A collage of multiple music equipment products on a blue gradient background, including amplifiers, a blue electric guitar, a mixing board, and other audio gear

ABOUT US

Innovation. Amplified®

Peavey Electronics builds guitar amplifiers, electric guitars and basses, effects pedals, and professional and commercial audio systems from its headquarters in Meridian, Mississippi. This page covers the company's history, a timeline of its milestones, and the brands and artists that have shaped it.

"We span continents and languages, customs and cultures." Hartley Peavey

Hartley Peavey quote "There's something magical about taking a magnet, a piece of paper, and a coil of wire and making music."

Driven by an unmatched legacy of innovation and a total dedication to quality and reliability, Peavey Electronics embodies the pursuit of perfection in music and audio. It's our unifying spirit. It's proven. And it continues today.

Founded by Hartley Peavey in 1965 as a one-man shop, today Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest makers and suppliers of musical instruments, amplifiers and professional audio systems in the world—distributing more than 2,000 products to over 100 countries.

Hartley Peavey quote 'In order to be better, by definition you must be different.'

What makes Peavey different is a commitment to approaching business with a unique vision, from product design to distribution to being the largest independently owned manufacturer in the business. His quest has led to more than 180 patents and innovations in the way we hear and play music.

Hartley Peavey is not only the founder, visionary and catalyst, but also the lynchpin that connects a rich history to a bright future. And his founding principles of quality, reliability and innovation are still the focus of engineering and manufacturing operations that span continents and languages, customs and cultures.

Peavey Timeline

How It Started 1955 - 1989

1955

An Innovator Emerges

Hartley Peavey inherits his first set of hand tools from his grandfather, J.L. Peavey, and becomes the youngest person to enroll in Ross Collins Vocational School in Meridian. Hartley's skills advance quickly as he learns how to use lathes and millings machines.

1957

Hartley Builds His First Amplifier

Hartley works in his father's music store, Peavey's Melody Music in Meridian, which is frequented by rock & roll, country and R&B pioneers. Inspired by a Bo Diddley concert, Hartley Peavey decides to become a rock & roll guitar player. After converting his acoustic guitar to an electric, he builds the first Peavey amplifier.

1958

Hartley's Creativity Flows

Hartley Peavey sketches his first guitar design in high school—and it bears more than a passing resemblance to the future Peavey Mystic guitar, complete with the trademark headstock scoop that will later distinguish many Peavey guitars.

1988

Hartley Makes the Hall of Fame

Hartley Peavey is inducted into the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Hall of Fame. NAMM is the trade organization of the music products industry.

1989

Soundcheck on Aisle 9

Peavey establishes the Architectural Acoustics® division to provide sound solutions for the demanding commercial sound installation industry. Architectural Acoustics products are now found everywhere from supermarkets to theme parks to major transportation facilities.

1955

1957

1958

1988

1989

The Innovations Continue 1990 - 2015

1990

Hartley Cements His Legacy

Hartley Peavey is inducted into the Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California.

1990

Peavey Opens its New Home

Peavey International Headquarters, the company's corporate home, opens in Meridian, Miss., during its 25th Anniversary. The complex is a state-of-the-art facility that houses a fully operational recording studio, 227-seat auditorium, photo and video studio and multimedia classrooms designed for training and education.

1991

The President Comes to Town

U.S. President George H.W. Bush tours Peavey Electronics on December 3 and delivers a speech praising the company's commitment to education and its achievements in the international marketplace.

2014

The Most Advanced Enclosure in Peavey History!

Over 48 years of Peavey speaker enclosure knowledge culminate in the RBN™ Enclosures. Unique to these enclosures are Peavey's world-class ribbon drivers. Used in studio environments for decades, Peavey innovation brings this high-quality sound technology to powered speaker enclosures designed for live applications. The result is a crystal-clear sound that no other traditional compression driver can rival.

Portable speaker system with a black subwoofer and midrange speaker on a pole

2015

Peavey Celebrates 50 Years

Peavey's golden anniversary celebration kicks off at the 2015 Winter NAMM Show with an exclusive party featuring performances by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blue Öyster Cult, Michael Anthony, Robert Randolph and more. The company continues its legacy of innovation with the release of the revolutionary Dark Matter™ speaker enclosures, the VYPYR® Pro guitar amplifier, and the PV® AT series, the world's first non-powered mixers with built-in Auto-Tune® technology.