I have ALWAYS been a huge Peavey fan.... But in all honesty...the worst thing that Hartley Peavey did was put Courtland Grey in the driver's seat!!! There is the trouble!!! Putting that jerk in control cost him his company!!! Hartley Peavey is a manufacturing icon and genius.... If they could get rid of Courtland Grey, and Hartley take control for a while... Great things could (and would) happen!!! I'm not giving up.... I support the Hartley Peavey version (Original and best) version of the company!!!
Chuck Rieger absolutely right. Living 80 miles from meridian, peavey treated me well. I’ve taken amps there for service that were still under warranty and they gave me a brand new one plus a mic and some bags picks and stuff. The tech gave me his name and let me call and did a walk through adjustments on my Wolfgang Dtuna. Such great customer service. Great products for the poor man budget. And then.
Courtland comes across as a bottom line kind of a guy. He doesn't love the company as Hartley Peavey. Hope Hartley finds a duplicate of himself to run Peavey.
From Leo: Jeremy, I think you have a right to be frustrated, but I think your summary is misguided. Peavey got ate up trying to survive in a market where the government and the competition has filled the market with slave labor imports. Do a little research on the government mandated upgrades to the plant would have cost. You cannot spend that kind of money if you don't have it. The Government bureaucrats are a bigger enemy than even a stiff competitive environment. Peavey was the last of the USA common market Musical makers. Frankly, I am surprised they hung on as long as they did. It simply is not apples to oranges comparing a small volume boutique company to a high volume manufacturer that feed hundreds of families. I do not know Hartley Peavey, but I am sure the realities of life are not making him happy either. Fender sold out America in the late 1960's. All the Marshall products I have seen for a while are from Vietnam. The epiphone products are have been third world for a long time. Demonizing a single company for something that is universal across ALL manufacturing is misapplied anger. Auto, appliances, furniture, kitchen wares, clothing, power tools, all American manufacturing i in the same boat, mostly due to poor government policies. Peavey is not the boogie man. PS, I agree with you that the folded circuit board design on that series of Peavey amps are difficult to work on. That said, they are a picnic compared to the new Fender Bassbreakers. I refuse to work on them.
I agree with you, but why the hell didn’t he say anything? He could have had an army of guitar players singing punk songs against globalization. Nah, he blamed us instead. He blamed Americans, decided we didn’t care about it so they decided not to make it. We loved them as the holdout, and they didn’t holdout, they decided that we were the problem instead of their backers, so fuck em
Not only the government, but also the greedy unions. The unions were great in the 20's; but got greedy and drove up the cost of labor to unreasonable levels. I remember GM workers were making like $55 an hour in the early 2000's and still striking. These companies just can't pay these kind of wages and still compete with the rest of the world
Great video and perspective, Jeremy. I started out on a 10-watt Peavey Decade in the early 80s. It's sad to see how Peavey has let opportunity slip away. They could have had similar industry respect as Marshall, Gibson, Fender, etc. The problem was that they tried to compete with everyone. You can't do that and remain successful and relevant.
If they didn't start making things overseas they probably wouldn't be around anymore at all. In my area they hardly are as it is, I rarely see new Peavey products when I'm out shopping. I have a few Peavey amps, and I love them all, but newest one is probably almost 20 years old by now. If people were willing to pay the price for U.S. made products they would still have their 1000's of workers, but everyone wants to get everything for nothing.
True, but the average person can't afford to pay because of the money that these union workers make. The higher the cost of labor, the more the company is going to have to charge, plus factor in the government putting these taxes on these businesses
What about buying used gear? I don't like what they've become, but there is a ton of old stuff on the used market that they won't get any more money from. Hell, the old Peavey gear just won't die, I feel like Keith Richards will have to use it after the rest of us are gone.
Roberto Clemente I guess to clarify, when I buy Peavey, I buy the old stuff that was made in Mississippi. And I usually buy it off some dude on Craigslist. This is stuff that Peavey got its money from years ago, they are not getting any money on my transaction. Sure, they might get a little exposure when I gig with it. But I have never bought anything new from Peavey.
I live in Buchanan, Michigan the home of electro-voice. They made their bones 🦴 by inventing the sound system for Knut Rockne’s Norte Dame stadium 🏟. About 8 miles south from here as the crow flies . By the late 50’s It had become a legendary company & the standard bearer for microphones 🎤 & guitar speakers, as well as P.A. systems. they did everything in house & quality was of the utmost importance. Then in the 1980’s ( just as I was reaching the age working a full time job) they started shipping small parts out to be made in other states, then to other company’s, then to other countries, ti’ll everything was made elsewhere. Now the once 24 hour 6 day a week brightly light crown jewel 💎 of of our town is now just 2 or 3 large empty buildings that are falling apart. It’s a sad fact that all these beloved legendary companies built by people who had the vision & fortitude to build these well known names from nothing, but once they let the pencil pushers take over it all goes to hell in a hand basket 🧺 😢
The best amp I ever owned and the worst amp I ever owned were both made by Peavey The best was a Combo 150 bass amp I bought new in 1980. I played may gigs (possibly 400) from purchase to when I sold it to a friend who needed a bass amp for his bar in 1994. The amp is still going strong; it's on its 2nd speaker (A Black Widow 15) but the amp has never been opened up. The worst one was a Data Bass. It also had a Black Widow speaker. That amp was prone to cutting out then coming back on. I almost lost a steady gig with a touring band because of it. I had three techs look at it and I could never duplicate the symptoms to effect a proper repair. After the episode with the touring band, I traded it for a Yorkville and never looked back. I have nothing good to say about Hartley Peavey.
You are totally right my brother . You are a good American, as a citizen of the world , i'm from Spain, my kids grew up in Panama ,and actually i live in London i see so much shit caused by the economic model imposed for the corporations of your country, actively supported by the government in charge (it doesn't matter dem.or rep.) and backed with the power of the guns ,is a nightmare for. everybody, including yourselves . Yes i had a Peavey in the 80s and as you said ,it was my first , it was an incredible amp. And its amazing but ironic how these mere artefacts are attached to our memories , how much it represent for us ,and how little for the owners of the brand . These guys don't have soul ,and the only way we should strike back is where we can cause them more pain . In his pocket . We need more people like you inside USA . All we love our friends and family ,and love to have a good economy and overall we want peace in the world . Cheers
There are still GOOD people at Peavey. And they resisted offshore production as long as they could. Would you have been happier if they went out of business? Undercover Boss aside, they STILL make good gear. The HP2 is made in plant 3 as well as CA and others. If you went to the headquarters, they don't make stuff there. Hartley can STILL make good gear in the USA but people wont pay for it. They want firefly 335 copies for 139 bucks. Hartley called it the race to the bottom.
the predators and reactors were USA made necks and the rest import. Price point instruments. the higher end stuff was all USA. Peavey's forte is manufacturing. they dont anymore sadly
I saw your other Peavey video first... I LOVE that they responded to you! I've had maybe six or seven Peavey classics, starting with the Delta Blues and now with my third Classic 50 stack. I'm glad they're working to improve what they do. Love your channel. Subscribed.
Good video man. My first Peavey amp was a Festival 100 watt head with 2x12 tall cabinet, since then I've had several different models of Peavey along with other brands. Now I have a Fender Mustang GT 100 and a Peavey Classic 30 which is my main amp now. Light weight for a tube amp plenty of power to gig with and a tone monster.
