Peavey Alpha Bass

Neat looking rack mount tube bass head with graphic eq and pretty much standard tone controls/features. I got this for use on the excellent Ampeg SVT-410HLF 4x10 4ohm cabinet. This head has the looks of a smart MODERN bass amp.
160 all tube watts.

Not a very "tubey" sounding amp I am sorry to say. I expect an all tube amp to have a warm and buttery tone but this one was way too clean for me. My Ampeg SVT-450H solid state head was much more "tube-like" than the Alpha Bass. This is odd as the Peavey Classic 400 is known a a VERY warm and rich texture tube bass amp. I had mistakenly assumed the Alpha would be a lower wattage version of the Classic 400.

This gets a 10.
Peavey has a legendary reputation for reliability. I purchased the Alpha Bass used and it appeared as quite heavily worn but all functions and controls worked perfectly.

Another 10.
Peavey has a great website and I had no problem acquiring a manual for this head. Customer service is quick and helpful. They were able to immediately provide me with information on this long discontinued item.

Sorry,the disappointing tone makes me low ball the rating here.
I bought this Peavey amp on Ebay for a very reasonable price. Even though I already had a superb Ampeg SVT-450H I couldn't pass up the opportunity to obtain an all tube bass head. I used the Alpha Bass on the exact same 4ohm 4x10 cab as the 450 and was just amazed at how much better the Ampeg sounded. This is maybe not an indication of the Peavey's weakness but more so the superiority of the Ampeg.
I ended up re-selling the Peavey back on Ebay. I admit that I am primarily interested in vintage/classic bass tone. I play USA Fender passive Jazz and Precision basses with flatwound strings. A more modern bassist with an active bass and roundwounds might be happier.

I play funk and blues only - this is a perfect amp for those styles. A single channel at a time - 1 input for high output basses (my Ibanez SB900 Sabre) 1 input for low output 'passive' basses. Plenty of power for small to medium clubs I play. All tube - 4 preamp, 6 6L6 power tubes. 160 watts at 4 ohms

I use it with both active and passive basses - prefer the active sound - more control. Quiet as a mouse for a huge 40 lbs of sound. As clean as you want.

Dependable, but got it used for $199.00 - not sure how old the tubes are and until I know for sure, I take a Peavey Megabass as backup (see that review as well).

Haven't had to deal with Peavey - got it from a local dealer and live half a mile from a major Peavey dealer.

Been playing bass two years - have a Peavey Megabass head, Mesa Boogie Diesel Cab 15 inch EV, SWR Goliath Jr II (scorpion equipped right now - swr 10s are out for reconing), Hartke VXL Bass Attack, Ibanez SB900 Sabre 4 string, Washburn Lyon LB40 4 string, MSC 4 string.

I've heard this head is an early 1990's make but the stamp on the head I bought had 2003 stamped on it. Re-issue? This amp is extremely versitile. I am not a huge fan of Peavey due t the fact that they are usually ugly and in my personal experience not to reliable (bass amps anyways). I was needing an amp and i saw it in the local music shop for $250. The eq setting on this amp is a little too common for Peavey but tweeked just right it can sound incredible.

I run a Hamer Cruise Bass 4 string through this head and I have no complaints. With the natural bottom end of the bass it sounds good. I have the head mounted in an SKB rack with a BBE Sonic Maximizer (model 462)...with it the rig has an amazing tone. I currently have the head mated to a Hartke 4/10 Bass cab (Professional series, aluminum cone speakers). I often like to D-tune my Low E on te bass for a Low D and the amp has no problem with the lower frequency. The only thing I would really change it the pre pot. Replace it with a pot that has a bit more throw to it and better definition.

This is very reliable. A week after I bought it there was a horrible chanking sound that was being amplified through the cab when I played. I took the head in and it turns out a couple of the power amp tubes were toast. The shop re-tubed the head with Sovtech tubes and the amp sounds alot better with the new tubes and has alt more power. The 12AT7 preamp refticier tube I replaces with an Electro-Harmonix. The sound is incredible. This head has a pretty solid chassis and made with a thick gauge steel.

I havent had to call Peavey for anything. I was able to download the owners manual off their website with no problem. The guitar shop was extremely helpfull. The head was re-tubes free of charge.

