Hacker News Reader

That's funny because (as a rich American) Peavey amps were known for being inexpensive, but LOUD. When you're a 14 year old guitarist and you need big volume without big bucks, you go Peavey.

Rich kids got Marshall. Or Mesa Boogie.

View on HN

That is my memory too (Australian) - Peavey were cheap but reasonable. Loud, reliable but sounded pretty bad. Mesa was certainly top end boutique.

I play guitar and this is still very true today - Peavey deals mostly in the lower to medium bracket and their most legendary (and "premium") amp is beloved for just that: (comparatively) cheap, reliable and a distinct sound.

Interestingly enough, another guitar amplifier company that could be considered VERY premium started in a very similar way: modifying and building their own gear just out of frustration with (back then) existing gear and lack of money: http://diezel.typo3.inpublica.de/history.8.0.html

Actually, Boogie did too: http://www.mesaboogie.com/US/Smith/our_story.html

True for any number of companies, including Marshall/Orange/Sount City/HiWatt in the UK, pretty much ALL of which got into business after being recruited to build louder amps for The Who.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com