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My first all-tube! (VB-2)

iplaybasstexas

iplaybasstexas

Apr 5, 2008
1,298
6
DFW
#1
WOOOAH!!!!!

I just went and picked up my NEW IN BOX Peavey VB-2 head today!

It was in Dallas, so i made a little bit of a drive, but it was worth it!

As i said, it was still in the box! i opened it in store, and test drove it with my GC employee. He was a bass player, and actually very helpful. We cranked the amp and it took it smoothly!

Honestly, i love this amp. IMO, different than any CL.
DEFINETLY louder than any SVTCL.

The only problem i have is it starts breaking up, or getting distorted a little earlier than i like(around 5/6)
Anybody done anything to change this? or is it my EQ setting?

as many owners have said, i prefer driving the clean channel versus the overdrive channel.

Stock JJ's are actually very nice. BobblyBld said somewhere that Ruby's and a hotter bias will give more watts...i'm interested.except is says to only use the stock tubes in the manual...help?


this is a USA made amp...even more reason to buy!

and yes, i got her for $399.99 before tax!

obligatory pics:
vb007.jpg

vb009.jpg

vb012.jpg

vb013.jpg

Plain and simple, this amp is a monster. Its going on tour with me this summer!


I just can't wait to fire this up with my 810 and NV610 !!!:hyper:
 
#3
Rock on! I got mine last week and haven't gotten a chance to fire it up yet on account of my cab situation. But I can't wait, the reviews have been bitchin' and even cooler when David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth) sends it to you! Maybe we should get a VB-2 club going seeing how we rock!
 
#4
Hi.

Congrats!!!

Welcome to the all tube heaven/hell ;), I doubt that You'll ever go back.

Now it's the time for the endless search for the ultimate tone by swapping the pre and power tubes to the verge of insanity, I can tell You that you'll never get bored.

I'm not certain about the circuitry, but the PBG tube mod might work on VB-2s too, that would decrease gain and increase clean headroom.

Regards
Sam
 
#6
I guess I may as well post to another existing thread instead of starting ANOTHER VB-2 thread;)

I just finished my first gig with this head (connected up with my Genz Benz neox 212t). :hyper::eek::p Wow! I was just blown away with its tone (now MY tone), and sheer bawlsy power. Even some fellow musicians out in the audience, who have heard me with my other rig, loved the sound of my new rig.

Compared with my Marshall MB450h (300w @ 4ohms, 450 @ 2 ohms) head running at almost maximum power practically ALL the time, I found that on the bulk of our tunes I had the clean gain about halfway and the master vol at about half. For our louder raunchier stuff I had the clean gain cranked to 11 (maybe a typo on my unit;) just kidding) and the master volume set at.............3 1/2!

I had the store where I bought it (NOT in the US for $300 tho:bawl:) extend their return policy for me so I could use it for this weekend , and for my New Years gig. After those two gigs, I would still have the option to return it. Well...that definately won't be happening now! :p

Other stuff I discovered:
I found this head to pump out quite a bit of bottom end (on my 212neo cab anyway) almost to the point of sounding boomy. I reduced the bass to about half, and had my mids and highs set at about 7-ish.
When I first played with this head (at 2 different stores), I really didn't like the overdrive channel. AFter messing around with it, you can get some great sounds out of it. I've got the O/D gain set round 3 or 4, lower the treble on my bass a bit and it's very usable IMO.

Unfortunately, I'm gonna have some bad news for my Marshall club members:hiding::hmm: If someone starts a VB2 club, I'm in as well!
 
#9
Awww man, does this mean your getting rid of your Titan? :p

I couldn't find a VB-2 around here, I did find a Mesa Buster though so that will have to do. One thing that I just noticed about that head is that it is wide, dang its a little wider than your 410HLF.
 
#10
The bright switch on mine doesn't seem to do anything and it lacks low even with the bass full up compared to my V4BH- I was in love with it at first, but I now think I may have a lemon. This one's going back to MF. Lucky I still have a 45 day return.
 
#13
What are the actual dimensions/weight of these VB-2's anyway? I seem to keep seeing pics of these heads overhanging their cabs. The Peavey site only seems to be listing specs on the packed box they come in. (quote) Width Packed: 14.5" / Depth Packed: 27.75" / Height Packed: 15" / Weight Packed: 64.00 lb(29.03 kg). Although I agree thats some handy info to ALSO include for shipping purposes.
 
#14
Well I will find out on Monday, I heard it isnt that warm sounding though.

The one time I got to a play a VB-2 it was a huge plushy sound, Im hoping the Buster can somewhat do that. I may even do PBG's tube swap thing.
 
#15
Dimensions: 24 1/8" wide, 11" deep, 9 3/8" high. I didn't weigh mine.

Remember, the amp will sound different through different cabs. Through my Bergantino NV610 is has a vintage-y tone to it and gets growly at lower volumes. and through my Bag End D10XB-D it is very full and clean sounding and seems louder at similar volume knob positions with the Berg.
 
#17
no no no, i'm not getting rid of my Titan! I still like tube-driven mosfet :]

although, my peavey will be getting lots of gigs now!

and i find that it has lots of lows....maybe because its with the HLF now, but thats the only way i'll buy a head. I have to have tons of low end.
 

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