Peavey MegaBass Club

[lossfizzle]

OK, the plot re-thickens. The main fuse was the problem after all (the fuseholder itself was coming loose and that threw me for dumb reasons)... but of course it's never good when something blows a 5A fuse basically "in its sleep."

On cracking it open, it's obvious someone has been into this thing before and didn't take a lot of care putting it back - to wit, there are two whole PC boards toward the front of the chassis that were not screwed back down AT ALL. Standoffs underneath are still visible (thankfully). The boards are not moving or sliding around readily, somehow... but yeah, I'm guessing this MAY have something to do with why the amp blew a fuse.

There are other screws missing too, and on the bottom of the unit there are these two holes under the output transistors / big internal heatsink that LOOK like they were made to house bolts but I can't be sure. Can anyone with a non-racked MegaBass tell me if the red circled areas on this pic of the bottom are supposed to have any kind of hardware in them, or if your amp also has empty space here? I'd be much obliged.

Also, I don't have a clue why but the amp is a lot louder now, much closer to what I would expect from all the descriptions here (haven't gone beyond pre 2 / post 3, it was plenty loud at that level). I did sort of idly tap around on all the socketed ICs while I had it open, who knows.


The Databass looks almost identical to my friend's old TKO 115, and yeah, that thing weighs nine tons... just like my semi-recent 1x15 Peavey cab, and just like a single-15 Peavey steel guitar amp I just traded off, barely getting it out of my space sans back injury with the help of a dolly. I always wondered if Peavey was using plywood infused with concrete.

 

[BbbyBld]

These amps were so loud & punchy - I've always wondered why Peavey never continued / improved on these design concepts?

The power sections in the Mega and Data were based on the DECA class D power amps. That basic design was updated and improved here and there and found it's way into a few other products, some were bass amps released within the last 5 years. This power section always worked well with bass guitar. We don't use it anymore on new products because class D technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. Peavey reached a point where we put out too many bleeding edge bass products that didn't sell. They always catch on 10 years later, and we get asked, "why in the world did you discontinue or never update blank?" a lot. I have been pushing that we go back and revisit some of these concepts, and I'm happy to say that we have some products in the pipeline in the Mega/Data vein that should put us back on top as far as technology goes. The question remains, will they sell, or will they be another forum topic in 10 years?

 

[Count Bassie]

OK, the plot re-thickens. The main fuse was the problem after all (the fuseholder itself was coming loose and that threw me for dumb reasons)... but of course it's never good when something blows a 5A fuse basically "in its sleep."

On cracking it open, it's obvious someone has been into this thing before and didn't take a lot of care putting it back - to wit, there are two whole PC boards toward the front of the chassis that were not screwed back down AT ALL. Standoffs underneath are still visible (thankfully). The boards are not moving or sliding around readily, somehow... but yeah, I'm guessing this MAY have something to do with why the amp blew a fuse.

There are other screws missing too, and on the bottom of the unit there are these two holes under the output transistors / big internal heatsink that LOOK like they were made to house bolts but I can't be sure. Can anyone with a non-racked MegaBass tell me if the red circled areas on this pic of the bottom are supposed to have any kind of hardware in them, or if your amp also has empty space here? I'd be much obliged.

I'll look at mine tonight when I get home, tho I suspect that something like screws used to be there. And I'll check my fuse holder! Doh!

Thanks for the heads up...

 

[lossfizzle]

I'll look at mine tonight when I get home, tho I suspect that something like screws used to be there. And I'll check my fuse holder! Doh!

Thanks man - any help would be awesome. My MB had an "opaque" fuse in it and that didn't help the temporary confusion, although I'm still waiting to see if the regular-glass replacement blows again any time soon.

 

[Jason Hollar]

BbbyBld - thanks for your thoughtful reply. I've been a Peavey user all through the years including a righteous Combo 300 (Black Widow) as well as a ton of PA & guitar amp gear.

I look forward to auditioning some new Mega/Data style amps in the near future.

 

[Ayce]

Thanks man - any help would be awesome. My MB had an "opaque" fuse in it and that didn't help the temporary confusion, although I'm still waiting to see if the regular-glass replacement blows again any time soon.

It may blow and not be a problem with the MB itself. The big difference is, ceramic fuses have a higher "breaking" point in high temp situations. Glass fuses are not as stable in high heat/current applications.

This info may be useful: (thx, Google. )


"In a glass fuse, the element is visible, and this makes inspection easy, while a ceramic fuse is opaque. A glass fuse has a low breaking or rupturing capacity. What this means is that the fuse element melts when there is a high current or voltage. It is therefore not suitable for appliances and equipments that draw a lot of current. Ceramic fuses, on the other hand, have a high breaking or rupturing capacity and are suitable for high current and voltage circuits. Some ceramic HRC (high rupturing capacity) fuses can safely interrupt upto 300,000 amperes of current, while normal glass fuses have a much lower capacity, sometimes as low as only 15 amperes.

Glass fuses have a low thermal stability and shatter in high-heat conditions. Ceramic fuses, on the other hand, can withstand high temperatures and are more thermally stable.
Ceramic fuses, unlike glass fuses, are also often filled with a filler like sand to prevent the formation of a conductive film. When there is a short circuit, the fuse element melts and vaporizes. It deposits on the inside of the barrel or body as a film. In a glass fuse, the body continues to get heated and the film begins to conduct electricity, thus rendering the fuse inefficient. The sand in a ceramic fuse, however, absorbs the heat energy and prevents the fuse from heating and therefore conducting."

