Peavey XXX

[audiodog]

Re: Peavey XXX

The XXX is a decent amp, however it's not very veritile in my opinion. Once you find that "sweet spot" you can't find another.

I would say that the 6505 is a better quality amp, but only when it comes to the high gain channel. The XXX clean cannel is not very good but it will do the job. Especally for metal cuz any clean parts in metal don't need to sound beautiful.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Peavey XXX

E34L's? Everyone at the Peavey forums, including the tech support guys at Peavey say that they're unsafe, as they draw too much plate voltage?

Then they shouldn't have designed the amp for them. I have the 2x12 combo. Blew my resistor grid on a set of Winged C Svet's, destroyed the tubes too I was pissed. Warranty repair fixed the problem and it has been cherry since. I love mine but gigging with it is tough it weighs close to 100lbs :smack:

The stock tubes blow, bad. Now it has Ruby pre's and Winged C Svet EL34's and it is fabulous from AC/DC crunch to insanity. Not great cleans but with the re-tube and a proper biasing it is far better than it was out of the box. I'd like to move my combo and get the XXX or the JSX head soon so if anyone is looking for a combo let me know.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Peavey XXX

Then they shouldn't have designed the amp for them. I have the 2x12 combo. Blew my resistor grid on a set of Winged C Svet's, destroyed the tubes too I was pissed.

I don't think they designed the amp for E34L's, just EL34's. was it E34L's or EL34's that gave you the problem? The grid resistors aren't rated high enough for E34L's apparently. Peavey should've let everyone know this in the manual though. :smack:

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Peavey XXX

I've been wanting to try one of these XXX amps out but i don't like dealing with the store that carries Peavey near me! I have a 5150 head and a Classic 50 head. I spent a great deal of time and money building a switching system rig out of those 2 amps so my 5150 could have a 3rd clean channel- meaning switching to the Classic 50 head thru the same 5150 cab.... the Classic 50 is a great loud clean channel! (Reverb in a pro tube head too!!!) The XXX is 3 channels and may have those sounds in it and that is what makes me want to check it out....

As far as 120watts being way too loud...... Well yes and no. Yes if all you do is play at home. But with the 120 watt 5150 head i have been to a few outdoor gigs were you show up and find the PA is garbage! So i ended up running my sound straight off the stage and the only thing thru the pa was vocals and the kick drum...... That 120 watts came in handy a few times.... saddly it has also brought the cops a few times as well..... If you are playing bars 120 watts maybe real over kill as well. Not only is the gear extremely heavy and you'll want to leave it home, it will drive the people there away from the shear volume. For bars i built a second rig using a few different smaller tube combos, or some of my 50 watt heads into a Marshall 1912 1x12 cab.... That little cab still kicks ya but cuts down on the huge noise a 4x12 sends out. Even a step further i have a 3rd rig for low volume hom practice plus a POD for late nights...... I have all gigs covered.

WhoFan

 

[Wattage]

Re: Peavey XXX

I don't think they designed the amp for E34L's, just EL34's. was it E34L's or EL34's that gave you the problem? The grid resistors aren't rated high enough for E34L's apparently. Peavey should've let everyone know this in the manual though. :smack:

Didn't realize you said the "L" version, no mine were straight EL34's. They had an issue with some earlier runs with bad grids, Peavey knows it, they covered it no questions asked.

As for versatile, it most definitely is a versatile amp! Again stock tubes - fairly weak, stock bias - fairly cold. Get a real nice set of pre's and the Svet EL34's and give the amp some real character. I am not a massive high gain user and I can get plenty of great tones out of it. You've got to be conservative with the EQ's they are active on the gain channels you can't just peg and scoop if you want a great sound. This amp has a lot of real nice mids to play with if you get something besides the stock Russian tubes in there. I would assume that a nice set of 6L6's would make just as much difference and retain more of a Mesa slant. When I saw Skynyrd a few years back they were using a few of them and I was really impressed, once I played through a few I saw a lot of possiblities. I think the JSX model made some nice changes to it as well.

 

[ranalli]

Re: Peavey XXX

Didn't realize you said the "L" version, no mine were straight EL34's. They had an issue with some earlier runs with bad grids, Peavey knows it, they covered it no questions asked.

As for versatile, it most definitely is a versatile amp! Again stock tubes - fairly weak, stock bias - fairly cold. Get a real nice set of pre's and the Svet EL34's and give the amp some real character. I am not a massive high gain user and I can get plenty of great tones out of it. You've got to be conservative with the EQ's they are active on the gain channels you can't just peg and scoop if you want a great sound. This amp has a lot of real nice mids to play with if you get something besides the stock Russian tubes in there. I would assume that a nice set of 6L6's would make just as much difference and retain more of a Mesa slant. When I saw Skynyrd a few years back they were using a few of them and I was really impressed, once I played through a few I saw a lot of possiblities. I think the JSX model made some nice changes to it as well.

Agreed. Between being able to switch tubes and power tube types you can get a huge variety of tones and with the active EQ that goes even further.

What I find though is that most people don't know how to dial in the active EQ and then not liking it.....it's just not like other amps.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Peavey XXX

i hated it till i switched the damping to loose

now i'm convinced with some different tubes & speakers it'd sound pretty good

then again, chugs & pinch harmonics aren't my thing

 

[audiodog]

Re: Peavey XXX

yeah, that baby really chugs with the damping switch on loose, but if you try to play live, you really gotta switch it to tight. I was playing live and I thought my speakers were going to come loose and hit the crowd, lol. Truely a powerful amp.

I gotta try that idea on switching new tubes in it. I'm gonna go with those JJ tubes.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Peavey XXX

try gt 12ax7c's & 6l6r's

it'll really bump the chunk & clarity

 

[JeffR12345]

Re: Peavey XXX

I'd like to move my combo and get the XXX or the JSX head soon so if anyone is looking for a combo let me know.

You could always send it to me :burnout:
I'll be more than willing to take it off your hands, as long as its for free :smoker:

 

[Wattage]

Re: Peavey XXX

yeah, that baby really chugs with the damping switch on loose, but if you try to play live, you really gotta switch it to tight. I was playing live and I thought my speakers were going to come loose and hit the crowd, lol. Truely a powerful amp.

I gotta try that idea on switching new tubes in it. I'm gonna go with those JJ tubes.

Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

The JJ pre's in this amp are very sterile and flat sounding, actually I thing they are in near any amp I have heard them so far. GT Mullards or the Ruby's and there is no doubt in my mind that the Svet EL34's kill the JJ's. When searching out pre tubes make sure they are quiet, noist pre tubes in this amp show right up. I went through JJ's, a slew of EH/Sovtek's, some GT's (not the Mullard reissues) and a few others mixing and matching with OK results, Scott F sent me a Sovtek head with the Ruby pre's and the amp just sounded better with those immediately. I have had very poorreulsts with the JJs so I looked around and nailed it with the WC Svets.