Peavey 3120

Re: Peavey 3120

They're really just a rebadged XXX that come stock with EL34's instead of 6l6's.... I've tried it before and i really like it. I'm more of a 6505 guy tho but you're not going to complain about the amt of gain you get and it has good clean and crunch as well. I can't really compare it to other amps out there tho so you'll have to try one yourself.
 
Re: Peavey 3120

In terms of 6505.... Is the only noticeable difference the amount of gain?
No, the 6505 has much more low mid growl and a completely different preamp voicing. You can get close to it on the 3120's ultra channel, but not the same.
 
Re: Peavey 3120

Yeah you can tell the difference between the 2 without a doubt. Not so much in terms of amount of gain but i would say voicing. the 5150 being more "outta control" where the 3120 being "Tamed" a little more. of course the 3120 just offers a boat load more versatility with 3 indepedant channels. Also the EQ on the 3120 is active where the 6505 is passive.
 
Re: Peavey 3120

havent played one but the wife and i went to see a band a few weeks ago and one of the guitar players had one. really dry distortion but that may have been just his settings.
 
Re: Peavey 3120

If I didn't own a MK1 5150 and a 6505+ I would buy a 3120. I've liked everyone I've played.
 
Re: Peavey 3120

User here XSSIVE is in love with his last I knew. He talked me into it but, after playing one and now owning a 6505 I just figured out that I love the 5150/6505 mid-grind more. It really is just a XXX with EL34's but, IMO, it sounds better than the XXX's stock 6L6's. Great, super versatile amp but...that 5150-6505 mid-grind got me hooked. Just sounds raw as ****.
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Re: Peavey 3120

I love EL34 amps...might be something for me to check out. What do they run?
 
Re: Peavey 3120

i just picked one up a few weeks ago, it was a great price and i was able to avoid getting a Bugera..i also lucked out as it has all JJ tubes..very versatile amp, i am surprised how good the clean channel sounds but i was expecting the crunch and lead channels to be far more different from each other..i was using it with a Blackout AHB-2(wired with just a volume control) but that combination causes a lot of feedback, i have switched back to my EMG 60 and it certainly helps with the feedback issue..the main guy at FJAmods claims this is from the design of the amp and he has a mod to fix this but i haven't looked into the pricing just yet, i want to try some lower gain pre-amp tubes first...
 
Re: Peavey 3120

i have both a 3120 and a 5150 (modded with choke and bias mod) and they both rock but given the choice i'd take the versatility of the 3120 over the 5150. far better cleans and a little less harsh yet still truckloads of gain.

i find the 3120 sounds best with 6L6s in it IMO. i liked it with the EL34s and i love it with the 6L6s. even the clean (which is great to begin with) is better with the 6L6s.

also make sure to bias it correctly (with a bias probe, the factory bias points are NOT accurate) they're biased ice cold from the factory. mine was at 20mA, it's MUCH better now that it's at 36mA.
 
Re: Peavey 3120

:laugh2: thanks Jimmy.

xntrick...i bought it already modded and i haven't played a stock 5150 in about 5+ years to be able to give an honest a/b between the two. i can tell you this, all the peaveys i've owned, Ultra +, 3120 and 5150 have been biased cold and doing a proper bias made them all come alive and just sound fuller and meaner. that alone is worth it for sure.

i use a decimator last in line after all my pedals into the front of the 3120. with the 5150 i run a GSP1101 in 4 cable method with it so i use the built in noise gate it has to quiet that one down.
 
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