Page 1 of 9

History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 4:22 am
by GennyFan
I thought I posted this already, but I can't find it, so here it is again, with some slight updates. If you see anything that needs correcting, or if you would like to add additional information, please feel free to do so.

***History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit***

The Bandit

(1980) The very first Bandit was only made for one year. As subsequent versions became available, the original Bandit came to be known as the "Gunsmoke Bandit" because the font used to silkscreen the logo on the front of the amp resembled the font used in the opening credits of the popular 60's television show, Gunsmoke. The Gunsmoke Bandit was made in Meridian Mississippi USA and had a power rating of 50 watts RMS. It came equipped from the factory with a 12" guitar speaker made for Peavey by Eminence.


Solo Series Bandit (manual not available... Send me a message if you have one you can scan!)

(1981-1983) The Solo Series Bandit soon followed the Gunsmoke Bandit and incorporated a variety of improvements, most notably a much improved sound. The Solo Series Bandit was made in Meridian MS USA and came equipped with Peavey's proprietary guitar speaker, the Scorpion.


Solo Series Bandit 65

(1983-1987) With the Solo Series Bandit 65, large improvements in tone compared to the previous version were again realized and the power rating was increased to 65 watts RMS. The Bandit 65 was made in Meridian MS USA and came equipped with Peavey's proprietary guitar speaker, the Scorpion.


Solo Series Bandit 75

(1987-1989) The Solo Series Bandit 75 saw the power increase by 10 watts to 75 watts RMS and a Bright Switch was added. The Bandit 75 was made in Meridian MS USA and came equipped with Peavey's proprietary guitar speaker, the Scorpion.


Solo Series Bandit 112

(1989-1995) The Solo Series Bandit 112 introduced many new features, the most notable being an increase in power to 80 watts RMS and a choice between Peavey's Scorpion speaker and Peavey's newly introduced Sheffield speaker. Many of the innovations that would later be branded as "Transtube" were included in the Solo Series Bandit 112, but the name "Transtube" had not been adopted yet. There have been several different versions of the Solo Series Bandit 112 but they all share the same manual and the same control layout. One of the more popular variations is known as the "Teal Stripe" or "Blue Stripe" Bandit due to a blue horizontal stripe below the control panel. The Solo Series Bandit 112 was made in Meridian MS USA.


Transtube Series Bandit 112

(1995-1999) The Transtube Series Bandit 112 formally introduced Peavey's proprietary "Transtube" technology that allows a solid state amplifier to perform more like a vacuum tube amplifier. Central to the Transtube concept is a patented "power brake" that allows the user to control the amount of power required for dynamic range compression from the power amp, from 100% all the way down to 10%, thus enabling the amplifier to acheive power amp compression without running at full volume. The Transtube Series Bandit 112 was made in Meridian MS USA and came stock with the Sheffield 1230 speaker. Notably, it was also the first Bandit to have an external speaker jack, allowing external speakers to be run instead of or in parallel with the internal speaker. Running into 8 ohms, power is still 80 watts RMS, but running into 4 ohms (the equivalent of using the internal 8 ohm speaker together with an 8 ohm extension speaker) the power is increased to 100 watts RMS. Due to the horizontal strip of chrome underneath the controls, this version is commonly referred to as the "Silver Stripe" Bandit, but due to the black color and square shape, it is sometimes called the "Blackbox" Bandit (not to be confused with "Blackface", which refers to Fender products and/or performances in the style of Al Jolson...)


Transtube Series II Bandit 112 Made in USA

(2000-2004) With the Transtube Series II, the metal corners and input jacks that had been standard on all Peavey Bandits up until this time were replaced by plastic corners and plastic jacks. Due to a color scheme incorporating a red stripe across the front of the amplifier, many people refer to the Transtube Series II Bandit as the "Redstripe Bandit". During this time Peavey attempted to adopt a new company logo, and moved away from their traditional "pointy" logo. The new logo came to be known as the "Block Logo". The Block Logo was only used for a limited period of time, and the Block Logo Redstripe Bandits represent the last Peavey Bandits to be made in the USA.


Transtube Series II Bandit 112 Made in China

(2004-2005) This amp is cosmetically nearly identical to the USA version, so it is also referred to as "Redstripe Bandit", but there are several differences between the US built Redstripes and the Chinese ones. First, the Chinese version says, "Designed in the USA" on the front, while the actual USA version says "Designed and Made in the USA". Second, the speaker in the Chinese version is either unlabelled, or is labelled "Blue Marvel", a Peavey code for speakers made outside of Peavey and then rebranded as Peavey. All of the USA Redstripe Bandits shipped from the factory with US made Sheffield 1230 speakers. Another obvious difference is that all Chinese Redstripe Bandits have the "pointy logo", while most - but not all - of the USA Redstripe Bandits shipped with Block Logos.


