Peavey T Max Head

Ok the entries below pretty much sum up the features, but the crossover part must be clarified. You can use the pre amp and power amp independant of each other, and do it using the crossover or just full frequency. You do need other gear though. My setup is as follows:

From instrument into active tmax input (active jap bass), through the pre amp & eq etc., then out through the crossovers like this: (plugging a lead into the crossover or line out jacks on the back cuts the internal link between pre amp and power amp)

Out from low crossover into a BBE 383 Bass pre amp/maximizer, out of that into the tmax line in (power amp in), from the 2 tmax speaker outs into an Alumabass Bullfrogger cab with 2 solid cone 15's, and;

Out from the high crossover into a Crate B150 Bass head and from that into a Hartke 4x10 solid cone cab.

I run the crossover at about 750 Hz so I don't destroy the Hartke with to much low frequency power. The crossover balance is neutral (12 o'clock) because I control the balance with the volume level on the BBE and Crate amps.

I have configured this setup in other ways, like with BBE in the effects loop of the tmax so both low and high crossovers got processed by the BBE, and putting the high crossover straight into the power amp in on the Crate, but found the current setup to be best as the highs are more natural and less tinny, and I have more control over them and the sound in general.

My main gripe feature-wise is that I have no control over the built in limiter (DDT or whatever Peavey calls it) so I have to control it upstream with the built in compressors/limiters on the BBE and Crate amps. An effects-loop blend knob would have been better than the 'effects level' switch on the back, but its no biggie.

I play metal and go for a clean punchy sound (it stands out well from the 5150 stacks my guitarists use.). It gives me something close to the sound I am ideally looking for when playing loud by myself or with drums, but when the guitars are added it could do with a little more volume I guess. It is still a great sound, I am very happy with it. I have had it for only a couple of months and am still tweaking it a bit, but it is pretty much how I want it. More volume will come when I get more powerfull speakers for the 2x15 cab.

You can get a pretty decent range of sounds with the tmax, but punchy and clean is were it shines. The EQ is very responsive and effective, you can really shape it with the addition of the shelving knobs. If you drive it to the point where the limiter is really coming on you are at its usable max volume, any more just muddies the waters. Running a crossover seems to let you get away with a fair bit more.

The friend I bought it off ran it for years hassle free, and I have had no problems with it. The only thing I have noticed is that with a long session the power amp gets pretty hot. The fan keeps it cool over most of it (you can feel it blowing through the EQ slider slots), but on the right hand side panel near the front it gets very hot after a couple of hours of high power use. Whether this is cause for concern or not I don't know, but I like to keep gear cool if I can.

Basically a trouble free unit.

Dunno.

If it was stolen or lost (yeah right) or hit by a meteorite I would buy another if: I was looking for a bass head, and if I could find one. However, I think that I would probably go with a power amp and another pre amp.

It compares well with other stuff, I work in a music shop and nothing there gives me a sound I like as much.

I am not going to mention most things others have said allready. What is really unique in my opinion: it features thus a tube and a solid state channel, which you are able to combine. Further stuff: great EQ, cut or boost even 15 dB, plus a shelving function. (High/Low) X-over (cross-over) frequency etc.. (I have to admit: I have no idea where it is used for, some people will laugh now, I know it!)
Enough power: 500W, by 2 ohm. I use a Eden 210MBX cab (8 ohms) so I think the power will be about 250/300 W in my small room of 15 square metres... I think you should be playing on a really big stage, where you'd be needing more of it.

I only use a Aria Pro2 TSB350. It is a bass from 1983 I believe which really sounds great and has a large output. An enormous pickup (like a precision, but then bigger and reversed) which 'rocketeers' the lows quite well. ;-) I only tried a J-bass on it, and I was asthonished. A former reviewer mentioned the SWR 350, and I share his opinion. With the SWR, you can't get a distorted sound, because of the limiter. With the T-max it's possible.

Sounds: It is a huge sound, which comes alive. It's not too tiny, but also not too bassy. The balance between both is good, and with the tube preamp you can get every grade of distortion you want. From a smooth edge, until a heavily distorted sound. It's all possible.
(in a bass way of talking, by which I mean, you'll never be a van Halen on your bass right?) The second channel is the solid state one. I allmost never play through it, because of the SWR like 'limited' sound. I love tube sound, hence I am not really using this one. I prefer a sound, which is alive. The EQ simple, but sufficient. Great sound, simple to get.

At first I thought I would dump the bass, because I had never tried it on a proper amp, but now I will be customizing it. That means to me: adding the Seymour Duncan Vintage Jazz bass pickups (I was lucky to be able to buy them for not too much) on it, a mix and a push pull one for the P-like element.

Only problem: in small rooms, the fan at the back is f*cking noisy, that would be it I think.

