Another Peavey 4 Mevie (me) NAD

[DielonKilo]

I search craigslist every-single-effin-mornin' for older peavey amps. Why? Because they're mostly inexpensive, made in USA, AND absolutely slay.

Couple weeks ago I posted here my new amp day for my almost new VTM60. Got it with the matching 4x12 with da Celestion G12-k85's from the original owner for $750. Immediately fell in love, and it knocked off my Fryette D120 from my #1 amp for my current band.

Last week I purchased a VTM120 off reverb, in dead mint condition and bone stock (just like my 60 but just not the original owner this time). You may ask, why on earth would you buy a VTM60 & 120? Cause.... IM A PEAVEYHEAD.

Anyhoot, both these VTMs have the original tubes and just sound so fucking killer through my Peavey G12-k85 cab, it's unreal. I felt like I immediately connected with the VTM as my sound, as I have never been as satisfied with any amp for my specific style of playing than I have with the VTMs

So now I'm a Peavey addict, and as I mentioned I check everyday for any deals on anything peavey that I don't have. (Still looking looking for a reasonably priced Butcher and Ultra +)

SOOOOOO about today's NAD for me, this beautiful lady popped up on CL close to me....

Yesssssirrrr anothhhhaaa one!!!!! I got this XXX for $325, an absolute steal taking into account recent prices for these things.

So my current Peavey lineup is now:
Ultra 60 head (teal stripe)
VTM60 head
VTM120 head
XXX head
.........
4x12MS Cab w/ Celestion G12-k85's
SX212 Cab w/ Peavey scorpions (this 2x12 blew my mind, got it for free with my Ultra 60 head and literally sold my black tolex Orange PPC2x12 because I preferred the smaller size of the peavey cab, and the scorpions sounded almost as good as v30s in the orange, yes I am dead ass serious)

The guy I bought the XXX from was running it with EL34's & I have yet to crank it myself..... but Saturday is my bands practice and on that day we will see if the XXX will vibe with me more than my VTM's.

OKAY, okay okay, I know most of you don't care and probably haven't even read this far BUT if you have, I have some questions...........

1. I got the footswitch that comes with the XXX, anyone know if this footswitch will work with my Ultra 60 head too? I hope it does, I haven't googled it yet but any of you guys know? I hope it does as I am fiendishly waiting to access the crunch channel on my ultra 60 (which is stupidly only possible with the footswitch)

2. Is there any recommendations for simple mods? or even complicated ones that make the XXX even better? my tech would be doing the modifications if I choose to do so (I prefer leaving things stock unless it's really worth it)

3. Anyone that has a XXX, did ya'll prefer it with 6L6's or EL34'S? I'm probably gonna leave these EL34's in until they give me issues or sound crap, and potentially try 6L6's after. ALTHOUGH I have heard that KT77s absolutely rip in this amp.

Anyway, just bored and wanted to let my sevenstring brethrens know about my new amp day. Any other peavey XXX fans please chime in and let's chat about how sick this amp is. Im so hype to let her rip at band practice.

I'm an absolute peavey head. No shame at all. Here are some seXXXy pictures of the (new to me) ole' gal.

 

[DrakkarTyrannis]

A low gain tube in the V1 or V2 slot lowers the gain and opens the amp up a bit..makes it less compressed. On the ultra channel the volume on the Crunch channel acts as sort of a presence knob and vice versa. KT77s work really well with the amp. If you ever get a bias mod done I highly recommend straight bottle 6550s. Those amps should have come stock with those

 

[DielonKilo]

A low gain tube in the V1 or V2 slot lowers the gain and opens the amp up a bit..makes it less compressed. On the ultra channel the volume on the Crunch channel acts as sort of a presence knob and vice versa. KT77s work really well with the amp. If you ever get a bias mod done I highly recommend straight bottle 6550s. Those amps should have come stock with those

I think im gonna avoid modding it as much as I can. So to run kt77s you don't need a bias mod right? just make sure el34 is selected and rebias as necessary?

 

[efiltsohg]

that's in way better shape than mine (see attached) nice find

3. I use KT77 power tubes as well (bias switch to EL34) and a JJ 5751 tube in V1. Mine is in crunch mode, loose damping 100% of the time with the ultra channel volume knob pretty high (2-3:00)

 

[DrakkarTyrannis]

I think im gonna avoid modding it as much as I can. So to run kt77s you don't need a bias mod right? just make sure el34 is selected and rebias as necessary?

KT77s are EL34 replacements so you're fine

 

[Mourguitars]

Awesome deal and congrats on the old peaveys ! Great CL finds , i to look all the time , 3-5 times a day but in my area its the same old stuff re listed over and over...FB marketplace is where everyone lists now...Mike don't do FB anymore..Drama

That amp is very clean ...wow

Mike

 

[DielonKilo]

Awesome deal and congrats on the old peaveys ! Great CL finds , i to look all the time , 3-5 times a day but in my area its the same old stuff re listed over and over...FB marketplace is where everyone lists now...Mike don't do FB anymore..Drama

That amp is very clean ...wow

Mike

Yeah im also hearing FB marketplace is the new place to look for gear deals....

