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Peavey Tour VB-2 All Tube head. need comments!
- Thread starter iplaybasstexas
- Start date
It depends on what you plug it into and how hard you push it. With the cabinets I have and the volume my band plays, it would break up pretty much all the time.
This is the one I had. It's starting to show some signs of wear, but it got used a lot and I would say it's extremely reliable.
http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgea...stId=140968976
Okay, after getting the cc deal straightened out, gc made me a heckofa deal on the head....so I am back on it.
schroeder 1210L is due in tomorrow....
schroeder 1210L is due in tomorrow....
Back on track for the VB2 Tim, OK.
The seller I bought mine from hired an oxen drawn wagon for shipping, LOL.
Just a quick "not really a review", but more of some initial thoughts.
Is it loud, yes. Does it sound good? Yes. Is the OD channel really better than the vid....and usable? While pre overdrive isn't my bag, it definitely sounds a lot better than what Ellefson demoed on the video. It's certainly usable.
The peavey dude here (sorry, it is late and I am too tired to remember your name) asked a few times on what people thought of the hi-fi/slap sounds. It actually sounds great for this application. The only other tube head I have played that seemed as "fast" on my limited tube experience, is the Sadowsky SA200. It can get SVT type sounds, but from what I can recall, it sounds more like an SA200 than anything else I can think to compare it to. I trust Tom Bowlus will investigate the tonal similarities much more than my poor old memory can offer.
My fave sound is to dime the master, and use the gain on the clean channel to control the volume. It keeps it pretty clean, but breaks up nicely when laying into the pedal. I really wish I still had my 810e to give this a good workover with.
Is it loud, yes. Does it sound good? Yes. Is the OD channel really better than the vid....and usable? While pre overdrive isn't my bag, it definitely sounds a lot better than what Ellefson demoed on the video. It's certainly usable.
The peavey dude here (sorry, it is late and I am too tired to remember your name) asked a few times on what people thought of the hi-fi/slap sounds. It actually sounds great for this application. The only other tube head I have played that seemed as "fast" on my limited tube experience, is the Sadowsky SA200. It can get SVT type sounds, but from what I can recall, it sounds more like an SA200 than anything else I can think to compare it to. I trust Tom Bowlus will investigate the tonal similarities much more than my poor old memory can offer.
My fave sound is to dime the master, and use the gain on the clean channel to control the volume. It keeps it pretty clean, but breaks up nicely when laying into the pedal. I really wish I still had my 810e to give this a good workover with.
Really? I just twisted a few knobs, and gave it hell....for a few minutes. I didn't get home from work until late....with the wife sleeping, that's all the throttle I was willing to give it in the basement
She does manage to sleep through band practice though.Do you have any experience with the SA200 to make a comparison? The clean tones seem very close to what I remember of the sadowsky.
I've never played one before. It seems to have a similar power amp with the 6 EL34s, so that may have a lot to do with it.
Here's a vid clip I did of different basses, and different sounds. Forgive the crappy playing, and crappier $80 flip video recorder.
http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm283/timcole421/?action=view¤t=vb2.flv
http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm283/timcole421/?action=view¤t=vb2.flv
Thanks.....it's been my #1 bass for a while.
Model? Depends who you ask. I bought it off ebay in need of some big time tlc. According to PJ Rubal, it is one of 24 or less NS-2a's that were made with the inlays at the end of the kramer reign. But, there is a filler piece cnc cut and fitted under the factory finish around the bridge. If this piece were removed, it would be the exact route for the larger US bridge. In my guess, at the end of the kramer reign, some US NS-2's had a filler piece added (like this one has) for the smaller korean bridges....loaded with the 2a guts, and dumped as 2a's to get rid of em.
It has active EMG's in it, and I just bought an original 86 Haz lab preamp out of a US NS-2 for it.
She weighs about 7 pounds.....love it.
BbbyBld,
If I re-tube my VB-2 with the BHT Rubies and re-bias like you mentioned to get 300 watts, would this shorten the life span of the amp or be detrimental in any way? Thanks much.
I said that because someone posted their observations on the over-designed power supply inside the amp, not as a recommendation that people do this.
The BHT seems to be a great tube. I've tested two sets.
I would be more worried about tube life. You'd have to bias on the hot side to get that much power. If the tubes are working, the amp will operate that way no problem. Just like most other tube amps, if a tube fails it can take out other parts inside the amp--no matter how it's biased. One of the best ways to prevent tube failures is setting the bias at a reasonable level. I've operated mine biased hot for 2 years with no failures.
If you use those tubes and have the bias set normally, you should get 240 to 260 watts with good reliability and tube life.
EXCELLENT vid/review THANX for doing that. Gives a FAR better idea of how the amp sounds than in that Elleffson vid!!!! I like it- sounds VERY much like my ol' '70's AUS amp(AN EMINAR PA head- w/ 6x6CA7's) I also like how the SX Jazz bass sounds good STOCK & holds it's own too!
Good stuff Tim, & thanks again!Rod
