Peavey T-MAX head

[eldoryder]

Thx for that clarification, georgestring. I think I'll be OK, following your instructions...the Ampeg 10"ers were indeed rated to handle much more power than the vintage Jensens were. The Jensens came out of a 50s era Hammond Tone Cabinet, whose tube-driven amplifier put out only 40 watts spread out over nine speakers.

I'm only using this amp currently in a living room situation. Should I ever get good enough to play outside the home, upgraded cabinets will be the first order of business!

 

[Goldburn94]

Could this be ressurected once again!?

I own a recently broken T-max 550. I got a pretty expensive estimate for the repair job and was thinking of buying the Max preamp and a crownxls2500 and calling it a day. Seeing how that could be achieved at around $500 and I could be better off power wise (I plan on bridging two 2x15s)

What do you guys think?!

Just joined talk bass and I'm loving it
Experience=knowlage=power

 

[EdBo]

Yeah !!! Got the T_Max Amp w/ 4space road case to add my Mega Bass amp into. Going to be heavy(Can add wheels if necessary). Might have my, very versatile, bi-amp dream rig. Pawn shops are awesome!
I will update soon as I get to Play/Experiment with it all.
**Peace**

 

[Danhedonia]

Can't resist reviving a 16 year old thread ...

Have a T-Max I got for $100 at a MGR, and just love it. Use it often in a home studio situation, and indeed that fan's a pain! But DI out can work, or just turn up and edit appropriately.

The range of sounds available in that amplifier are remarkable, and goodness knows what this one has seen.
I wonder if Peavey's still selling that replacement fan -- may want to get one 'just in case,' because this has become a top choice and I'd be impossibly sad to have to ever retire it.

 

[EdBo]

Can't resist reviving a 16 year old thread ...

Have a T-Max I got for $100 at a MGR, and just love it. Use it often in a home studio situation, and indeed that fan's a pain! But DI out can work, or just turn up and edit appropriately.

The range of sounds available in that amplifier are remarkable, and goodness knows what this one has seen.
I wonder if Peavey's still selling that replacement fan -- may want to get one 'just in case,' because this has become a top choice and I'd be impossibly sad to have to ever retire it.

Cool, I'm glad you posted. The fan is my only complaint. It has to be over-kill . I'm looking for a 220 volt fan to replace mine. Half speed should be plenty of airflow. I honestly believe it is an engineering mistake, it's way too loud. Maybe I should call Peavey and see if there is any reason I couldn't put the same fan in it the Mega Bass amp uses, I'm 99% sure they are the same size.
I love it and it works well as part of my rig.

 

[GlassToMouth]

I love a good threadsurection. I've had my T-MAX for about 20 years now. Zero failures and maintenance other than changing the preamp tube every so often. Such a smooth, reliable work horse. But my aging back went with a class D option.

This thing has seen so much use and abuse. It's not retired, but it now resides in assisted living (home studio). Good thing it has plenty of volume to compete with the vacuum cleaner of a fan.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

If we all pitch in, I think we can creep into 20 years.

I would kind of like a cheap, reliable rackmount solid state/hybrid head. Anyone have luck with different preamp tubes in this thing?

 

[EdBo]

If we all pitch in, I think we can creep into 20 years.

I would kind of like a cheap, reliable rackmount solid state/hybrid head. Anyone have luck with different preamp tubes in this thing?

I've had my T-Max for 3 or 4 years now and the tube Pre-amp section sounds nice and creamy with added Pre-gain but, I rarely use it as my tone/dirt is developed in my Tech 21 D.I. Pedal into the clean Solid State Pre. My stage rig is basically just a monitor.
Old tube still sound fine, IMO. I may get board someday and try some other tube I have stashed.
**Peace**

 

[Bruiser Stone]

I've had my T-Max for 3 or 4 years now and the tube Pre-amp section sounds nice and creamy with added Pre-gain but, I rarely use it as my tone/dirt is developed in my Tech 21 D.I. Pedal into the clean Solid State Pre. My stage rig is basically just a monitor.
Old tube still sound fine, IMO. I may get board someday and try some other tube I have stashed.
**Peace**

 

[cheechi]

If we all pitch in, I think we can creep into 20 years.

I would kind of like a cheap, reliable rackmount solid state/hybrid head. Anyone have luck with different preamp tubes in this thing?

I put a Ruby 12AX7WA into my T-Max, when I got it (used, this year) the tube that was in it had no markings just a paper sticker 'made in china'.

The original wasn't bad necessarily, but the Ruby gives it more 'roundness'; I don't use the tube for dirt necessarily (my definition of clean is relatively dirty) but I like it with the tube gain around 6 or higher.

I also do have a Max Pre, any other rolling I do I may favour it just because of the ease, my T-Max is somewhat beat up so the cover is a joy to open and close.

 

[yechmeny]

I've got T-Max head yesterday. Both tube and solid state pre sections sounds great, eq is precise and discrete.

