I think I was at the wheel about 12 years ago just casually hanging out early in the night. Might have been Don Kelly but I can't say for sure. Full Western swing. Upright bass steel guitar and a fiddle. The guy playing lead guitar was sitting in a chair in the back behind the steel player and he had the greatest country telecaster tone I had ever heard in my life. The bridge pickup was perfect just full twang and spank without being too bright. It was insane how good it sounded and he was a killer player but wasn't overplaying. I could have stayed all night but my buddies wanted to leave. When I walked by the stage I had to see what amp was making that glorious sound! When I seen that it was a 1980s Peavey Bandit I nearly had a stroke and had to be carried out. Made me want to give up guitar and sell every amp and piece of equipment I had. LOL. The tone is all in the hands im afraid.
I would have liked to hear that! I used rockman gear in the studio in the 80's, sounded great. But same gear live, could never get the right amp to handle it. I could see where a Bandit would be a perfect match.
I have an '84 w the scorpion. Jus picked up a silver stripe 90s w the sheffield 1230, did a shootout- both sounded great, but the silver stripe is now on craigslist
When the bandits first came out all the guitar players in my home town bought 2. One for each side of the stage lol. Great amps but heavy especially with the scorpion
Do you offer lessons :) the second one sounded a little darker and warmer in my opinion but also somehow a bit more thin. The other one sounded stereotypically Peavy !!! Round and full. Not a bad thing.
Best online demo I’ve seen/heard for this amp! Question- in your opinion, if you take out of the equation the Special 130 being able to get louder- in a garage setting just playing by myself, would you say the Bandit 65 sounds just as full, and has the same general tone as the 130? Also, would you say one would be missing out not having the “mid shift” knob that the 130 has?
Same tone & I’ll be totally honest I turn the mids off on both of them…the cab & amp itself is so mids heavy I usually put it on 0-1…the mid shift is not needed at all. Daily I grab the bandit (it’s lighter & has plenty of power) I’m never let down!
Great picking! I've been playing Special 130s for years, but I also own 2 Bandit 65s. What GWS speaker is in yours, and do you have any pedals inline between the guitar and amp? Both sound amazing!
Hey this is great. Thanks! One question - I just bought an ‘84 Bandit with the Scorpion. It sounds great but there is a slight buzz that sounds like it’s coming from the speaker (especially on low E string). Have you ever encountered that kind of problem with these?
@blazengtr ok thanks. I have the same amp i use for church. But i like the clean channel Vol at 5 plus using my Ibanez handwire ts808 tubescreamer/MXR analog carbon copy M83. Sounds great with my pedals... great video! I very much prefer a Scorpion speaker
I really am interested in lessons and not a flake if you can get back to me. Intermediate-advanced player 16 yrs, good ear and theory but weak on shred and actually playing stuff.
I've heard good things about those old Bandits. By the way, I think you're one of the best country players/teachers on youtube. Love your stuff!!
Too kind! Special 130 & bandit 65 amazing
I think I was at the wheel about 12 years ago just casually hanging out early in the night. Might have been Don Kelly but I can't say for sure. Full Western swing. Upright bass steel guitar and a fiddle. The guy playing lead guitar was sitting in a chair in the back behind the steel player and he had the greatest country telecaster tone I had ever heard in my life. The bridge pickup was perfect just full twang and spank without being too bright. It was insane how good it sounded and he was a killer player but wasn't overplaying. I could have stayed all night but my buddies wanted to leave. When I walked by the stage I had to see what amp was making that glorious sound! When I seen that it was a 1980s Peavey Bandit I nearly had a stroke and had to be carried out. Made me want to give up guitar and sell every amp and piece of equipment I had. LOL. The tone is all in the hands im afraid.
Prob James Mitchell or Rod Riley, Red Volcart - we all use em & played w/Don.
@@blazengtr I just checked him out and it was 100% James Mitchell. What a tone!
I have a 1985, 65 watt Bandit. From playing on stage or in your basement, It's the most versatile amp I own.
These amps sound great. Just recapping and servicing mine. Awesome licks 👅 🎸 ❤
Played a Rockman through dual Bandits 65s in the 80s..fantastic sound!
I would have liked to hear that! I used rockman gear in the studio in the 80's, sounded great. But same gear live, could never get the right amp to handle it. I could see where a Bandit would be a perfect match.
“Let me strum a couple chords”….plays hundreds of notes 😂 amp sounds great!
😄👍🚑⚠️
Great sound and playing!!
My first real amp! And 30 years later, I just bought another. That raggedy distortion is awesome!