Of course the Peavey Bandit worked fine after you dropped it (3:55) - it's a solid state amp after all (rugged & reliable). It would likely have been a different story if it was a tube amp. And the Bandit is a great sounding amp, in its own right !
That was a good piece about thinking where you are spending your money and bringing joy to the world. That’s a nice little amp too but personally I have moved on from tubes and have never regretted it. If you do another video like this please warn folks not to stick their hands in the back of a tube amp until they know what they are doing. You can easily end up on the other side of the room - or worse!! Thanks buddy!!
I used to have a Delta Blues. Had to replace a blown diode. Very tricky. The amp was not made to be repaired. It’s too bad that they have become what they are now.
I started playing in '83 . Never owned or wanted any Peavey. My brother who's a singer loves their American made PA gear. Back in 80's Britain ,the Bandit was popular , but so was Laney's Linebacker and also the Marshall Valvestate amps.
Good opinions here..I’m from a small town built around the furniture industry..it went over seas 20 years ago..some neighboring towns still have not recovered ..mine has. In the end you can’t fault a company for doing this..our laws encourage it...stricter environmental laws and labor laws don’t help businesses in the US..at the same time..you can support or choose not to with your wallet.
Jeremy, Thank you for the video. I do remember growing up with the Peavey practice amp. Who knew it was made here? As I looked at that amp from the video the tubes are hanging up side down. I am sure the bracket or strap holds it. I don’t think so anymore. Can you use blocks of wood and put it up side down and then try it? Also after powering up/ warm up the tubes put a very small fan blowing on the inside ? I can’t believe that the speaker is vibrating the heck out of that poor guy. I don’t know how old it is but if I remember correctly tubes and transformer get toasty. Thank for the tube inspiration.
My first rig back in the mid-70's was a '64 Fender Duo Sonic II with a Dan Armstrong Blue Clipper (box into the guitar) into a brand spankin' new Peavey Classic 1x12 combo (it was black...not tweed). I made some beautiful, awful noise with that set up. It was a gift from my parents and I still owe the sales person at the music store for talking them into that amp. It was ungodly loud for it's size and price. Add the Dan Armstrong and I could hit a power cord and it would sustain for a week. Sad footnote to a great lower price brand. Love Josh and JHS and I'm glad you name dropped that brand as a good actor in the guitar business.
I have had my Peavey classic 50 head and two cabinets one cabinet is a 410 the other is a 115 I tend to use the 410 mostly for gigs and a 115 pretty much stays home I have had the same since they came out with this Tweed classic 50 Style I believe you would call it I've been using this amp countless gigs it's had its problems I had to change the presence pot not because the pot went bad but because the knob kept falling off when I went to open up the slit in the post of the knob it cracked off so I had to change the pot but I got it from Peavey and I just don't soldered it from the board and installed a new one this amp has been my work horse I believe it has the original tubes in it too it sounds great in either the clean mode or the dirty mode and is very pedal-friendly you can't go wrong with this amp I don't know if mine is made differently because it's older it does not have the effects Loop built into the head like the new ones do sorry if I ramble but I just wanted this to be known
If you buy a used Peavey product, such as that amp, you ARE supporting the company. Without a resale market, a product is usually doomed for the manufacturer. Most people wouldn't buy a product they knew they couldn't sell. I have a friend that will raise hell at people for buying an import car, yet he owns two used import cars! Unreal...but hey, whatever makes a person feel like they "doing something." Great video.
Globalism. I spoke to a Corp consultant. Within few years all production are gonna be in Asian countries. Otherwise,no company would be able to afford to survive. Competition is harsh. Unless people would be willing to work very hard, sacrifice and pay the price to support. Different target customers for different reason. Brand, social status, economic,eco- friendly... etc or personal values. I'm more of the later and I'm with you guys on this. Artisan, hand crafted , local or boutique stuff in scenario of specific need. More quality than quantity. I'm visceral and more at human connection level so it's all or nothing in all relationship. Period.peace out.
My best friend's first amp was a Studio Pro 40, and I lusted after that amp. I have since owned a lot of Peavey products - PA amps and mixers and speakers, several Rages, an old Classic combo, a Classic 50 head, a 5150 head, a Studio Pro 112, and I must be leaving some out.
Great video Jeremy. Thanks for raising the question about how we spend money. It’s a powerful reminder to be thoughtful in our decisions so we encourage good in the world, even in something as small as a used amp.
Yeah, that Undercover boss was unexcusable. The one employee was leaving and found a better paying job. Peavey's owner convinces him to stay and then promptly lays him off a few days later. The Owner seems like he just lost his passion and was making poor decision after poor decision.
Don't try to beat China on cost, cuz you won't. Make high-quality product, establish brand loyalty, go after a different segment to the market. If you plan on making low quality stuff and trying to sell it at a low cost then, yes, you are going to go under.
Got the T-40 bass 2nd hand in 82. Built like a tank, powerful, near to indestructable as an instrument could be. Their older stuff is legendary. I think there are enough folks around who would be proud to say they bought a high-end american made product even if only a limited amount were made.
My first guitar was a Peavey T-60 in late 70's, early 80's. Heavy as hell, built like a tank, and played like nice Tele. Sadly, my platoon pawned it a Ft. Bragg for beer money while I was on maneuvers out of state, and didn't get it back out in time. I'd love to find that original, as today's Peavey instruments just don't move me.
Well it’s 2021 and I work for a company that sells industrial equipment, metal and wood working equipment, 98% of the product comes from China, we have had 8 price increases since 2018, mostly due to the tariffs, and more recently due to COVID supply chain issues and raw material price increases. As an example, a band saw that was selling for $1,100 in late 2017, now sells for $2,150. As our costs go up to manufacture, 100% is passed through to the dealers who pass through to end users…It will only get worse….some have commented that a business can’t survive unless they outsource….maybe…some… but a huge part of the problem is greed…..even as costs to outsource to China or wherever double or triple…at what point does a company consider manufacturing domestically? Sorry to say but the answer is, they won’t…the only one main variable cost in manufacturing, labor costs, they have squeezed the life out of….that decision to not give a fuck about the human element in manufacturing has been made long ago… GREED! Corporations that manufactured in the US and have since outsourced to China pay a fraction of income taxes that they paid in the 1970’s and 80’s and back then, they paid American workers fair wages and still companies grew and millionaires were born every day! GREED! Let’s see if American wages adjust to the hyperinflation we have seen lately. I will bet my Custom Les Paul they don’t!
I have a Peavey Classic 30 in white and it's a fantastic amp! Sometimes it does Fender better than Fender lol But.... it has some issues, of course. It makes this quiet rumbling/crackling noise when its just sitting on, and every now and then there are random volume fluctuations.
Have a 1993 Peavey Fury Bass, U.S. made, awesome. Few years ago we had a player in studio with a Vypyr amp and Sanpera II foot controller, China made. The amp was pretty good, the Sanpera was junky - loose, noisy switches, glitchy software.
i have a couple of early 2000s peavey bandit red stripes that like you said...always work. I have other amps but when I need it to work regardless, i often grab a bandit because...it just does. I love the classic series of amps...those sweet over driven tones. if you can find it, check out the undercover boss episode involving peavey.
I used to have one of these a long time ago. Nice little amp. Upgraded to a Marshall combo from it. But, while I had it, it did the job OK for practice purposes.
