Peavey Audition 20

A very good 'practice amp' from mid 80's, I have miked it for some jams, just to see what it sounded like,It put out ok. Lotsa gain @ low volume. I use it in the living room, and light jams. I run an Ibanez roadstar-II with bucker(bridge) and a single coil(neck), the single coil is original. I use the peavey with a 30 watt silvertone in stereo- that's one mean combo, the silvertone for the added tone.I kinda end up with an old ampeg on steroids kinda tone, with a heck of alot of bite. My stage unit is a 77 marshall superlead 100 with zoom 10-10 stompbox.I have strictly run tube for 20 yrs,so I kinda like this on & play thing. I have played for 35 years now, and play no metal(which this amp is very good for)just old rock like ac/dc, zep/skynard.

It has a typical peavey sound, all distortion,then heavier distortion, but no real quality to it & no tone, I'm not knockin it, I wouldn't sell my amp, it's too usefull.

I drive this thing hard, still do, probably will for a long time. It won't break

Who are they?

giver' 7, I would replace it, if she calfs on me.But I doubt it will.

i like playing mostly metal, rock, and the distortion is pretty good. It does cut out on my everyonce in a while. It is also light wieght and a great practice amp.

it has clean, and distortion. It sounds great clean, but the distortion is a little buzz noisy funky sounding. Im using an epiphone sg with the epiphone pickups it came with, one of my pickups is screwed up kinda so the funky noise could be that.But overall the sound is great.

i would count on using it at gigs,or anything like that(its small), because it cuts out on me sometimes. It has never broken down though.

Ive only been playin a few years. If i had problems with this one i probly would buy a diff amp. A like how small it is and its great sound.

Basic, real basic. 3 band eq, pre & post gain, pull out saturation. 1 channel - It's a practise amp, lets not get ahead of selves here...12 thundering solid state watts. 8 inch ceramic magnet speaker. Built like a tank...

Again, this is a practise amp so I didn't expect much. The saturation effect (peavey's version of tube style distortion) is not bad at all. I really don't need reverb, or tremolo. This amp can actally get fairly loud, even with a 8" driver. I shitcanned all my pedals, just run my guitar straight into the amp. For the pittance I paid for this wee amp, I am extremely pleased. The biggest advantage with this amp is that you can get good tone and distortion without the volume. My wife approves - and that my friends is VERY important - when you want some lovin' later...

This is a geniune made in USA amp. Solid State, Built like a bloody tank. I highly doubt I'll ever need service. Just plug in and play man.

Never called them, don't anticipate that I ever will. This amp will never die. It's a keeper. Probably hand it down to my son.

Been playing on and off since '85. If it was stolen, I'd buy it again. I've used 70's champs, a litany of cheap tube amps, and this amp - eventhough it's solid state, is more useful than any of them. Don't get me wrong, tubes do rule for tone, but you have to crank them in order to get it. Which is not always desirable in certain venues (ie: at work or at home).

Come on people, it's only a practice amp. Gigging? It's a great amp
to get together with friends,hack out some new tunes, projects etc.
it fits anywhere and travels well without a $150.00 ata case, bring it on a plane it fits in overhead. S/S reliability, record with it,
have fun with it, enjoy it for what it is; a low priced practice amp

Very clean, can be useful for experimenting effects, if you have to play this loud, get another amp check out www.guitarnuts.com amplifiers/myths they'll tell you about amps. If you need distortion
at low volumes use a pedal not this,although it would work mildly

Reliable, you bet, thats why the guitar teachers use them, you think they use a boutique or a $800 blackface champ to teach students. To
hit the switch and forget about it is what it's all about. Peavey
is getting a reputation for bullet proof equipment in the real world
without roadies

never dealt with them

If your looking for a dependable small portable amp, these are sure to please, But gigging?? Thats where your favorite trusted 2nd amp
comes in, but in reality this one has a purpose too

My Audition 20 was my first amp, made between '83 and '85. I got it for my high school graduation. The other posts do a good job of describing its features, but to recap, from left to right: 1)1/4" input jack; 2)pre gain, which varies the preamp's input gain; 3)post gain, which varies the preamp's output gain to the 12-watt power stage (pulling this knob out activates a "saturation" control, which drives the output stage harder); 4) low--bass; 5) mid; 6) high--treble (pulling this out activates a mid-boost called "thick," which might suit some players' tastes for soloing or something; 7) 1/4" line out jack (a cool feature on an amp this size--more on this below); 8) 1/4" headphone jack; 9) on/off switch and LED.

The amp has a decent-sounding 8" speaker and a 12-18V input on the back for practicing in, I guess, a car, using the cigarette lighter for a power source. I've never tried that, but I think I remember the manual saying that output volume was restricted on 12VDC.

