Peavey Rage 158

This amp is a 15 watt strictly room practice amp. I got it as a present about 2 years ago, along with my first guitar. It sounded ok with the gain on, and the clean channel is pretty much crap. It has a 3 band equalizer, and a modern/vintage setting, both of which are about as useful as 3 extra knobs that havent been wired. A few months ago, i bought a 1974 les paul copy, and that sounds mediocre as well, unless you crank the distortion. But then you cant turn it up too loud or it just sounds like static. It has a cd input and a headphone jack too.

Me playing mostly punk rock and ACDC stuff, it works because i barely ever use the clean channel. the gain is almost too much, because when im at band practice, i crank it and it sounds like crap, so i turn the gain down and its too quiet. Either way, you cant win.

This category i give a 10 because the thing is like a rock. Ive never had any problems with it, its very dependable, not too heavy, and could withstand live playing if only it had better sound and at least 50, not 15 watts.

I got this 2 years ago, first amp, i thhoght it was great. But now that ive learned the basics, and i speak for anyone else who can say that, GET A BIGGER AMP. If youre planning to have it sit in your room with you playing quietly for as long as it still works, go ahead. but this amp will only take you to a certain point.

vintage/modern switch
basic EQ

don't have much to say about the little fella, apart form it is the best 15 watter you can buy!

i use this amp with an ibanez s470, ibanez jem and a marlin state of the art. it sounds great at low volume with some effects on it. the distorion is quite nice, one of the best sounding practice amp avliable.

solid state and Peavey. what more can i say !!

never needed them

excellent first amp, great sounding, loud, nice and easy to use and very very cheap.

The peavey 158 is a practice amp. If you have no viasions of grandure, then this amp will do whats it's meant to.

2 channels, with a 3 band EQ. nothing fancy here, although it does have a line in/cd in put for those of you who wish to finally jam with your favorite axe man.

At 15 watts, this is amp is plenty for practice at home, and even collabs with your bandmates to get some wrinkles ironed of all those great new songs bursting from your brain.

I have many guitars, but play mainly an LP standard, and a washburn falcon. I play blues/rock&roll and this amp is satisfactory for the sounds i prefer.

Quiet, for a little amp, this puppy packs far more punch than my marshall valvestates (possibly the worst thing marshall ever did)

the Clean channel is crystal, and the overdrive channel packs a we bit of punch - although I wouldnt say it "sounds" like a tube amp - it does have a fairly sweet dirty channel that most anyone can squeak some good tunage from.

Running the clean channel with my les paul and my analogman BD pedal, and you'll think plexi.
for the dollar, this is a fine practice amp for all.

I cant really judge here. practice amps dont often leave my room here, but hey.... how unreliable can solid state be.
(some of you will pretend i never said that)

pfft. for 25 bucks, when it breaks i'll kick it to the curb

I've been playing for about 28 years, I guess you wouls say i have tons of "vintage" equipment. Yes, that makes me old :)

If this amp were stolen, I 'd buy another one if someone were standing right in front of me with it.

the clean channel is sweet, and this overdrive is something i can live with. not a bad sounding amp - and as I said, compared to my marshall valvestates, this amp is clearly better made, and has a better sound. And that comes from a marshall kind of guy.

This would be a much more popular series if peavey included an effects loop. Sure it isnt profitably feasable for them to add such a feature on thier smaller amps - but hey - if i use my effects on stage, why wouldnt i want to use them while writing, or just jamming through the lil bugger.

An overall 7. peavey has always made fine products - thisi s definately one of them.

Peavey Rage 158 - A solid-state 15 watt (RMS) with a 8-inch speaker.

Single input, 2 channels, Preamp Out, 3-band EQ, Headphone jack.

Clean channel is what it is. The Supersat(R) lead channel is AWEsome!

I've used this so-called practice amp for everything from a bench test amp, home recording to live jams (the latter requiring a mic into the PA system) without any problems from the unit itself for several years...and before I got it from my brother, he used it to amplify his harmonicas (with a mic) and lap steels, mic'd into the PA when the power wasn't able to match the other instrument amps.

9 for versitility, as I've still not found anything I'm unable to use this amp for.

My only gripe is that there's no footswitch jack for channel switching, which I have added myself, otherwise this would have gotten a 10.

I've used too many instruments into this thing to mention, it has given me basic amplification to practice with, if I need more power, I mic it into the PA system or use the Preamp Out or headphone jack into the board.

Styles used with this amp are varied, from country and blues to rock and pop from the '60s to current. The Supersat(R) knob goes from a hint of distortion to mega-crunch, even a vast stare at the knob can change the entire spectrum it is able to give. (Those that hate this amp has not turned the knobs more than one extreme to the other at all, there's quite a range there!) I give it a 6 on Sounds because it only gives clean, EQ'd, and Distortion, no Phase, Reverb or anything else. I'd buy a Reverb version of this amp, as long as nothing else changes...

