Peavy Combo 300

[Speedbird]

I wish it was close to me. I'd buy it in a minute.

There's just something about an old school on-the-verge-of-overdrive Peavey Combo 300 run at max output with the DDT compression almost constantly on through a 15" Black Widow. There is this signature thick blooming middy Peavey grind that no other amp can produce, almost like the amp is helping you play. It's bliss.

Damn, that’s what I had for ages. Circa 1994. Peavy “Combo-115” $425 ish new I think. Agree with all the above points. Handled heavy use well. MIA. Heavy and awkward. So 80 lb felt more like 100.

Fast forward to 2021-2023 I could not get $100 for it and pretty much gave it to a neighbor for $20 at the moving yard sale

 

[MaxCellExcelWon]

You're confusing the asking price with the sold for price tho, and you're also including the shipping in the price.

Also, is that the speaker in this particular amp? FWIR, the various Peavey combos used a few different variations of the BW speaker.

That WAS the sold price. Look at the picture.

And yes, the Combo 300's BW was a 1502-8.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

It is a young mans amp. I had one for years. Always had enough volume.

 

[Lowbrow]

I bought a new TNT 130 maybe 1984 or 85. For an affordable amp, it offered tons of EQ and connectivity. It’s parametric Mid was a first for me and a mystery to operate. The guys I was playing with would make jokes that the ‘bandwidth’ knob determined how closely we stood together onstage.
PS sounded like … like you wanted another amp instead.

 

[fhm555]

I had an old TNT 150 I used in a 4 piece country band, 2 guitars/vocals, a drummer, and bass. We played small honky tonks and occasional private parties and I never needed more amp. Later I got into another 4 piece configured the same way but the music was much different. In that band I used a Hartke 410XL with an SWR Basic 350, and occasionally wished I had more amp.

 

[Tommy Sparks]

A buddy of mine has one in his studio and when I’m there, I’ll use the 300. It’s OK can get loud but just OK. I might cough up 200 for one and put it in my music room next to my TKO (which sounds similar) and not move either one of them.

 

[Nuisance]

If I were in the market for a decent old combo, it wouldn't be an old Peavey.

Get something that has some resale value. My local Guitar Center recently had an old Trace Elliott combo in good condition for $250. That weighed a ton as well, but it's something you'd be able to offload easily....and perhaps even make a little money on when you are ready to let it go. Not so with the Peavey.......at least not at that price.

I would pass......especially at that price.

 

[klattman]

Peavy only if
1. You never have to move it (top handle only sucks with that amount of mass)
2.you get it for under $200

There are many new options around $500 and with 250-550W that all weigh less than half.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

$150 to $250? In that condition?

Bollocks.

You could buy it and easily sell the Black Widow alone on eBay for $200.

Although that would be stupid to do.

Just like cars, a lot of older equipment can be parted out for much more than it's complete value.

 

[RomanS]

A Peavey Combo 300 was what I used in my first band (hardcore punk rock) in the early '90s.

Fun fact: The "300' stands for the weight in lbs.

 

[Bassdirty]

Anyone use or used one of these amps? There is one for sale locally and I’m still looking for an amp. It looks to be in very good shape. They are asking $450 for it. Is it worth this? I have heard they are very heavy. It has a Black Widow speaker. The photo is from the Craigslist ad.

(Maybe been mentioned, BUT):
Maybe 450 was the WEIGHT?..


Anyway, yeah, as mentioned, Decent Enough amp, RUGGED, and reliable AF, BUT, not worth $450. I'd say.. maybe $200-$250 MAX. (IMO)

MUCH better, Lighter, modern, Lighter rigs for 450.


T$

 

[Jason Hollar]

I had this very model.

Agreed: heavy, loud, bland.

It sounded killer in certain rooms though … like nasty basement bars with gross carpet stages etc. Those load ins were manageable but the load OUTs … yikes

 

[jimmydean]

It's worth $200.00 .................that's it .

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I bought one new and played through it for 17 years. I think the weight was 88 lbs. on one handle. I had some serious grip back then….

Good amp. Reliable. I ended up taking
the amp section out of mine and using it to drive an EV single 15” with a Carvin 2x10 for the last several years I used it.

Mine did develop some static that could be cured by smacking it on top. I would take the amp section out and unplug / re-plug all connections of that type and it would clear up the problem for months.

It’s the first amp I ever used in a bi-amp configuration because of its front panel patching and variable crossover. That became more hassle than it as worth, so I began using the Combo 300 full range and using just the low out & crossover to drive another amp & cab(s) to reinforce low end.

The power rating of 300 watts is into a two(2) ohm load. It had a 4 ohm internal speaker & power at 4 ohms is 210 watts.
I ran mine at 2.67 ohms most of the time (8 ohm & 4 ohm cabs) which I guesstimated to allow the amp to create about 250-260 or so watts. The amp into its original internal speaker was loud, but not especially motivational tone wise, if you know what I mean…

I traded it in on a T-Max, which was 500 watts into 2 ohms, but the Combo 300 amp section had more headroom and volume into my 115 + 210 than the T-Max had into the same two cabs. That was a bit of a mystery to me.

It might be worth $450 to about 1% of bassists out there, and it would probably be for nostalgic reasons….

 

[NitroBobby]

as stated, you can get a lot more amp for that amount of money, probably less.

looking at GCs used gear section for combo amps will give you a plethora of options at a better price point. heck, there are a few combo amps in the classifieds here that are a better deal than that one. shipping will likely be a big factor though. GC gets a lot of grief but they are good for taking equipment back if it's not what you wanted or it doesn't fit the need. Ship it to the store, go try it out and see if it's what you want. If not, get your $$ back.

Fender Rumble combos are well regarded for that price range. you should be able to find a used one in good shape for the price this guy is asking for the boat anchor.

what are you looking to do with it? are you planning on gigging or is it a practice amp?

 

[Tim Skaggs]

That WAS the sold price. Look at the picture.

And yes, the Combo 300's BW was a 1502-8.

The internal speaker in the Peavey Combo 300 was a 4 ohm BW.

 

[MaxCellExcelWon]

The internal speaker in the Peavey Combo 300 was a 4 ohm BW.

Hey, you're right!

My bad.

Good thing, as the 4 ohm vintage 1502 drivers are actually MORE sought after (and hence more valuable) since Peavey no longer makes ANY 4 ohm Black Widow baskets.

Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[Roundwoundhound]

Was far from lowly. I gigged that thing all over NYC for years. Loud as heck for only 130w. Bought new and the price I paid for it wasn't lowly at all. Bought from Manny's on 48th St. Would you pay $450 for that amp? That's probably the new price back in the 80's!

Not cool putting down people's gear!

I loved my peavy TNT 130! Before that I had a TKO 65. The TKO 65 was rated at 32 watts but Peavy pays good attention to their mid controls to cut through.

 

[Roundwoundhound]

I loved my peavy TNT 130! Before that I had a TKO 65. The TKO 65 was rated at 32 watts but Peavy pays good attention to their mid controls to cut through.

Was far from lowly. I gigged that thing all over NYC for years. Loud as heck for only 130w. Bought new and the price I paid for it wasn't lowly at all. Bought from Manny's on 48th St. Would you pay $450 for that amp? That's probably the new price back in the 80's!

Not cool putting down people's gear!

48th St was heaven before the music stores went out of business.

 

[Memphis Soul]

I have already decided to pass on this one as I can’t handle that much weight in a combo. I don’t mind spending more for a good amp. I just wanted to see if this was a good amp but everyone says it’s just so so. I’ll probably get a Fender Rumble 800 combo or the Super Bassman head and a cabinet