Peavey Bandit 112 – How Good Is It? [AMP REVIEW]

peavey bandit 112 amp review

If you’re wondering if Peavey Bandit 112 is a good guitar amp or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s review, I’m going to take a really close look on that affordable amp. It is particularly popular among the gigging musicians, but is it actually that good?

The truth is that Peavey Bandit 112 offers a pretty good quality. Although it’s not the best amp in the world, it definitely does the job very well. At this price level, it will difficult to find a better and more reliable combo.

Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what exactly makes the Bandit 112 model so good and so popular. Firstly, we’ll check out the specs and the main advantages of that combo. We’ll also see if it has any disadvantages. Of course, you’ll also be able to hear how it sounds – there will be a few sound demos as well!

Specs & Pricing

Peavey Bandit 112 is one of the most popular solid-state amps for rock and metal. This particular model is known for its great sound and a particularly good durability. That thing is really tough to destroy!

What makes it so popular? Well, the amp features 80 Watts of power, a 12″ Blue Marvel speaker, two footswitchable channels (clean and lead), a 3-band EQ, Low and High gain inputs and a built-in reverb effect. As you can imagine, all of these features give you access to a really wide range of guitar tones!

When it comes to sound, it’s really powerful. Peavey used something called the TransTube tube emulation circuitry, which significantly improves the overall tone. The amp takes all types of pedals extremely well and it offers a sparkling clean tones as well as punchy distorted sounds. Surely, a lot of you will fall in love with the versatility of that amp!

It is also worth mentioning that the amp looks fantastic from the outside as well. It certainly looks like a bit more expensive amp. The Black Tolex on that combo looks really cool and the finish is really well made.

This is not exactly a cheap amp, but at the same time, it’s within reach of any guitar player out there. In fact, it will be really difficult to find a more affordable amp that features a similar amount of power and punch. That being said, Peavey Bandit 112 is not overpriced at all and it’s definitely worth the money!

Here’s the sound demo – feel free to check it out below.

Who Is It For?

The Bandit 112 amp is perfect for all guitarists who are searching for a powerful and loud combo with a really good distortion.

Since it’s a pretty big combo, it can be efficiently used for band rehearsals and live gigs. If you like playing with a loud drummer, you can be sure that this amp will be more than enough for your performances.

It is also worth mentioning that this is one of the most affordable amps of this size and power that are available on the market right now. It will be really tough to find a better amp for overdrive and distortion at this price level.

Summing up, this amp is made for:

  • gigging musicians
  • guitarists who enjoy playing with overdrive and distortion
  • musicians who don’t want to pay thousands of dollars for tube amps

Overall, the vast majority of guitarists will appreciate the great sound quality and affordability of that combo. That’s why I highly recommend checking it out!

Here’s an another sound demo.

Does Peavey Bandit 112 Have Any Flaws?

Although Peavey Bandit 112 is generally a great amp, it’s not the best guitar combo in the world. Here’s a few things that you should be aware of before you decide to add it your own gear collection.

The main disadvantages of Bandit 112 are:

  • it doesn’t sound like a tube amp
  • it’s pretty loud, so it’s not ideal for home practice
  • it takes quite a lot of space

Firstly, you have to remember that this is not a high-end tube amp. As a result, it’s not as responsive and touch-sensitive as some of the best valve amplifiers out there. Hence, if you’re searching specifically for a tube-like sound, this amp is not for you.

Additionally, due to the size and power of this amp, it’s not the best choice for guitarists who just want to practice at home. On the other hand, if you want to annoy your neighbors with some punchy rock riffs and fast metal solos, the Bandit 112 will be perfect for that.

Apart from these things, Peavey Bandit 112 doesn’t have any major disadvantages. It’s particularly well made, so you can be sure that the overall quality of that model will be always on a really good level.

Would I Take It?

Yes, definitely! I’d be really happy to use that model for live gigs with my band. I’ve seen a lot of upcoming bands who were using this combo on stage and honestly, they always sounded great.

I think that the Bandit 112 is an ideal option for all rock and metal guitarists who are looking for an affordable and great sounding amp with a good overdrive and distortion. It’s not easy to find a cheap amp for that kind of music. This model definitely stands out from its competitors!

Considering how durable and efficient it is, it’s definitely worth the money. If you’re a fan of metal, you should definitely check out the review of this amp from a metalhead’s perspective.

Alternative Options

If you don’t like the look or the sound of Peavey Bandit 112, that’s totally fine! There’s still quite a lot of other great amplifiers out there. Of course, it all depends on how much are you willing to spend and what kind of music you want to play.

Here’s a few amps that also feature a really good quality.

other guitar amps

Firstly, I highly encourage you to check out the Peavey Classic 30. This is one of my favorite tube amps of all time! It’s more affordable than all the tweed Fenders and it offers a particularly good and versatile tone. It tends to be quite expensive, but it’s definitely worth the money. I used this amp on several occasions during live gigs and it always sounded great!

If you’re searching for something a bit smaller and less expensive, perhaps you should check out the Marshall MG15. This is a pretty good and quite powerful solid-state amp that offers the famous Marshall tone. It’s not as loud as the Bandit 112, but it’s more than enough for home practice and small performances. If you’re on a tight budget, you should definitely give it a chance.

Additionally, you can also check out my list of 10 Best Amps For Distortion & Overdrive. If you like playing powerful riffs and fast solos, there’s a high chance that you’ll find your dream amp on that list.

As you can see, it all depends on your own preferences. I think that Peavey Bandit 112 has everything you need from a rock and metal amp. It’s loud, it sounds awesome and it’s actually not that expensive. Who needs anything else? That’s why I highly encourage you to check it out!

FAQ

Where is Peavey Bandit 112 manufactured?

Peavey Bandit 112 is currently manufactured in China, although it’s still possible to find some older models that were made in the USA.

Is Peavey Bandit a tube amp?

Although Peavey Bandit features the TransTube technology, it’s not exactly a true tube amp. This amp isn’t equipped with any preamp and power tubes.

How heavy is Peavey Bandit 112?

Peavey Bandit weighs around 40lbs.

Where can I find the manual to the Bandit amp?

The manual to Peavey Bandit 112 can be found here.

Who uses Peavey amps?

Peavey amps are loved by a lot of well-known and famous musicians. The bands that use amps made by this brand include Asking Alexandria, Trivium, Three Days Grace and many, many more!

Where can I find more information about Peavey amps?

If you want to learn more about Peavey amps, make sure to visit their official website.

Summary

As you can see, Peavey Bandit 112 is a really good and functional guitar combo. I have no hesitation in recommending this model to all musicians who are searching for a good, inexpensive and great sounding amplifier.

What do you think about the Bandit 112? Do you agree with me that this is one of the best amps of this type at this price level? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful. If you enjoyed this article and you’re looking for more gear recommendations, you may also like:

Dave
Dave

Hey! I'm Dave and I'm the founder of Best Guitars Now. Thanks for checking out my blog - hopefully you found what you were looking for!

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