Head is rated 550w at 2ohms and I'm not finding information about this specific model. Peavey T-Max manual specifies power as 500w at 2ohms so I'm not sure how many versions of T-Max head are there? Previously I thought that they made T-Max in just 500w variation. Are there any other differences aside from power rating?

 

[EdBo]

I've got T-Max head yesterday. Both tube and solid state pre sections sounds great, eq is precise and discrete.

Head is rated 550w at 2ohms and I'm not finding information about this specific model. Peavey T-Max manual specifies power as 500w at 2ohms so I'm not sure how many versions of T-Max head are there? Previously I thought that they made T-Max in just 500w variation. Are there any other differences aside from power rating?

Congratulations.
I believe there is only 1 version of the T-Max head. The specs in the manual say 500 and in the same manual the pict./drawing of the back of the amp say 550. Maybe a miss-print, I'm going to say my T-Max puts out 525watts +/- 25watts @ 2 ohms, dependent on the stability and level of the input AC voltage, LOL.

 

[yechmeny]

Congratulations.
I believe there is only 1 version of the T-Max head. The specs in the manual say 500 and in the same manual the pict./drawing of the back of the amp say 550. Maybe a miss-print, I'm going to say my T-Max puts out 525watts +/- 25watts @ 2 ohms, dependent on the stability and level of the input AC voltage, LOL.

Thanks man, appreciate it.

No, it's not a miss-print. On the back side of the amp, next to speaker outputs it's printed 550w. I found one same like mine on reverb.com Peavey T Max 550 Head 2000s White Price Guide

So, I'm still not sure how many versions are there.

 

[EdBo]

Thanks man, appreciate it.

No, it's not a miss-print. On the back side of the amp, next to speaker outputs it's printed 550w. I found one same like mine on reverb.com Peavey T Max 550 Head 2000s White Price Guide

So, I'm still not sure how many versions are there.

Mine is the same, on the back side of the my T-Max next to speaker outputs it's printed 550w.
I never noticed that some say 550 and some say 500.
Thanks for pointing that out.
I have the Schematics in PDF form if you ever need them. I've never needed them, yet.
**Peace**
Eddie

 

[yechmeny]

Mine is the same, on the back side of the my T-Max next to speaker outputs it's printed 550w.
I never noticed that some say 550 and some say 500.
Thanks for pointing that out.
I have the Schematics in PDF form if you ever need them. I've never needed them, yet.
**Peace**
Eddie

Yes, definitely there are both 500w and 550w versions, at least as the printed backplate power rating is concerned. So actually, you may be right, it can just be a miss-print. Until we do some measurements or A/B test, we can't be sure. Seems odd though that Peavey provided two versions with such a "small" difference in power rating.

Maybe someone will come up with better explanation.

Anyway, thanks for your answer. All the best.

 

[EdBo]

I'm noticing that all the exports overseas are marked 500 watts w/ 230 v input.

 

[yechmeny]

I'm noticing that all the exports overseas are marked 500 watts w/ 230 v input.

I'm from Europe and I've got my T-Max from Germany which is marked 550W/230V.

 

[oZZma]

I'm tempted to try this head, I have found one for a small small small price!!

 

[GlassToMouth]

I'm tempted to try this head, I have found one for a small small small price!!

I used one as my main amp for twenty years. Never failed, plenty of head room, clean and versatile. I love everything about it except the weight. If I could put it in a rack filled with helium, I would still gig with it. Probably over 500 gigs and rehearsals of flawless performance. And it's safe at 2 ohms.

 

[BarbeauAudio]

Cool, I'm glad you posted. The fan is my only complaint. It has to be over-kill . I'm looking for a 220 volt fan to replace mine. Half speed should be plenty of airflow. I honestly believe it is an engineering mistake, it's way too loud. Maybe I should call Peavey and see if there is any reason I couldn't put the same fan in it the Mega Bass amp uses, I'm 99% sure they are the same size.
I love it and it works well as part of my rig.
View attachment 1006040 View attachment 1006041

Heyyooo, first time TalkBass poster here, I'm working on my buddy's TMax500 with some seriously weird issues goin' on, that I believe is tangentially related to the cooling fan.

First question, can anyone tell me if the fan is supposed to work as an intake or outflow? Because this particular one has it wired for intake at the moment, which seems weird to me as it's resulted in an A$$load of dust all over the circuit, pots, and wiring.

Second question, has anyone experienced problems with intermittent short-circuiting when in normal operation, or when firmly tapping the chassis? I believe that the aforementioned dust has caused some intermittent shorts to develop around the input and gain sections, which makes the Amp crackle loudly while triggering the red "Clip" light. The crackling sound is particularly bad when playing anywhere above master volume 3, and basically makes it unplayable.

Awesome Amp, would definitely appreciate any input on these questions if any one has experienced this issue or has some wisdom on the subject! Thanks~

Barbeau Audio