Peavey BAM Head

I purchased my used BAM head with the foot switch from a seller on Ebay for around $375 approximately 1 year ago. I emailed Peavey with the serial number and they replied (within an hour) that it was made in 2004. Peavey designed the BAM (Bass Amp Modeling) amp to emulated not only various amps, but also various cabinets as well. In fact, the amp received an Editors Award from Bass Player Magazine for innovative product, and rightfully so for all of its features. The BAM has a built in tuner for 4, 5, and 6 string basses. It has factory and user presets that can save the sounds that you've "dialed" in. Presets can be called up via the front panel or by the footswitch, same with the tuner. It has built in effects (Chorus, Flanger, octave, fretless, synth, funk wah, distortion) only one of which can be used at a time. It also has a built in compressor and headphones out.
The amps it's designed to emulate are the Peavey Max, Fender Bassman, Ampeg B-15, Ampeg SVT, Acoustic 360, SWR Super Red Head, Eden World Tour WT-800, and the Gallien Krueger 800RB. The cabinets it emulates are as follows: 64 Fender Bassman 2x12, Ampeg 1x15 and 8x10, Acoustic 1x18, SWR 2x10, Eden D-410xlt, and Hartke 410xl.
The BAM produces 500 watts @ 2 ohms and 350 watts @ 4 ohms, and this is no exaggeration because this amp is LOUD.

I use MusicMan and Peavey basses. (Don't knock the Peavey USA made basses from the early 80's and 90's, they are a hidden gem) I play a little of everything, metal, funk, jazz. In fact, I don't understand how anyone could play bass and not have an appreciation for ALL styles of bass, and recognize when a groove is being laid down. This amp can truly dial up many sounds. I won't say ANY sound, but enough where you should be very satisfied. Plus it has a lot of features that you'll need to consult the manual for initially, and the amp is just fun to use. When you grow tired of one sound dial in another without purchasing another amp.
I set this amp up against my Eden WT-1205 and played them both through my Aguilar 2x12. My honest opinion is that the Peavey comes very close to emulating the Eden sound, but it can't capture that chest pounding low end. I concluded that the Eden sounds great, and this Peavey sounds real good in comparison. In fact, I expected to be an Eden man for life after hearing the $1800 WT-1205, but that $375 BAM held its ground and proved that it's up for any challenge. Plus I know that my grandchildren could inherit the BAM, whereas the Eden will be nothing more than a financial burden as time progresses.

I would bet my life on Peavey reliability. I've been left high and dry on gigs by other manufacturers, and I've had other band's bassists need to borrow my equipment when theirs died unexpectedly while gigging, or just when carrying it from the truck to the stage. I know it's not cool to like Peavey, acknowledge Peavey, and especially use Peavey on stage, but deep down inside you people know who builds the superior product!!!

Peavey has THE BEST customer support in the music business period. Whenever I've emailed them with a question they respond in less than an hour, and when I phoned them for an new truss rod cover that was lost, they mailed me a replacement for FREE.
I emailed Eden and it took 3 follow up emails to get them to respond ONCE! AND, they charge regular shop rates ($80/hr) for repairing their products, whereas Peavey fixes anything sent to them for slightly above their cost. Show me one manufacturer that still stands behind their product with that level of integrity.

I've been playing on and off for more than 20 years. I've owned and sold so much equipment that I don't feel like listing it all. Especially the gear that I foolishly gave away for pennies on the dollar, I cringe everytime I reminisce about that.

I would never gig with my Eden without a backup, but I would feel confident bringing my Peavey by itself.

You can find the BAM combo locally and online cheap, although my bad back recommends that you buy the head and not the 96 pound 2x10 combo. While looking online you should also consider the Peavey Max, and not just the preamp, but the 800 watt head made in the early to mid 80's. That produced the sweetest tone I've ever heard from any solid state amp. I recieved more compliments from that rig's sound that any other I've played through... including my Eden.

People who mock Peavey (you know who you are, we meet you at all the gigs) are ignorant fools. Peavey has proven they can built high quality, reliable instruments and amps for decades now. Everyone knows someone with a 20 year old peavey amp in their basement, garage or barn that has sat unused for years, but still works perfect every time it's plugged in. Compare this to most of the manufacturers today who's product can't even remain functional during or past the 1 year warranty period.

If my BAM head were stolen I would definitely replace it with another.

My only dislike for the BAM is the inability to layer the effects.

This is a 2004 Peavey BAM Head, from what I can gather it is relatively rare, as from what I have been able to dredge up over the 'net it is only available in a combo format. This particular head comes pre-mounted in a three-space rack assembly. Its assembly is extremely robust. This is one of the rare modeling "do-it-all" style of amp on the market, and I believe it is attempting to compete with the Tech 21 NYC products. It has a rather hefty EQ section, compressor, "standard" multi-FX, and cabinet/amp simulator. A foot-controller is also included. The cabinet simulator is unique in that you can mix and match any combination of the various amps/cabinets.

I use this amp in conjuction with an Ibanez BTB1000 and an Ibanez EDA900. Both of these are capable of producing some extremely powerful punch. I am using this head through a Peavey 810TVX, which is rathed at 400 Watts RMS. The combination, I find, to be more than sufficient for producing a "wall of sound" effect, and this combination is more potent than what I had with my Ampeg SVT. I play Scandinavian death-metal, and this amp is extremely versatile in its sonic production. When I say this, take it to the bank, *ANY* sound can be faithfully reproduced with this amp. I previously owned an Ampeg SVT4 Pro, and I believe the Peavey BAM to be not only more balls-out, but also possessed with more growl when emulating the SVT series. It is a quiet amp with minimal operational noise. The gain/distortion are rather hefty (I sold my boss ME-50B when I bought this as the distortion on the Peavey is actually MORE than capable of fulfilling my needs).

I must reiterate: THIS AMP IS CAPABLE OF FAITHFULLY REPRODUCING ANY BASS SOUND YOU COULD POSSIBLY DESIRE.

This variety was the main selling point for me, as the technology, it seems, is rapidly opening new pathways for the end-user.

I will rate the reliablilty as EXTREMELY high. I had attempted to remove the amplifier from its rack enclosure in order to add it to my existing bass rig. I found out, the hard way, that this amplifier is meant to be stored IN ITS FACTORY RACK ONLY! This being said, it still operated perfectly after I reinserted it to its factory housing. The housing it comes in, I might add, is more than capable of withstanding serious damage.

I will give the highest score, as it is built well enough for me to have never contacted them.

I have been playing bass for nine years now, and this is the best piece of gear I have come by; its versatility is unmatched. If it were stolen I would pay more than I paid in order to reaquire one. Its versatility allows me to quickly, and easily, dial-in the appropriate setting to keep up with my group's two guitarists. Its power output is more than adequate to drive 8 ten-inch speakers to their capacity. This amp allows me to tailor a sound TO ***MY*** specifications and allows me, on the fly, to quickly adapt to the needs of my bands' sound. For example, on some tracks a higher-end, more SVT-style effect is necessary, in others a low-end "sub" sound is required with extreme punch. I can switch between needs instantly. I am absolutely taken aback at the capability of this amp. Its power section can level small stadiums.