Peavey Bandit with Transtube Technology

(2006-current) The current version of the Bandit is made in China. It is the first Bandit to incorporate a "simulated output" for recording purposes. This simulated output runs independently of the amp's internal speaker, allowing silent recording. The simulated output can also be used instead of or in addition to a traditional microphone. In this version the spring reverb has been replaced by a digital reverb circuit, and the 10% to 100% T. Dynamics knob is replaced by a 3-way switch, allowing operation at 25%, 50%, and 100% power. Metal corners are reintroduced, but the footswitch is no longer included with the amp and must be purchased separately. Due to the new oval logo that resembles an eye, this model is sometimes referred to as the "Cyclops" Bandit.

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 8:16 am
by (heart) le Peavey
Great work - thanks.

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 8:53 am
by mace&grace
Good review. It's always nice referring to someone smarter then me. :)

I'm going to pick that Revo112 up today. shot him another price & he bit on it.

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 10:18 am
by pvholic
Great job Jason.

You Da man.

Looks like I want the last USA made Bandit. I have bought so many different models of Bandits, Specials, even the tilt back model ( Was 160 Watts and that huge and heavy Scorpion Ultra) and every model of the 212 Stereo Chorus 400 to the last model and I was going to every Namm show so I would sell the one I had if I liked the next new model, which I did! Hahahaha

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 1:37 pm
by bleakanddivine
Good summary, the only detail I would point out is that the current Bandit manual is dated 2006, which might mean it was introduced earlier than 2008?

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 2:19 pm
by GennyFan
Thanks for the encouragement! As the true "Working Man's Amp" of my generation (80's and beyond), the Bandit holds a special place in my heart.
bleakanddivine wrote:Good summary, the only detail I would point out is that the current Bandit manual is dated 2006, which might mean it was introduced earlier than 2008?
Excellent observation! I think you're right, I changed the dates on the post above. Most of this I'm just going from memory, and through much of the 80's and well into the 90's, my memory was impaired by err... substances.... lol :? :oops: :wink:

I recently learned that the last of the Red Stripe Revolutions came with digital reverb, so it seems that the last Revos may have been used as a test-bed for the most recent Bandits. However, it makes me wonder if there were any Chinese Redstripes that came with digital reverb...

LBNL, Due to cosmetics, I like the name "Codpiece Bandit" for the most recent Bandit, but is there another name besides "the latest" or "Codpiece" that can be used to describe this version? Any reason why we should NOT call it the Codpiece Bandit?

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 6:31 am
by Frank N. Peavey
As a long time Bandit user and fan I thank you for the research and for sharing this with us.

Been rocking the same Bandit since 1885. :wink:

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 8:13 am
by Classic30inCincy
1885 :?: :oops:

Before Electric :!: :oops:

How Dat Work :?: :shock: :lol:

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:14 am
by Frank N. Peavey
1985, but seems like 1885. :lol:

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 6:48 pm
by twang_banger
GennyFan wrote: Transtube Series II Bandit 112 Made in USA
(2000-2004) During this time Peavey attempted to adopt a new company logo, and moved away from their traditional "pointy" logo. The new logo came to be known as the "Block Logo". The Block Logo was only used for a limited period of time, and the Block Logo Redstripe Bandits represent the last Peavey Bandits to be made in the USA.

Transtube Series II Bandit 112 Made in China
(2004-2006) Another obvious difference is that all Chinese Redstripe Bandits have the "pointy logo", while most - but not all - of the USA Redstripe Bandits shipped with Block Logos.
Thanks for the history lesson GennyFan. Good info.

"most - but not all -" True. My pointy & block both Made in Mississippi.

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 9:01 pm
by BigNorm
In the 80's I had that Bandit 65 and was so please with it. That made me buy the Last USA made version of the Bandit that I still use for gigging and still as happy has I was in the 80's with my 65.
Thanks for the research.

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 8:18 am
by savio
Great post mate!! Thanx a lot!! Just got the chinese red stripe, pointy logo bandit ;)... Love the sound, but the speaker (unmarked) is to trebby and harsh. Will be changing it soon...

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:54 am
by Wicked_Tone
Awesome post! Thanks for providing a definitive history of the Bandit. I'm loving my teal stripe version, as I just got it last week and see what so many others have mentioned on this forum as to the versatility and tone this amp has in all its incarnations. 8)

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 11:07 am
by dalrymple
Wow, that's good work. Way too much time on your hands. LOL! Thanks.
Dalrymple

Re: History and Timeline of the Peavey Bandit

Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 12:56 pm
by WashburnTabu
Don't forget here; http://thebanditpage.info/