 

[DielonKilo]

For anyone that cares, here's some amp porn & a family photo with all my Peavey brothers on the left:

 

[DielonKilo]

Another question for you XXX guys (maybe my dude @BadSeed could help me out on this one) do you guys max out the channel volume and then adjust master for whatever volume you want?
Or do you not max out the channel volumes?

and is it true that "loose" is the best sounding dampening switch setting?

 

[BadSeed]

Hey dude, we talked on this the other day! Nice score!

As far as the volumes, it depends. This amp has the channel volume bleed issue in the circuit. If you're in crunch, the ultra channel volume has an effect on the overall tone. If it's dialed higher, it make the amp sound brighter. This works vice-versa on the ultra channel as well.

So I usually run my master volume around Noon or so, and adjust channel volume accordingly for volume, and use the opposite channel volume almost as a presence/brightness dial.

Does this make sense? I mention this in my XXX video as well:

 

[DielonKilo]

Hey dude, we talked on this the other day! Nice score!

As far as the volumes, it depends. This amp has the channel volume bleed issue in the circuit. If you're in crunch, the ultra channel volume has an effect on the overall tone. If it's dialed higher, it make the amp sound brighter. This works vice-versa on the ultra channel as well.

So I usually run my master volume around Noon or so, and adjust channel volume accordingly for volume, and use the opposite channel volume almost as a presence/brightness dial.

Does this make sense? I mention this in my XXX video as well:

Yes thank you for that tip Kyle. I am playing my XXX right now and tested that our and I see EXACTLY what you mean, and I think that's wicked cool. It's like a hidden presence knob for the ultra and crunch channels, just dialing the volume of the opposite channel.

I am falling in love with this amp.... hard. and I just fell in love with my VTM's. Looks like there's gonna be some A/Bing at band practice for me this week.

Just grateful I could score a XXX at this price. I feel spoiled with the peavey deals I've been getting lately,

@BadSeed do you prefer 6L6's to EL34's in this amp?

 

[BadSeed]

Yes thank you for that tip Kyle. I am playing my XXX right now and tested that our and I see EXACTLY what you mean, and I think that's wicked cool. It's like a hidden presence knob for the ultra and crunch channels, just dialing the volume of the opposite channel.

I am falling in love with this amp.... hard. and I just fell in love with my VTM's. Looks like there's gonna be some A/Bing at band practice for me this week.

Just grateful I could score a XXX at this price. I feel spoiled with the peavey deals I've been getting lately,

@BadSeed do you prefer 6L6's to EL34's in this amp?

Trust me, I went down the Peavey rabbit hole HARD about 8 years ago, and found out that I just loved them all. Lol

 

[youngthrasher9]

I’m running JJ E34L’s in mine and I think think it sounds great with them, fwiw.

 

[DielonKilo]

I’m running JJ E34L’s in mine and I think think it sounds great with them, fwiw.

@youngthrasher9 did you have to upgrade your screen grid resistors to run those? and if so what value ones did you get?

 

[Fenriswolf]

My dad always used Peaveys, so the old school Peaveys have that nostalgia for me.

OP, if you ever want some old school Mississippi Marshall, you should check out a Deuce. I love it other than the fact it's even louder than every other old Peavey, or really any amp I've ever had. I mean, I get a 120w amp isn't going to be quiet, but I've had 150w heads that where quieter. It's the only amp I've ever had that hasn't made it past 1.

 

[mitou]

Happy new amp day! I just bought a MKII today. My first Peavey. People say it's basically a rebranded JSX? Based on the clips I've heard these amps all sound good. Can't wait to get it.

 

[DielonKilo]

Happy new amp day! I just bought a MKII today. My first Peavey. People say it's basically a rebranded JSX? Based on the clips I've heard these amps all sound good. Can't wait to get it.

If it's the Triple XII, then yes from what I've heard it's just a JSX with rebranded looks.
Which I've heard are also great amps a little more organic sounding than the original triple X. I love the rawness of the one I just got, i've never played a JSX or Triple XII though but im sure I would love them.

I'm having my local techy put 1k ohm 5 watt screen grid resistors in my triple x today, and he's going to go over the whole thing and clean all pots check connections and clean tube sockets.

 

[DrakkarTyrannis]

From what I remember, cranking the master and using the channel volume fattens the amp up and doing the opposite makes the amp a bit sharper and more aggressive.

I also liked bringing both up in unity. It's all a matter of personal preference.

 

[mitou]

If it's the Triple XII, then yes from what I've heard it's just a JSX with rebranded looks.
Which I've heard are also great amps a little more organic sounding than the original triple X. I love the rawness of the one I just got, i've never played a JSX or Triple XII though but im sure I would love them.

Yep the Triple XXX II. It's probably not as brutal sounding as the original but we'll see. I don't mind having more versatility, I've heard the JSX has a fantastic clean channel.

 

[DielonKilo]

Does anyone know if any old 7 pin din midi cable will work to connect the XXX to its footswitch?

The guy I got it from had the footswitch, just no cable.

I just have no experience with these types of cables, and don't know if theres something special peavey uses.

Someone help a brother out