European Beat: Peavey Finds a Safe Pair of Hands

The answer to last month’s quiz question as to whom, if anyone, would take on the Peavey brand in the UK was Barnes & Mullins, which revealed the exclusive deal at NAMM.

It is something of a departure from its current line-up but it isn’t the first time the distributor has been active in the audio market, having previously been a sub-distributor for Line 6 in the UK.

“When that finished we didn’t have an amplification line to sell,” explained joint MD, Brian Cleary. “There seemed little point in trying to build our own brand in such a competitive and sophisticated market so we went without. When news started to circulate in the UK market that Peavey were making changes in their European set up I was keen to let Peavey know of our interest.

“For me Peavey is about portable PA and backline first and foremost. They indeed have many other excellent products to offer but these amplification products are the bedrock of their success and a very easy sell in a stable market.”

 The Trace Elliot and Budda bass amp ranges were not part of the deal, but it seems to have been a decision based purely on logistics rather than anything else.

“I’d love to do both,” added Cleary, “and perhaps we will have a structure in the future that allows for this. We can’t start with all the brands but if the opportunity still exists for us in the future, and we have the correct vehicle to market these lines, I would be very keen to look again.”