I've been playing for over 10 years now and only one other amp comes close. If I had the choice, I'd have both heads rubbing together. The other amp I had that was very comparable was an SWR Bass 350. It had 350+ watts and could push a 2 ohm load easily, also the "Aural Enhancer" capability of the amp made it amazing. I run a BBE Sonic Maximizer (as i said earlier) with this head and it makes a huge difference. If you can find one in good shape...buy it. You'll never look back.

this amp had to be built early 90's, it was given to me in exchange for lawyers fees when i was arrested with a friend at age 16, i'm now 28, got hooked up by lawyer friend of the family. i play hardcore and metal feels with a 5 string ibanez for fun, sounds good with that, and play funky musical gigs on an ovation acoustic 4 string a couple times a week, the 9 band eq and high mid low settings combined always make it sound right, i also picked up a washburn compressor for a lil help, i recomend some kind of compressor, maybe yours came with it built in, i don't know that it was an option. its got 160watts rms @4 ohms, and a 2 ohm jack as well, never used it, (from front left to right) - high and low inputs, pre and post gain adjustments, eq on/off, bright on/off (i always use the eq & never use the bright)low, mid, high adjustments, send & return efx loop jacks, 9 band eq, seperate power and standby switches(wait til your tubes are glowing orange before turning on the stndby switch)on the back of the amp theres the 4 ohm and 2 ohm spkr outs i already mentioned, jacks for pre amp out, power amp in, line out with variable knob, remote switch jack, and direct out for a mixer or pa, also a hum balance adjuster, and 3 way switch for power polarity switching...+ o -, this helps eliminate hum when playing a gig at a bar (or maybe your house)with old, crappy, or incorrect A/C wiring... dig it? once i played a show where the band after us was starting late and wanted to get playin so i let the next bass player use my rig, it wasn't loud enough for him, oh well. my alpha bass is tube definately and solid state as well, from what i've been told, if i ever need to get it serviced again i'll ask the tech.

first and definately important, right now i'm plugged into a hartke single 15" cabinet, i payed $150 for it used, i'm pretty sure it's near entry level, it sounds good, clear. i used to play through a sonic cabinet w/ ev spkrs (1)18" (2)10", it was as clear and definately louder,with more low end, but thats not rocket science.i've tried other spkr cabs and combos, i recommend bringing it with you when you go to pick a cabinet, choose wisely grasshoper. most frequently i play hardcore/ metal on a 5 string ibanez, its an old axstar, headless w/ active pick ups, only one i've ever seen, think i got it when i was 17. lately i've been playin my ovation acoustic 4 string through it alot for gigs, and recently i was given a 69 fender p bass when the original owner passed away at 87 yrs, thanks bro, never knew what i was missin. a few months back it started to hum when i took my hands off the strings, in 12 years i never knew about the outlet polarity switch on the back, problem solved, my fan isn't to noisy, no one ever commented on it and it has never over heated. you can hit the bright button on, crank up the pre gain to full and then gradually bring up the post for a home made overdrive/distortion effect, i do it once n a while, get nuts for the f*** of it. i never really conciously go to full volume, i've been there and its not to bad when everthang is loud but cmon, nothin is clear when your balls out.

i mentioned the hum, only problem i've ever had with this amp and i'm just an ass, literally found the polarity switch last weekend played a gig that night, no problem, good show. in the near 12 years i've owned this amp i've re-tubed it once, 9 years ago. maybe i'm missin somethin, power due to tube fetigue? they all glow and don't rattle or make noise, maybe i'll re-tube it for the hell of it someday. when i got this amp i was told it probably needed tubes, i replaced them when it got to rattley after a couple years, it still played when i brought it in, but a world better when it was re-tubed and adjusted

i had it serviced at sam ash in connecticut, good job..... authorized, ummm?

played alot of bass starting freshman in highschool, and all through high school, slowed for years, and alot now the past year and a half, gigs in 5 yr hometown of ft. lauderdale. if this amp was stolen, theres alot of amps out there, mesa boogie sounds killer, i played through a boogie guitar amp into an old peavey 2 15" cabinet, sounded sweet, clean and strong, and i don't give much credit to the 2 15's. i've also heard good things about ampeg, i'd see what i could afford and find a good deal on. used hartke amps are pretty reasonably priced, maybe they're as good as the speakers

The range on the ?pre? gain pot is too wide. The ?sweet? zone is very narrow - you know, that point where your gain tube just starts to get saturated ? the ?oh yeah, that?s the spot? spot. Clean is simple, just turn it down. Overdrive without distortion is tricky, but totally obtainable, and when you get it, oh does it sounds sweet. Maybe if you?re an electronics wiz, you could figure out a replacement pot that has a more appropriate taper, for me it works okay, I just have to real careful with the gain.

There is a volume knob on the line out, but not on the direct out. I consider this a design flaw. A DI volume knob is MUCH more useful.

I like having the effects loop jacks on the front, you have more cable room when using floor effects, but if you used rack effects it would be a pain.

