact is a testament to the durability of Peavey manufacturing. The fact it sounds as good as anything made today is just icing. Ha!

 

[Count Bassie]

Oh, yes! Exactly, gentlemen. And good info is never late. I so appreciate you guys helping, and pointing me in directions I hadn't thot of. I am being funny about my travails. I have so much fun with my gear. I love using as little as possible to conquer rooms. And relating tales. Mr Bassie? You an I go WAY back! Bartolini pickups in a Smith, I believe. Ha! You know? My friends still talk about the bass I pulled those pickups out of, and it's tone. Those Barts were crazy good. I see you have a Trace BLX combo. Another piece from the MegaBass era that I loved, but never owned. Like the Peavey, I passed on rigs like that cuz I was caught up in big, loud, etc. I'm realizing with this MegaBass how little I knew back when. But I sure am having fun re acquainting myself with things I couldn't hear before. And another small nugget of fun. The grime inside this head is ridiculous. Never in my life would I have left this unattended this long. But the fact that the head works flawlessly, the fan is quiet, the overall noise floor is WAY low, and all it's functions remain intact is a testament to the durability of Peavey manufacturing. The fact it sounds as good as anything made today is just icing. Ha!

Yeah we had some good chats a ways back, and the struggle goes on... and is real! Lol!
I've been getting it moved along with a Crate BT-350, discovering what a more than adequate amp that venerable old (i.e., "Underrated") beast is. So I hear you. Had a Megabass, sold it, oops.
That Trace BLX is for sale, though the head is perfect for running my two SWR 15s (Basic Black combo, modded to by-pass its internal amp- can use as speaker-only), and a Basic 2-Way cab. Nice little low-power stack that delivers like you read about. The BLX' GP7 head is perfect for it, so I'm considering cannibalizing the BLX for it. Haven't tried linking the BLX up with another cab... yet.
Carry on man, good to see you making the rounds, making the music!