Hey great vid. I noticed you omit the third in your G chord. I just kinda discovered that. I mean I know the theory of a fifth chord but that usually appears as just a power chord. Take out that third from the open g like that and it sounds great.
There's more than one problem with Peavey. I don't have much like for very many of their products at all. All they offered was tolerable performance at a really good price. I started with a Fender Pro Reverb and the only Peavey I ever owned was a VTM 60 and that only did one thing but did it well. Otherwise it's always been Mesas, Fenders, and Marshalls for me. Got no reason to look at Peavey.
Man I love my classic 410. But I have been burned 3 times with modern Peavey...in a row. One day I walked in the local shop, the vk micros had just come out. I walked out with it. What junk. I sent it to Peavey twice. It never was fixed. Never again.
Ampeg did the same thing. I have a BA-500 made in the USA and it still works great after 20 years. I don’t know how good they are now, but they’re made in China.
Old peavey tube amps are great, easy to work on. Im still running a JSX 120 and a classic 120. Cheap tube power compared to my bogners, oranges, mesa and marshalls.
Wow, that was eye opening. I own a 1993 Envoy 110 35W, and a pristine 1995 Bandit ~ love the things..... But I didn't know the back story. I'll console myself these were made by good people in a better time. Very well put, however. This is the first clip of yours I've seen and I'll happily subscribe.
How great can it be if it gives you problems consistently? Their solid state are ok (like the bandit) but I’ve always stayed away from their tubes. Peavey has there place. A cheap low end guitar or amp that will get you by for a short time.
I like 70's and 80's Peavey amps. We fix them up in my shop all the time, and they take minimal work. The "classics" lead to new manufacturer techniques, and are a pain in the bum to work on. As far as Peavey Corp. goes..... yeah, it sucks about the overseas production.... Same goes for Vox and Celestion not being English anymore. Fender is hardly American... and the few that have stayed USA like Gibson have had their own share of issues too. This is partly the reason I became an amp tech. Look around for a Crate Vintage Club (USA made)... those will surprise you too. As a tech, I've played a LOT of amps... USA Fender, Japan Fender, Epiphone/Electar, Gibson (michigan), MojoTone, Peavey (USA), Ampeg (USA), Vox, Marshall, Kustom, Yamaha, Standel, Gorilla, Randall, Ross, Mesa, Cordovox, Valco, Magnatone,....... I can't find a single amp that I can't find something nice to say about.
Minimum wage is $11.00 per hour as I speak in Arizona. I don't know what it is in other states. There is no way to give people an economical Made in THE U.S.A. product anymore. Peavey did it for as long as they could and did it longer than anyone. Things Change. It is bittersweet.
My first peavey was a pacer 45 watts solid state. Now I use a XXX 212 I have 3 XXX 120 heads a Mace head and 212 combo. I also use classic 212 dual 212. I can party with any marshall or mesa. I have been Peavey powered from 1976
well,this is depressing. Mace band amp in '82, Crafted In USA Predator, Turbo switching insane for a $225 kit. Red Stripe SP112, rounded corner screamer. Used this in rehearsals, trouble free. sadly, those amps are gone but i do have a Vypyr 15 (first gen). good apt amp
I was raised on Peavey. Literally, my dad was a peavey sales rep the first 19 years of my life. Its tough to watch how business has changed. China is truly a hellish dystopia, doing business with them was one of the worst things America ever did. Thanks Nixon!
I totally agree with you but I do own 1 new bandit 112 but I got it on a trade but I will not pay for a new peavey I own a lot of the older Peavey and love them but the newer stuff I won’t buy
I see this too frequently about Peavey- the LAST originally owned USA company that hung on LONG AFTER Fender and Gibson had joined the China Train. Hartley Peavey trained more technicians and filed more patents than anyone in the industry from the 60's thru the 2000's and paid the price with a lower non- competitive profit margin that almost put him out of business. Sad, but true. Had he raised his prices and used Peavey's reputation for being indestructible, innovative, powerful, made in USA, and just damn good, reliable equipment, they might still have a more substantial amount of USA made product. Really, Fender and Gibson make only a FRACTION of their products here. Peavey is a great survivor to this day with some fine products coming out of China, we just all wish to see more Peavey American, because of how big and strong (with many factories that where all in the States) they were. Peavey Forever!
I understand the sentiment of this video, but I’m curious about your application. Do you avoid all products that have been outsourced away from America? Do you feel the same way about Mexican made Fenders? What about Apple products? I’d be interested to see if you apply this anything other than guitar gear. Heck, even much of our produce comes from outside America at this point. Are you saying that producing things outside of America is unethical?
It’s impossible to live this sentiment out fully, but we try very hard to support local and make our own when possible. At large, we’ve lost the understanding and appreciation of “enough”. Fender is different because they have a prolonged presence in Mexico and do well by their employees. It is unethical to place profit and efficiency first in your values and loyalties as a manufacturer. We’re also to blame. Consumers demand for lowest price and fastest delivery has killed many small shops and smaller manufacturers.
@@JeremySheppard Thanks for the reply! I agree it's a difficult sentiment to live out, and I also prefer local if possible. And I'd also agree it's partly consumer driven. It seems everyone loves to talk about American made, but then they go buy the absolute lowest cost product on Amazon that was made in China 9 times out of 10. I understand your statement about Fender in Mexico, but I am curious if there's some evidence that Peavey is actually doing anything unethical in China. Producing there may lose jobs here, but may give people meaningful work in China, which to me can be a net zero. Is it known that they are using questionable labor practices or are we just saying that taking Americans' jobs and sending them over seas is unethical? I don't want to act like I love Chinese manufacturing -- I know there can certainly be unethical practices there, but not all them are unethical, and many of them can produce better quality products than America can. And even our American-made companies are usually using electrical components sourced from China anyways. Don't mean to nitpick, but it seems odd to call out Peavey specifically when they are not any sort of exception to the rule. They are doing what most other companies we buy from every day do. That said, I enjoy your videos and appreciate your reply. Looking forward to seeing more great guitars!
I don’t know about Peavy’s current business practices but moving to China doesn’t automatically mean they’re causing suffering in the world. I’m sure the Chinese workers are happy for the work. Peavy mostly sells products at a price range that I don’t think is practical to have made in America anymore. It’s conceivable that moving production overseas was the only way to survive as a brand for them. It’s not a pretty economic reality from an American prospective but it is a reality that companies have to deal with.
People invest in business betting on getting a return. If the company isn't competitive, everyone loses. The 8 Americans, the Asians workers, the American workers, and the investors. As it was, Peavy saved the 8 American workers, the Asian workers, and didn't screw their investors. Best of all, we still get their products and get em cheap! The problem isn't Peavy. It's gov't policies that made it lucrative for companies to mfg overseas. If your competitors do it and you don't, you won't be in business. Business is like life. It's about survival. It's nothing personal. We hunt in the territory we got.
