Used Peavey Bandit 112 vs used Roland BC30

[markal]

I'm pretty much a nooby, been playing a couple years or so and just starting to get involved locals blues jams and might start playing with an informal jam band on a regular basis. I need a better, louder amp. and have decided that for this next amp I will buy a used SS (for various reasons). I currently play a Mustang I and I'd like to try something else (not another Mustang).

So there are lots of Peavey Bandit 112s out there for less than $200, including some from the "read stripe" era, which I have read many people prefer. There are also some Roland BC30s available for more like $300-$350.

I play blues and some jazz on a MIM standard tele and an Epiphone Dot. I like clean tones and a little bit of crunch, but I don't use heavily distorted tone very much. I don't use any pedals yet but that's next (I'm lovin this stuff!).

Comparing these two amps, any reason to pay the premium for the Roland? The reviews I've watched make me think it sounds a little better, but curious what the TDPRI community thinks?

Thanks.

 

[TMoxness]

The Blues Cube amp that I tried out years ago was quite good, I would go for that one.

It's better to spend a bit more money to get a lot more quality. You'll end up keeping it longer.

 

[Mike Eskimo]

That's high for a BC30 but they're way better sounding amps than the bandits. All I had was a red transtube one and it was crispy and lacking.
Last BC 30 I saw was at music go round and it was $175 used. The BC60's should be in the price you quoted - especially since they have new ones once again. That always lowers the prices of the used

 

[Jakedog]

I'll be the voice of dissent.

Get a Bandit. I never liked the BCs. They are very well built, and "feel" marginally more like a tube amp than a Bandit. But only marginally.

The bandit is a killer sounding amp, if it's one of the US made models it's WAY overbuilt. Cockroaches and Peaveys are all that'll be left after the big one drops.

It's more than twice the power of the BC. When we're talking SS watts, that extra power will come in handy.

I had a BC 30 for about a week back in the late 90's. It sounded decent at home, but I couldn't hear it at the gig. At all. It just disappeared in a loud mix. YMMV. I don't think it has enough power.

I never really bonded with the voicing of the BC. Kind of mid heavy, and lacking top end clarity. Kind of reminded of a PA speaker with a blown tweeter. The crisp top end I like in a guitar amp was decidedly lacking.

As far as build quality, I honestly think you're on equal ground. Though a USA made Peavey might be more robust.

The BC is noticeably lighter in weight, if that's a consideration.

In short, they're both good amps. They really are. I just vastly prefer a Bandit, both for the extra power, and for the voicing. But these things are both personal preference. I honestly don't think one of these amps could be called "better" than the other.

 

[GuitarJonz]

Cant beat a 65w Bandit for a loud clean platform for pedals. Bulletproof, cheap and decent spring reverb. Dirt channel sucks, just use your favorite dirt pedal.

 

[markal]

Mike Eskimo - I'm not seeing many BC-30s for less than about $300 on CL, Ebay, Reverb or MGR. The BC-60s are more like $400-$450. Those are asking prices so I could offer lower.

At those prices I"m leaning toward the Peavey.

 

[codamedia]

I'm leaning with Jakedog on this one....
I've played through both over the years.... I'd prefer the Bandit.

 

[Abu Twangy]

I'm a Bandit fan and owned one for a few years as my "big" gigging amp after laying off gigging for 25 years. I find them very affordable and trouble free. The more recent ones have more power than the earlier 65s. That doesn't translate to much in the way of gigging volume but they do put out more volume with an extension speaker

The first series Blues Cubes have a big following. I agree with Jakedog about the middy quality and lack of sparkle. When I bought a used Hot Rod Deluxe a few years back for $350 there was a Blues Cube 30 for a little over $300. It was a no-brainer to spend a bit more for the Hot Rod Deluxe.

There's a red stripe Bandit available for $150 at the local no-haggle pawnshop. If I wasn't downsizing from seven guitar amps I'd be all over it.

 

[Big_Bend]

Get a Bandit. I never liked the BCs. They are very well built, and "feel" marginally more like a tube amp than a Bandit. But only marginally.

The bandit is a killer sounding amp, if it's one of the US made models it's WAY overbuilt. Cockroaches and Peaveys are all that'll be left after the big one drops.

It's more than twice the power of the BC. When we're talking SS watts, that extra power will come in handy.

Agreed completely! Love the Peavey Bandits and Transtube amps. I found a wonder Peavey Studio 112 at Music Go Round for $100, I've gigged with it several times now, great cleans, nice reverb, takes pedals very well. For me, definitely a SS Peavey over a Roland... YMMVOC

 

[PaulieBoy]

I bought a Bandit back in the mid 90's after getting calls from country bands. (Seems like everybody in country music used Peavey amps back then.) I gigged the hell out of that amp and it never failed me. I played awhile in a Houston country radio station's "house band," so it baked in the hot Texas sun playing outdoor events, and was dropped more than once. It was great for just about everything and suitable enough (miked) for the concert stage at Astroworld. It easily handled the Digitech RP1 multi-effects board that I used at the time. It's missing some knobs but I still have it in storage.

 

[Steve112]

I've had great success playing a Bandit in places where a BC would be lost.

 

[rebelwoclue]

Bandit.

 

[ricardo1912]

Never used the Roland but I have rehearsed and gigged lots over several years with a Bandit 112. Great clean channel and takes drive well, dirty channel is OK. Seriously loud for 85w and very tough. Mine is one of the Transtube models and has never had even the slightest problem.

 

[stax]

If you plan to gig or jam with a band I'd go for the Peavey, I had a Roland BC60 recently and going by that I don't think the 30 will be loud enough.
My Tech 21 TM60 has been playing up so I've done my last few gigs with a red stripe including last night at a fairly big r&r London venue, I had a delay in the loop and a gain changer through a cranked clean channel and it sounded fantastic.

 

[brookdalebill]

It's a win/win.
Both are great sounding, relatively cheap SS amps.
Both are pretty bulletproof, too.
I'd like to throw in a plug for newer Roland Cube amps.
Any 30, 40, 60, or 80 model.
You can find em' on CL for $100-250 all day long.
I like the models with loopers.
Big fun for cheap!

 

[buddhuu]

Bandit.

 

[Honest Charley]

I have an old Bandit 65 and I adore this little box. It´s been modded to a head and I mostly play it through a back-loaded horn speaker with a 12" Mc Kenzie speaker from an old Marshall box.
Sounds very loud and clear. Great for pedals (Boss BD-2 or a Bad Monkey)

From a day to another I want an amp-of-this-and-that. Then I play my old Bandit and I´m just so happy!! This Oldie sure is a Goldie!

 

[Lacking Talent]

Bandit 112 tone demo from YouTube...

 

[markal]

Thanks for all the input.

I found a red stripe Bandit for $160 + shipping from GC. They rated it as "excellent" condition and in the pic it looks good.

Looking forward to seeing how this thing sounds. And looking forward to experimenting with more amps!

 

[Jakedog]

Nice! Congrats. I'll look forward to hearing what you think of it.