discreet

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1464079689' post='3056297'] I can tell you that the review is a positive one. Yes, it is good. [/quote] Thanks for that, Dan! I won't bin it just yet, then. [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1464080111' post='3056304'] Anyone else think that looks like a droid? But is it the one you are looking for? [/quote] Bloop-bleep! Whistle! Fee-oop! Razzz!! Etc.

OK, first impressions... the fan is quite loud and kicks in from the off. There is obviously no thermal or speed control. I can see this being an issue for some people - if you do a lot of bedroom (or studio) playing, or you do quiet Jazz or Folk-type gigs, I'm sure it could be an annoyance. It doesn't bother me in the least. I'm guessing it will translate as 'no issues with thermal cut-outs'. Coming straight from my G-K MB200 (which has an excellent core tone) the Peavey, when set flat with the bells and whistles switched off, sounds a little gritty - as if the audio is somehow lower resolution than the MB. Think of a 128kbps mp3 compared with a 320kbps mp3. It also seems bloody loud, but again that's because my MB200 puts out around 120W at 8ohms and I'm now potentially getting 300W, so that's hardly surprising. I can imagine that with with two 8ohm cabs (500W @ 4ohm) this amp would provide more than sufficient beans with plenty of headroom. Playing along with a fairly loud backing track however, the grittiness isn't apparent and all is well. How an amp sounds solo has little bearing on how it sounds live, with a band - so I'm hoping Peavey have done the right thing and voiced it for the real world. We'll see. As far as the facilities go, so far the 250Hz/600Hz switchable mid control seems very useful. I favour the button IN at the moment (250Hz) which is about right for a more vintage sound. Complaints that the chicken-heads are too loose and have no resistance are unfounded. They're very easy to turn, but positive. They do feel a little cheap compared with the MB's rubberised and nicely-weighted controls, though. This'll be down to that 'bottom line' that everyone talks about. I'm gigging this Saturday and Sunday, so I'll post a full review early next week.

[quote name='SICbass' timestamp='1464072039' post='3056215'] It's got "keeper" written all over it. [/quote] Well that's the kiss of death. Actually it's got a very good chance - it's the right colour.

[quote name='markorbit' timestamp='1464026813' post='3055901'] If it's an ABM model the default setting is mid-scooped. In order to get all the mids back you need to press the shape button near the gain knob. It's kinda weird and opposite to most other manufacturers in that 'in' is flat and 'out' applies the mid-scoop! [/quote] +1 I think Ashdown have dropped the ball a bit here. Most people assume that the 'shape' control is active when the button is pressed in, not when it is out! I'm sure their reputation for 'woolliness' and lack of mids is purely because of the unusual default setting of this one button.

[quote name='paul h' timestamp='1464076929' post='3056261'] The knobs and the tuner sell it for me [/quote] The knobs do look good but in practice I'd prefer normal round controls. The tuner is great, however.

Using foam or felt or rubber mutes is a right pain the arse. Develop your palm-muting/pick skills instead. You can apply as much or as little pressure as you like and can mute fretted notes as well as open strings on the fly.

[quote name='skychaserhigh' timestamp='1464070975' post='3056205'] A bit heavy at 5ib ... only on Basschat... [/quote] Heh! It's all relative. The MiniMax is 5lb - heavy for a modern 'lightweight' amp - the G-K MB200 is 2lb. [quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1464071105' post='3056206'] Thffft!.. Stock image. What's next, sound-clips all in the left channel? Oh, how you've fallen. [/quote]

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1464075499' post='3056247'] I was in the studio a couple of weeks ago and have reviewed the Headliner 1000, the MiniMega and MiniMax. [/quote] Excellent! Does that mean I needn't bother? More to the point, can you tell us in a word if the MiniMax is any good or not..?

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1464033502' post='3056006'] Made in China I'm guessing? [/quote] Designed and Engineered in USA - Made in China. Which is probably why it can be retailed for less than £300.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1464043239' post='3056127'] They`re great basses, unfortunately with mine I couldn`t get past the lack of Fender written on the headstock - which is ridiculous really, but hey, have to admit my failings. [/quote] I know what you mean and I usually feel the same, but for some reason it genuinely bothers me not. Every time I pick it up (about thirty times a day atm) it just seems to be getting better and better. Though I am very gradually adjusting the action and intonation in a long, slow-motion fettle, so that's helping.

