PEAVEY INVECTIVE MINI HEAD

The Misha Mansoor signature, in lunchbox form...

If there’s anything Misha Mansoor is known for, it’s precision. The Periphery guitarist was at the very forefront of the tech-metal revolution – at the time commonly referred to as ‘djent’, a term which he himself helped coin – and stands today as one of the scene’s key figures. His 120-Watt Peavey Invective signature, introduced in 2018, was designed with the modern metal player in mind, but also proved itself more than capable of handling tones across the board. This mini-sized take on that head, however, feels just as impressive – perhaps even more so – repackaging a lot of the main features into a very small amount of space indeed.

Though the Clean channel doesn’t have its own overall volume, the gain control can leave you anywhere in between crystal clarity and well-rounded crunch, which is certainly versatile enough. Thanks to the buffered effects loop it can also take pedals very well, so there’s more to enjoy here than your average metal amp. Which, ultimately, is what this beast is. And given that the Invective line is partly inspired by the 6505 sounds which made Peavey synonymous with ultra high-gain players, it should come as no surprise that there is a serious amount of distortion available on the Lead channel. Even more so when you factor in the footswitchable boost, based on Mansoor’s favourite Ts-style circuit and staggering in its ability to accentuate the harmonic overtones in your leads. More rhythmic players will appreciate the built-in Gate and Tight controls, ideal for all manner of chuggy staccato lines, the sharp silences only intensifying the head-crushing punches that follow.

The clever features don’t end there, however. The Tube Status Indication circuit helps diagnose problems with the two EL84 power tubes, indicated by two green LEDS that switch to red when a tube is either over or under-current, and therefore in need of servicing or replacing. There are three power modes, going from 20 Watts down to five or one, adding further to its practicality. You get a two-band EQ for the Clean channel and a three-band for the Lead, with master Resonance and Presence controls allowing for even more tonal sculpting and fine-tuning. At the back, there’s a headphone out, plus mic‑simulating XLR and USB connections which – with the speaker defeat engaged – allow for silent recording.

All in all, you’re not just getting one of the most functionally versatile lunchbox heads out there, you’re also getting one of the best-sounding. The Lead channel with the boost engaged offers the kind of experience shredders yearn for – endless sustain matched by astounding harmonic depth. Need a practical mini-head for modern metal? Look no further.

Amit Sharma

ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE LUNCHBOX HEADS OUT THERE