38 lbs, 300 watts, all tube?!?

[Stranger Danger]

What is this sorcery?

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[The_Janitor]

What is this sorcery?

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It's a 300W tube head with a Toroidal transformer and switch mode power supply.

 

[Ender_rpm]

oof, spendy. I was thinking "man, this looks like my VB2" and the text then it says its a modded VB3. I love LOVE my VB2, and it weighs about the same and cost me $00 used, so I'll stick with it for now

But still, I am glad to see Peavey resurrecting the VB line even a bit.

 

[coreyfyfe]

But still, I am glad to see Peavey resurrecting the VB line even a bit.

These were discontinued a few years ago.

Edit - just saw that they recently appeared available for pre-sale. Odd since they were announced in 2013, but good they're back I guess?

 

[Ender_rpm]

These were discontinued a few years ago.

Edit - just saw that they recently appeared available for pre-sale. Odd since they were announced in 2013, but good they're back I guess?

*shrugs* was just going off the webpage man

 

[The_Janitor]

oof, spendy. I was thinking "man, this looks like my VB2" and the text then it says its a modded VB3. I love LOVE my VB2, and it weighs about the same and cost me $00 used, so I'll stick with it for now

But still, I am glad to see Peavey resurrecting the VB line even a bit.

VB2 has big iron transformers, the VB3 does not. I played the regular, non-Michael Anthony version and I was not impressed. I've owned multiple 300W tube heads so I think I have a good base for comparison - the VB3 just seemed a bit anemic and weak to me.

 

[spankdaplank]

I'm the proud owner of a VB3. When I bought it seven years ago, I hesitated for a while as I really dislike EL34 tubes for bass. I was definitely intrigued by the SMPS power supply and weight factor. After I bought it I tried 6L6's as the amp is set up with a bias switch to use that tube. I still wasn't happy. I was able to correspond with Bobby Baldwin, the designer of the amp. He nixed my idea of using 6550's, but heartily recommended a set of EHX 6CA7 big bottle tubes. I did it even though I was getting tired of pouring money into all these tubes. It definitely made a huge (positive to my ears) difference. It will never be an SVT in terms of girth and tone, but I do like for the most part, what it does well. Peavey should have shipped the amp with these tubes.
Pros:
Real tube stank. The weight or lack of, for sure. The universal supply voltage; important for me, decent tone stack, pretty good compressor and overdrive when used carefully. And my favorite - the resonance and presence controls. They take a bit of fiddling but are the key to some really useful tones.
Cons:
I will always wonder what a set of 6550's would sound like. The overdrive channel should be blendable with the clean channel. Lose the graphic EQ. The cooling fan on the top is begging for a beverage to be spilled into it.
Lastly, I somewhat agree with the earlier poster on the lack of cajones.
I that think this might be the output transformer being a bit on the small side. Probably to save both weight and money.
As usual YMMV.