I just saw this Peavey Practice Amp Envoy 110 advertised for $20 on our community e-group and wondered if it would work at all with a Madcat Shaker mic that a good friend had given me. Any thoughts? I soooo don’t know anything about amps. Thanks so much for your input. Here’s some info on it: • 10" Blue Marvel® speaker • High and Low Gain inputs • TransTube tube emulation circuitry • Footswichable Clean and Lead channels • 3 band passive EQ on each channel • 3 position EQ/Gain Voicing switch on each channel • Reverb with level control • Footswitchable Boost with level control • ¼" stereo Speaker Simulated Direct Out jack • Headphone jack • Footswitch optional • 40 Watts (rms) • Weight Unpacked: 24.00 lb(10.886 kg) • Weight Packed: 29.00 lb(13.154 kg) • Width Packed: 12.87"(32.6898 cm) • Height Packed: 24.25"(61.595 cm) • Depth Packed: 18.87"(47.9298 cm)
The TransTube Peaveys can be good for harp...Billy Branch is known to use one. They can take a lot of trial and error to get them sounding good though. For $20, I'd jump on it. ----------
If nothing else, you'll have a spare multi-purpose amplifier for uses in the future. You really can't go wrong for twenty bucks. Let us know how it turns out! ----------
Yes, I sure will! I'm going to be using it with the Madcat Shaker Mic that was given to me, which has a cable hard-wired into it. And it has, what I assume is a standard jack, which should just plug into the amp, is that correct? Oh, an just an fyi...this will be used exclusively for my ears only to practice and learn how to cup, etc..
Yes, your wire should plug staright into the amp jacks. A word of advice though, if it were me, I'd plug it into the 2nd input on the clean channel. Solid state amps are more gainy by nature. Might help reduce harsh tone and feedback. ----------
AZ, just about any working amp is worth $20. I'd buy it just to tinker with and re-sell.
I've played the Shaker Madcat mic and thought it was shrill and way too dry. But some players like a cleaner brighter tone and you may be one of them. If it were me I would worry about combining that with the also-too-bright and gainy Peavey amp. It may have obnoxious tone that howls with feedback. Fighting your rig makes harp playing even more difficult.
Does Billy Branch play a Peavey Transtube amp? I thought he played a Peavey Special 130, which is an old transistor amp. The transtube is a new digital modelling amp. They don't sound at all alike. ---------- -Little Rick Davis The Blues Harp Amps Blog The Mile High Blues Society Tip Jar
Hi Rick and thanks for your thoughts! Yes, I'm in the Phoenix area.
If I can get it, I'll buy it. As you said, for nothing else than just to tinker around with it. I'm truly a novice at all this so this would be my maiden voyage. A good friend gave me the Madcat Shaker mic so for $20 total, how can I lose.
"The transtube is a new digital modelling amp. They don't sound at all alike."
TransTube is not a modelling amp. It is a type of circuitry that Peavey developed to emulate tube tone as closely as possible by solid state means. Modelling amps, by definition, are amps equipped with digital software renderings of multiple existing amp types and different digital effects. The Peavey Vypyr and Vypyr VIP amps are their modellers. But most of them also employ TransTube technology to attain those modelled amps' respective sounds.
I could sworn Branch played through a Bandit 112. Huh. Must've been someone else.
Here's Harpsucker's demo of the Envoy's predecessor, the Backstage Plus. Less output than the Envoy, but it was one of the precursors of TransTube technology.
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Jul 18, 2013 8:06 AM
No, that USA-made Peavey Backstage Plus amp Tom is playing in the video is from 1985, and is a very fine amp. Peavey did not introduce Transtube emulation in its amps until the Bandit in 1996. I'm not sure the two amps would compare at all. From AZBluesHarper's description the amp he is looking at is a newer amp not made in Meridian Mississippi. If he could buy a working 1985 Backstage Plus for $20 he would be a very lucky guy!
Still, any working $20 amp is cool. I would snap this up in a New York minute. It is a learning process. Starting out with a bad amp can teach you the value of better amps. Since this amp is so cheap there is little downside here. Go for it.
But I have never heard a newer Peavey solid state amp that sounded good with blues harp. Some beginning players have brought them to the jam and sounded nasty. Better players sounded okay on the amps, but never good. On the other hand I've heard players using tiny Fender Frontman amps that sounded very good. Same with small Roland Cube amps.
I didn't say Tom's Backstage was TransTube. I said it was a precursor to TransTube technology, and it was the Envoy's predecessor. Some of the circuitry design from the 80's Peavey solid states eventually found its way into the TransTube patent, such as the Gain Block. The Envoy is a bit more powerful, and yes, it is built in China along with nearly all of Peavey's SS amps. I know that the earlier releases of the Envoy used a spring tank for the verb, but I'm not sure about the newer ones.
FWIW, there's a BS+ on eBay going for $175 outright purchase right now. Free shipping too.
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Jul 18, 2013 10:20 AM
AZBlues, I just remembered that there was a pre-TransTube era Envoy 110 made. Came out in the late 80's. Pretty sure THOSE had spring reverbs. Have you gotten a look at the one you're thinking of buying?
Because if it looks like these...
then it's the TransTube, and therefore the one you describe with your specs above.
But if it looks like THIS...
then it's pre-TransTube and should have the reverb tank and different circuitry, which will be VERY similar to the Backstage Plus you see in the video above.
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Jul 18, 2013 10:44 AM
Ok...I bought it and just picked it up today. (Yes...for $20) Hawkeye, it is indeed the pre-trans tube model as shown in your last picture. So, is that good...or bad??? I don't have it home yet so I haven't had a chance to hook it up and play with it...but I'm quite certain that when I do, I won't know what the hell I'm doing! I can see myself just randomly pushing and turning knobs and buttons without the slightest clue as to why! lol So...now knowing that it's the pre-trans tube model, and knowing that I'll be using it with the Madcat Shaker mic for practice only, what exactly would you recommend as far as settings, etc.. Any suggestions? He did have the manual to it so I'll study up a bit...but any help would be very appreciated!!
My first amp...I'm sure all of you have fond memories of your first...oh the stories!! :)
Well, I got it home, hooked it up and played with all the knobs, buttons, bells and whistles that it had and everything works. It's been really fun so far and for $20 for my first amp, I'm absolutely delighted!!! I sure appreciate all the advice that's been given! I've said it before...but there's a LOT of smart people on here!! Thanks again!
Heathen...glad to be a member of the Peavey club! Is there a secret handshake I need to know about? :)
@ Hawkeye - Of course I am joking. That was really just meant to be a friendly shot across Rick's bow in reference to previous posts.
I have (2)all tube (1)Hybrid (1)Solid state and (1)Solid state battery powered. All from Meridian MS. It is really kinda funny how these old Peaveys keep finding their way to my woodshed.
But I think I may be recovering. I am proud to say I passed on a really good deal on a Triumph 60 for $120 a couple of days ago. I thought to myself, do I really need another high gain 60 watt 112?? And I answered myself, "NO!". Had it been a Classic 410, I probably would have bought it for the cabinet and it probably would have only cost $75.
AZ, I know of no secret hand shake, but proceed with caution. A seem to vaguely recall that once upon a time, I had no Peaveys at all. Then I had one, and now they're all over the place.
Hey Rick...posting a video is a good idea and something I'd do if I knew what I was talking about and how to present it in a way that would be beneficial. What YouTube doesn't need is another knucklehead talking about something they know nothing about! lol
Thievin'...yep, I can see how this could be addictive!
