cube 80X or peavey bandit 112

**hs3** · 05-27-2011, 12:24 PM

has anyone compared these 2 amps ?

both have a 12" speaker and 80 watts

i'm playing through a pair of micro cubes running in stereo now,
using the jc120 model

eastman 803 & telecasters

thoughts & thanks,

herb

**histind** · 05-27-2011, 12:34 PM

Why don't you go with the 80XL? I think someone around here said that the 80X had a slightly muffled sound compared to other cubes. But I would rather have either cube over that Peavey.

**jzucker** · 05-27-2011, 01:21 PM

the bandit is a great amp. I would like to compare it to the cube 80. To me, the cube 80 sounded juicier but that was at very low volume in a store.

**mr. beaumont** · 05-27-2011, 01:41 PM

Jack, do you like all the generations of bandit or the older ones better?

I ask, because I've heard good things about the older models. I've also used other models of older peavey's and thought they were pretty great--loud and clean. I've tried a newer "transtube" model and was not impressed...just sounded like one of the many cheaper solid state amps out there that do an okay impression of a tube amp.

I guess I prefer my solid state amps to be good at what solid state amps are good at...loud, clean, light.

**jzucker** · 05-27-2011, 01:46 PM

the generation of the bandits that are good IMO are the transtube ones that have the vintage/modern as well as the loose/tight switch. I have not tried the ones with digital effects. I tried a head once and it was a different design and did not sound very good but mine sounds very fenderesque...

**mr. beaumont** · 05-27-2011, 01:52 PM

I'm not really sure which one I tried. It definitely was trying to do the "tube" thing. I guess I didn't feel it did it any better than the cubes or voxes at a similar price range. But again, like I said, I wasn't looking for it to do that at all--I wanted clean!

A lot of the country guys and steel players covet the older "teal stripe" peaveys.

**hs3** · 05-27-2011, 02:21 PM

thanks for the input guys,

i really like the cube series sound wise

definitely clean is what i'm after

**mr. beaumont** · 05-27-2011, 02:33 PM

Don't rule out a used polytone either, then.

**jzucker** · 05-27-2011, 03:04 PM

the bandit and cube 80 are in a different league than the polytone.

**mr. beaumont** · 05-27-2011, 03:10 PM

Not price wise.

Do you think the Cube and Bandit are better amps? I love my Polytone. It's such a simple thing to use, plug pretty much anything into it and it sounds like jazz.

The Cube's a cool amp, but it has a ton of bells and whistles I'll never use.

**jzucker** · 05-27-2011, 07:10 PM

the cube and the bandit are much better amps. The polytone was designed to be lightweight primarily. In terms of headroom and quality the peavey and roland are head and shoulders above the polytone. Try getting the polytone fixed. Try getting hold of polytone for parts...

**docbop** · 05-27-2011, 07:20 PM

I bought a Bandit back about 1993 and best investment I ever made. It's very versatile for all sorts of work. At times its my only amp and when I do have another its my faithful backup amp. It's like Autumn Leaves you'll be playing it forever.

**mr. beaumont** · 05-27-2011, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

the cube and the bandit are much better amps. The polytone was designed to be lightweight primarily. In terms of headroom and quality the peavey and roland are head and shoulders above the polytone. Try getting the polytone fixed. Try getting hold of polytone for parts...

U0well, you're right on trying to get a polytone fixed.

The cube and bandit are much more versatile, but in my experience as a cube and polytone owner, my polytone is louder, cleeaner, and has a great jazz tone.

I know what joe pass said about polytones, but I disagree. They have a great tone for jazz.

**robby27** · 05-27-2011, 08:20 PM

I can't say much about the Peavy because I've never played through one. I've owned the Cube 80XL since January. I play my Eastman hollow body and my Epiphone Dot throught the clean channel and just love the sound. Years ago I was lucky enough to have a friend who owned a JC120 (I couldn't afford one) who let me play with it quite often. The Cube 80XL isn't a JC 120 but IMHO it does a good job of faking it. I've taken it to a few open mikes and small room gigs and the people ( and other musicians) seem to like it. And you can't beat the price.

**kawa** · 05-28-2011, 02:37 AM

1. Bandit 112

2. Cube 80X

3. Cube 80XL

**life_with_a_song** · 05-28-2011, 08:24 AM

I haven't tried the Cube 80X, but had the Cube 60 a few years back and really liked it. Two years ago, though, I picked up an older red-stripe bandit from a guy locally and have settled into it as my main jazz amp. Very versatile in terms of getting more than just one great jazz tone, which is a major plus.

**benjazzman82** · 05-29-2011, 07:45 PM

Hi guys. I gig 3 nights a week on a peerless manhattan through a cube 40xl. I tried a frinds 80's cube 60 the other day and i muat say that i prefer the 40xl. Alot lighter, less hiss and imho, the sound was alot less coloured.