I always thought Peavey made great and simple to use P A Powered Mixers and Speakers . The 680 XRD (made in 1994 till about 1997 or 98) Was a P A Powered Mixer with powerful fat sounds and is easy to Mix and use, And the Peavey 15 inch with a horn cabinets sound very good as well. If you use that system and don't sound good, its not the system. At that time it was still a Peavey USA product. I always thought their Peavey P A systems, Keyboard and Bass Amps were their best products, many may disagree with this, but for me I like using a Fender or Gibson or Gretsch guitar and a Fender or Ampeg or Standell guitar amp, Backed up with a Peavey XRD 680 P A system. I own 4 of their 1996 680 XRD Powered Mixers which i bought brand new, . They have been getting used 3 to 4 times a week since i bought them, And since that time all 4 have only been in the shop for a general cleaning and electrical bath only once. I wrote a letter to Peavey factory telling them this information about my P A Systems and to my great delight Hartley Peavey wrote back to me with a thank you, which i thought was great. Sadly most company's today have left the USA to put Mexicans and Asians to work, I think that is worst thing this country ever did. Its hard not to feel abandoned.
Pick your battles indeed. The truth is that you would not have much if all your products were purchased with the same standard as you are placing with Peavey. Come to Michigan and see how the whole state fell apart, not just a town, when auto's left due to wage's negotiated through union's designed to secure jobs. They negotiated themselves right out of work.
The problem is it's hard to find products made in the us that are affordable, thanks to our greedy unions, and politicians putting big taxes on companies, forcing them to use labor elsewhere. I'm not trying to side fully with these companies, but I do understand that they have to make a profit, and the high inflation here is making it harder and harder.
Interesting! Marshall did this too some years ago,China,India etc,and only the high end stuff made in England! Although let's be honest they've not been that inspiring for about 15years! Looking better lately though.
Here's my tip if you wanna know what amp to buy; ask techs which are the easiest to have serviced. You can thank me later ;-) I've been told that Orange amps are great in that department FWIW
I would recommend that you pose the "sell out' question to Harmon Professional first. They are much bigger co. than Peavey. Look at all the US jobs lost because of their actions. They went over seas way before Peavey did. Marshall, Fender, Vox, Crate, Carven are made overseas. I have to repair this trash that China is putting out. It's shocking. Peavey was the last to go over there, to be competitive. Think of all those US jobs lost because of NAFTA and GAT that was started in the 1990's.
This myth comes from the handling instructions for halogen lamps and people have just assumed that tubes are the same. Halogen lamps have a quartz glass envelope and operate at very high temperatures. If you touch the lamp glass and leave a fingerprint there is danger of a hot spot developing causing the envelope to shatter. Thermionic tubes have soda (I think) glass envelope and (should) run at much lower temperatures than a halogen lamp. Fingerprints on a tube don't cause any problems.
I love my Peavey Classic 20 Head. Love it. I think you are riding a very uninformed High Horse. What about Ford...what about GM and Fender and their Mexico facility which hire no us citizens in any of their plants. , what about Gibson and Kalamazoo, what about the fabrics industry and the Mills that were in Alabama and the south,,,,, what about the steel towns... foundries. What about all the industries that have left cities all across the North and South. Let's bring it up to only a little before your time... What about the plastics industries, Cabot hear of them No? didn't think so what about Celanese Coatings and injection molding. Been to any US injection molding factories lately? . you going to jump on some minuscule example of the global shift because you had a cup of coffee with a one time Peavey factory worker... Our country is fill of this and blasting one of the few Companies still surviving isn't going to do anything but get more people fired. The economy is global now and absolutely NOT the US Economy any more. Peavey started when the economy was national and he's still alive and fighting now that it's global. Your age is showing.
8:15 But Pevey has brought more innovations and value to the electric instruments field than JHS has and probably ever will (JHS ultimately base their bussines in modified classic circuits designed by others). Bear in mind as well that if we all perceive Peavey as a budget company, they simply can´t afford bulding in USA if they want to survive and that is truer every year. Think of the growing number of companies from Asia that offer features at ridiculous prices. Or well stablished companies like Boss, who moved production actually about 35 years ago. I just say there´s a lot of stuff to think about before having a final judgement...
If the average buyer refused to buy outsourced guitars and amplifiers then the jobs would never be outsourced. The reality is the majority of buyers care more about saving money than they do about "Made in the USA". Even the standard Fender line of tube amplifiers and guitars are made in Mexico now, right?
Peavey really dropped the ball and lost the plot a few years ago when the Vypyr pro didn't come out until over a year after it was announced. Also, too many years with zero online marketing. I always wondered why Peavey didn't make demo videos of their products for UA-cam or even their own website. They have all the production facilities, equipment, and talented musicians to make them but for some reason didn't. Fewer people are even taking up an instrument these days and making music with a computer instead. Peavey missed their opportunity to lead this market as well by not properly promoting Re-Valver or building it into a more computer connected modeling amp with presets like the Fender Mustang series. As for the "Made in USA" the entire musical instrument market is shrinking (see my comment above about computer based music) and It's just not possible to compete at the scale of other companies with the higher cost of making things in the USA anymore.
It is a bit of a leap to call Peavey a bad business because they had layoffs. G&L stated they could close down their American factory and they’d make money by doing it. If the US is getting that bad for manufacturing, you should encourage people to vote, not bash American companies trying to survive.
Its not selling out it's called remaining profitable and competitive. Peavey held out longer than most companies in this regard. Don't complain about the American company that does what it has to to remain in business. Write your elected officials. They are the sellouts
Meanwhile, I own an Invective 120, 6505+, Block Letter 5150 and am glad I spent the money because no other amp gives me those type of tones I want for the price. #sorrynotsorry
I get it and you’re not wrong. Peavey has always been best value for the money, especially for high gain. But it is worth thinking about what is most valuable, price, tone, quality of build, impact on workers. This ideology is impossible to completely embody.
i think peavey did a great job moving production to china. to me, theyre creating joy for not just americans anymore but to the whole world, at a cheaper price too so even more people can feel the joy
I have ALWAYS been a huge Peavey fan.... But in all honesty...the worst thing that Hartley Peavey did was put Courtland Grey in the driver's seat!!! There is the trouble!!! Putting that jerk in control cost him his company!!! Hartley Peavey is a manufacturing icon and genius.... If they could get rid of Courtland Grey, and Hartley take control for a while... Great things could (and would) happen!!! I'm not giving up.... I support the Hartley Peavey version (Original and best) version of the company!!!
Chuck Rieger absolutely right. Living 80 miles from meridian, peavey treated me well. I’ve taken amps there for service that were still under warranty and they gave me a brand new one plus a mic and some bags picks and stuff. The tech gave me his name and let me call and did a walk through adjustments on my Wolfgang Dtuna. Such great customer service. Great products for the poor man budget. And then.
Courtland comes across as a bottom line kind of a guy. He doesn't love the company as Hartley Peavey. Hope Hartley finds a duplicate of himself to run Peavey.
From Leo: Jeremy, I think you have a right to be frustrated, but I think your summary is misguided. Peavey got ate up trying to survive in a market where the government and the competition has filled the market with slave labor imports. Do a little research on the government mandated upgrades to the plant would have cost. You cannot spend that kind of money if you don't have it. The Government bureaucrats are a bigger enemy than even a stiff competitive environment. Peavey was the last of the USA common market Musical makers. Frankly, I am surprised they hung on as long as they did. It simply is not apples to oranges comparing a small volume boutique company to a high volume manufacturer that feed hundreds of families. I do not know Hartley Peavey, but I am sure the realities of life are not making him happy either. Fender sold out America in the late 1960's. All the Marshall products I have seen for a while are from Vietnam. The epiphone products are have been third world for a long time. Demonizing a single company for something that is universal across ALL manufacturing is misapplied anger. Auto, appliances, furniture, kitchen wares, clothing, power tools, all American manufacturing i in the same boat, mostly due to poor government policies. Peavey is not the boogie man. PS, I agree with you that the folded circuit board design on that series of Peavey amps are difficult to work on. That said, they are a picnic compared to the new Fender Bassbreakers. I refuse to work on them.
