Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Snikch on January 19, 2008, 02:00:35 PM

Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: Snikch on January 19, 2008, 02:00:35 PM
Hello all,

I’ve recently found myself in the fortunate position where Peavey have offered to loan me one of their amps for a number of tours and recording sessions my band have lined up, which is great.

However, I have virtually no knowledge of Peavey and little experience playing through them. So I was hoping some of you knowledgeable fellows could point me the right direction.

I basically play in what I guess would be described as an effects heavy modern prog band. Think King Crimson meets The Mars Volta meets the guitar sounds of Muse and Rage Against the Machine.

Up to this point I’ve been using the clean channel of my Fender DeVille (2x12) as my sonic base and using pedals to get any extra sounds I need.

So the cleans are very important and must be able to deal with the large amount of effects I use, but a decent drive channel would be great advantage (I find the fender drive channel pretty disappointing).

I’m also going to be looking for a head+cab rather than a combo.

So do any of you lads have any advice on which model would be best suited to this perpouse.

Thanks.
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: noodleplugerine on January 19, 2008, 02:09:48 PM
The only amp in the peavey range worth looking at is the JSX.

It's quite an all rounder and the cleans sound pretty good - But I'd still say the rest of the amps at the same price range are better.

But if it has to be Peavey - Then go for the JSX.
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: _tom_ on January 19, 2008, 02:15:42 PM
Quote from: noodleplugerine
The only amp in the peavey range worth looking at is the JSX.


:?

I guess you havent heard of the Classic series??
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: noodleplugerine on January 19, 2008, 03:15:21 PM
Quote from: _tom_
Quote from: noodleplugerine
The only amp in the peavey range worth looking at is the JSX.


:?

I guess you havent heard of the Classic series??


I actually haven't :S
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: _tom_ on January 19, 2008, 03:23:13 PM
Ah, well they're meant to be really good amps with a speaker change. This one guy on HC gets really good tones out of his, have a listen to the song Dearest Valentine here - http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1859443

Thats a Classic 30, with a humbucker LP on one speaker and an Edwards p90 on the other I think.
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: steve on January 19, 2008, 06:11:10 PM
Quote from: _tom_
Quote from: noodleplugerine
The only amp in the peavey range worth looking at is the JSX.


:?

I guess you havent heard of the Classic series??


Or the Valveking head, which is great.
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: noodleplugerine on January 19, 2008, 06:21:25 PM
Quote from: steve
Quote from: _tom_
Quote from: noodleplugerine
The only amp in the peavey range worth looking at is the JSX.


:?

I guess you havent heard of the Classic series??


Or the Valveking head, which is great.


I don't like it at all - The cleans are incredibly sterile I found. Almost solid state.

The drive is good, but I'd like a bit more depth.
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: Snikch on January 19, 2008, 07:43:33 PM
Quote from: noodleplugerine
The only amp in the peavey range worth looking at is the JSX.



JSX you say….hmmm….interesting, I’ll look into it.  8)

I had considered the classic series. However, they only offer a 30watt head (which they match with a 2x12 cab) and I’m worried it won’t be powerful enough for the applications I need it for.

The valve king is defiantly an option though the cleans are a concern. From the reviews I’ve read it seems to be more of a hard rock amp rather than an out and out metal amp which I think would defiantly be good for me (though I could be wrong about that).

Now what I’m about to say next might go down like a lead balloon but I was also considering their Wiggy head and cab. The major down side of which is that its solid state.  On the up side it’s meant to be able to achieve a whole variety of amazing tones. The looks are a matter of taste, personally I’m a fan.

http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM01/Content/Peavey/PR/Wiggy.html

Does anyone have any experience with it?
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: AdamB on January 19, 2008, 07:53:17 PM
If you want some brutal distortion go for the 6505/6505+, for cleans, stay well away
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: steve on January 20, 2008, 05:07:37 PM
Quote from: Snikch
Quote from: noodleplugerine
The only amp in the peavey range worth looking at is the JSX.



JSX you say….hmmm….interesting, I’ll look into it.  8)

I had considered the classic series. However, they only offer a 30watt head (which they match with a 2x12 cab) and I’m worried it won’t be powerful enough for the applications I need it for.

The valve king is defiantly an option though the cleans are a concern. From the reviews I’ve read it seems to be more of a hard rock amp rather than an out and out metal amp which I think would defiantly be good for me (though I could be wrong about that).

