Peavey Bandit 112 II (Made in USA) (Discontinued)

I purchased this amp 2 years ago at Renaissance Music in Kingston, Ontario for $600 CDN.

I was looking for an amplifier with kickass sound, loud enough for gigging, and that wouldn't break the bank in the process. For my budget, a good tube amp (which I really wanted) was out of the question. I was never very impressed with the distortion sound of solid-state amps.

The salesman pointed me to this amp and I was a little skeptical at first. I had already owned an older Peavy Bandit 112, and the lead sound sucked without an external distorion.

However, the second I heard this one, I fell in love! It pumps out 80W through the internal 8 ohm speaker, or 100W through an external 4 ohm cabinet.

SOUND SOUND SOUND! This amp has tone like nobody's business. The 'transtube' circuitry really emulates that 'edge' you get from a tube preamp.

Both lead and clean channels are very versatile. Clean channel has 2 settings 'Modern' and 'Vintage'. Vintage gives you that classic 'popping' type sound siilar to old Fender Twins. Crank a Strat or Tele through this, and it's like being back in the 70s. Also excellent for country.

The Modern setting gives a thicker, warmer sound.

Ol the Lead channel, you get 3 settings; Modern, Vintage, and a 3rd, unlabelled setting. Vintage gives your that old classic tube overdrive sound with lots of treble and mid to spare. It sounds incredibly like an old Marshall tube combo I used to own.

The 'unlabelled' setting is heavy and bassy; excellent for heavy metal. I can almost perfectly match Metallica's sound from the 'Black' album on this setting. There's plenty of tooth rattling power using this setting.

Modern sounds like a combination of both the other sounds. This setting gives you absolutely STUPID levels of distorion and tone; even a little too much for me. However, if you need to cut though with a blistering lead, this is definately the setting. I was jamming with a friend and his 150 W Crate half stack, and I can bury his rythm guitar playing leads on this setting.

Absolutely amazing!

The amp is almost flawless, for all intents and purposes. I could certainly make slight improvements on the design, like making the 5 different modes switchable from a footswitch, rather than from switches on the amp.

Also, I would prefer if the foot switch controlled Channel and Reverb rather than Channel and Effects Loop.

This amp is built like a tank. It's solid, and the controls are nice and smooth. I don't think you could improve on this design even if you wanted to.

I have never seen such a versatile amplifier at this price range. This amp kicks serious ass, regardless of what type of music you play. The only amps I'm aware of that have this wide range of versatility are Mesa Boogie, which cost 3 - 4 times more.

Even if you've sworn off of solid state amps, you should take a look at this baby. There's a lot of goodness in this package.



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

I am starting to become a big fan of Peavey products. I like their approach to metal tones. They have a really great sustain and presence that I don't hear in Mesa or Marshall circuits. It definitely is a different beast all together than a Mesa Orange or Marshall amplifiers.


Peavey Bandit 112 Features:
80 watts (rms) into 8 ohms
100 watts (rms) into 4 ohms (w/external speaker)
12" Blue Marvel speaker
High and Low gain inputs
TransTube tube emulation circuitry
Footswitchable clean and lead channels (footswitch not included)
3-band passive EQ on each channel
3-position EQ/Gain Voicing switch on each channel
Reverb with level control
Footswitchable boost with level control
1/4" stereo speaker simulated direct out jack with level control

UTILIZATION

Detail
Type Solid State
Number of Channels 2
Power 80W, 100W
Speakers 1 x 12" Blue Marvel
No Effects
Reverb Yes
EQ Low, Mid, High
No Amp Modeling
Number of Tubes 0
Preamp Tubes No Tubes
Power Tubes No Tubes
Inputs 2 x Instrument
Outputs 1 x Speaker, 1 x Speaker Simulated Direct Out (1/4")
Footswitch I/O Yes
Effects Loop Yes

SOUNDS

I like all Peavey's with a Gibson Les Paul or another humbucking style pickup. Since they are such a metal focused amp company you really need those double coils to get that distortion you are looking for when you buy a Peavey amplifier. The sustain it out of this world. The tone is going to sound a little solid state which can be good or be bad depending on how you look at it. It is going to have a different character than a tube amp from Peavey.