I agree with you, but why the hell didn’t he say anything? He could have had an army of guitar players singing punk songs against globalization.
Nah, he blamed us instead. He blamed Americans, decided we didn’t care about it so they decided not to make it. We loved them as the holdout, and they didn’t holdout, they decided that we were the problem instead of their backers, so fuck em
Not only the government, but also the greedy unions. The unions were great in the 20's; but got greedy and drove up the cost of labor to unreasonable levels. I remember GM workers were making like $55 an hour in the early 2000's and still striking. These companies just can't pay these kind of wages and still compete with the rest of the world
I've never seen a company look worse than Peavy did on Undercover Boss. All the things you mentioned on here were in the episodes conclusion.
Great video and perspective, Jeremy. I started out on a 10-watt Peavey Decade in the early 80s. It's sad to see how Peavey has let opportunity slip away. They could have had similar industry respect as Marshall, Gibson, Fender, etc. The problem was that they tried to compete with everyone. You can't do that and remain successful and relevant.
If they didn't start making things overseas they probably wouldn't be around anymore at all. In my area they hardly are as it is, I rarely see new Peavey products when I'm out shopping. I have a few Peavey amps, and I love them all, but newest one is probably almost 20 years old by now. If people were willing to pay the price for U.S. made products they would still have their 1000's of workers, but everyone wants to get everything for nothing.
True, but the average person can't afford to pay because of the money that these union workers make. The higher the cost of labor, the more the company is going to have to charge, plus factor in the government putting these taxes on these businesses
What about buying used gear? I don't like what they've become, but there is a ton of old stuff on the used market that they won't get any more money from. Hell, the old Peavey gear just won't die, I feel like Keith Richards will have to use it after the rest of us are gone.
You ARE supporting the company if you buy their used products. Most people wouldn't buy a product they knew they couldn't sell.
Roberto Clemente I guess to clarify, when I buy Peavey, I buy the old stuff that was made in Mississippi. And I usually buy it off some dude on Craigslist. This is stuff that Peavey got its money from years ago, they are not getting any money on my transaction. Sure, they might get a little exposure when I gig with it. But I have never bought anything new from Peavey.
I live in Buchanan, Michigan the home of electro-voice. They made their bones 🦴 by inventing the sound system for Knut Rockne’s Norte Dame stadium 🏟. About 8 miles south from here as the crow flies . By the late 50’s It had become a legendary company & the standard bearer for microphones 🎤 & guitar speakers, as well as P.A. systems. they did everything in house & quality was of the utmost importance. Then in the 1980’s ( just as I was reaching the age working a full time job) they started shipping small parts out to be made in other states, then to other company’s, then to other countries, ti’ll everything was made elsewhere. Now the once 24 hour 6 day a week brightly light crown jewel 💎 of of our town is now just 2 or 3 large empty buildings that are falling apart. It’s a sad fact that all these beloved legendary companies built by people who had the vision & fortitude to build these well known names from nothing, but once they let the pencil pushers take over it all goes to hell in a hand basket 🧺 😢
Respect to you, young man. I had no idea. God bless you!
The best amp I ever owned and the worst amp I ever owned were both made by Peavey
The best was a Combo 150 bass amp I bought new in 1980. I played may gigs (possibly 400) from purchase to when I sold it to a friend who needed a bass amp for his bar in 1994. The amp is still going strong; it's on its 2nd speaker (A Black Widow 15) but the amp has never been opened up.
The worst one was a Data Bass. It also had a Black Widow speaker.
That amp was prone to cutting out then coming back on. I almost lost a steady gig with a touring band because of it. I had three techs look at it and I could never duplicate the symptoms to effect a proper repair. After the episode with the touring band, I traded it for a Yorkville and never looked back.
I have nothing good to say about Hartley Peavey.
You are totally right my brother . You are a good American, as a citizen of the world , i'm from Spain, my kids grew up in Panama ,and actually i live in London i see so much shit caused by the economic model imposed for the corporations of your country, actively supported by the government in charge (it doesn't matter dem.or rep.) and backed with the power of the guns ,is a nightmare for. everybody, including yourselves . Yes i had a Peavey in the 80s and as you said ,it was my first , it was an incredible amp. And its amazing but ironic how these mere artefacts are attached to our memories , how much it represent for us ,and how little for the owners of the brand . These guys don't have soul ,and the only way we should strike back is where we can cause them more pain . In his pocket . We need more people like you inside USA . All we love our friends and family ,and love to have a good economy and overall we want peace in the world . Cheers
There are still GOOD people at Peavey. And they resisted offshore production as long as they could. Would you have been happier if they went out of business? Undercover Boss aside, they STILL make good gear. The HP2 is made in plant 3 as well as CA and others. If you went to the headquarters, they don't make stuff there. Hartley can STILL make good gear in the USA but people wont pay for it. They want firefly 335 copies for 139 bucks. Hartley called it the race to the bottom.
are you sure those made in america guitars aren't just necks and parts bought over seas and assembled here.
the predators and reactors were USA made necks and the rest import. Price point instruments. the higher end stuff was all USA. Peavey's forte is manufacturing. they dont anymore sadly
I’m a fan of 90’s Peavey Wolfgang’s. Great guitars, and underrated... in my opinion.
...Made in America 90’s Peavey Wolfgang’s to be exact.
I saw your other Peavey video first... I LOVE that they responded to you! I've had maybe six or seven Peavey classics, starting with the Delta Blues and now with my third Classic 50 stack. I'm glad they're working to improve what they do. Love your channel. Subscribed.
Good video man. My first Peavey amp was a Festival 100 watt head with 2x12 tall cabinet, since then I've had several different models of Peavey along with other brands. Now I have a Fender Mustang GT 100 and a Peavey Classic 30 which is my main amp now. Light weight for a tube amp plenty of power to gig with and a tone monster.
Of course the Peavey Bandit worked fine after you dropped it (3:55) - it's a solid state amp after all (rugged & reliable). It would likely have been a different story if it was a tube amp. And the Bandit is a great sounding amp, in its own right !
Didnt Peavey manufacture amps in state prisons many years ago? I remember something about that.
That was a good piece about thinking where you are spending your money and bringing joy to the world. That’s a nice little amp too but personally I have moved on from tubes and have never regretted it. If you do another video like this please warn folks not to stick their hands in the back of a tube amp until they know what they are doing. You can easily end up on the other side of the room - or worse!! Thanks buddy!!
I used to have a Delta Blues. Had to replace a blown diode. Very tricky. The amp was not made to be repaired. It’s too bad that they have become what they are now.
I started playing in '83 . Never owned or wanted any Peavey. My brother who's a singer loves their American made PA gear. Back in 80's Britain ,the Bandit was popular , but so was Laney's Linebacker and also the Marshall Valvestate amps.
Good opinions here..I’m from a small town built around the furniture industry..it went over seas 20 years ago..some neighboring towns still have not recovered ..mine has. In the end you can’t fault a company for doing this..our laws encourage it...stricter environmental laws and labor laws don’t help businesses in the US..at the same time..you can support or choose not to with your wallet.
