Peavey F-800B Head

With the advent of the Internet, Ebay, etc. some older amps are seeing a resurgence in popularity and demand. I am submitting this review "FYI" to others who may want to find out about the amp before a purchase. This is a early 1970's Super Festival Series bass head, intended primarily for arenas and/or outdoor venues. Here are some features and specs (taken from the owner's manual): 400 watts rms @ 2 ohms - 800 watts peak; 2 Inputs - #1 has twice the gain as #2, to allow added flexibility in matching input levels; 1 Volume control; Treble, Middle, Bass controls (1 each); 3 position Slope switch, to tailor the low end rolloff - Left position is the flat or full response position, Center position allows a 100 hertz rolloff, and the Right position provides a 150 hertz rolloff; 1 Overdrive control; 6 Band Equalizer - 100, 300, 600, 1200, 2500, 5000; Foot switch input (located on the "front" of the head); 2 speaker outputs; 3 position Power switch (Center: Off - Left or Right: "Grounded" On). As I mentioned before, this amp was intended mainly for "concert" aplications; hence, the very basic, no-nonsense, no "bells and whistles" design. Also, amp is solid state, but as added protection against overheating, it comes equipped with a cooling fan....a nice added touch for security and stability.

This amp was designed to emphaize to a LARGE audience that you are playing BASS for the band...not guitar, not keyboard, but BASS, plain and simple. No fancy-schmancy compressor, limiter, or other effects one "might" need/require in a "studio" head/system, just LOUD,in-you-face, rock bottom BASS. I've used this head with all cabinet configurations (8-10's, 2-15's, Folded Horn, etc.) and with the 6 band EQ, one can obtain almost ANY pure Bass tones wanted/needed. Nothing fancy...this head is intended for lowest common denominator BASS, and delivers it MAGNIFICENTLY !! But don't get me wrong...this amp is Extremely quiet and can Easily be used for studio/recording work...it's just that if you want any "extras" (compressor, chorus, etc.), they'll have to be add separately. As for the Overdrive control, it sounds great for that "Growly, Gritty" tone (think Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath).

I've had this amp for over 22 years, have transported it to and from countless gigs (in the back of pickup trucks, in the trunk of cars, etc.) and HONESTLY have NEVER had a second's worth of trouble out of it !! It is built like a fortress and has NEVER broken down on me. I have a 1972 Carvin B-3000 I carry as a back-up amp. and have yet to use it for that purpose. What else can I say...this amp is nearly indestructable (both inside and out).

I lost the original Owner's Manual and wrote Peavey for a replacement (this was years ago, before I got a computer). They mailed one right away. I also emailed a request for a replacement schematic (in the event I should ever need one) and was sent one the very next day !! Now THAT'S what I call Service !!

As with any musician who's been playing as long as I (over 26 years), I've either played through or owned a Ton of amps..from a JCPenny's monstrocity to an Ampeg SVT, and for what I/my band plays now, this Peavey F-800B sounds Perfect !! My band "TDL" (stands for Too Damn Loud) plays LOUD, gut-busting, eardrum-shredding ROCK...so loud in fact, that it's hard to even tell what tune we're playing !! HaHaHa
(Hey....if it's too loud, you're too old !!). Bottom line - The Peavey F800B is a GREAT simplistic Bass amplifier - Sturdy, very Well-built, and Extremely Reliable.