About to buy a Peavy vb-3

[zachreh]

This is very hard for me to understand lol. My ampeg is only 300 and the vb 3 is an $1,800 amp, surely their must be some tonal advantages the vb 3 has over the ampeg

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by zachreh

This is very hard for me to understand lol. My ampeg is only 300 and the vb 3 is an $1,800 amp, surely their must be some tonal advantages the vb 3 has over the ampeg

Yes there is tonal differences.
Your PF was designed to sound like a Ampeg. The Peavey wasn't.

[Downunderwonder]

Originally Posted by zachreh

This is very hard for me to understand lol. My ampeg is only 300 and the vb 3 is an $1,800 amp, surely their must be some tonal advantages the vb 3 has over the ampeg

A lot of people really like the PF for SVTish tube tone on the cheap and light. I wouldn't be too sure the VB-3 gives you any more than an empty pocket.

Always try before you buy on new amps. Used ones you can re-flip without losing big money.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

Peavey and Traynor have been using torroidal OT for years. I'm pretty sure they ain't using El34 as preamp tubes!

I'm sure you are correct, EL34's will not work well as preamp tubes. Output tubes yes. BTW SMPS is Switch Mode Power Supply. SMPS can use a much smaller mains transformer than a line frequency power supply.

[JimmyM]

Hmmm...learn something new every day, I guess.

BTW, I have a PF350 and an SVT from the very first batch of SVT's ever made in 1969. Not going to pretend that they sound identical in every way, but the PF350 does a very respectable job of copping that vibe for a micro amp. A real SVT tuber is definitely worth the extra money and schlep, but the PF350 is a great sounding little amp.

BTW, your 212 is 4 ohms, right? SVT isn't made for 8 ohm cabs.

[zachreh]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Hmmm...learn something new every day, I guess.

BTW, I have a PF350 and an SVT from the very first batch of SVT's ever made in 1969. Not going to pretend that they sound identical in every way, but the PF350 does a very respectable job of copping that vibe for a micro amp. A real SVT tuber is definitely worth the extra money and schlep, but the PF350 is a great sounding little amp.

BTW, your 212 is 4 ohms, right? SVT isn't made for 8 ohm cabs.

Good point. My cab is 8 ohms not 4 so I won't be able to use an svt. The vb 3 can run at 8 ohms

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

SVT isn't made for 8 ohm cabs.

The Fender will...
8-4-2

[Downunderwonder]

You can get used Vb-2 for not much money, also Traynor YBA200.

[rodl2005]

Definately TRY BEFORE BUYING!
I've been thru various all tube amps and many sound less "all tube-like" than some modern micro amps.
An SVT's the ONLY amp that WILL satisfy you if after that tone.
Other amps to look at/listen too:

TRAYNOR YBA300
Fender Super Bassman
Both 300w, relatively lightweight & very good amps.
I'd sure listen to these AND an SVT or two before laying out my hard earned cash.

[zachreh]

ok ill admit the fender super bassman looks really great with all positive reviews. I looked into every tube amp I could afford. Are the EL 34's that much worse then the 6550's? also ive read that the vb 3 has more low end then the vb 2

[gregbackstrom]

If you buy this amp, you should buy my StudioSlips VB-3 clamshell double-padded cover. It's perfect for protecting the VB-3. I have one for my VB-2 too -- it still looks perfect after 4 years of gigging!

Greg

Originally Posted by zachreh

So after a year of saving, a lot of research and some help with christmas money I finally decided on purchasing a peavey vb-3, I was looking at an svt but apparently ampeg is having some big factory problems at the moment, making the vr's and cl's hard to come by, at least for me in south florida.
The vb-3 does seem like an outstanding and versatile amp, I wish I could find more audio demos on youtube but oh well. This will be my first tube amp and should be a huge upgrade from my ampeg pf 350. Currently I use the 350 with my mesa powerhouse 2x12 cab which I love. I also use a sansamp bddi which has helped my tone and live sound so much. I plan on driving the vb 3 with the sansamp as well.
I play hardcore/metalcore in drop C so I am very excited to finally have an all tube amp to play through, any experience with this amp? thanks

[Downunderwonder]

Traynor had EL34 in the YBA300 before changing to 6L6. You can swap them and rebias, can't be all that much difference. My tube amp is a D180 with 6L6, like it's sucessors in the Mesa stable.

Low end is all relative. SVT cab makes no real low end but does good low mids. I wouldn't worry about an amp missing low end unless it's a TC and plenty of people don't miss the low end that's missing from them.

[rodl2005]

Yep,the YBA300 had EL34's stock originally, then Traynor swapped em. I haven't tried any different power tubes as the 6L6's that came in it sound great.
Supposedly it sounded better with the 6L6 power tubes. But, yes, they can be swapped easily (not cheaply).
I grabbed the YBA300 as I could get it for 1/2 the price of an SVT here in Aus. & it's damn near 1/2 the weight too. Sounds awesome.

[zachreh]

The 6550's are the standard tube sound that I know, I've never tried a bass amp with el34's. so far the amp still looks pretty good to me, it's resonance and presence controls should be able to change the tone of the amp along with the graphic eq

[CL400Peavey]

The whole thing is this:

All. Amps. Sound. Different.

The VB-3 doesnt sound like an SVT. Why should it? If all you want is big power for your sansamp, just get a power amp and be done with it. If you want the particular tone from a particular amp, get one of those amps. Is a PF-350 voiced more like an SVT than an amp built by Peavey? Sure. Ampegs have some voicing overlaps that the Peavey cant cop. Do the Ampegs sound like the VB-3? nope, but then again do the ampegs sound like any other tube amp? One is not inherently better than the other, they are just different.

[Codger]

Originally Posted by zachreh

Are the EL 34's that much worse then the 6550's?

So much depends on circuit design. They are not worse. They are different.

In my experience, which was retubing one amplifier with EL-34s from 6550s, the EL-34s break up earlier and in a more pleasing way. It was what I was trying to achieve so it worked out okay. This was an amp for a Hammond organ and some players like a little grind when it is driven hard. IMO the EL34s sound much better when overdriven in that amplifier.

[rodl2005]

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

The whole thing is this:

All. Amps. Sound. Different.

The VB-3 doesnt sound like an SVT. Why should it? If all you want is big power for your sansamp, just get a power amp and be done with it. If you want the particular tone from a particular amp, get one of those amps. Is a PF-350 voiced more like an SVT than an amp built by Peavey? Sure. Ampegs have some voicing overlaps that the Peavey cant cop. Do the Ampegs sound like the VB-3? nope, but then again do the ampegs sound like any other tube amp? One is not inherently better than the other, they are just different.

Yes, exactly.
As we've said, you REALLY need to try em out.
I for one, wouldn't like you to spend a lotta $$ on something only to wanna sell it again in 6 months-for a big loss.

[zachreh]

these are some great points and thanks again guys for your help I need all the opinions I can get. I cannot try the vb 3 without purchasing it first however, I am able to return it before a month for a full refund if I don't like it. Im going to be buying from samash.
I understand the vb 3 does not sound like an svt, if I wanted an svt tone I could buy an svt but again im just looking for a solid all tube amp. Im excited to hear these el 34's in the peavy, the reviews I read so far all seem to indicate that its a great amp

[cableguy]

Don't get me wrong, I love my BDDI. But why would you run one in front of a tube amp? They are designed to emulate a tube amp. Maybe if you use it for a 2nd channel sound or distortion pedal. Good luck with whatever you decide and happy NAD.

[zachreh]

Just to drive the amp, a lot of big bands do it, mostly for a modern metal tone. I know the vb 3 wont sound like an svt but I just want it to sound good