One great feature in this amp is the speaker simulated output. That means you can run a mic out from your amp directly into the PA system or recording device. These seem to be starting a trend in line out operation.

OVERALL OPINION

For the money this is a great amplifier. At new these combo amps come in at around $330. Not a bad price for a well built amp and the ability to go direct for recording and direct into the house PA system.

I would recommend this amp to anyone who wants a solid metal tone and needs something that will be portable and convenient for gigging or practicing at home.

AMP PEAVEY BANDIT 112 SECOND GENERATION.A TRANSISTOR AMP ONE BUT THE LIGHTS ... A VERY GOOD 80 WATTS / 100watts
OUT IN AND OUT SUP HP EFFECTS LOOP
IN / OFF. CLEAR CHANNEL BASS MEDIUM HIGH. CHANNEL SATURATED MEDIUM HIGH BASS. REVERB BOOST.

USE

VERY SIMPLE. TU BRANCHES. YOU TURNED THE BUTTON IN EVERY SENSE AND YOU FOUND YOUR SON. THE CLEAN IN METAL. ALL IS GOOD. MUCH BETTER THAN THE NUMBER OF AMPS EVEN LAMPS.

SOUNDS

I PLAY METAL SO CLEAN AND BIG BIG MEGA SOUND. BE WITH SATURATION OF OR COMBO WITH BOSS MT2. DOES IT SOUNDS GRAVE. LOW VOLUME AT HOME ON THE SAME MAY HAVE THAT HIS IBE CD OF VERY KNOWN AND REPEAT THE FACT DOES IT GRAVE. POSSIBLE TO CONNECT A 2 E.

NOTICE GLOBAL

I USED SINCE THE BIRTH MA. DOES IT WOULD BE COOL D ENFAIRE ONE WITH HEAD PART. WHAT DOES IT ... I HAVE MANUFACTURED UNDER HEAVY SCALE TO TRANSPORT. ALL I HAVE TRIED BEFORE. LINE 6 ... MARSHALL EETC ... HE WELL LIT AND THAT THE TU TU CHEEKS. T AND ES never disappointed

Transistor amplifier of 80W into 8 ohms and 100W into 4 Ohms.

Classical setting:
Clean Switch / saturated facade or footswitch
EQ Low, Mid and Treble per Channel
Thrash Switch (Decreases Acute boosted channel)
Bright switch (boosts the treble and brilliance of sound)
Potentiometers Reverb, Presence.
Resonance switch (adds the bass and body to your sound)

and finally, T Dynamics potentiometer which reduces somewhat the power granted to HP without lowering the power of the power amp. Which reduced the gap a little momentum (a sort of built-limit).

UTILIZATION

Very easy to use, the sound is excellent in the clear and associated with a good distortion is downright monstrous.

The principle is simple, this amp transistor simulates the operation of the lamps and get there much. The sound is big without being intrusive, the highs are clear without being garish and mediums are just balanced.

SOUNDS

This amp matches the style that I made (mostly Metal) and associated with a Dod Death Metal is really the top.

It comes easily to "big sound" without problems and without needing a high end guitar (my guitar is rather modest and has single coil pickups).

As against the distortion of the amp lacks a bit of power and saturation (but compared to Death Metal is normal). For a softer style of Metal (or different styles) this amp is perfect. I find it very versatile and it provides in all disciplines.

After all depends on your guitar or your effects pedals.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since 2000 and he never fails. I can trust him. My Bandit 112 also follows me on stage and he was always in great shape and never falter (either medium or high volume).

With him I am to be at ease on stage and peace of mind for the concert, which is not negligible.