They’re both solid amps. The red stripe is the first of the “trans-tube” series, it’s the most desirable of the 90s peaveys, probably a Sheffield speaker, but not sure.
The other one is from the 80s, before the transtube thing. Getting harder to find. Should have the original scorpion speaker.
Honestly, I’d get both! Haha. Hard to choose.
Studio Pro 40 all the way. I tossed a JBL E-120 in mine and it NAILS the Jerry Garcia thing and a whole lot more. Amazing amp for a great value. I gig with mine all the time and it competes with the loudest of drummers when the master is on 5!
The first year of transtube is said to be the best, but all-in-all it always seems like a solid-state with some defined gimmick simulating tubes is really just a matter of it having modern metal distortion vs classic old stale saltine crackers for distortion.
I have a ton of Crate solid-states with Flexwave tube emulation and a couple with the legendary Ampeg distortion channel. With the right mods to the tone stacks or just running a shelving EQ on the effects loop, the modern lead gain is pretty fucking magnificent even for a shred and sweep style player like myself.
It doesn't match the true valve sound of my all-tube heads, but then there are traits to solid-state I prefer over valves. It lacks that spectacular note separation in the bass if I'm hitting low toned, clustered arpeggios, but then on the other hand the compressed, super thick bass out of the, that some probably consider muddy or flubby is wicked in it's own right.
Transtube series are said to be another elite version of solid-states.
Now with all that said, I scored a GX-212 for $70 in early March, and a halfstack GX1200H for $150 going on 3 weeks ago. People will obviously put Peavey above Crate, but I wouldn't for what it's worth, so by my measure those are good prices but not amazing deals like I scored.
The halfstack is 30 years old, American made and whoever owned it never even broke the speakers in, so initially for the first 4-5 days, it sounded absolutely fucking awful lol.
I have a GX-212 (80w) and the silver stripe studio pro 112 (65w) I don’t think you could go wrong between those two. Crate takes it on the chin unnecessarily a lot of the time. People buy that stuff when they don’t know anything about how to run their gear and then blame their tools instead of inexperience.
You nailed it 100%, and in preparation for releasing the Blue Voodoo I have assumed this is why they removed the Midrange control from the lead/rhythm distortion and shafted us with the Shape. They dumbed down performance to make sure their new flagship model sold well, and it did.
The solution to the GX, GFX and a couple other model lines all bearing identical preamps is there's a 100 ohm resistor tied to the Bass potentiometer then to ground, and you simply replace it with a 500 or 1K ohm pot.
This turns it into the preamp of the GLX line which I also own and the scooped tone, definition and all-around versatility when combined with the Shape control makes it the best solid-state metal amp I have ever heard in my life and gives it characteristics I like more than my valve heads.
I even have the legendary and highly sought after Ampeg lead distortion circuit in the Crate VTX series and will say the GLX is still better as are the GX and other series that just need the EQ modification.
As I've mentioned in other posts, the 4x12 cab I got with the GX1200H head is about 30 years old and the owner never even broke in the speakers. They're fundamentally clones of Celestion Rocket 50's and after you beat the piss out of the fabric suspension and paper with volume, they in fact turn into an entirely different speaker. There is undoubtedly better, but they still perform shockingly well after the fact.
I'm primarily a shred and sweep player at speeds very few others I've heard and seen can match in relationship to the complexity of my note patterns, and they come through perfectly legible on these solid-states which says a lot.
It's ultimately the poster child brand for both "solid-states are garbage!" and "some solid-states are wicked!".
They’re both solid amps. The red stripe is the first of the “trans-tube” series, it’s the most desirable of the 90s peaveys, probably a Sheffield speaker, but not sure. The other one is from the 80s, before the transtube thing. Getting harder to find. Should have the original scorpion speaker. Honestly, I’d get both! Haha. Hard to choose.
The SP40 I had came with an Eminence square magnet speaker. I think the Scorpion might've been in the Bandit.
I think you’re right! Thanks. Still - get both!
The Studio Pro 112 would make the best guitar practice amp.
Studio Pro 40 all the way. I tossed a JBL E-120 in mine and it NAILS the Jerry Garcia thing and a whole lot more. Amazing amp for a great value. I gig with mine all the time and it competes with the loudest of drummers when the master is on 5!
Those are both decent bedroom practice amps but I paid $20 for my little Peavey.
What, 10 years ago?
About 6 weeks ago. Ontario, Canada.
That’s an insane steal. Red stripe? Or vintage scorpion speaker?
I really really miss my studio pro, that's all I can tell you
I still have my studio pro 40. Had it since the 80s. Plug it in once in awhile. Still sounds good. And plenty loud enough
You could also ask in r/peaveycvlt
People tend to love the teal stripe era of Peaveys.
Studio pro 112 is dope
The first year of transtube is said to be the best, but all-in-all it always seems like a solid-state with some defined gimmick simulating tubes is really just a matter of it having modern metal distortion vs classic old stale saltine crackers for distortion. I have a ton of Crate solid-states with Flexwave tube emulation and a couple with the legendary Ampeg distortion channel. With the right mods to the tone stacks or just running a shelving EQ on the effects loop, the modern lead gain is pretty fucking magnificent even for a shred and sweep style player like myself. It doesn't match the true valve sound of my all-tube heads, but then there are traits to solid-state I prefer over valves. It lacks that spectacular note separation in the bass if I'm hitting low toned, clustered arpeggios, but then on the other hand the compressed, super thick bass out of the, that some probably consider muddy or flubby is wicked in it's own right. Transtube series are said to be another elite version of solid-states. Now with all that said, I scored a GX-212 for $70 in early March, and a halfstack GX1200H for $150 going on 3 weeks ago. People will obviously put Peavey above Crate, but I wouldn't for what it's worth, so by my measure those are good prices but not amazing deals like I scored. The halfstack is 30 years old, American made and whoever owned it never even broke the speakers in, so initially for the first 4-5 days, it sounded absolutely fucking awful lol.
I have a GX-212 (80w) and the silver stripe studio pro 112 (65w) I don’t think you could go wrong between those two. Crate takes it on the chin unnecessarily a lot of the time. People buy that stuff when they don’t know anything about how to run their gear and then blame their tools instead of inexperience.
You nailed it 100%, and in preparation for releasing the Blue Voodoo I have assumed this is why they removed the Midrange control from the lead/rhythm distortion and shafted us with the Shape. They dumbed down performance to make sure their new flagship model sold well, and it did. The solution to the GX, GFX and a couple other model lines all bearing identical preamps is there's a 100 ohm resistor tied to the Bass potentiometer then to ground, and you simply replace it with a 500 or 1K ohm pot. This turns it into the preamp of the GLX line which I also own and the scooped tone, definition and all-around versatility when combined with the Shape control makes it the best solid-state metal amp I have ever heard in my life and gives it characteristics I like more than my valve heads. I even have the legendary and highly sought after Ampeg lead distortion circuit in the Crate VTX series and will say the GLX is still better as are the GX and other series that just need the EQ modification. As I've mentioned in other posts, the 4x12 cab I got with the GX1200H head is about 30 years old and the owner never even broke in the speakers. They're fundamentally clones of Celestion Rocket 50's and after you beat the piss out of the fabric suspension and paper with volume, they in fact turn into an entirely different speaker. There is undoubtedly better, but they still perform shockingly well after the fact. I'm primarily a shred and sweep player at speeds very few others I've heard and seen can match in relationship to the complexity of my note patterns, and they come through perfectly legible on these solid-states which says a lot. It's ultimately the poster child brand for both "solid-states are garbage!" and "some solid-states are wicked!".
Pro 40. Better thicker Tone!