Who has that Peavey xxx?

[korovamilkdud]

Come on, I know you're here... :13:

Could ya tell me about the crunch and clean channels on the amp? I've heard clips of the ultra channel, sounds badass. Please, share!

 

[willeubanks]

Re: Who has that Peavey xxx?

i don't have one any more, but i had one at one point. i hated mine. i played one in a store (where i couldn't really crank it) and i LOVED the sound. i thought to myself "it can only get better as it gets louder" so i bought one. i couldn't have been more wrong. the sound got WAY too compressed and unclear as i cranked it up more and i could hardly tell a difference switching from the crunch and ultra channels. the clean channel was decent for being a high gain amp, but i'm really a perfectionist when it comes to my clean channel so that could've just been me being a snob.

overall, i'd say the amp would be great for nu-metal type stuff and not much else. if you want a clearer tone SOMEWHAT (but not too much) similar, go for a 5150. i'd definately go somewhere you can play one pretty loud before i bought it though. it could be the sound you're looking for but it just wasn't for me.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Who has that Peavey xxx?

Well I don't play anything close to nu-metal and I like it so don't let that scare you off. The stock power tubes were less then satisfactory which could have contributed to Willie's comments but I don't think this amp's clean sound is going to sell many folks on it. Gain is it its strong point for sure. I run at low to mid gain settings and I am very happy with the sound. I switched it over to EL34 power tubes (Svet Winged C) and I got a lot more crunch of it which I like a lot, I imagine I go for a hotter AC/DC sound if you need a ballpark.

With single coils the clean is fine, I run a bit of delay and 'verb and I am covered but I wouldn't call them strong cleans. With humbuckers I don't really go to crazy for the cleans a bit too dark, the bottom end doesn't do it for me. I imagine a good set of 6L6's would be better suited to someone needing better cleans out of the amp. A good tube in V1 with a lot of clean overhead would help too. Still don't have the perfect one in there yet but again I run a hotter sound 99% of the time with this badboy.

The Crunch channel is where I have most of the fun. A really wide range of tones from a very raw Marshall-y sound to Recto type sounds. It has it's own voice though, the EQ has a huge range, being active you can get carried away but it is all pretty useable to me. I run the 2x12 combo so I lose some bottom but the EQ makes up for it. I run a closed 2x12 with it a lot of times and I can pummel you with this thing pushing 4 - 12" speakers, lots of punch with the closed/open tandem.

I run the Ultra channel a bit hotter and louder and kick it in for leads and such, works real well. Other than the fact that it is a heavy amp the combo is great. I'd consider running the head and a 4x12 cab as well only there is no reverb that way. If big gain is what you are after though you won't be running much reverb anyway.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Who has that Peavey xxx?

I have the head, and love mine. The crunch channel to me is an Ultra channel with less gain and articulation, that's it. It's very versatile. The cleans aren't strong, like Wattage said, but quite usable and suitable for what I do.

 

[metal101]

Re: Who has that Peavey xxx?

I have used the XXX for about 8 months now and i love it. I play metal thick low end punch. Myself i am a rhythem player lots of chunk. As far as the clean channel goes not stellar by any means but if your going to buy a XXX your not interested in the clean channel anyway.

Remember though i found ths out quick. I use to use an el cheapo crate 412 cab and the head didnt really sound that great with it. I found that the matched cab 412 xxx is specifically desighned for this monster and it has a speaker adjustment on the head to tighten the drive of the speaker.

Honestly i have used a crate BV as well as the 1200 head. along with solid state marshall heads and even a soldano back in the day.

If you play metal then get the xxx you wont go wrong.

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Who has that Peavey xxx?

Well, it doesn't really sound like it's for me.

A two-channel amp with good cleans and good OD would be nice, but I'm not looking for a big metal tone or a Mesa tone or anything like that.

Thanx for replies.