Peavey Mace Head

This is a Peavey Mace Head and I have it hooked into what I assume is a matching cabinet, the Peavey 412F. The amp puts out 160-watts all tube from the power section, and has a solid state preamp section. This amp is actually about a year older than I am. It was handed down to me from my dad when I was about 16. I used it extensively for a period until I got a more modern stack, although I still use it at home for it's cool distortion tones and superb clean. This thing is extremely heavy by most standards, which made playing shows particularly harsh. It has two channels, the normal channel, which is very basic, and the effects channel. The controls on the normal channel consist of a preamp gain and power amp gain control, with bass and treble controls in between. The effects channel, which also has a brighter tone with the effects disabled, features a phaser, and also activates the reverb if you don't have the footswitch connected. I can't say I've ever used the phaser seriously. Only once several years back when me and my friend made this stupid video where we filled a room with rotating lights and strobe lights and pretended we were from outer space, and I was blasting an E chord at high volumes with the phaser turned up to its fastest. Kids to weird things.

I currently own two guitars: the first is an american Fender Stratocaster with three Seymour-Duncan single coil pickups, and the second is a Schecter C-1 Elite with dual Duncan Designed humbuckers with coil-tap option.

My musical style ranges quite a bit. My favorite tone on this amp is to run a delay unit (T.C. Electronics 2290) through the effect loop and to run the normal channel with the treble all the way up and the bass all the way down, pregain at about 7. It creates ar really crunchy yet clear distortion. The reverb sounds very toyish in my opinion, so I also sometimes use a T.C. Electronic M3000 reverb unit, but unfortunately the cab's high end response isn't very good so it tends to just mud up the sound.

Almost every amp I use my Stratocaster with exudes an obnoxious buzzing noise, but not this amp. It's very quiet at house volumes. It gets noisier when you crank the pregain up enough, but the heaviest distortion you can get out of this thing isn't very heavy at all.

Both channels have a crunch to them at high volumes, but it has to be really loud. I don't turn it up extremely loud for fear of blowing out a speaker, courtesy the 160-watt power section.

Metalheads, nu-metal, and modern rock junkies probably wouldn't like the minimalistic distortion this amp puts out. The distortion is enabled by simply turning up the pregain. I find the best distortion comes with the pregain at 7 or 8, any higher gets really muddy sounding. A U2 fan like myself prefers a clearer distortion.

This amp went through years of abuse when my dad used it, and was used regularly around the house for 15 years, then it was given to me, and I gigged with it for 6 months. Needless to say, this thing has so far been a better value than just about anything I own. The cabinet is a beast; it's big and it's as strong as the walls of a bomb shelter. I would be a little worried if I dropped the head. Obviously the tubes could be destroyed, but it doesn't really feel like everything's still holding together in it. I should probably disassemble it and give it a good cleaning, resolder loose connections, and so on. It's still using the original tubes, which I find absolutely remarkable. There are 6 Sylvannia 6L6GCs in mine.

I couldn't give you much information about the warranty. This thing is well over 20 years old, so it's pretty safe to assume the warranty is up. I have never contacted Peavey in regards to this amp. That might be a testament to how reliable this amp is.

I have been playing for approximately 10 years. Aside from this amp, I own a Marshall JCM2000 DSL50, a Mesa Boogie Dual-Rectifier Head, a B-52 AV100 2x12 combo amp (Quite good, regardless of B-52's not particularly sparkling reputation in the eyes of the public), and a Mesa Boogie Triaxis Preamp, hooked up to a T.C. Electronic M3000 reverb, T.C. Electronic TS2290 Digital Delay, a T.C. Electronic G-Force Multi-Effect processor, all being powered into two 2x12 Mesa Boogie 4x12 Rectifier cabs by a Mesa Boogie 2:One Hundred power amplifier.

Interesting comment on the stolen part - I live 2 miles from the Detroit border, and Detroit is where I play 80% of my shows. For those of you who don't know, Detroit is not exactly the most crime-free place on earth. Our trailer was stolen from my truck, Peavey Mace inside. Police Found the trailer in a nearby neighborhood, but the ding dongs (probably amateurs) had tried to tamper with the lock on the trailer and had apparently failed. Everything we had left in the trailer was intact, the Peavey included.