 

[lossfizzle]

I too am interested to see what Peavey's comin' out with as mentioned by Bbby. One thing that occurs to me is that Peavey could potentially stir up a lot of interest in the desired market by packaging them as an upscale "second brand" with the new lines - Acura:Honda::???eavey.

It doesn't necessarily have to be high-priced... but I think there are certain players with dumb anti-Peavey biases, yet who WOULD be excited about a new micro-amp line or whatever, with a new, kind of esoteric image and an interesting, carefully sculpted look.

 

[lossfizzle]

It may blow and not be a problem with the MB itself. The big difference is, ceramic fuses have a higher "breaking" point in high temp situations. Glass fuses are not as stable in high heat/current applications.

Alright, point taken. Thanks for that - I'll see if I can find ceramics to fit post-haste.

 

[Count Bassie]

Thanks man - any help would be awesome. My MB had an "opaque" fuse in it and that didn't help the temporary confusion, although I'm still waiting to see if the regular-glass replacement blows again any time soon.

Just looked at the pix I took of it fairly recently, and here's the bottom of the chassis...

It seems there's nothing on mine in that spot either. We may find this is the state of things, for one reason or another. Mine also has the ceramic fuse.

 

[Five String]

This one's for BobbyBld. Why not subscribe to this thread? Then when the new products you described come out you can let us know about them. We'll rave about them here at TB and elsewhere, helping Peavey get a bleeding edge bass product on the market that actually sells.

 

[lossfizzle]

It seems there's nothing on mine in that spot either. We may find this is the state of things, for one reason or another.

Thanks so much for checking on that and helping me validate. This thing is missing so many screws inside...

Incidentally, I tried the MB out with the pre bypassed and my Rusty Box comin' in through the return yesterday, and holy cow, is that MB power section ever up to the task. (The stock MB preamp is fine and all, but I love my Rusty... and I don't think I've ever heard it sound that good with another power amp.)

 

[Count Bassie]

Thanks so much for checking on that and helping me validate. This thing is missing so many screws inside...

Incidentally, I tried the MB out with the pre bypassed and my Rusty Box comin' in through the return yesterday, and holy cow, is that MB power section ever up to the task. (The stock MB preamp is fine and all, but I love my Rusty... and I don't think I've ever heard it sound that good with another power amp.)

Now that's also interesting. I don't seem to have the head-space to think of these things... I'm glad someone does!

 

[Stev187]

Anybody looking for a clean Mega?

This one on eBay looks like it spent its life in a rack. Nice unit.

The ad says it was owned by Invalid Link Removed.

--Steve

 

[Count Bassie]

Pretty high starting bid. I wonder if they're going up in value? Should I have not said that?...

Mine's off to the Mothership tomorrow, to get 'er back up and running. Not looking forward to the bill, but I don't see any other way out of having bought the thing- it lasted one gig and went south. Taking the bullet, I hope it's worth it.

 

[Stev187]

Pretty high starting bid. I wonder if they're going up in value? Should I have not said that?...

LOL. I don't think so. But maybe... the only used Mega on Guitar Center's used gear page is up for $189.00. For the past couple of years I have seen them pretty regularly in the $150 and below range.

I'm biased, of course, but I think they're worth much more.

--Steve

 

[Count Bassie]

LOL. I don't think so. But maybe... the only used Mega on Guitar Center's used gear page is up for $189.00. For the past couple of years I have seen them pretty regularly in the $150 and below range.

I'm biased, of course, but I think they're worth much more.

--Steve

Trace Elliot heads, the early range, were going typically pretty cheap for years, and have just recently been seen on the rise price-wise. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and hence the wallet thinner, I guess.

 

[Five String]

I think they are going up in price also. The last few I have seen listed on GC, CL and the 'bay have been close to $200 I agree with stev they used to be in the $150 range, and I bought mine for $100. Unfortunately I also think they are less common.

Count Bassie, please post about your experience with the Mothership when you get the thing back, price, service, etc. I may have to be doing that myself at some point.

 

[Jason Hollar]

A few years ago I was speaking with my old boss at his music store - he said he had heard a rumor (from one of the reps) that Peavey had some NOS DataBass & MegaBass units stashed away in a warehouse.
I think it's certainly plausible - but in no way can confirm or deny this statement. Any thoughts from Meridian?

 

[Count Bassie]

I think they are going up in price also. The last few I have seen listed on GC, CL and the 'bay have been close to $200 I agree with stev they used to be in the $150 range, and I bought mine for $100. Unfortunately I also think they are less common.

Count Bassie, please post about your experience with the Mothership when you get the thing back, price, service, etc. I may have to be doing that myself at some point.

I will certainly do so. I just sent 'er off this morning via USPS Parcel Post.

A few years ago I was speaking with my old boss at his music store - he said he had heard a rumor (from one of the reps) that Peavey had some NOS DataBass & MegaBass units stashed away in a warehouse.
I think it's certainly plausible - but in no way can confirm or deny this statement. Any thoughts from Meridian?

I'm sure they would have stashed a few away- wouldn't you? Indeed... there's a Peavey Area 51 somewhere in Meridian, MS...

 

[TheREALRandyMos]

I bought my first mega off my local craigs list for 30 bucks back in december. I was told that it worked fully and properly which it of course did not. It worked but not well. The eq faders did not function at all. Everything else works like it is supposed to though. I am picking it up from the amp doctor next saturday. The bill is supposed to be 93 dollars. If it all functions properly i dont know of any time i will have gotten so much amp for the money.