It's a Peavey. I've yet to see any Peavey solid-state amp that wasn't dependable, reliable and built like a brick bbq pit, takes abuse and keeps working like a Peavey should, and always has for me.

(Yeah, I've used Peavey solid-state amps for decades)

I've only dealt with the company once, just sent off an email today for parts for repairing a friend's Peavey amp (knobs broke off), tho from what I've heard from others and read here, Peavey's CS is as reliable as their amps have always been to me. I give a 9 as I've not ever had to deal with them before, tho I've gotten PDF manuals and such from their site on my other Peavey amps as well.

I've been playing for (at this review) one short of 30 years, and throughout, I have -always- had a Peavey solid-state amp in posession or use, these things rawk, and always have. The Zoo Bar here in Lincoln NE has been famous for Blues players for quite some time, and their PA system is Peavey, as they are reliable, and can get LOUD if ya need 'em to be.

This Rage 158 shall be with me as long as I still breathe, I may have it buried with me if I have no kids to hand it down to.

(See this and more gear at my site http://xan.dune.net/ )

It's like every other "Practice"-amps: 3 band EQ, clean, distortion.

Oh yeah... this thing got this "Vintage switch". To me, it sounds like it cut off the bass and boost the mids. But only very very little. Doesn't sound like tubes, but I think it's a bit more dynamic than the "Normal" mode. You hear that when clean is maxed :)

3+ for the "Vintage switch"

Cheap Strat copy (Morgan classic series strat) into this amp.

It's good for practise and that's it. I try to record it, but there's too much noise.

What suprised me was that when I had the PU-selector on my strat clone in the mode when it's combining the middle and bridge PU's, amp distortion cranked, post volume on an ear-pleasing volume, EQ voicing on "Vintage", the three EQ controls maxed and tone on guitar rolled all the way down. When I had this setting, I get a pretty good sound :) haha

Also, when on higher volumes (maxed), you can hear the difference when you twisting the EQ knobs, wich is hard to hear at bedroom-levels...

3- because the sound gets pretty muddy when cranked on clean "channel".

Nothing had happend to it. Then it's this little box inside the amp that gets hot all the time, even when it's off!
Pretty annoying. But like I said: Nothing had happend to it!

3- because the heat generated from the box

This is a very good amp for those who just brought an electric guitar, but as a "Practice"-amp, I think you'll find a better one!

Though very cheap :)

Good features for a practice amp, maybe should have different eq for the 2 channels

I dont know hwy everybody hates the sound so much. its not meant for loud use, its just a practice amp. i found it great for pretty much any style i played.

holy crap. i dont think anything can break this amp

ive only been playing for a bit but this is the best practice amp ve had. my previous 2 (jordin - total hunk of crap, and a fender one - ok but started sizzling after a while) were not as good as this one

its a peavey lol what much to say about a lil amp
good clean channel adn distrotion for a blusy mellow rockish sound
its a soild state that say it all their lol run this next to a Eq pedel or a dod grunge and it will surpirse u

This amp has lasted through partys adn drunking nights at hoem with som friends adn hasnt let me down

if i wanted it ya i would of had it
i bought it from HEL music and they offered support
adn it came with a 5 year warrrinty lol havent had to use it tho
a few times ihough i was gonna pop teh speaker

I bought this amp in 2001 or 2002 New From a local store
it has a good sound for starting out i used it up untill now(2005)
were i bought a classic chours 212

i play with a knock off strat with 3 SC
adn with teh rage it has a nice crisp clean channel but not the best but with carful tweaking of ur mids and lows and highs
u get a really good soundi play kind of a Thrash metal punk any heavey or punky kind of style it was good enough to get better but after about 2 years with it u need more power

i ran a DOD grunge with it and it opens teh amp to better sounds adn tone i use to use a danelectro Eq adn it really improved teh sound but as everyoen knos gear comes and gos i use the dod now adn still keep this amp cuz its good fow low level jaming like with a acoustic or a cople of budeys but not enough for a drummer well at least for teh way i play maybe a coffi shop or on teh cornor or at home kickingback over all i think this is a good pratice amp with a distortion pedal next to it and very versatile enoughe fer low level stuff
good amp for playing on a budget or if your looking for something
for a apartment or so your mom dosent get mad at u

I bought this amp in February of 1998 (My Birthday) so I assume it is a 1997 model.

Simple features, after all, it is a practice amp. Read other reviews for features.

I rate it highly becuase it is only a practice amp and doesnt really need many features.

For its size, I would have to say that this is probably the best 15W practice amp out there. People seem very loyal to this little gem, including Butchers who want to project their voice even further at the markets.

You will never get "that sound" out of an amp of this size. But it sounds great for what it is.

This was the first amp I ever bought and I have had this little baby for 9 years without a single problem. It has been dropped, used to amplify vocals and yet it still performs as well as it did when I first bought it.

Never needed it, and probably never will.

