It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:41 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:48 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:09 pm
Posts: 145
Location: Central Florida
brotherdave wrote:
gnosticbass wrote:
And last but not least I am looking for a better amp and that really will be the last piece of the puzzle for me. But even with what I have currently since getting the p-bass it sounds much better. Ampeg B2R/Ampeg 6x10HLF


The cab you have is a really good one. I can't see upgrading that unless you just want to. The USA made Ampeg HLF cabs always sounded great with a P-bass.

I'm curious about whether you have a B2R or the updated B2RE. I replaced an SVTII rack tube amp with the B2RE when they first came out with the updated "E" version. While it is certainly not even half as loud as the tube head it has been 100% reliable and the maintenance has been zero for nearly 4 years which I can say of no tube amp I've ever had. Basically it is a stage monitor 98% of the time anyway and the direct out feeds the PA. I played a small club with just one 8 ohm cab last week instead of the regular 2 cabs and it was just barely OK with no direct out. The fact it was less than half the weight of the previous tube amp and would be zero maintenance are still big plus factors though. However it just barely can get the job done unless you run it at 4 ohms. I won't try gigging it with just one 8 ohm cab again for sure.

I can say for sure is that my next head will not be an Ampeg because they are being made in Asia now. I've been gigging with Ampeg heads exclusively since 1971, so that will be unfamiliar territory.

I've been reading about the 37 pound Peavey VB-3 ALL TUBE head. Anyone try one yet?


I have the B2R. I bought it 2nd hand in 2002 and at that time it was bearly 8 months old. The kid I bought it from wanted to upgrade to an SVT 4 Pro. The B2R still had over 4 years left on the 5 year warrenty. (man those were the days) I bought the 6x10 a year later with the idea I would upgrade the B2R to an SVT 3 Pro or a V4BH. That was 2003 and well life happened and I am still playing the B2R. I like the cab its 4 ohm and sounds great but my back has seen better days and so I want to go with something more compact and like you I use my amp when I play out as a monitor more or less with the direct out to the PA.

As far as the new Peavey VB-3 what an incredible amp. An all tube 300 watt beast but with what looks like a modern design using lighter weight transformers and other components. (thats the extent of my tech knowledge LOL). Peavey IMO has jumped right into the void left by Ampeg USA. The overseas produced Ampegs are way overpriced for what they are now. My first "real" amp was a Peavey and it served me well without any issues for over 8 years.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:09 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
gnosticbass wrote:
My first "real" amp was a Peavey and it served me well without any issues for over 8 years.


I can top that. I bought a Peavey Century 200 head (with 2x15 cab) new in 1976 as a rehearsal rig for about $350.

The cab is long gone, but there has never been a screwdriver on the head and it is still a tremendous sounding amp and it is sitting in my gear closet right now. I used it as a rehearsal head for years, but now since I use a tiny combo at rehearsals all the Century does is backup the gig head. The pots are a little touchy and could surely use a cleaning and I also really should get the caps checked out by a tech, but since it still works great so why bother?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:03 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:09 pm
Posts: 145
Location: Central Florida
Stories like that alway have made me wonder why Peavey amps have always had the rep as 2nd rate gear. I never understood that.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:26 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:42 am
Posts: 33
Location: langley
my thinking is because they're extremely affordable and extremely reliable.... hence can't be "high end" or "Boutique" or "Good" cuz the "good ones" are expensive and break down :lol:


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:37 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:09 pm
Posts: 145
Location: Central Florida
psychicpet wrote:
my thinking is because they're extremely affordable and extremely reliable.... hence can't be "high end" or "Boutique" or "Good" cuz the "good ones" are expensive and break down :lol:


Makes perfect sense to me LOL.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:13 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
gnosticbass wrote:
Stories like that alway have made me wonder why Peavey amps have always had the rep as 2nd rate gear. I never understood that.


You also have to take into account that Peavey's early line was all solid state while everyone else was mostly still making all tube heads and combos. Of course now Peavey is making tube amps. (Fender's first Solid State Bassman came out about 1971 or 72 but didn't sell nearly as well as the SILVER face tube Bassmans.)

Six-string pickers couldn't get their favorite tube overdrive tones out of the early SS Peavey amps, so to them they were third rate.

However for steel guitar, bass, electronic keyboards and PA Peavey's early SS stuff worked quite well. Some of it still does. Peavey's huge Session 400 combo was an early Peavey amp that was embraced immediately by steel guitar players for it's high power and clean tone. Later their smaller Nashville series amps were adopted by steel players and the Nashville series is the current steel standard. Peavey PA stuff has always been great for gigging bands. And their Black Widow speakers are great for bassists and as subs for PA.

Also Peavey amps were cheaper than any other line intended for gigging or recording which is another reason they were looked down on by some people.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: