The Peavey TKO 115 is a Peavey amplifier. Close alternatives include the Peavey TNT-115 and the Traynor BB115. It pairs well with the MXR Phase 90 and the Greer Black Mountain.
Peavey TKO 115
Peavey · amplifier
The Peavey TKO 115 is a 1x15 bass combo from the company's long-running TKO line, a solid-state design that was a staple of rehearsal rooms and working bands for years. Fifteen-inch drivers give the deep, rounded low end associated with traditional bass amplification rather than the tighter response of smaller speakers. Peavey built its reputation on durable, affordable amplification, and the TKO is a representative example. It suits bassists wanting a robust, conventional combo.
What stands out
“Its strengths are durability, volume, and value; the caveats are a basic feature set and a solid-state tone that is punchy and clean”
— from the community notes
“The 15-inch speaker delivers solid low end for rehearsal and small-stage volume, and the build is famously durable”
— from the reviews
“A loud, punchy bass voice with a slightly aggressive midrange that cuts through a band, driven by simple, effective EQ and a useful bright switch”
— from the reviews
“peavey built its reputation on durable”
— from the listing
“its punchy”
— from the community notes
- solid state
- low end
- aggressive
- rehearsal
- durable
- punchy
- simple
- solid
Good for
- Live
- Practice
Genres the Peavey TKO 115 is commonly used in
- Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Peavey TKO 115
MXR Phase 90
MXR
32% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Peavey TKO 115's full voice out front: MXR Phase 90 goes after Peavey TKO 115 in the signal chain so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it
Goes in front of the amp
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
29% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
The TKO 115's punchy, aggressive bass voicing gives Black Mountain's stoner-rock fuzz a midrange-forward foundation to stack onto.
Goes in front of the amp
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter
EarthQuaker Devices
28% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Goes in front of the amp
Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax
Electro-Harmonix
28% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)
The TKO 115's punchy, aggressive midrange gives the Hot Wax's transparent, coloring drive a defined amp voice to push into.
Goes in front of the amp
Ashdown Velvet Compressor
Ashdown
19% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Compression before amp — the Velvet smooths the attack before the TKO 115's punchy, aggressive midrange ever sees it.
Goes in front of the amp
Walrus Audio Fable
Walrus Audio
19% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Walrus Audio Fable in Peavey TKO 115's effects loop, clear of Peavey TKO 115's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
JAM Pedals Delay-Llama
Jam Pedals
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Peavey TKO 115's full voice out front: JAM Pedals Delay-Llama goes in Peavey TKO 115's effects loop so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black)
Caline
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Put Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black) in front of Peavey TKO 115: a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Peavey TNT-115
Peavey
86% similarity“a long-running model that sat alongside the TKO in Peavey's solid-state bass line”
Traynor BB115
Traynor
51% similarityShared character: solid state, punchy, gig
Laney A-Solo Acoustic Combo
Laney
45% similarityShared character: simple
Hartke LH500 Bass
Hartke
44% similarityShared character: solid state, punchy, gig
Hartke Lightweight Bass Amplifier
Hartke
43% similarityShared character: durable construction, solid state, punchy
Warwick BC-150 Combo 150Watt/15Zoll
Warwick
42% similarityShared character: punchy, gig
Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar Unity 250
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Ampeg BA- 115 V2
Ampeg
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Peavey TKO 115 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Peavey TKO 115?+
The closest matches in character are the Peavey TNT-115, the Traynor BB115, the Laney A-Solo Acoustic Combo.
What pairs well with the Peavey TKO 115?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: MXR Phase 90, Greer Black Mountain, EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter — Keep Peavey TKO 115's full voice out front: MXR Phase 90 goes after Peavey TKO 115 in the signal chain so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it.