Jeremy,
Thank you for the video.
I do remember growing up with the Peavey practice amp. Who knew it was made here?
As I looked at that amp from the video the tubes are hanging up side down. I am sure the bracket or strap holds it. I don’t think so anymore.
Can you use blocks of wood and put it up side down and then try it?
Also after powering up/ warm up the tubes put a very small fan blowing on the inside ?
I can’t believe that the speaker is vibrating the heck out of that poor guy. I don’t know how old it is but if I remember correctly tubes and transformer get toasty.
Thank for the tube inspiration.
My first rig back in the mid-70's was a '64 Fender Duo Sonic II with a Dan Armstrong Blue Clipper (box into the guitar) into a brand spankin' new Peavey Classic 1x12 combo (it was black...not tweed). I made some beautiful, awful noise with that set up. It was a gift from my parents and I still owe the sales person at the music store for talking them into that amp. It was ungodly loud for it's size and price. Add the Dan Armstrong and I could hit a power cord and it would sustain for a week. Sad footnote to a great lower price brand. Love Josh and JHS and I'm glad you name dropped that brand as a good actor in the guitar business.
I have had my Peavey classic 50 head and two cabinets one cabinet is a 410 the other is a 115 I tend to use the 410 mostly for gigs and a 115 pretty much stays home I have had the same since they came out with this Tweed classic 50 Style I believe you would call it I've been using this amp countless gigs it's had its problems I had to change the presence pot not because the pot went bad but because the knob kept falling off when I went to open up the slit in the post of the knob it cracked off so I had to change the pot but I got it from Peavey and I just don't soldered it from the board and installed a new one this amp has been my work horse I believe it has the original tubes in it too it sounds great in either the clean mode or the dirty mode and is very pedal-friendly you can't go wrong with this amp I don't know if mine is made differently because it's older it does not have the effects Loop built into the head like the new ones do sorry if I ramble but I just wanted this to be known
If you buy a used Peavey product, such as that amp, you ARE supporting the company. Without a resale market, a product is usually doomed for the manufacturer. Most people wouldn't buy a product they knew they couldn't sell. I have a friend that will raise hell at people for buying an import car, yet he owns two used import cars! Unreal...but hey, whatever makes a person feel like they "doing something." Great video.
Love your channel man. I like your honesty.
gp Rz, same here. Great videos.
Globalism. I spoke to a Corp consultant. Within few years all production are gonna be in Asian countries. Otherwise,no company would be able to afford to survive. Competition is harsh. Unless people would be willing to work very hard, sacrifice and pay the price to support. Different target customers for different reason. Brand, social status, economic,eco- friendly... etc or personal values. I'm more of the later and I'm with you guys on this. Artisan, hand crafted , local or boutique stuff in scenario of specific need. More quality than quantity. I'm visceral and more at human connection level so it's all or nothing in all relationship. Period.peace out.
Nice video Jeremy! Thanks for the info on Peavey, I wasn't aware.
My best friend's first amp was a Studio Pro 40, and I lusted after that amp. I have since owned a lot of Peavey products - PA amps and mixers and speakers, several Rages, an old Classic combo, a Classic 50 head, a 5150 head, a Studio Pro 112, and I must be leaving some out.
Great video Jeremy. Thanks for raising the question about how we spend money. It’s a powerful reminder to be thoughtful in our decisions so we encourage good in the world, even in something as small as a used amp.
There is a lot of more than half empty parking lots in US industrial districts. Probably taxed and insured right out of this country.
Yeah, that Undercover boss was unexcusable. The one employee was leaving and found a better paying job. Peavey's owner convinces him to stay and then promptly lays him off a few days later. The Owner seems like he just lost his passion and was making poor decision after poor decision.
It's very ha for companies to compete with China, it's often work with them or go under.
Don't try to beat China on cost, cuz you won't. Make high-quality product, establish brand loyalty, go after a different segment to the market. If you plan on making low quality stuff and trying to sell it at a low cost then, yes, you are going to go under.
Godin. Still make all their guitars in Canada or USA. No cheap import line.
@@thephotoyak The Godins I have played are nice also
Got the T-40 bass 2nd hand in 82. Built like a tank, powerful, near to indestructable as an instrument could be. Their older stuff is legendary. I think there are enough folks around who would be proud to say they bought a high-end american made product even if only a limited amount were made.
My first guitar was a Peavey T-60 in late 70's, early 80's. Heavy as hell, built like a tank, and played like nice Tele. Sadly, my platoon pawned it a Ft. Bragg for beer money while I was on maneuvers out of state, and didn't get it back out in time. I'd love to find that original, as today's Peavey instruments just don't move me.
It's not a Mary Kay Stratocaster unless it has gold hardware
Eww.
I just traded a peavey encore tube amp for a classic 50 head unit and sounded good but a different amp great for blues
Wanted a JCM800 got a studio pro delta red stripe....sorry doesn't get the job done. If I had put a celestion in it maybe it gets closer.
never seen a guy with a rolex dig around on the inside of a peavey classic before. good stuff.
Love my 2003 Lousiania Delta Blues 1-15. I play a Godin LST through it and the tone is the best. From Canada. Love my Peavey.
Well it’s 2021 and I work for a company that sells industrial equipment, metal and wood working equipment, 98% of the product comes from China, we have had 8 price increases since 2018, mostly due to the tariffs, and more recently due to COVID supply chain issues and raw material price increases. As an example, a band saw that was selling for $1,100 in late 2017, now sells for $2,150. As our costs go up to manufacture, 100% is passed through to the dealers who pass through to end users…It will only get worse….some have commented that a business can’t survive unless they outsource….maybe…some… but a huge part of the problem is greed…..even as costs to outsource to China or wherever double or triple…at what point does a company consider manufacturing domestically? Sorry to say but the answer is, they won’t…the only one main variable cost in manufacturing, labor costs, they have squeezed the life out of….that decision to not give a fuck about the human element in manufacturing has been made long ago… GREED! Corporations that manufactured in the US and have since outsourced to China pay a fraction of income taxes that they paid in the 1970’s and 80’s and back then, they paid American workers fair wages and still companies grew and millionaires were born every day! GREED! Let’s see if American wages adjust to the hyperinflation we have seen lately. I will bet my Custom Les Paul they don’t!
Good for you , thank you for sharing.
I have a Peavey Classic 30 in white and it's a fantastic amp! Sometimes it does Fender better than Fender lol
But.... it has some issues, of course. It makes this quiet rumbling/crackling noise when its just sitting on, and every now and then there are random volume fluctuations.
I share your sentiments, bro!
Dunno about the amps so much but I can't speak highly enough of peavey bass guitars.
Have a 1993 Peavey Fury Bass, U.S. made, awesome. Few years ago we had a player in studio with a Vypyr amp and Sanpera II foot controller, China made.
The amp was pretty good, the Sanpera was junky - loose, noisy switches, glitchy software.
Just picked up a used one of these for a decent price, will overhaul it if necessary! I have a soldering iron and am not scared to use it!
i have a couple of early 2000s peavey bandit red stripes that like you said...always work. I have other amps but when I need it to work regardless, i often grab a bandit because...it just does. I love the classic series of amps...those sweet over driven tones. if you can find it, check out the undercover boss episode involving peavey.