For practicing, this amp is great. It has been my faithful little companion for the last 9 years without a glitch.

i would say that this is the best practice amp out there. I's so impressed with it, that I just had to review it :D.

First of all, I thank all reviers here, I made great use of the reviews in my purchases. Unfortunately I bought this amp before getting to Harmony Central.

This is a small practice amp, so I would rate it as such. Clean channel with volume, lead channel with gain and volume. Shared EQ low/mid/high. Vintage-modern voicing switch, CD in and headphones out. No reverb. But it's real light, I like that. And you can use the open back to suff in cables, pedals etc.

I had this amp for about six months, and the bottom line is this: I tried hard to make it sound good on its own, with little success.

On its own the only usable sound (with humbuckers) is on the lead channel, with the gain at 10 o'clock, bridge pickup, with the pickup volume rolled back to about 7. Then it sounds approximately like AC-DC, or LedZep.

Otherwise I typically use the CD-in to plug a Digitech multieffects pedal straight to the power amp. That sounds ok, not great though.

Some people say you should not compare the sound of a 15Watts solid state combo to a bigger tube amp. Well, that's only partly true. Even for practice, an uninspiring sound can really be offputting. I have a Marshall all tubes combo, and that sounds really great, with almost all settings. Although this little Peavey says "TransTube" it has nothing to do with tubes. Sharp attack, cold sound, unmusical distortion - sounds solid state through and through. Emulating tubes with solid state just won't please my ears. And it's not about snobbery.

Try this: register with a site like soundclick.com that features amateur bands, where people specify the amps they used for recording. Google the site for names of amps, then download 10 solid state and 10 tube amps tracks, play them in a random order and judge the sound if you like it or not, then see whether it's a tubes or trannys track. I did that, hated 8 of the solid state sounds, liked 9 out of the tube sounds, and bought an all-tubes amp as my main amp...

I use bigger amps in the Peavey transtube line - the Envoy sounds much better. I have no idea why this little one sounds way worse than the next step up in its line.

Absolutely reliable.

no idea.

I have been playing for about 17 years. If lost or stolen, I would be happy to have an excuse to fill it's niche as my carry-around little amp with something nicer.

I think the amp was made in approximately 1996 in USA, it is a single channel solidstate amp with pre-amp out, headphone, 3 band eq, distortion and spring reverb. It's rated at 15 watts with a 8 inch speaker.

I am currently using a peavey usa predator strat copy and 1958 gibson es-125 tdc semi hollow. It's a modest practice amp that sounds reasonably good clean, the distortion is just passable but will give you an approximation of distortion pedal through a tube amp. I play mostly originals but I guess my tastes are mostly classic rock. I have been playing for awhile and also owned and used most of the famous vintage gear. Sometimes when I am working with modest equipment like this it helps me get a better sound out of it than most people because I know sonically what I am looking for. It took about 15 minutes to a half hour to figure out the eq/distortion/reverb settings to leave the amp set at. There is no possible way you could play over a drum kit with this. It is strictly a bedroom/coffee table amp. It does a good job with surf guitar instrumentals and country western (peavey is so associated with this type of music.) My mom had a Kustom 150 2x10 from the CCR era time and is the standard I judge solid state amps by. The clean setting is about 8/10 of a late 60s kustom amp. I played the first few bar chords of "proud mary" and the amp did a good job with this. Also "walk don't run" by the ventures. Zep was a strain for this amp but the fuzzy distortion did a nice job with "Do ya" by the move.

It's Peavey USA you can throw it at a brick wall and it would be fine. Drop it from an air plane. They are indestructible highly underated amps and there solid reliability was one of the reasons I got it.

I'm sure 10/10 even though I got the amp used Peavey has wonderful reputation of helping owners with old out dated equipment. They are a good company and it's a shame they do not get the credit they deserve.

Well, I've had all the great ones. Fender tweend harvard, Fender blackface princeton reverb, 68 champ, several vibrochamps and broncos (best practice and recording amps of all time but now worth $400.) JMI vox ac-4 and ac-10s (great amps but not worth the $1500 they are going for now.) It's unfair to judge this little Peavey practice amp against them and I won't. I gave that list though so who ever reads this will know I have had the best so I know a good tone when I hear one. I would say the little peavey gets about 78% of the sound of any of those at about 5% of the price. If your a good guitarist with decent pickups in your guitar most listeners would not be able to tell the difference. I think this is a great amp for practice around the house, traveling, dorm rooms, first guitar amp and playing with others. Before buying this thought about the Vox pathfinder reverb 15 (made in china $119) and also the Behringer gm-108 (made in china, highly rated $59 would still like to try.) I imagine the little Peavey is as good as either of these and feel a lot better plugging into something USA made. I imagine this amp will be around decades longer than the above. At $26 in used but like new condition with a guitar cord you can't beat it. I am happy with my purchase. I do wish it had a CD plug but this was made really before that became popular. I can get by with out it. If you see one with reverb for sale for under $50 I'd get it.