AMPLIFIER- 1983 PEAVEY BANDIT 65 ... used on Metallica's first LP ???

 1983 PEAVEY BANDIT 65 

Rumours abound but and gossip persists but even so the word around the Metal and YouTube scene is that Metallica and then followed by many other bands all through the 80's were use the 1983-1986 Peavey Bandit 65. It was a killer studio amp for Metal sounds although to be fair it was likely used more for overdubs and double tracking.

The Plexi still reigned supreme followed soon after JCM 800's.

So what's the big deal. I thought it was just another trashy solid state amp. Well the Peavey has a solid low end and and a fast percussive attack. It tightens up a Marshall track because the Marshall is not big on any chopping bite or to use todays jargon it does not 'Chug' and it depends on the resonance of a 4x12 cabinet to get it's famous low end 'Thump'. Pushed by a heavy Fuzz or a hardclipper OD like a ProCo Rat it gives you killer Death Metal and other Metal Genres that need dirt and mass and breadth over Tube tones.

The word got around to other studio's that were recording Metal bands in the 80's and 90's and they all grabbed one. These amps were new, cheap and dead easy to get. It was a nobrainer to have one.

By the time 2000 hit they dropped out of favour as the good early gourmet amps arrived.

CONCLUSION

Well I have been looking for a good reliable cheap and compact backup amp for some time now. A Peavey Bandit even a made in China new one could do the job.

I just got lucky. The recent thing about the 1983 and having a mint condition one

show upon Kijiji all at once. In fact I just got it hours before writing this Post.

I paid $280.00 USD. Right know a beat up one might be even $100.00 USD. 

BIG BUT ...there are a lot of home studio's these days and a lot of guys with small money that would love to have an amp with 'credentials'.

So if you want one ...now is the time!

FENDER DELUXE REVERB vs. THE PEAVEY BANDIT  ???

The thing about all subsequent Peavey Bandit amps as just like the many Fender Deluxe Reverb amps. They are all the same ...BUT different :-)