I would describe it as an open tube sound with plenty of over tones. If you like the Mesa Boogie 400+, you?ll like the Peavy AlphaBass. When I get it tweeked right, it sounds a lot like Geddy Lee on 2112. I like the tone MUCH better than an SVT.

This head is built for rock, if you?re looking for ?versatile? or ?clean,? you won?t like it. If you play country and want clean, go solid state. If you play rock and want to fall into the background mix, get an SVT. If you want to stand out and get a punchy, well defined, driving sound, get a Mesa Boggie 400+ if you can afford it, or try to find an old Peavy AlphaBass!

I use this head with a self-built 115 and an Eden 210XLT. Both cabinets are 4 ohm, which brings the load down to 2 ohm. You get a lot more sound at 2 ohms, so I highly recommend two 4 ohm cabs for this head. I?ve decided I actually don?t like the tweeter on the Eden, so I am thinking of building my own 210. Choose your cabs wisely; it makes a big difference in the sound!

I bought it used over a year ago. I think it was made around 1990 and it?s still going strong. I did replace all the tubes soon after I got it.

I emailed Peavy tech support and got a reply within 24 hours (as I recall). The email was friendly and answered my question about tube replacement to the point.

Great value if you can find one. It may not be as powerful as an SVT, but I think it sounds much better. The only thing I would trade it for is a Mesa Boogie 400+, but who can afford one of those?

This amp was made in the early 1990's. It is all tube, 160 watts (6 - 6L6GC power tubes/3-12AX7, 1-12AT7 pre-amp tubes). It has a 7 band graphic eq, pre-amp out, line-out w/level control, 2 and 4 ohm speaker outputs, hum balance, effects in/out, foot petal input for switching to the graphic eq, bright switch, pre and post gain, stand-by switch, direct out

Great all-tube sound, very versatle sounding too. I'm using this with a Carvin RL115 and it's a good combo. I use an Ibanez bass with EMG 40DC pickups and a Dean Edge fretless with EMG DC35 pickups and all that together sounds very good. When I got this amp it was in rough shape, but after a re-tubing and a few other minor repairs, it sounds as good as new.

No problems so far. This amp mostly sits in my basement because I'm not in a band so I don't use it a lot, but it hasn't let me down when I have used it.

I called Peavey support once just to ask them a question and get some general info about this amp and they were very helpful.

I really like this amp so far. My only complaint is that it doesn't seem very loud, but that could also be the speaker sensitivity. After all 160 watts is not a whole lot for a bass amp. I took a big risk on this on Ebay, but it payed off for me and I ended up getting a pretty good deal!

This amp is GREAT! I just bought it a while ago from a friend. It is a tube bass amp. I took off the cover and it has ten tubes. It has Post and Pre gain, EQ, Graphic Eq, a standby switch, two speaker outs 4 and 2 OHM, Line Out, Direct Out, Bright Switch, Graphic Switch, Pre-amp out, Power Amp in, EFX Send and Return, and a Ton More! Very Loud and Deep Lows and Crisp Highs. I use a Peavey Bass enclosure with 1-18" and 2-10" speakers.

I use several basses with this amp, my main one is a Jackson Kelly KB-1 with Duncan P/J Bass Pickups. No noise. I use it on volume level 3 with my band for about 300 people, and we play some pretty wicked bass riffs. It sounds very good with my '79 Fender American Strat. I like to use it better than my friend's Hot-Rod Deville. It hasn't been distorted as loud as i have needed it. I broke a window in my house on Volume level 3 or 4.

This amp is very reliable and withstands all of my gigs. It has never broke down. I have never had to do any servicing other than tubes, and that was just for the heck of it. I love it.

Never had to deal with the company on this amp(because it is so reliable), but if any one is in the Baton Rouge Area (I recommend getting anything serviced at a place where service is first). The only place I trust is BeBop Music Shop on Goverment St. They are so nice, and very trustworthy.

If it were lost or stolen, I would try to find the same exact amp and cab. I love the loudness and great tone, I don't hate anything about it. It's perfent for a bass player who needs a reliable, loud, great sounding bass amp

It was made in 1990 I think . I bought it used in 1995 . It's 160 watts into 4 ohms. It has a High and Lo Z input . It was a graphic
EQ , and an effects loop . It also has a noisy fan . It only has one sound , a nasty grunt . It has 6 6L6GC tubes for the power section , I
forgot what the preamp section has , 4 12's of some kind .

It is a hissy, noisy mess . I hate this thing . I suppose if you want a dirty bass sound it can do it , but forget about clean .

It is dependable , as all Peavey products are . But who cares if it works if it sounds like a flatulent elephant?

Never called

I will never buy a peavey amp again.