Peavey MS 412 Slant

Peavey has always had a reputation for building gear that could practically withstand an atomic bomb blast. The first offered opinion of Peavey by most experienced users is "It's built like a tank!".

The 300-watt, 412MS Mono-Stereo guitar cabinet is indeed built to last. It weighs in at a hefty 97lbs with speakers loaded, and features metal-reinforced corners, black metal speaker grille, and a combination MDF/Plywood construction covered in durable black tolex. Recessed heavy-duty handles allow the cab to be moved by hand, or it can be rolled using the included casters. At nearly 100lbs, most users would rather just roll it!

The cab is switchable from mono to stereo operation, and is rated for 16 ohms mono, or 8 ohms per-side stereo. It comes loaded with Peavey Sheffield 1290 speakers, which are Peavey's take on Celestion G12-75T's.

Size-wise, the 412MS is somewhere between a Marshall 1960, and a Mesa Oversized 4X12. The speakers are front-loaded, to maximize cab seal, which benefits low-end response.

I wasn't particularly a fan of the Sheffield 1290's, although they weren't bad speakers at all. But they were very unforgiving in the mid range. As a result, amps sounded more aggressive, and sometimes boxy. I found they responded best at super high volumes, which obviously isn't always an option, even in the largest of venues.

Swapping them out for my favorite Celestion Vintage 30's made this cab the perfect 4x12 for metal and hard rock. Those who favor more classic tones would favor loading it with Greenback-style speakers. If you already have 4 speakers of choice to load into the 412MS, then purchasing one is an excellent value, as they go used for well under $200 in some cases. An unloaded Avatar 4x12 goes for twice that.

The input jack assembly is also well made, with two input jacks and sliding mono-stereo switch. The assembly is mounted to the rear panel with 4 heavy screws. The speakers themselves are mounted with 4 screws each into metal T-inserts in the front baffle. Additional screws can be added at your discretion.

All-in-all, the Peavey 412MS is an incredible value for those that want a 4x12 Speaker cabinet that is built to last and can be upgraded.

This is a Peavey cabinet with Sheffield speakers, which is the Peavey equivalent of Celestions. It is switchable between mono and stereo, is rugged but not too heavy, has wheels, and can really take a beating on stage or on the road between gigs. The speakers sound really full and can produce great tones at a variety of volumes. In the nearly ten years I have owned this cab I've never had any problems with anything rattling inside the cab, nor any buzzing from the speakers.

The front grill of the cabinet is metal and removable, making it relatively easy to paint. This is great for customizing your own rig and giving your band (or just yourself) a really unique look.

I was lucky enough to have bought this cab for $100 from a family member! I'll probably never sell it, unless I really need to scale down the size of my rig. I liked this cabinet so much that I had to seek out a matching straight cab (bottom, not slanted cab) that cost me four times as much and was not in as good condition. However, with both of those cabinets paired together, it makes for the ultimate full-stack.

For live, I think this is an excellent cabinet, due to its ruggedness and consistent sound. I have used it to record, but in my opinion, a better tone can be found with a more expensive branded, single 12" cabinet, such as a Mesa Boogie with a Black Shadow speaker or a higher-end Marshall with a Celestion.

If you can get one used, just check out the sound first to make sure there aren't any problems, and you'll probably be good for a long time with one of these. Just keep in mind that this cabinet is only going to sound as good as the amplifier that it is paired with. I have used this cab with a Fender Roc Pro 1000, a Marshall JCM2000, and a Mesa Boogie Single Rectifier, and by far the Single Rect had the best sound through this cabinet.