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Peavey VB3

#21
It's very light and powerful and perfect for any modern tone with the all tube warmth. I use it with a sansamp in a metal band with a mesa cab and it's the best. At first I thought the amp had a weak midrange voice but if you pay it in a full band it's a different story. The guitars cut through perfectly while the vb-3 brings all the bass and low mid punch with amazing highs. I am totally in love with mine
 
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#26
Ive just got this little monster , ill post a review when ive done a few gigs with it
 

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#27
I've owned one for three years. I agree with most all that has been said about it by other owners. I will add a couple of things. though.

I have never been a fan of EL34 power tubes for bass. They break up to early and seem to lack low end oomph. In the VB-3 there are eight of them. Ruby EL34 BHT's I believe are stock with this amp. These tubes are definitely a cut above your average EL34 when it comes to clean headroom and freq. response. I proved it to myself when I tried 4 of them in a Peavey Windsor amp head I had at the time.

But after corresponding with Bbbybld, the amps designer, about trying 6550's (no can do), at his suggestion I tried a set of EHX large bottle 6CA7's. This brought the amp into a whole new and wonderful (to my ears, anyway) world of tone, clean tone. Closer to 6550's, but with their own, unique voice. I highly recommend this upgrade. Honestly, I don't know why these EHX big bottle 6CA7's aren't the stock tube.

I also tried a set of TAD 6L6GC's, while it wasn't my "cup of tea" tone wise, it could be for some people. By the way the bias scheme is set up for that swap.

Also the resonance and presence controls allow a wide range of tonal palette, although it might be too much twiddling for some people.

I agree with what was said about the knobs being on the cheap side. I will say, though, after opening the amp to swap the tubes and have a look around its vitals, I saw that the chassis and pcb's are typical armor plated, bullet proof Peavey. If I was gigging this amp regularly I would probably change the knobs to something more deluxe, just because...
 
#28
^ I agree about the EL34's not having that 6505 "omph" that is the typical svt tone. However, my vb-3 with the stock EL34's have tonssss of sub low end. Its almost like the amp is voiced to have a lot of sub lows, then a cut on the low mids, then some very nice high mids and treble. To me it works the best when im running it through a nice ported 6x10. Thats when this amp really shines. Do any other owners agree with me?
 
#29
Tone discussions are so difficult as even the descriptive terms can have such different interpretations. For me the EHX 6CA7's seem to have a tighter low end and a slightly more clean headroom, which is what I was looking for. It was a relatively expensive upgrade for an already relatively expensive amp.
I want to give my reasons for buying this amp:

I wanted a powerful tube amp.
I got a great deal on a used one from GC.
I needed a reliable amp as I was moving from the USA.
I needed an amp capable of 220v operation without expensive modification.
I liked the light weight for shipping cost , also I have had 2 back surgeries.
I like trying new technology.

All that being said, I might have opted for the new Ampeg V4B if it had been available 3 years ago. In truth I am a sucker for the "Ampeg" sound.
In the end, though, I am really happy with this amp.
 

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