Peavey Mark IV Head

Just got one tonight for dirt cheap. May need some work, as it made a few odd noises -- barely got to play it, though, so I'll have to look into that further. Definitely could use some cleaning.

Anyway, it came with no manual, so I'm looking for any info/tips/etc. anyone may have. Some of the controls and jacks are completely non-intuititve...

Also, is there anything special I need to know about this baby? Special precautions, stuff like that?

Thank you!

P.S. I don't know if the Peavey website is gone for good, but it wasn't coming up tonight...

Iknow this much....them heads is loud!

0le FUZZY is the expert on those, I expect he'll be here presently...

Cheers, Tim

Cool. I saw that one Craigslist! like 75.00 bucks! nice! a little deoxit on the pots usually takes the crackle out. and if you have something konk on you the peavey parts folks are very nice and the parts are inexpensive.

Nice score!

Cool. I saw that one Craigslist! like 75.00 bucks! nice! a little deoxit on the pots usually takes the crackle out.

Yeah, that's probably the same one -- I don't follow craigslist, but my good friend sent me an email about it. I played one a couple times, a couple years back, and it was very nice.

In addition to the usual pot scratchiness, I get some pretty scary noises when I turn the "paramid" knob. Hopefully, like you say, a little cleaning fixes it all up.

Thanks for the tip on the parts, BTW. That makes me feel better, knowing I can get stuff if I need it.

P.S. Today, the Peavey site was working, and I got the manual... so I've got some studying to do!

Used the 2 channel one as a spare for years. My only complaint was that you can't switch off the onboard limiter....

Martini, how does the limiter work? Does it only kick in when you (or the preamp) are really loud?

So far, I've only used this thing in the living room -- can't get beyond about ONE on any of the preamp/gain knobs, without stuff in the room rattling.

Thankfully, the scary noises (really loud screeches and pops) have gone away, since I cleaned the pots...

These amps are seriously loud, and this is one of the reasons why they have the limiter.
You wont get the limiter working until you are at gig volume.
In a lot of ways, it acted like a compressor, I always found the limiter squashing the level when I got stuck in and then conversely, boosting the tone on the bits that were supposed to be quiet.
A great sounding amp but always hard work. (For me.)

like most of my peavey gear, i could through my mark IV head off the roof of my house and it would still work fine. my mege bass fell off the roof of a van twice into a parking lot and never blinked. that old peavey stuff is damn fine. needless to say, i carry my own equipment nowadays. some people just have butterfingers.

Most Peavey limiters are in fact defeatable. Usually a loop conector on the PCB that you remove to defeat the function. If there's an LED that corresponds to the limiter, then it's on the same connector that plugs the LED into the PCB. I don't remember the particulars of the Mark IV, but I am sure it could probably be done easily.

http://www.thomaskinkadechico.com/peaveyheads1.jpg

http://www.thomaskinkadechico.com/wereready.jpg

...Make sure noe mud dobbers got in yer jack holes !!

...Don't try and use tew much gain.

...Set erry thang tew zero and go from there.

...Never drive past overload. If the lite comes on yew better turn em down.

...Alwayz make sure speakers are in faze.


0le FUZZY

nice fuzzy. i've got the same rig only one of them.

Have used several of these over the years,they are loud & built like tanks. Basically two channels w/2 inputs each. Per chan. Input 1 is high gain-for passive basses;Input 2 is low gain for active basses. The auto mix input is for channel switching using the optional footswitch ( good luck finding one of those w/the oddball din-style plug),however going into this input with no footswitch connected should turn on both channels at the same time,may provide extra E.Q.ing if needed.Usually just choose a channel and dial in a good sound. Like most bass amps I turn the post WFO then adjust the pre for the amount of volume desired. With a decent cab.this should make you a very good amp.

This questions directed to Ole Fuzzy as he's got the dope on these amps.

Am I able to use a dedicated pre-amp via the pre amp in/out on the MK4?
I'm hoping that I can use my Alembic pre-amp with the MK4 power section.
I've downloaded the manual but its going on about having to use stereo jacks and Y connectors.....I don't want to fry the amp.
On my other amps, you can input a different pre-amp via the effects return socket but there is no mention of this in the Peavey manual.

Any ideas?

You'll have to email Fuzzy, as he "retired" from the TDPRI a few weeks ago...

Cheers, Tim

Thanks Tim. I will.

Am I able to use a dedicated pre-amp via the pre amp in/out on the MK4?

YES. To use the MK IV as a "slave amp" or simple power amp, just plug your Alembic's line output into the jack labeled "pwr. amp input" and yer good to go (last jack on the right). Use of that jack disconnects the pre-amp stage of the amp, and gets you access straight to the power amp stage.

Nice one geezer.