The Peavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head is a Peavey amplifier, currently around $499. Close alternatives include the Peavey MiniMAX 600 Watt Bass Amp Head and the Blackstar Unity 250. It pairs well with the Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster and the ProCo RAT 2.
Peavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head
Peavey · amplifier
The Peavey MiniMAX 500W is an ultra-lightweight bass amp head packing 500 watts of solid-state power into a chassis small enough to fit in a backpack, weighing well under 10 pounds. It includes DDT speaker protection circuitry, a 3-band EQ, Peavey's TransTube gain-boost circuit for adding drive character, and psychoacoustic low-end enhancement that adds perceived bottom without over-stressing connected speakers. It's aimed at gigging bassists who want serious power output without the weight of a traditional bass head, trading a small amount of maximum output versus the 600W version for a lighter package.
- drive
- boost
- gigging
- eq
- raw
- sub
- touring
- maximum output
Good for
- Live
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Pedals that stack with the Peavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head
Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
Dallas
16% matchInto the MiniMAX's raw, gigging-ready bass drive, the Rangemaster's germanium treble boost has a brighter edge to cut through.
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
16% matchThe RAT's dark, cutting distortion is a sharper edge than the MiniMAX's own raw, gigging-ready bass drive offers on its own.
Nobels ODR-1
Nobels
15% matchThe ODR-1's transparent midrange push works well on a bass rig, adding thickness to the MiniMAX's own raw low end without smothering it.
Tech 21 Bass Boost Fuzz Metallic Analog Bass
Tech 21
12% matchWhat Peavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head brings here leans toward gritty — that's worth building a pairing around
MXR Phase 90
MXR
12% matchRun the Phase 90 after the MiniMAX's raw, driven bass tone for a swirling, synth-like low end.
Source Audio AfterShock
Source Audio
11% matchPeavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head's own gritty character is the real reason this is worth trying
Beetronics Whoctahell Custom Caleidoscopio
Beetronics
10% matchPeavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head's own gritty character is the real reason this is worth trying
Ashdown Studio Compressor
Ashdown
9% matchAhead of the MiniMAX, the Studio Compressor's low-noise squash keeps the attack even before that raw, gigging-ready drive ever colors it.
See all 10 pedals that pair with the Peavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head →
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Peavey MiniMAX 600 Watt Bass Amp Head
Peavey
70% similarity“TransTube gain-boost and psychoacoustic low-end enhancement carry over from the 500W model”
Blackstar Unity 250
Blackstar
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Hiwatt Bulldog 440 Head
Hiwatt
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier
Blackstar
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Laney Richter RB4 Bass Combo
Laney
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Hartke Lightweight Bass Amplifier
Hartke
90% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Peavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Peavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head?+
The closest matches in character are the Peavey MiniMAX 600 Watt Bass Amp Head, the Blackstar Unity 250, the Hiwatt Bulldog 440 Head. Boutique upgrades: Mesa Boogie Subway WD-800 Bass Head, Blackstar Unity 500.
What pairs well with the Peavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster, ProCo RAT 2, Nobels ODR-1 — Into the MiniMAX's raw, gigging-ready bass drive, the Rangemaster's germanium treble boost has a brighter edge to cut through..
How much does the Peavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head cost?+
Around $499 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).