Guitar Center Trip and Not Making Fun of Peavey

GUITAR CENTER

Yesterday I went to Guitar Center with my Guitar Center Buddy for yet another one of their Tremendous Sales<tm>.

They moved the lefty section further off to the side, while not adding much.  We saw an interesting  whilte Standard Strat (made in Mexico) that had a weird `relic’ job done to it.  It wasn’t so much a relic as someone probably dropped it from fifteen feet up and it had all sorts of chips and cracks.  Mind you, it was marked as new, same price as the others ($444).

If I had to use a Strat to check something out or needed one in an emergency, this would be the one (relic or no).  Of course I said this about the Standards when they were simply the Made in Mexico Strats.  My reasoning is the neck (isn’t it always?).

Keeping in mind that this is strictly my opinion, Fender hasn’t been able to get a neck right in well over thirty years.  This might have something to do with me having grown up on the good late 70’s Strats (and a Tele - both of them) but I have very specific requirements for Fender necks, which Fender themselves haven’t been able to manufacture.  Most of my necks are 7.25″ radius (very round) slight V-necks.

If you’re a lefty, like me, you’re screwed.  The only thing close on any production Fender is the `57 Strat reissue (made in america, about $1400) and I don’t even like that one.  If you’re backwards (righty), you can play all sorts of interesting necks.  Look for the cheap 50’s Strats (offshore) and the Jimmie Vaughan Strat… these are generally acknowledged as Really Nice Necks.

Back to current production Strats, they all seem to have to vaguely 60’s C-neck with a really flat radius.  They feel like different instruments to me.   Fortunately the Standard (Mexican) Strats have a slightly thicker neck, which I find much easier to play.  Nicely priced too - just replace the pickups and you’re off.

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PEAVEY

I have spent years making fun of Peavey gear, for good reason.  I just can’t stand most of their products.  Your mileage may vary.  Hell, Joe Satriani seems happy enough with them to set up a line of his own.

Just for fun, we tool a look at the display of Peavey solid state practice amps, starting at $99.  The most interesting thing at first was the display when we powered one up.  There are LEDs around each knob that spin like mad.  Fortunately they stop when you plug the guitar in.  Looks like it would be a real hoot if you’re out of your mind on recreational pharmaceuticals.  We weren’t (we don’t) so it was just silly.

I plugged in a convenient (non-relic) lefty Strat and got to work.  You probably didn’t know this (or care) but all lefty Fenders are wired backwards.  Fender obviously doesn’t care.   Once I got that sorted out, I went for broke, playing with knobs.   I never replicated the ring around the knob bit but the effect I got was a bit more pleasing in the sonic realm.

Let me say this: if you need a kick-around practice amp and have no money, you can go into Guitar Center and get a Peavey (or a Line 6) for about $99.  It’s a deal.  I told a friend this when she was looking for her first amp.

For this price you get a whole bunch of amps that can allegedly be simulated.  You also get a whole palette of effects and something like 15watts through a built-in (very small - 8″?) speaker.

The knobs perform two functions: the labeled ones and either amp simulation control or effects control.  It was not hard to figure out from the front panel.  And let’s face it - we’re talking guitar players here… we’re not usually the brightest bananas in the bunch as a rule.

At the volume at which I was listening (I am not bad enough to play REALLY LOUD in music stores), the amp simulation was poop.  If you consider it less amp simulation than presets, you’ll probably be satisfied.

The effects were certainly interesting.  Among them were roto, delay, reverse, phase, and pitch change.  There were two adjustable parameters per effect but only one effect at a time.  There didn’t appear to be any reverb, which was downright weird.

I wouldn’t consider this amp if you have a warehouse full of vintage gear you want to ditch, but otherwise it’s perfectly fine to sit next to you in front of the tv (you can use the headphone output) if you don’t absolutely require authenticity (or tubes, like I do).

If you haven’t tried out one of these cheap practice (or higher wattage) amps by Peavey or Line 6, I suggest you do so.  Fun toys… I’d never use one live but they’re nice to have around the house.

So Peavey - you done good this time.

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As an aside, my compatriot was enthralled by the small cream Egnater 20w head.  As impressed as he was, switching to the amp next to it confirmed that the Egnater was a really nice-sounding unit.  He was extremely impressed by the knob that varies between the EL84’s and 6V6es.  There is also a gain, master, and wattage control, allowing for a lot of flexibility.  It sustained forever, even on clean settings.

The Egnator wasn’t my speed but I could see what my friend liked in it.  I threw a reissue `72 Tele at him to test the amp out and we were both impressed at the tone of this Tele with a pair of Fender humbuckers in it.  It still sounded like a Tele, while also having features like a belly cutout and Strat headstock.  It also had a really nice neck, all things considered.  Hmm… I seem to remember that it might be available lefty… could be interesting.