It has to be admitted: I really liked the sound and have tried for almost half a year every week different amps, but this one: I had to buy it. And it was cheap then!
Other thing: If you think, you're sound is not good, then you own a bass which is the problem. Definately not the amp. (See second review) Personnaly I think you should throw your bass away and stop writing garbage. :-)

It has never been broken, it's a second hand and I play it now every day for half a year I think. As you can read I can't give a good opininon about it that way. It is said that my amp since 1988 or something has never had problems and is used on stage. So in that way it will be OK.

I get one year warranty of the shop. (feedback utrecht, NL) No further comments, because they don't apply to me.

I have been playing guitar for 12 years now, bass for five years. In bands I mostly performed as a guitarist, once in while as a bass player. I have played a few amps, but not too good to mention. Only a Bassman 50, which (of course) sounded great (don't slap on a low powered tube amp!) I love it's sound! I hate? Don't know, except the fan at the back. But that's not really a problem
I would buy it again, but it's not easy to get one. I don't believe it is sold to many. It's cheap and sounds awesome...

The rating is relative the the price! (not absolute, which it never is I think)

I have had this head for 3 years. I've used it in clubs for the past two years. It has plenty of power for stage sound. I run the XLR out to PA for larger venues. Features that I use include a tube preamp section as well as a solid state preamp. You can even choose to utilize both preamp sections at once. The amp seams to handle all my playing styles quite well. From blues, funk, metal, and classic rock I can get all the styles of music to sound the way it should. The front panel includes 1 1/4" jack switchable between passive or active inputs, preamp channel selection, high and low shelving nobs, eq section, high and low crossover points and master volume. The back section includes XLR output (pre or post EQ), power amp in, 2-speaker outs, crossover outs, foot switch input and effects loop. (I really wish it had a tuner output.)

The sound is great. I play a American Std. J-bass with my fingers. Slap and plucking are my playing styles. I have it running with a Peavey 2-10" cab w/ tweeter and a 1-15" black widow. At MAX volumes the amp does seem to peater out and get thin in tone, but I never need to run it that hard. For nice fuzzy distortion I can overdrive the Tube preamp section, however I never run heavy distortion in my blues band. I am able to get the amp to sound anyway I want it to. When I purchased it I was ready to spen what ever it took. The music store had a SWR 350 and the T-MAX. Playing side-by-side with my guitar and speakers, the T-Max had a smoother sound that I was looking for.

I have been gigging solid with my band Blue Onion (www.blueonion.net)for the last two years and have not had one single problem with this amp. I haven't even needed to replace the 12AX7 tube.

I have never needed it.....

I have been playing bass since '88. When I bought this amp I was upgrading from a Mark VIII Peavey head and have loved my journey with the T-MAX. Again, if it only had a tuner output. If it were stolen I wouldn't replace it with another T-Max. For one, peavey doesn't make it any more, secondly I have been keeping my eye out something different (and I don't know what).

I've had my t-max head for about 2 years now, I bought it because it was powerful and cheap - it also has both valve and solid state pre-amps. Using two 4ohm cabs I can run this amp at 2ohms(rated 500w) - that is quite adequate even against my guitarists marshall 100w/100w dual mono power amp. It has an effects loop which can be footswitched along with the pre-amp channel and g-Eq, although I've not managed to get hold of a footswitch. It is also capable of bi-amping - BUT ONLY WITH AN EXTERNAL POWER AMP!! - this seems totally pointless, as it simply renders the power section redundant. If you want to bi-amp look at the Max preamp Peavey also make.

I play a five string Tobias (a Gibson one unfortunately), mainly heavy music hardcore/metal, with allsorts in between. The eq section on the amp can make up for any misgivings on your bass, e.g. mine has no low end grunt/decent string tension on low B. There's a low and high dial and a 7-band graphic - plenty of manipulation there.
I don't like the valve pre-amp - too trebly and no warmth, but that could just be my bass as I haven't persevered with it. Solid state side is superb, punchy, ballsy a basic "solid" sound - don't expect any individual kind of tone, its just a nice neutral sound. I added an 18" speaker to it last year, which made a good difference.

Have used this head very regularly at high volumes/temperatures (at least 4 times a week + gigs). Over the last two years I have not had to touch it. Solid as you get - but mine is rackmounted, get a rackcase otherwise I can see some knobs and switches being vulnerable. There is no fuse - just a handy reset switch, although I haven't even had to use this.

Never needed it - although peavey dealers in UK never want to order stuff for you (like the footswitch). But that goes for any shop here they're all poor in my experience.

overall - this is a good amp, nothing special - but the price tag is good. If it took a walk, then I doubt I would replace it because I'm looking to upgrade anyway for reasons of flexibility and a less generic sound. Peavey could have made it cheaper and dropped the crossover section - or just made it fully bi-amp capable, WHY BOTHER SITTING HALF WAY?!!! Despite my gripes, this will be loud and reliable night after night and it doesn't cost the earth.