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Peavey Tour VB-2 All Tube head. need comments!

#101
rodl2005 said:
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
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I really thought the ellefson vid sucked too.....I like Dave and Megadeth, but it seems pretty obvious that he knows jack about tube amps. If "very cool" is all you have to offer.....

Anyway, I just threw that together....not good playing by any means, most of it was just winged to make....sound. This is really quite a nice amp, much nicer than what has been marketed. Thanks for the kind words.......
 
#102
Thanks for replying BbbyBld to my retubing Q. Stock, the VB-2 provides plenty of power for myself. But DTR when at re-tubing time, it is good to know from the source what works and what are safe options. I LOVE this amp! I am still amazed with the power, tone, and light weight this thing sports. It sure sounds great at the gig, as it improved everything about my sound. The thick rubber handles on top make it easy to tote and navigate through door openings shifting between one and two hands, in and out of the transport vehicle, etc.
 
#103
Tim Cole said:
I really thought the ellefson vid sucked too.....I like Dave and Megadeth, but it seems pretty obvious that he knows jack about tube amps. If "very cool" is all you have to offer.....

Anyway, I just threw that together....not good playing by any means, most of it was just winged to make....sound. This is really quite a nice amp, much nicer than what has been marketed. Thanks for the kind words.......
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The Ellefson video stopped me from buying the head. I was just going to take a chance and pick it and then heard that demo vid. Ugh! Your video gets my interest going again. :)
 
#104
Geddyfleaharris said:
The Ellefson video stopped me from buying the head. I was just going to take a chance and pick it and then heard that demo vid. Ugh! Your video gets my interest going again. :)
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The OD channel demo'd on youtube was short and only offered one of the tones available on it. It can go from clean to the wild distorted sound he played. My advice is - don't base your VB-2 purchase decision on this video sample alone because it is incomplete.
 
#113
strke-fender said:
can somebody post the dimensions?

or at least verify that it will safely fit on an ampeg 410hlf. (with out danger of falling off)
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It looks really cool on the Mesa Powerhouse cabinets. Most of them are 24" wide, like the VB-2. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that's one of the reasons I bought my Powerhouse 115. Thank goodness it sounds great with the VB-2, or I'd feel pretty silly!

- Greg
 
#114
After giving myself one for an early Christmas this past year, I am still madly in love with this head:hyper: So much so, I've sold off my Marshall rig to use this one exclusively. (I am however looking into another cab :rollno:)

Anyhow, I play in a blues/R&B, funk, and classic rock 4 piece and run this head into my Genz Benz neo212T and it really shows off the rich tubey goodness. (Regarding stance, the VB2 hangs about an 1" over each side of my cab.) I've been cranking the master volume fairly high and use the (chean) channel's gain when a dirtier sound is needed. My initial impression of the OD channel was not good, but since I've had time to explore the amp a great OD sound can be achieved. I have noticed (like someone who posted similar comments) you wouldn't be able to have a "clean setting" and a "OD setting" to switch back and forth with the optional footswitch. The tww channel settings do not balance nor can they be blended like my Marshall...D'oh!:scowl:

Currently I'm shopping for a Gator type case that will fit this head. I built myself a plywood dummy head the same size as the VB2 so I can just take that and find a case that will work. BTW, the only Gator case that LOOKED like it would have worked would have been the G-901. Unfortunately the dividers are not removable and thus, the head doesn't fit.

Anyone else have any suggestions regarding cases? I know Marshall has a rolling case that has a retractable handle but has the Marshall logo painted on the sides in huge 900 pt font.:(
 
#116
Opas said:
I can verify it will sit on a 410 hlf without falling off.
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And it looks good too :D

IMG_0038_resize.jpg
 
#118
My initial impression of the OD channel was not good, but since I've had time to explore the amp a great OD sound can be achieved.
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That channel is designed to come alive when the power tubes are overdriven. Think about it like putting a tube screamer in front of a cranked Marshall. Actually, the whole amp is designed to sound its best (to me) loud. I don't even like to listen to it at low volumes.

I have noticed (like someone who posted similar comments) you wouldn't be able to have a "clean setting" and a "OD setting" to switch back and forth with the optional footswitch.
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The way that I play and set the controls up, they match pretty well. Since release, it's been obvious that a lot of people have volume balance issues.

Try setting your master volume and overdrive gain to be as distorted/loud as you want, and then adjusting the clean gain after the fact to match. This may help.

You can use the overdrive channel all the time and roll back your bass volume control to clean up.
 
#119
...The day after I posted my question for BbbyBld, I stumbled on a great deal on a vb-2! A local music store had one for 35% off from list price. Keep in mind that, in Sweden, list is pretty much what you expect to pay. You might get 5% off if you haggle.

Bought it yesterday, and spent the entire evening in the bands rehearsal space just cranking it by myself :bassist:

It really does have something ampeg'y about it. Mostly in the way the input section will grunt, rather than fart or buzz, when pushed (The drive channel can get a little buzzy though, unless you tweak it carefully). Also in the way the EQ responds, although it seems to have less range than the ampeg. (my ampeg experience mainly revolves around a svp cl and a 70's v4b). The EQ is enginering genius in my book. The ease of use of use of the ampeg tone stack using fewer tubes, and probably a lot fewer other components as well (no inductor coil I presume). Beats passive EQ any day of the week.

BbbyBld, Am i comletely off base to assume that it is a baxandall-based circuit with a pre-shaped mid boost that matches a passive mid cut circuit?
I dont really know what I'talking about, most of my analog electronics "knowledge" comes from the internet, haha.

Next rehearsal is monday. It'll be interesting to se how it holds up in terms of volume. Wee play pretty loud.

Now for the niggles :D

I agree with everyone who say the handles suck! They're excelent for lifting the amp, since you dont have to bend down quite as far. But they're pretty useless for actually carrying the thing. The amp hangs down infront of your lags making it awkward to walk, unless you hold it up a bit which you can only do if you have the biceps of Arnold S. in his prime.

The overdrive channel, what a pitty...
I don't agree that it sounds bad. I can make it sound GREAT! But I can't make it sound great while also having a good sound on the clean channel. I don't really have a problem matching the volumes. I have a problem matching the tones. Anyway, for a price this low, the OD channel is really just a cool little bonus.

Third, I'm not really into some aspects of the "tongue out" look, but thats a really minor point.

It seems to me Peavey got everything important right with this one. Good basic tone, good EQ, 2-8ohm, reasonable power at reasonable weight. Low price for a tube amp. I think I can easily live with the minor shortcomings.

Then again, I shouldn't pretend that I'm over the honeymoon period :D

It looks promising though!
 
#120
I run my master volume all the way up and vary the gain controls for overall volume. This way, you can get an excellent tone on the OD channel. With my Peavey Millennium 5, the gain is set very low but the volume is very loud and the tone is extremely rich. I don't use the clean channel very much at all. As BbbyBld said, the OD channel works best when you are slamming the power tubes. Don't be afraid to crank the master. Remember, the old vintage amps like the original SVT didn't have master volumes. I have also found that the VB-2 responds well to my VT Bass and programmable SABDDI, so I use either of those to vary tones.
 

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