The headphone jack works to drive headphones, but I've only used it once or twice, and didn't like the sound as much through either set of phones...I prefer to hear the speaker at low volume for quiet practice.

After several bigger amps and being in a band or two, I dug this back out of the closet several years ago and realized it sounded better than I remembered. I've used it in a couple of different ways for playing medium-gain rock at practice and quiet gigs. It is dead reliable and apparently indestructible. If you are a player that can find a tone you like with one of these, the line out jack lets you send that tone to a cooler power stage...like, say, the 50W tube output stage on my friend's half-stack, which I tried once at a jam session with good results. Or, in another case, a 150W power amp driving a 2x10 cabinet...THAT sounded cool in a super-bright Telecaster twangy sort of way, which was what I was going for that time. Anyway, it's probably not something you could appreciate if your idea of cool tone is a Mesa head. For what it does do well, read on. For a 20-year-old practice amp, it's pretty well-equipped.

I used this for a few years with a strat-style guitar with a coil-tap bridge humbucker, a single coil at the neck, and a Rat II pedal that was always on. I set the amp for the loudest sort of clean sound it could do, which was about 5 on the pre gain and maybe 7 on the post gain. I ran the Rat at a lower gain too, through a BBE DI-10 with speaker emulation (see my review on that) and into the Peav. I varied the clean-to-dirty scenario by how hard I played. This was for practice; I used a pair of Valco tube combos live. But the Peav delivered at least 85% of the tone from the pedals, and whenever a Valco would break down, I'd run the Peav in place of the one that was broken. Once they both broke down the day before a gig at what was then the biggest and best-sounding club in St. Louis. So I borrowed a friends Crate GX15, since it was about the same size as the Peav, and used those two. We opened for the Gigolo Aunts, who along with the soundman gave me a hard time about the stupid amps, but they worked fine and sounded good to me, and the soundman even commented favorably on the tone afterwards. Point being, it reproduced a good pedal sound at high volume settings for years with no ill effects.

Nowadays I'm playing less-distorted, twangier music, and am using a Gibson Melody Maker with a strat single coil at the bridge. I run this through a preamp pedal (DOD FX10), compression pedal (see my review on the DOD FX82) and a Voodoo Lab tremolo, then into the Peav. The warm, set-neck guitar, single coil, compression and the supre-responsive solid-state amp give me a sound sort of like a midrangier telecaster...snappy and good for unison-bend pedal-steel licks, but without blowing your fillings out with high end. I set the pre gain at 5, and the post gain at wherever I need the volume to be. At practice, this is usually at 4 or 5. Live, if it's anything bigger than a tiny bar, I just use the line out, set the volume low and drive one or both Valcos with the Peav, as though it were a pedal. This works great and can get loud; the Peavey adds a nice crisp edge to the tube amps, but benefits from their warm, round lows and mids.

As a side note, small amps with line-out jacks can be good direct recording tools, if you run the line out through a speaker-emulating DI and into a mixer or computer.

As far as the amp's sounds by themselves go, I guess I'd say that if it's your first amp, the distortion will be fun and exciting until you get to play through a Marshall. Then you will hate it and want something with 2,700 watts and 19 speakers. Eventually you might get tired of carrying all that around and begin experimenting with small, funky amps, and realize that an amp like this can make useful sounds in the context of a band.

Its clean sounds smoother with compression, but is okay. With humbuckers, there's less clean headroom and the sound is muddier...big surprise there.

It's distortion sounds raspy and buzzy as you turn up the gain; not a metal sound but useful for quirky distorted overdubs to add texture in a recording. When you go full out, with the Saturation and thick activated, it sounds like a fuzz pedal to me. Again, useful for some things, but not a tube amp by any means.

I'm going to give it a 7 here, because it sounds pretty good among 8" solid-state practice amps and benefits from the addition of pedals, but it's naturally limited in the amount of bass it can deliver, etc.

The only problem it's ever had was once it needed the pots cleaned. I know how to do this myself now. Also, it got dropped and broke the post gain/saturation pot shaft, and that was replaced at minimal cost. Otherwise, it always works. The cabinet is stout, the horrible textured tolex is indestructible, etc.

Never dealt with them. But they are in Mississippi, so they probably know how to barbecue really well and I'd bet they would have cool accents if you were to call their tech support line (pronounced "lahn").

