Peavey, why do their guitars have such a poor reputation?

[skitvacant]

According to my most recent NGD, I recently acquired a Peavey Predator Plus with a Floyd Rose-style bridge, and it's a fantastic guitar that sounds and looks nice on its own. Each of the six Peavey guitars I've owned, ranging from the 1980s models to the most recent ones, has been a really well-made instrument and player. All but one also had excellent finishes. Therefore, I would like to know why Peavey's guitars are so negatively viewed by reviewers and others. I've had enough of hearing statements like "Peavey should just stop making guitars...blah blah blah, peavey sucks, blah blah, blah." They are excellent instruments for what they are, and I have no complaints that can't be fixed with a few inexpensive modifications. I think it's better than many of the competitors.

I'm going to go play my Peavey, so screw you Peavey haters!

[studiodtk5]

I think it stems from the start when Peavey was considered the starter equipment and the value equipment. Once you grew up, you got something else.

In the meantime Peavey has made high quality stuff at good prices.

In the recent years though Peavey did drop out of making serious instruments to just offering cheap Chinese made instruments.

But they have more recently reintroduced a few Eastern European made instruments that are high quality. I hoping that they reengage in USA manufacturing and get back to their roots.

[boog204]

It's that many of us had Peavey starter guitars or amps and didn't realize that their higher end stuff is fantastic. One of my first amps was one of those Transtube combos and it actually had a really nice clean tone. Then went on to own a VTM and a Classic 50 and my buddy had a Triumph, Ranger, and 5150 and all of those were outstanding on the cheap. I still think my Classic 50 gigging clean tone was as good as I've ever had as I've traversed through the endless boutique amps that were supposedly so much better.

Same deal on the guitar side. The cheap international series do not hold a candle to the Firenza or Falcon which are easily on par with bigger name US makers.

It's fine by me. You can scoop these monsters up used on the cheap all day long while people drive the price up on more trendy brands.

[tonepoet]

It's a mystery to me. I love the Peavey Patriot and Firenza models.

And I almost always play through a Peavey Bravo 112. The Bravo, Bandit "Red Stripe" and Classic 30 are all fine amps, IMHO. I also have the rack mounted Rock Master tube pre-amp and Classic 50/50 tube Power Amp. All fine equipment, as far as I'm concerned.

tonepoet
www.jackshiner.com

[Pappy B]

I'm not so sure it's a poor reputation but maybe just highly ignored by the masses and those few that do bad mouth Peavey equipment are accepted as being the majority. And lack of dealers that actively push the name brand does not help.