Peavey Mace from the mid 70's.I bought the Mace and a Peavey 2 X 12 cabinet, which I believe is the original cabniet, back in 1999. This amp is too powerful for just a 2 X 12 cab! 160 Watts- no kidding! It feeds back uncontrollably through that set up. This head weighs a ton! I use this as my practice amp. It has the usual quirks of an old amp; the input jacks need to be resoldered. A bit crackly when I turn the input gain, etc. Nothing that a little contact cleaner couldn't fix.It is a great practice amp. I have it run through a 15" EV subwoofer. I have had the Mace hooked up through my Marsahll 1960AX cabinet and it roars!! The only way to give this amp justice is to run it through at least a 4 X 12 cab. Tolex still looks good. Missing one knob on it.Has character.

I use the A channel mostly. For distortion I use a Danelectro Fabtone. It sounds killer!! I mainly use my Gibson Firebird 5 nowadays, and this amp handles it well. The phase is fun to play for that groovy 70's sound! The only thing I find a bit daunting is the abundance of pre gain, post gain knobs. It isn't the most user friendly amp to dial in a tone on, not that it is impossible. Peavey would have been better off to simply have a master volume/ gain control feature much like their competitors. I dunno, I still dig it though.... My EV sub handles this amp well, but I still get a little more feedback than I want from the amp. This amp deserves a half stack.

I would get the little idiosyncracies worked out of it before I took it out on the road. But it has the power, believe me! And once again, this thing weighs a ton! And I am no girly man!! : )

Never dealt with Peavey, but I will visit there website and download an owner's manual for this beast.

Been playing for ten years.I have an arsenal of guitars and amps.I will keep this amp around for a while.I respect the watts and the power this baby puts out. I need to find one more vintage peavey cabinet to hook this up to. That way I could utilize the 4 X 12 set up this amp oh so needs.

The amp is a late 70's. It has solid state pre-amp and siz 6L6 power tubes for a total of 160W RMS. It has four "channels" - two inputs for the first channel, a second for the second, and a fourth so that you can use the "automixer" footswitch to switch the channels. You can overdrive each channel with independent gain and master volume. The second channel has a phase-shifter with color and speed controls. It has high, mid, and low controls, too. The first channel only has high and low.

I use a Les Paul Classic with stock pickups (Alnico 490T and 510 I think) but I added pickup covers to soften the sound. I play classic rock/blues and contemporary rock. I like it for both styles. I use a Boss DS-1 distortion with which I can get a real good Bad Company sound, and if I CRANK the distortion on the pedal, I can get a nice rich distortion similar to Bush.

I run the first channel somewhat overdriven, for crunch leads, or I run it hotter than the second, and use it as the lead channel, but clean. The second I use as my clean channel, so I can get the extra eq knob and I can get the phase-shifter in clean mode. I run the gain at about 2 and the master volume at about 3, and it's good for stage volume/practice volume. But if I need/want to crank, I go up to 7 on the master volume, and/or put the gain up to as much as 5.

Both channels distort at around 8. They get super-hot/crunchy, but still pretty clean sounding up until 5/6. I like running it that way, so my pedals have a base hotness to work with. with the gain at 10, you get a pretty crappy distortion actually. It sounds like you're overdriving the speaker rather than overdriving the circuitry. That would be the solid state pre-amp at work.

I've never had to replace anything, although, I think it might need new filter caps and to be re-biased.

I found the original manual on Peavey's website.

I've been playing almost five years. I also own a Fender '57 reissue american strat, Gibson SG Junior Special (24 frets, 1 humbucker) and a Fender Stage 112SE FET amp.

If this amp were lost or stolen, I would use the insurance money to get a marshall - but I would NEVER sell this amp. I think they'll become quite valuable in the future. I might get rid of the cab, though, it isn't original.

Purchased 1979; good for my sound: heavy rock; 2 channels, only used one, never used effects; would have liked all tube preamp for better feedback; never used phaser or channel switching; used in punk dives in San Francisco, more than enough power, usually overpowered bass amp;

Used with Strat: single coil for rhythm, middle/neck for lead; always use fuzz; heavy effects: wah wah, echo, flanger, digital delay; could be noisy if not playing, picked up RF interference (usually an easy listening station, which was funny after the heavy stuff we played); never used "clean" channel; if you set the preamp to around 7.5, dimed out the bass and treble, it really sounds good, pump the post gain up to 7+ and it sounds GREAT! Problem is that it drowns out the bass (so I bought an 800 watt Peavey Max bass amp); only drawback was the limited feedback from the solid state preamp; when used with a Strat single coil for lead, it helped us sound a lot different from the standard Marshall/humbucker configuration most other bands used.