I've been playing for about 20 years, and recording myself and friends for about 8-10. I can appreciate a small, dependable piece of gear that has no resale value whatsoever but makes a sound with character. It suits my playing and stylistic approach well, it's a lot easier to carry than a tube head and 4x12" (done that), a rack and 2x10" or 4x12" (done that) or a 2x12" solid-state combo (did that right after deciding I needed a bigger amp than the Peav, because I'd become a !!!REAL GUITAR PLAYER!!!). Also, it needs a lot less repair than my two 40+ year-old Valco tube combos. And it can make a cool preamp/front end for an experimental guitar rig. It's also fun to use as a trashy preamp to record other stuff through, like a snare drum. It's fun and tough. I would imagine other little practice amps would be too, like a Crate GX15 or a Fender Squier or Frontman. But what I have is a Peavey Audition 20, and if it ever breaks for good or is stolen, I'll look for another one or something similar.

made in the Mid 80's. Incredibly vesital and loud for its size. I play mostly blues/classic rock. i do use a digitech rp200, but the amp itsself is versital

I play a parker p 38 through it, which has acustic pickups in the bridge. this amp gives me a fairly descent acustic sound, considering thats not what its made for. i use it for low profile practices and gigs. the distortion lacks a full range of values at high levals, however

this thing is unbelivibly reliable. it has gone through hell and highwater, and nothing has ever happened to it

never had to deal with them

i've been playing 3 years my newest toys being my parker p-38 and my digitech rp 200
I love it and recomend it to anyone who needs a reliable smaller amp

c. 1985/6. One input, pre/post gain, switchable 'saturation', three-band passive EQ, 'thick' switch, pre-amp and headphone outs, 12-18V DC in, 12 Watts, 8" speaker.

I was given this amp when I was a young lad and it was ideal - small enough to carry to school, loud enough for playing with friends. At the time there wasn't anything to touch it. I've now owned the Audition 20 for fifteen years and I still use it for the occasional rehearsal.

I play a US Standard Stratocaster, my influences range from Steve Cropper to Mark Knopfler - nothing too heavey. The amp is fine for soloing, especially with the 'thick' circuitry activated. There is not a great deal of tonal variety and the distortion is a bit rough.

Top notch. I've cleaned the potentiometers once or twice - that's it. No other problems in spite of a reasonable amount of lugging around, often on public transport during my student days.

I once needed a new potentiometer for a Peavey bass amp (I snapped the shaft off - not their fault). They were very helpful and posted a replacement to me at a very reasonable cost.

I love my little Audition 20. If it were lost or stolen, I'd probably replace it with something a little larger. However, I hope that I can hang on to it for at least another fifteen years.

I dunno when it was made but here it goes

1 input
Gain and equilization. To get the drive you have to pull a knob out. The calean is a good sound. Overdrive kinda stinks. But hey its is a practice amp.
It has a headphone input...which comes in handy with people in the room. I use this amp in big family room. that is about all the power she can put out.
But overall i really like it. very simple. but i love it as a practice amp.

I play it with two seymour duncan pickups. its sounds ok but it is sooo noisy with any type of distortion..even light!
well i have pedals to get the sound i want. cant use much of the amps. the distortion is morelike a bluesy-overdrive. i play hard rock so i need the pedals to get what i want.

This amp is like a brick..ive dropped it from about waist height...still works perfect. i can always depend on it. i dont use this to gig. ha!

Never delt with um.

Ill give it a 6. It would be a GREAT starting amp. It'd be a whole lot better than this fender/squire crap. i mean sure its a practice amp, but it can be pretty loud, only on the clean though. i love this amp, i cant let go of it.

I bought this amp when I was 16 years old from a pawn shop with my first pay check as a cook at Sonic. I'm 22 years old now. I pretty much learned all my music off of this amp. I just bought a Marshall Valvestate 65r after 6 long years! I have to say I'm gonna miss my amp but, I wont miss how horrible it sounded! I think it's the worst amp ever made! And tomorrow I am gonna smash it in with my old Arbor guitar! It's gonna give me relief!

I'm using a Ibanez RG7620 with DiMarzio Blaze II pickups! I play mostly metal stuff and this amp is horrible for that music! It's very noisy! It has tons of feedback! And the tone is just horrible! I have all my setting up to 10 because the amp sounds horrible if it's not up that high! It's doesn't have good sound! No variety! The clean channel is alright up to like 8! The distortion is not brutal at all. Good for blues or country.

You can definately depend on it! I've had it for 6 years and I bought it from a pawn shop! You could only imagine how long the person who owned it before had it. Do not use this for a gig. Use a triple rectifier for gigging at Madison Square Garden.

I've been playing for 5 years. I use an Ibanez RG7620 w/DiMarzio Blaze II humbuckers, through a Digitech Whammy Pedal, Big Muff PI, Ibanez CF-7, Crybaby 535, and a Marshall Valvestate 65R. I would never buy this amp again! I would buy a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier if I had the money right now! I love nothing about it. I hate everything about it! There is nothing to compare with this amp. NO other amp is cheaper than this amp! I wish it had all the features of a Mesa Triple Rec. Nothing else to share! Thank you!

