rusheroo

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Apr 17, 2014
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So today I took a casual trip to a music store with my friend and when we got there, there happened to be this Peavey 215 for $100. I demoed it with some kind of old Hartke head. The cab did rattle a little bit, but I would expect that from an old cab. It sounded great though and very loud. I couldn't resist the low price so I pulled the trigger on it. I want to know if anyone knows the specs on this cab?View media item 9394
 
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i'm not sure of the spec's, but i've been playing reggae music through mine for the past 30yrs without failure!
i highly suggest insulation. i used egg carton foam bedding on the suggestion of BFM and the results were very noticeable.
DEW EET!!! :)
 
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Every detail of that cab tell me it's from '76--mid'80s.
The speakers don't look like Scorpions or Black Widows to me from the front view.
The horrible round casters, deeply textured (yet tough) tolex covering, small chrome corners, logo size, etc make it an exact match to the one my bassist Mark had in the late '70s.
I played through that cab many times, too, and was always impressed by it's tone, responsiveness, ridiculous volume, and indestructibility.

I'm fine with being proven wrong, but I'm pretty sure you have THE most legendary Peavey bass cab of all time.
They made a LOT of them, because it was a great design.

It's big and heavy to be sure, but so are many many cabs that can't touch this one.
And yours is in unbelievable condition--most I've seen lately are beat to heck from being used constantly for 40 years.

Open it up and look for ID #s on the drivers. That should help nailing it's specs down.
The front grill frame is actually held down to the baffle board with a sturdy hard plastic version of velcro, if I'm right. Instead of hooks and loops it's more like interlocking nipples.
Use a thin flat screwdriver or 2 to pry it loose carefully, working your way around the edges, then you can pull a driver out and look inside for treasure.
Replace the casters with 4" wheels. $4.00 each from Harbor Freight--thank me later.

I want to say it handles 400-600 watts RMS at 4 ohms, but it's been a long time.
Peavey most probably has the owner's manual buried in their website somewhere--they're good like that. Or ask on their forum.

The holes in the driver dust caps says Peavey speakers instead of Eminence, as I recall. Not that that's a bad thing.
 
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One way to find out - open her up! (just don't put the screwdriver through your speaker!) Those old Peaveys are tanks - I wouldn't say a rattle should be expected, though it shouldn't be surprising either. Maybe the speaker just needs tightening?

Btw - how tall are you?!
 
Mine rattled too. Both speakers were gone. I replaced them with Fane speakers. But I'd recommend new speakers at this time. In the '60's they made strong magnets. And it went downhill since. The current speakers have again strong (neo) magnets and again great speakers are made. So get some new speakers from Fane/Celestion or Eminence and load that in your Peavey cabinet. And it will sound amazing. I know mine does.
 
The rattle was most likely the dust cap coming loose.
Speakers are likely Eminence.
Very heavy, but nearly indestructable cab.
They seem to get the most out of less than steller speakers.
With BWs they can be even better.

It's not that unusual to find a deal on them.
Many people have used them for decades and just got tired of moving them.
If you are young and have a good back, it's still a gig worthy cab.
If not, it's a good 'practice space' cab.

Mine is happy with a first gen G-K 400RB.
Pretty loud rig!
Although it's the third string rig now, I played a LOT of gigs on it.
 
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I had two of those- in the 70's/80's... mine were 300w @ 8ohms although I've heard some were 4ohm... you can remove a speaker- see what the ohms are for each - figure from there.

image.jpeg
 
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The rattle was most likely the dust cap coming loose.
Speakers are likely Eminence.
Very heavy, but nearly indestructable cab.
They seem to get the most out of less than steller speakers.
With BWs they can be even better.

It's not that unusual to find a deal on them.
Many people have used them for decades and just got tired of moving them.
If you are young and have a good back, it's still a gig worthy cab.
If not, it's a good 'practice space' cab.

Mine is happy with a first gen G-K 400RB.
Pretty loud rig!
Although it's the third string rig now, I played a LOT of gigs on it.
I took out a speaker and it was one of those old square magnet Peavey's
 
I had two of those- in the 70's/80's... mine were 300w @ 8ohms although I've heard some were 4ohm... you can remove a speaker- see what the ohms are for each - figure from there.

View attachment 841618
I believe this one is a 4 ohm cab. And by the way, nice 4001! I want to get a new 4003 and someday run it stereo if I can find another cab to complement this one
 
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I believe this one is a 4 ohm cab. And by the way, nice 4001! I want to get a new 4003 and someday run it stereo if I can find another cab to complement this one

Thx! I actually had a Sunn head & Sunn 2x15" cab- for my treble p/u (when I 'needed' it)... everything was so big back then! :cool: I'm 53... with a bad back... Markbass baby!
 
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That cab will likely survive a nuclear attack. Great cabs if you're strong enough - and willing - to carry them. Enjoy!

Yup... as noted above... I was young & strapping at one point in my life - old & weak now (or maybe wiser?) :smug:

BTW - nice shirt @rusheroo ! My above pic was a cover band- playing a few Rush songs... my fingering position was for Cinderella Man... it just came out on vinyl :woot:
 
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