I dropped it once on the sidewalk. The front grill came off, but I just stuck it back on. Got to the studio and it powered right up. The only time it failed was when a roach (the insect) got into the power supply and ZZZTTT!!! Got it fixed and new tubes and it was good as new. Still have it 24 years later (my brother has it). Most reliable amp I've ever seen, rugged, durable, thicker wood than a Marshall. Also 60% more power at 160 watts. Truly a monster amp!

never used company support or warranty; had no probs with service

I eventually got a Roadmaster and used a digital delay between them. The delayed channel went back into the Roadmaster, while the direct went into the Mace. Then I'd put the delayed speaker on the other side of the stage and the sound would move. I could also bounce feedback back and forth. It was an amazing set-up.

I gained a new respect for it when I had access to a second 4-12 cabinet (before I got the Roadmaster). I hooked it up and dimed the volume. It was so vast that I really couldn't hear the whole sound at once. In other words, I'd have to focus on parts of it. It was incredible. The next day I had a sharp pain in my ear. It finally went away after a couple of months. After that I was a lot more careful. I went through a lot with this amp and it never let me down.

This amp is borrowed off a good friend who lent it to me for a long time. Two channels, 6 6L6's (!),160 watts (!!), a wicked reverb tank and a phaser, XLR and 1/4 inch jack line out, plus an effects loop.
Well and truly packed with decent features.

I 'm using an old Squier Affinity Strat through this amp, it seems controllable at bedroom levels, I haven't tested it againstr my mad drummer but it packs a punch. The 'effects'(or overdrive channel really) can pack quite a fuzzy punch, you can get the intro riff from'Dead Leaves on the Dirty Ground' by the White Stripes easily, but I haven't opened up the volume completely... The 'normal' (clean to crunch) channel can give as much as the overdrive channel just with less tone shaping. I particularly like combining the channels, putting bith channels gains to the floor gives the most outraegous sounds heard for quite a while since a Marshall Plexi!

Havent serviced it yet.

No need at the moment.

I've been playing for 3 years now and this is my first serious amp, for a start it has all I need for decent crunch, clean and lead tones by combining channels, although if you want a meatier sound go looking for dual humbuckers, which I think I shall do.

Features
This amp is full of neat little perks to it.The only thing i wish it had was a headphone jack but it was made in the late 70's so it wasnt common back then. Its an all tube amp that puts out a massive 160 watts of power and this baby get really loud(just make sure your speakers can handle it). it has two channels a basic and a really neat second channel with phase and reverb controls.

Sounds
This is prolly one of the most cleanest sounding heads you can find. It does a great job of blocking out any unessesary feedback and with the all tube hook up you'll love the sound you get. Although i do suggest you try the boss metal zone 2 if you want great distortion!

Reliability
I trust this amp enough to use it without a backup as long as you keep it in good working order. Just don't overdew on the power or you might blow a speaker or two.

Support
Yeah just go to the peavey website and get a new manual if you need it and if you have any poblems just take it into one of the music centers and you'll be fine.

Can you believe some idiot sold this to me for $90.00 bucks and then he also gave me a jbl 15 inch speaker with a box for it too. Man i love this thing and if I ever sell it i'll be floating in the cash! hehe. Go around to garage sales you'll never know what you might find. Oh and if you ever get the sound where your amp fades out make sure to check all your conections.

Made in the early to mid 70's 2 channels switchable and able to combine both channels. Effects loop Xlr and 1/4" line out. I used in a country rock band in the 70's and 80's. The amp is very powerful....160 watts (6X6L6) all tube power section built in spring reverb and great phaser. Tone controls on both channels

I used a Gibson 330 semi hollow body. No noise. VERY LOUD AMP. I used clean settings and used pedals for overdrive and distorson.
Very clean and sparkeling with a little reverb and phase for slow, soft, ballads

Never had a problem.

I lost the owner's manual and Peavey sent me another. I lost it again and got one off the Peavey website.
Peavey is Great!!!

I have been a pro for over 30 years and I am a gear junkie. I have Mesa Boogie Preamps (Formula, Amps (Subway Rocket) Roland amps, Sundown (Great tube amp) Peavey Classic 50-50 rack mount. Two Les pauls Hartke 4X12 Guitar Cabinet, Two 2X12 Carvin Cabinets. S.I.B. Varidrive (Great Pedal) Boss GT-5 preamp pedal Lexicon and Alisis effect processors plus Rockman stereo delay and a Tsunami chorus pedal.
I would like to sell the Mace and I rate it a 10 except it has tooo much power for what I am doing.

Do you remember "LYNARD SKYNARD" well this is the head that made southern rock famous. 2 channal effects loop . switcher pedal, tremlo with a tone of gain \.

strat,strat.strat, this amp sounds like lynard skynard "pronunced". I am telling you this is A one tone zone butt, if you like southern rock , this is it.

Very dependable amp from early 70's never had any trouble !