Who Makes Peavey Amplifiers?

• Peavey Electronics is one of the few major manufacturers of musical products largely produced in the United States. With headquarters based in Meridian, Miss., founder and CEO Hartley Peavey's hometown, Peavey is among the state's largest private employers. Although Peavey operates 33 manufacturing plans throughout the world, most of its products are manufactured in Mississippi's 18 plants.
  
  Hartley Peavey began building amplifiers in his parent's basement in the 1950s. His combo amps and heads became so popular, that he started Peavey Electronics in 1965 with the intention of building quality amplifiers at affordable prices. Peavey, realizing the need for value-priced PA systems, soon expanded his operation into sound system territory, which gave him the needed profitability for further research and development of amplifier heads and other products.
  
  

What Were Early Peavey Design Features?

• Peavey was an early pioneer in reliable solid-state amplifier electronics. While the company did and still does produce tube amplifiers, Peavey recognized the potential for development of alternative circuitry. The earliest production models in the 1970s sported features not available on most tube amps of the time and included graphic equalizers, master volume controls and patch bays to allow multiple amp and accessory connections. Both combo speaker-amp units and separate head and cabinet models were produced, from small beginner amps to large concert-worthy behemoths.
  
  

What Are Peavey's Earliest Models?

• Early Peavey amplifier models were designated by series and number, such as the Series 50, with the series number usually designing the amplifier's wattage. Toward the middle of the 1970s, Peavey changed their marketing strategy and introduced amplifier lines such as the Artist, Vintage, Session, and Pacer series. The 1980s saw the new Renown, Bandit, Backstage, Classic and the Mark series of combo amplifiers and heads.
  
  

What About Peavey Tube Amplifiers?

• With the popularity of larger amps in the mid-1980s, and a renewed interest in high-power tube amplifier heads, Peavey came through with another group of amplifier models. Edward Van Halen helped Peavey develop the 5150 tube head from his own specifications, which still remains a best seller. Older model lines were revamped, using new mosfet transistors, and hybrid technology to emulate the sound of tube amplifiers, without the reliability issues. As with all Peavey amplifiers, extra features were added, which made the amps even more versatile and user friendly. Parametric equalizers, multi-effects, channel switching, and patch bays showed Peavey's commitment to value-added products.
  
  

How Do Peavey Amps Fare in the Vintage Market?

• Peavey amplifiers have always held their value, but are not yet up to par with other amplifiers and heads in the vintage market. Although there are several models that are desirable, particularly earlier tube Classics and Vintage models and 5150s, these amplifiers are still valued in the used, rather than the true vintage market. Early Peavey transistor amplifiers were manufactured during the development of solid state technology, and many amplifiers of that era suffer the same value fate. Although Peavey products have a reputation for reliability, early primitive components used in all amplifiers of the 1970s and 1980s era limit sound capabilities, thus limiting their value.