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Peavey T-Max

Sundogue

Sundogue

Apr 26, 2001
8,795
481
65
Wausau, WI
#1
I had an issue with my Superfly head (or perhaps it was some cables...I don't know as it was in the middle of a set and didn't have time to troubleshoot) so I grabbed my old Peavey T-Max head and hooked it all up not knowing how it would sound, but to my surprise it not only sounded good, it sounded as good as the amp it was backing up! I also found that it has more headroom than my Superfly though the rating (from the manufacturer anyway) was the same. The Superfly was rated at 250 watts into 4 ohms (per side). Which was the equivalent rating of my T-Max (500 watts into a 2 ohm load). I use two 4 ohm 115 neo cabs. But the Peavey T-Max head gets louder on a lower setting and because most of my tone comes from my Zoom B2, I'm still getting the same sound I was before.

I wish I had tried out my "backup" head a long time ago. I'm still gassing for the Peavey VB-2, but at least I know I can gig with the T-Max just fine and if I ever do get the VB-2 I'll still have a great backup head.
 
#2
I used to have one of those 5-10 years ago, and YES, it was actually a pretty good amp. Decent tone, nice with the switchable tube/ss input, lots of headroom - and built like a tank. With a b/u like that, there's not much to worry about - except that it could be better than your primary amp ;)
 
#3
The only thing I ever found wrong with the T-max was that the compression was not variable and you can't turn it off.This is not much of a problem when I run it at 4 ohms.

You're running 2 ohms.......................:bassist:

Played one for 12 years with no problems.It's still my back-up and is used a a bluesjam once a week.
 
#4
5StringBlues said:
The only thing I ever found wrong with the T-max was that the compression was not variable and you can't turn it off.
Click to expand...

You mean that DDT limiting thing? Yeah, I remember that undefeatable nanny-circuit. As far as I remember, it wasn't an actal compressor, but soemthing that limited the output rather than compressing the input. I didn't like the thought of it being there, but never really noticed it when playing. I ran the head through 2 410 cabs at 2.67 ohms, so I was never really pushing it that hard.
 
#7
Defeating the DDT limiter does absolutely nothing to the sound. It's only there to prevent your amp from clipping into a dead amp, which I think is actually pretty cool, especially since I'm so darn hard on them. ;)

The frequency cut-off points on the EQ section of my T-Max is set almost identical to my Superfly (both having 7 band Graphic EQ's). But I have presets on my Superfly so I wouldn't have to dial in the EQ in rooms we play regularly. The Superfly presets were awesome...just hit a preset button for that room and I was all done setting up my sound!

It's no loss to my sound though as it sounds the same. The T-Max and it's fan run louder...there's a bit more noise to it, but it isn't unbearable or obnoxious. I'm really impressed with the power. Peavey must be very conservative with their ratings (or they are spot on and others are just more liberal with them).

I've used Peavey on and off for the past 30 years and they've always been reliable even if they weren't remarkable in tone. I've always managed to get a decent tone out of them. Heck, I use a Peavey Mark IV at practice as it was an old amp left there (donated by the previous bass player) and I get a good sound out of that.
 

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