Whe you started playing, I swore to god the ghost of Danny Gatton was playing. Impressive stuff.
He was the man!
Came to hear the amp and found awesome playing. Nice!!!
TY
I have an '84 w the scorpion. Jus picked up a silver stripe 90s w the sheffield 1230, did a shootout- both sounded great, but the silver stripe is now on craigslist
Nice pickin! Had a 130 but was just too heavy. May have to search for a 65. Thanks!
Scorpion speakers are killer 🤘
@@fasteddierocs Perfect match in the bandit & 130
This was my 1st good amp, had it 20 years. Bang the cab and get thunder out of the spring reverb :-). Now I have a Bandit 112 another great amp!
Great playing!!!!
More about the amps but thanks
You can also dail in that perfect JCM 800 Marshall tone..
"Let me just play a few notes".😂
Yeah well 🤦♂️ lol
@@blazengtr Dude, you played ALL the notes.
@@petercheney8316 tried too
When the bandits first came out all the guitar players in my home town bought 2. One for each side of the stage lol. Great amps but heavy especially with the scorpion
C if u can find em
@@blazengtr good to meet you. Tom Jackson turned me on to your page, I’m his guitar player. Those old bandits were great amps and indestructible lol.
Awesome playing can make any amp sound good! 👍🏻 The Black Widow sounds brighter more of a punch to me.
I don’t currently own a BW version at the moment.
@@blazengtr oh, I thought you said that's what's in the new one.
@@scootersays scorpion - I hope I didn’t mis-speak
@@blazengtr no it was me haha
Do you offer lessons :) the second one sounded a little darker and warmer in my opinion but also somehow a bit more thin. The other one sounded stereotypically Peavy !!! Round and full. Not a bad thing.
Best online demo I’ve seen/heard for this amp! Question- in your opinion, if you take out of the equation the Special 130 being able to get louder- in a garage setting just playing by myself, would you say the Bandit 65 sounds just as full, and has the same general tone as the 130? Also, would you say one would be missing out not having the “mid shift” knob that the 130 has?
Same tone & I’ll be totally honest I turn the mids off on both of them…the cab & amp itself is so mids heavy I usually put it on 0-1…the mid shift is not needed at all. Daily I grab the bandit (it’s lighter & has plenty of power) I’m never let down!
@@blazengtr Exactly what I needed to know- much appreciated my man!
I feel like this was the first 65 watt before they turned to studio pros and expresses
Great picking!
I've been playing Special 130s for years, but I also own 2 Bandit 65s.
What GWS speaker is in yours, and do you have any pedals inline between the guitar and amp?
Both sound amazing!
WGS Veteran 30 & no pedals…tele/cable/amp
@@blazengtr thank you sir.
My bandit pops when switching channels. You have any ideas why?
@@jowen466 no idea - I only play the direct side as in my videos. I typically sell the foot switches on reverb
more, please!
Hey this is great. Thanks! One question - I just bought an ‘84 Bandit with the Scorpion. It sounds great but there is a slight buzz that sounds like it’s coming from the speaker (especially on low E string). Have you ever encountered that kind of problem with these?
Also, what WGS speaker do you have in the other one?
That buzz is prob the speaker going out on u.
Veteran 30 is magic in the bandit!
Thanks!
seems the bandit has some kind of a cult following. i did not know you could get that kind of clean tones with it
That’s why people love bandit & the special 130…big solid state clean tones! Gotta think is 65 watts of clean with a huge PA type speaker!
Are the knobs in or out for bright and thick?
All knobs in, no thick, no bright!
where you see this at 100$ ???
FB marketplace…main 1 I use $30. I had 11 of them but sold down to 2 of the best sounding. My fav amps!
ARE YOU USING THE DIRTY CHANNEL OR CLEAN CHANNEL ?
Always dirty side w/saturation off…the norm channel sounds weak
@blazengtr ok thanks. I have the same amp i use for church. But i like the clean channel Vol at 5 plus using my Ibanez handwire ts808 tubescreamer/MXR analog carbon copy M83. Sounds great with my pedals... great video! I very much prefer a Scorpion speaker
I really am interested in lessons and not a flake if you can get back to me. Intermediate-advanced player 16 yrs, good ear and theory but weak on shred and actually playing stuff.
@@HELLNAWW I’m
Not currently teaching but can hook u up!
Blazengtr@gmail.com
@@blazengtr okay are you performing? You're really good. Amazing. I cant think of stuff that fast yet and play at the same time.
@@HELLNAWW I play 10-12 gigs a week & play on albums