Now what I’m about to say next might go down like a lead balloon but I was also considering their Wiggy head and cab. The major down side of which is that its solid state.  On the up side it’s meant to be able to achieve a whole variety of amazing tones. The looks are a matter of taste, personally I’m a fan.

http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM01/Content/Peavey/PR/Wiggy.html

Does anyone have any experience with it?


I have been gigging with the valveking for a few months now and i really like it.It has more punch and depth of tone than any of the modern marshalls/laneys i have played live.It has a warmth to it without becoming muddy, the clean was a bit harsh at first agreed but after some gigging everything mellowed and my strat sound great through it now.
The low power/full power dial on the back takes you from modern high gain tones to a more vintage voiced rock amp.

But like anything try it first to make up your own mind.
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: _tom_ on January 20, 2008, 05:18:01 PM
Quote from: Snikch
I had considered the classic series. However, they only offer a 30watt head (which they match with a 2x12 cab) and I’m worried it won’t be powerful enough for the applications I need it for.


30w valve should be plenty for most gigs, I dont think theres much in it between a 50w and 30w valve amp and I've never had to turn my 50 watt Laney up above 2 at any gigs I've played, and thats with a 2x12 as well.
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: Snikch on January 20, 2008, 06:51:09 PM
Quote from: steve
Quote from: Snikch
Quote from: noodleplugerine


I have been gigging with the valveking for a few months now and i really like it.It has more punch and depth of tone than any of the modern marshalls/laneys i have played live.It has a warmth to it without becoming muddy, the clean was a bit harsh at first agreed but after some gigging everything mellowed and my strat sound great through it now.
The low power/full power dial on the back takes you from modern high gain tones to a more vintage voiced rock amp.

But like anything try it first to make up your own mind.


Is your valveking a combo or a head and cab? If the latter, how do you find cab? I’ve heard that valveking cabs are vk ranges weak link. Have you ever tried the head with a different cab?
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: steve on January 20, 2008, 10:36:30 PM
Quote from: Snikch
Quote from: steve
Quote from: Snikch
Quote from: noodleplugerine


I have been gigging with the valveking for a few months now and i really like it.It has more punch and depth of tone than any of the modern marshalls/laneys i have played live.It has a warmth to it without becoming muddy, the clean was a bit harsh at first agreed but after some gigging everything mellowed and my strat sound great through it now.
The low power/full power dial on the back takes you from modern high gain tones to a more vintage voiced rock amp.

But like anything try it first to make up your own mind.


Is your valveking a combo or a head and cab? If the latter, how do you find cab? I’ve heard that valveking cabs are vk ranges weak link. Have you ever tried the head with a different cab?


I have the head and use my two 2x12 custom cabs, vintage 30 and a G12h in each one. Either side of stage and it sound huge. I had a 100 watt trace elliot speed twin head which was around £1000 new and the VK blows it out the water for features and tone.I dont use the reverb on the head as its way over the top and very noisy.
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: Stevepage on January 20, 2008, 11:26:26 PM
What about the Windsor? (sp?)
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: Oli on January 21, 2008, 12:17:32 AM
What about using a 6505 or the 6505+ for distortion stuff, and A/B with your Fender for the clean sounds?
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: fps_dean on January 21, 2008, 04:23:37 AM
Quote from: noodleplugerine
The only amp in the peavey range worth looking at is the JSX.

It's quite an all rounder and the cleans sound pretty good - But I'd still say the rest of the amps at the same price range are better.

But if it has to be Peavey - Then go for the JSX.


My favorite is the Classic 50, but the JSX is supposed to have that as the clean channel, so I say JSX too.
Title: Peavey amps advice
Post by: Henk on January 21, 2008, 09:30:16 AM
I gigged a 100w Peavey Deuce combo troughout the 90's, it had 6L6GC tubes like the Valveking head. Allthough i cant speak for the preamp which was different on mine, the poweramp was pretty similar. It has huge headroom and Mesa-esque cleans, like peter said it has a very nice depth to it, filling up a hall very nicely, and the best part to me (then) wat that it took effects unusually well for a tube amp. I had it till it fell apart........

EDIT: the JSX seems to take 6L6GS tubes instead of the EL34's, could be interesting