[quote name='dieseldalziel' timestamp='1464040867' post='3056099'] I had the GK MB200 also but I do like what I would call 'working weight'... ...heavy enough to feel solid but won't compact the discs in your vertebrae [/quote] It's true - the MiniMax seems heavy for a Class D amp, but it's not even close to being too heavy to carry. It sits nicely on top of a cab and I'm guessing it has more than enough mass to remain untroubled by vibration... I'm sure you could still pull it off and onto the floor with your instrument lead if you were determined, but you'd have to be a monumental bell-end to do that, wouldn't you? It's approximately 2.3kg or around 5lbs. The cab I'm going to gig it with weighs 7kg or 15.4lbs. So the amp is a third of the weight of the cab...

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1464041077' post='3056102'] Not even a picture of the back panel... [/quote] You knew this was going to happen, didn't you..?

[quote name='dieseldalziel' timestamp='1464036871' post='3056057'] I made some comment in this thread [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/281118-peavey-minimax-head-anyone-tried-one/page__view__findpost__p__3006016"]http://basschat.co.u...ost__p__3006016[/url] not a review as such & no one does them like you! [/quote] Heh. You're very kind. But thanks for that, most useful... to me it seems quite big and heavy, but bear in mind I've been rocking a G-K MB200 which must be the smallest serious bass head on the planet. The MiniMax still doesn't overhang a vertically-positioned One10 though, so it's all relative really. I'll be interested to see if the bells and whistles are actually useful - I run mostly clean sounds in my current band - so I suspect they'll be 'off' at reasonable gigging levels. I just hope the core tone is as expected. I use a venerable Peavey TNT combo for rehearsal - it lives in the rehearsal room permanently, it's way too heavy to move - but it's so easy to get a great sound with it and it's uber-reliable. I believe the MiniMax is the same or similar to the amps that power Peavey's MAX range of combos, which seem to be highly-regarded. So if it's possible to get 'that' Peavey sound, but with your own choice of lightweight cab - and the amp is as reliable as you would expect a Peavey product to be, then it's going to be a winner, especially at this price point. See? I'm reviewing it already and I haven't even plugged it in yet!

[quote name='dieseldalziel' timestamp='1464035320' post='3056038'] I love mine! [/quote] Ah-ha! Review anywhere?

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1464034972' post='3056032'] I'm new to knob GAS. [/quote]

I'm hoping it's got that Peavey plug-and-play Old Skool chunky tone, but! Without the fifteen-ton speaker enclosure, obviously. The case is reassuringly tank-like, which is a good sign.

Yes. Yes, it is.

[b]NAD - Peavey MiniMAX™ 500 Watt Bass Amplifier Head *Review*[/b] [b][url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/285506-nad-peavey-minimax-500-watt-bass-amplifier-head/page__view__findpost__p__3060791"]POST-GIG REVIEW 30-05-16[/url] [/b][list] [*]500 Watts RMS @ 4 ohms/300W RMS @ 8 ohms [*]DDT™ speaker protection [*]Pre-gain control with TransTube® gain boost [*]3-band EQ with Punch, Mid-shift and Bright controls [*]Psychoacoustic low end bass enhancement [*]Built-in direct output with ground lift and pre/post switch [*]1/8" aux input [*]1/8" phones output [*]Chromatic tuner with speaker and DI mute [*]Two twist-lock/combo 1/4" outputs [*]Built-in effects loop [*]Active and Passive inputs [*]Dimensions: 10.75" width x 3.25" height x 6.625" depth [*]Weight: 5.6 lbs (2.5kg) [*]Comes with padded carry bag [/list]

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1464027410' post='3055913'] Sea Foam Green all the way! It's [b]the[/b] pirate colour of choice. [/quote] D'oh! You already said that! Can't wait to see it. Er... me hearty.

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1464027117' post='3055908'] I had all the room I needed after clouting him round the back of the head when he decided to leap in the air mid song and promptly staggered off the front of the (fortunately un-raised) stage clutching his head...Precision bass 1 singer's head 0 [/quote] SWEEEET!! I mean... that's terrible.

[quote name='marcblum' timestamp='1464026076' post='3055888'] you mean: it's peaceful and sweet. [/quote] Actually, it is; certainly more so than Kingston, just down the road. Avoid!

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1464026352' post='3055891'] We have a winner! [/quote] Wow - is it going to be colour-matched..?

Ooh - BF Six10??

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1464025853' post='3055881'] You have good connections into central London on the train. [/quote] I lived in Twickenham for a year and the above quote tells you everything you need to know about it.

This pic from Carol Kaye's playing tips: