Peavey Studio Pro 40

I bought this Amp from my old teacher's brother used for 5o bucks! I was just starting out on the electric guitar and needed an amp, and this one is still with me today. It's a 1986 A model.

The excellent clean or distorted sounds you can get from this are beyond superb. It produces a great, thick warm sound with distortion that sounds great for lead licks. This thing also cranks out the sound. It is just the right size for playing at home or with my band when we're recording. Sounds great for one guitar.

Not really all that much I don't like. The reverb will short out every now and then, but it's nothing a little 'Fonzie Hit' can't fix, this is more than likely due to it's age (most of the time i keep reverb off and use my pedel to get the reverb i want). Also, when two guitars are plugged into it at the same time it gets a little muddy sounding and the stronger guitar will win the battle of the sound.

Very sturdy design, this thing has been to many places and it seems to be beggin' for me to take it somewhere else.
The controls give you a good range for sound possibilities.
The thing can fill up a room with warm sound.

I love this thing. It just has a great overall sound to it, and for 50 bucks, something's wrong with you if you don't buy it. This thing has definitely helped me grow as a guitarist and I haven't needed another amp since...

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this guitar amp brand new in 1984 at American Music in Vancouver, Washington. I think I might have paid $150.00 to $200.00 not really sure. I had bought a Memphis les paul copy while in college that same year at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. and needed a amp for it. At the time I did not know much about Peavey and the price was just right for my needs. My only other amp ever owned before that was a brand new Fender Twin Reverb my parents bought me in 1966 along with a electric Lyle guitar (Fender type style). Anyway I had long ago sold these and wanted to get back into electric guitar.

I have had this amp now for 20 years and it is still going strong. I have played with many other Studio Pro 40 amps but none so far has the same great sound as this one. I do not know the reason for this. It is always reliable, never breaks down and keeps cranking. I like the sound from this amp so much I blend it in with my Peavey Classic 100 tube amp, 4 x 10 cabinet and 1 x 15 cabinet speakers. I wire them all together along with my guitar effects so that the Studio Pro 40 is nearest to me and I can hear it blending in with the other amp sounds. In larger spaces I will mike all the speakers seperatly, run them through my mixer, blend each channel and out to my PA system. It sounds great.

I have not been able to get a very good sound (to me) using this amp with my Fender Strat. This is probally due to my personal taste. I mainly use a 1980 Gibson Les Paul Standard or even my old Memphis copy with this amp set up. I am not into the ventures twangy sounds but rather the heavey marshall and Gibson les paul sounds. But of course the sound can all be adjusted by using the correct guitar effects.

The construction is unsurpassed. This unit has never failed me and always cranks when I need to. It has great volume and control adjustments.

If you would like a great practice amp at a fair value price I would look around for a Peavey Studio Pro 40 amp at your local pawn shops, newspaper, music store (used) or even e-bay. But I would caution you to try several of these units until you find the one that sounds best to you. As I have said earlier not all Studio Pro 40 amps sound the same. I have tried newer model in the last 10 years and they just did not measure up to my 1983-84 model. If this helps you might try looking for a amp close to this the 83/84 model. Just look on the back of the unit on the serial plate. Mine says 83D along with the serial number which I do not feel comfortable listing here. But remember it is all a matter of personal choice and taste. What I like you may not.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com