I used to have one of these a long time ago. Nice little amp. Upgraded to a Marshall combo from it. But, while I had it, it did the job OK for practice purposes.
Hey great vid. I noticed you omit the third in your G chord. I just kinda discovered that. I mean I know the theory of a fifth chord but that usually appears as just a power chord. Take out that third from the open g like that and it sounds great.
There's more than one problem with Peavey. I don't have much like for very many of their products at all. All they offered was tolerable performance at a really good price. I started with a Fender Pro Reverb and the only Peavey I ever owned was a VTM 60 and that only did one thing but did it well. Otherwise it's always been Mesas, Fenders, and Marshalls for me. Got no reason to look at Peavey.
Man I love my classic 410. But I have been burned 3 times with modern Peavey...in a row. One day I walked in the local shop, the vk micros had just come out. I walked out with it. What junk. I sent it to Peavey twice. It never was fixed. Never again.
Ampeg did the same thing. I have a BA-500 made in the USA and it still works great after 20 years. I don’t know how good they are now, but they’re made in China.
Old peavey tube amps are great, easy to work on. Im still running a JSX 120 and a classic 120. Cheap tube power compared to my bogners, oranges, mesa and marshalls.
Wow, that was eye opening. I own a 1993 Envoy 110 35W, and a pristine 1995 Bandit ~ love the things..... But I didn't know the back story. I'll console myself these were made by good people in a better time.
Very well put, however.
This is the first clip of yours I've seen and I'll happily subscribe.
How great can it be if it gives you problems consistently? Their solid state are ok (like the bandit) but I’ve always stayed away from their tubes. Peavey has there place. A cheap low end guitar or amp that will get you by for a short time.
I like 70's and 80's Peavey amps. We fix them up in my shop all the time, and they take minimal work. The "classics" lead to new manufacturer techniques, and are a pain in the bum to work on. As far as Peavey Corp. goes..... yeah, it sucks about the overseas production.... Same goes for Vox and Celestion not being English anymore. Fender is hardly American... and the few that have stayed USA like Gibson have had their own share of issues too. This is partly the reason I became an amp tech.
Look around for a Crate Vintage Club (USA made)... those will surprise you too. As a tech, I've played a LOT of amps... USA Fender, Japan Fender, Epiphone/Electar, Gibson (michigan), MojoTone, Peavey (USA), Ampeg (USA), Vox, Marshall, Kustom, Yamaha, Standel, Gorilla, Randall, Ross, Mesa, Cordovox, Valco, Magnatone,....... I can't find a single amp that I can't find something nice to say about.
Minimum wage is $11.00 per hour as I speak in Arizona. I don't know what it is in other states. There is no way to give people an economical Made in THE U.S.A. product anymore. Peavey did it for as long as they could and did it longer than anyone. Things Change. It is bittersweet.
Thanks for this video Jeremy.
You sir, are not alone.
My first peavey was a pacer 45 watts solid state. Now I use a XXX 212 I have 3 XXX 120 heads a Mace head and 212 combo. I also use classic 212 dual 212. I can party with any marshall or mesa. I have been Peavey powered from 1976
Sorry I use a XXX 112 40 watt amp also
well,this is depressing. Mace band amp in '82, Crafted In USA Predator, Turbo switching insane for a $225 kit. Red Stripe SP112, rounded corner screamer. Used this in rehearsals, trouble free. sadly, those amps are gone but i do have a Vypyr 15 (first gen). good apt amp
I was raised on Peavey. Literally, my dad was a peavey sales rep the first 19 years of my life. Its tough to watch how business has changed. China is truly a hellish dystopia, doing business with them was one of the worst things America ever did. Thanks Nixon!
I totally agree with you but I do own 1 new bandit 112 but I got it on a trade but I will not pay for a new peavey I own a lot of the older Peavey and love them but the newer stuff I won’t buy
Were you playing never gonna change by DBT? I swear dude every video I watch theres a nugget of a song I love.
It was "Keep on Rockin in the Free World" but it's very simliar! I LOOOVE DBT. "Where the Devil Don't Stay" is top notch, or Danko Manuel.
I see this too frequently about Peavey- the LAST originally owned USA company that hung on LONG AFTER Fender and Gibson had joined the China Train. Hartley Peavey trained more technicians and filed more patents than anyone in the industry from the 60's thru the 2000's and paid the price with a lower non- competitive profit margin that almost put him out of business. Sad, but true. Had he raised his prices and used Peavey's reputation for being indestructible, innovative, powerful, made in USA, and just damn good, reliable equipment, they might still have a more substantial amount of USA made product. Really, Fender and Gibson make only a FRACTION of their products here. Peavey is a great survivor to this day with some fine products coming out of China, we just all wish to see more Peavey American, because of how big and strong (with many factories that where all in the States) they were. Peavey Forever!
thanks
I understand the sentiment of this video, but I’m curious about your application. Do you avoid all products that have been outsourced away from America? Do you feel the same way about Mexican made Fenders? What about Apple products? I’d be interested to see if you apply this anything other than guitar gear. Heck, even much of our produce comes from outside America at this point. Are you saying that producing things outside of America is unethical?
It’s impossible to live this sentiment out fully, but we try very hard to support local and make our own when possible. At large, we’ve lost the understanding and appreciation of “enough”.
Fender is different because they have a prolonged presence in Mexico and do well by their employees.
It is unethical to place profit and efficiency first in your values and loyalties as a manufacturer. We’re also to blame. Consumers demand for lowest price and fastest delivery has killed many small shops and smaller manufacturers.
@@JeremySheppard Thanks for the reply! I agree it's a difficult sentiment to live out, and I also prefer local if possible. And I'd also agree it's partly consumer driven. It seems everyone loves to talk about American made, but then they go buy the absolute lowest cost product on Amazon that was made in China 9 times out of 10. I understand your statement about Fender in Mexico, but I am curious if there's some evidence that Peavey is actually doing anything unethical in China. Producing there may lose jobs here, but may give people meaningful work in China, which to me can be a net zero. Is it known that they are using questionable labor practices or are we just saying that taking Americans' jobs and sending them over seas is unethical? I don't want to act like I love Chinese manufacturing -- I know there can certainly be unethical practices there, but not all them are unethical, and many of them can produce better quality products than America can. And even our American-made companies are usually using electrical components sourced from China anyways. Don't mean to nitpick, but it seems odd to call out Peavey specifically when they are not any sort of exception to the rule. They are doing what most other companies we buy from every day do.
That said, I enjoy your videos and appreciate your reply. Looking forward to seeing more great guitars!
This is why I use a Peavey Bandit. No tubes = no problem
I don’t know about Peavy’s current business practices but moving to China doesn’t automatically mean they’re causing suffering in the world. I’m sure the Chinese workers are happy for the work. Peavy mostly sells products at a price range that I don’t think is practical to have made in America anymore. It’s conceivable that moving production overseas was the only way to survive as a brand for them. It’s not a pretty economic reality from an American prospective but it is a reality that companies have to deal with.
I love my hot rod deluxe 111 brilliant platform amp for pedals
Ya look up the undercover boss episode
Seen peavey the owner in a1993 trade show !! And i could remember him say! I would never make anything over sea!! Yea lol.
My guitarist had the 30 watt one, the multi pcb design is terrible, I wouldn't rely on one.