Bought the amp brand new in 1985 (so maybe the amp is 83-85 model year) as part of my first electric guitar experience. Has one channel, but gives a distortion effect with an oversaturation and a "pull thick" volume knob option. As a practice amp, has all the features (and more) than I'll ever need--my gigging amp is a CBS Fender Twin Reverb, so this little Peavey weighs one tenth of the Fender, with adequate sound and features for practice.

Play a Fender Strat Ultra (Mexican) through it. The distortion is amazingly clean, like Def Leppard or Dokken 70s-80s bands--but difficult to get any grunge out of it--just too clean. It clips at high volume, but who's trying to get any headroom at 20 watts? Played clean it is very cheesy, like a pignose, or playing through a stereo or TV.

Extremely well built. I am in the military, and have moved it cross country and overseas 10+ times; it has been beat on, spilt on, submerged (twice), and droppped countless times--keeps on tickin!

Never used

Own a Fender Twin Reverb (CBS), a Crate BX-100 Bass amp, and a bunch of effects, wah pedals, etc. Although the sound is not always perfect, the Peavey chains up nice with the rest of my equipment--very little noise. The distortion is surprisingly clean and rich--I've actually recorded it, choosing it over my much more expensive digital effects. A great little amp--just think, for the price of a Pignose, you can get a punchy little distortion effect and practice amp--just don't try to get any volume out of it--you only get the 20 watts you pay for!!!

Bought it second hand in January 1993 and still have it.
Previously I had a Marshall Lead 12, but I think the Peavey had better sound, was smaller (I needed portability) and it can be connected to a battery (12-18V) so it would be great for playing on the street.

It's a 12W SS combo. 8" speaker. 3 band eq, gain and master volume. The master volume can be pulled to kick the distorsion in. The trebble knob can also be pulled to the "thick" position, cosiderably thickening the tone, as its name says. Preamp out, headphone out, 1 input.
I use it at home, great practice amp.

Played it through a strat (single coils and bridge humbucker) and a Gordon Smith GS1. Sounds good, but nothing extraordinary. You can get some nice warm clean sounds, moderate distorsion is nice, but I don't like to raise the gain higher than 7... too fuzzy for my taste.
The "thick" push/pull know gives it an extra boost in volume and "thickness" (can't find a better word for it) which is really nice, although it would be better if it could be foot-switchable.
On the whole, nice sounds considering the size.
Through headphones is terrible, though.

I don't know how old the amp is. I had it for 7 years now. It hasn't been treated very kindly (I have checked it in with the rest of the luggage on air travels with no more protection than a single layer of cardboard, several times)... but it is solidly built. The volume pot gave me a bit of trouble: if I left it in one position it'd be fine, but if I pull it to get higher distortion it'll cut out intermittently... raising and lowering the volume rapidly a few times usually cured it. I recently opened the thing, and cleaned the pot, and it's working fine now...

Nice little practice amp. If you are looking for a small versatile thing to practice at home, and occasionally play on the street, this could be it.
If you are not so worried about portability, I'd get a bigger combo with slightly more 'oomph' (bigger speaker)...

Well, just 1 channel, input, output, headphone, 3 Eq. and despite the other post I think it's only 12W.

I play in a hard-rock/alternative band, using a Fender Strat. The amp cannot compete in a rehearsal setting, which forced me to get a new amp (Fender Stage 112). The Audition 20 is way too weak and you can't get a clean sound after 5 or 6, which is ok if you want to practice by yourself at home.

I think it used to be my fathers, and he got it second hand to amplify an acoustic... it has never broken down in the 10 years I've know it. You can't really gig with though because it just doesn't have the power. Very well built in general.

N/A

Been playing 4-5 years, and I'm in the process of getting new equip, etc. I originally wished that it had a overdrive channel so I could get good distortion out of it before I had a pedal. But in general, I can't complain. It's a sturdy little amp, and has served me well. It's a good amp to start with for a beginner.

this amp has 1 channel a gain mid low high headphone jack and an amp out i play metal and alternative it plays fine but not loud enough to play in a band but its only 15w

it has great dist for my music from rage against the machine to some nirvana it gets noisy on clean settings at about half the way turned up it has great feedback sounds

i could depend on this amp but i wouldn't use it at a gig because its not loud enough its never broke down on me and its pretty old

never had to deal with peavy because its never broke and if it did i will probably just toss it because its so old

i would buy a louder amp witch i am thinking about a crate gx80 it does find but need something louder so i can be in a band