People invest in business betting on getting a return. If the company isn't competitive, everyone loses. The 8 Americans, the Asians workers, the American workers, and the investors.
As it was, Peavy saved the 8 American workers, the Asian workers, and didn't screw their investors. Best of all, we still get their products and get em cheap!
The problem isn't Peavy. It's gov't policies that made it lucrative for companies to mfg overseas. If your competitors do it and you don't, you won't be in business.
Business is like life. It's about survival. It's nothing personal. We hunt in the territory we got.
What’s the story with Hamer? Great USA company at one time...then everything was made overseas....
I always thought Peavey made great and simple to use P A Powered Mixers and Speakers . The 680 XRD (made in 1994 till about 1997 or 98) Was a P A Powered Mixer with powerful fat sounds and is easy to Mix and use, And the Peavey 15 inch with a horn cabinets sound very good as well. If you use that system and don't sound good, its not the system. At that time it was still a Peavey USA product. I always thought their Peavey P A systems, Keyboard and Bass Amps were their best products, many may disagree with this, but for me I like using a Fender or Gibson or Gretsch guitar and a Fender or Ampeg or Standell guitar amp, Backed up with a Peavey XRD 680 P A system. I own 4 of their 1996 680 XRD Powered Mixers which i bought brand new, . They have been getting used 3 to 4 times a week since i bought them, And since that time all 4 have only been in the shop for a general cleaning and electrical bath only once. I wrote a letter to Peavey factory telling them this information about my P A Systems and to my great delight Hartley Peavey wrote back to me with a thank you, which i thought was great. Sadly most company's today have left the USA to put Mexicans and Asians to work, I think that is worst thing this country ever did. Its hard not to feel abandoned.
Pick your battles indeed. The truth is that you would not have much if all your products were purchased with the same standard as you are placing with Peavey.
Come to Michigan and see how the whole state fell apart, not just a town, when auto's left due to wage's negotiated through union's designed to secure jobs. They negotiated themselves right out of work.
Yeah, I'm discouraged with Peavey as of late myself.
The problem is it's hard to find products made in the us that are affordable, thanks to our greedy unions, and politicians putting big taxes on companies, forcing them to use labor elsewhere. I'm not trying to side fully with these companies, but I do understand that they have to make a profit, and the high inflation here is making it harder and harder.
Great content sir
Interesting! Marshall did this too some years ago,China,India etc,and only the high end stuff made in England! Although let's be honest they've not been that inspiring for about 15years! Looking better lately though.
Here's my tip if you wanna know what amp to buy; ask techs which are the easiest to have serviced. You can thank me later ;-) I've been told that Orange amps are great in that department FWIW
I hear so many mixed emotions about Peaveys like to try one some day.
I would recommend that you pose the "sell out' question to Harmon Professional first. They are much bigger co. than Peavey. Look at all the US jobs lost because of their actions. They went over seas way before Peavey did. Marshall, Fender, Vox, Crate, Carven are made overseas. I have to repair this trash that China is putting out. It's shocking. Peavey was the last to go over there, to be competitive. Think of all those US jobs lost because of NAFTA and GAT that was started in the 1990's.
Thought it ruined tubes to touch them with your bare hands. I've heard that for 45 years.
it's a myth
This myth comes from the handling instructions for halogen lamps and people have just assumed that tubes are the same. Halogen lamps have a quartz glass envelope and operate at very high temperatures. If you touch the lamp glass and leave a fingerprint there is danger of a hot spot developing causing the envelope to shatter. Thermionic tubes have soda (I think) glass envelope and (should) run at much lower temperatures than a halogen lamp. Fingerprints on a tube don't cause any problems.
I got a usa peavey predator. I love peavey.
I love my Peavey Classic 20 Head. Love it. I think you are riding a very uninformed High Horse. What about Ford...what about GM and Fender and their Mexico facility which hire no us citizens in any of their plants. , what about Gibson and Kalamazoo, what about the fabrics industry and the Mills that were in Alabama and the south,,,,, what about the steel towns... foundries. What about all the industries that have left cities all across the North and South. Let's bring it up to only a little before your time... What about the plastics industries, Cabot hear of them No? didn't think so what about Celanese Coatings and injection molding. Been to any US injection molding factories lately? . you going to jump on some minuscule example of the global shift because you had a cup of coffee with a one time Peavey factory worker... Our country is fill of this and blasting one of the few Companies still surviving isn't going to do anything but get more people fired. The economy is global now and absolutely NOT the US Economy any more. Peavey started when the economy was national and he's still alive and fighting now that it's global. Your age is showing.
those amps eat tubes...too close to the speaker and tube rattle kills the tubes...not to mention the filter caps are garbage
8:15 But Pevey has brought more innovations and value to the electric instruments field than JHS has and probably ever will (JHS ultimately base their bussines in modified classic circuits designed by others).
Bear in mind as well that if we all perceive Peavey as a budget company, they simply can´t afford bulding in USA if they want to survive and that is truer every year.
Think of the growing number of companies from Asia that offer features at ridiculous prices. Or well stablished companies like Boss, who moved production actually about 35 years ago.
I just say there´s a lot of stuff to think about before having a final judgement...
The company went to crap when hartley left the company and other people were in charge.
If the average buyer refused to buy outsourced guitars and amplifiers then the jobs would never be outsourced. The reality is the majority of buyers care more about saving money than they do about "Made in the USA". Even the standard Fender line of tube amplifiers and guitars are made in Mexico now, right?
Open up that little Classic 20 and try to work on it. I'd rather straddle an electric fence.
Hahahah, you’re completely right.
Ha that was the cheap electric I first got and it was awful. It was a peavey patriot. Couldn’t bend those strings for the life of me.
Peavey really dropped the ball and lost the plot a few years ago when the Vypyr pro didn't come out until over a year after it was announced. Also, too many years with zero online marketing. I always wondered why Peavey didn't make demo videos of their products for UA-cam or even their own website. They have all the production facilities, equipment, and talented musicians to make them but for some reason didn't. Fewer people are even taking up an instrument these days and making music with a computer instead. Peavey missed their opportunity to lead this market as well by not properly promoting Re-Valver or building it into a more computer connected modeling amp with presets like the Fender Mustang series. As for the "Made in USA" the entire musical instrument market is shrinking (see my comment above about computer based music) and It's just not possible to compete at the scale of other companies with the higher cost of making things in the USA anymore.
It is a bit of a leap to call Peavey a bad business because they had layoffs. G&L stated they could close down their American factory and they’d make money by doing it. If the US is getting that bad for manufacturing, you should encourage people to vote, not bash American companies trying to survive.
That’s why I buy USA made when it makes sense to.
Its not selling out it's called remaining profitable and competitive. Peavey held out longer than most companies in this regard. Don't complain about the American company that does what it has to to remain in business. Write your elected officials. They are the sellouts
You're not even going to buy a used Peavey product?
Meanwhile, I own an Invective 120, 6505+, Block Letter 5150 and am glad I spent the money because no other amp gives me those type of tones I want for the price.
#sorrynotsorry
I get it and you’re not wrong. Peavey has always been best value for the money, especially for high gain. But it is worth thinking about what is most valuable, price, tone, quality of build, impact on workers. This ideology is impossible to completely embody.
i think peavey did a great job moving production to china. to me, theyre creating joy for not just americans anymore but to the whole world, at a cheaper price too so even more people can feel the joy