Peavey XXL good practice amp?

[P I K A]

Yea I'm not going line 6 I figure I might as well use the 2-12 I have so I'm looking at ss heads. I heard the xxl is a real good ss head. Any thoughts? Can it get a mean gain without pedals?

[thetruthguy]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

I used to have the Transtube 2x12, which uses the same technology, I believe. Excellent gain. I played live with it and no pedals and got great tones from it. Immulates tube sound very well. I feel the xxl will be similar.

[lerxstcat]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

I've heard both good and bad about the XXL here on the board. Best check one out for yourself, that's my advice.

[TheSteveMan]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

I have the XXL head and I love it.. metal all the way, no pedals needed! The only pedal I use with mine is a dano 7-band EQ in the FX loop. I use it with a Triple XXX cab which I feel makes a difference compared to the XXL cab... But as lerxstcat says, some members here don't like the amp so much, so it's best to decide for yourself.
A lot of people who have said this amp "isn't for them" have admitted it's one of the better solid states they've tried, but they tend to carry a bias for tubes.
If you're looking specifically for SS, this is a good place to look.

[jgcable]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

I posted a lousy review on it but I was comparing it to a 100w tube amp. Considering it is a SS amp it is fine. Its a great SS head for metal. Randall, Laney and Carvin make nice SS metal heads too.

[Inearthed]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

For a practice amp? Sure.

[shadowcat]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

I use the head as my main amp right now.
It's by far the best SS amp I've played, IMO it's definitely very good for its price, too.

And trust me, it has enough gain... I use it for my death metal band going straight in without any effects. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[thebisch]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

If you are looking at inexpensive SS heads, I suggest giving the Vox AD60VT head a try. They are IIRC about $450 new, and if they sound as good as Vox's cheaper striped down line of AVxxVT series amps, then you can't go wrong. Vox has the best modeling in the business IMO...

[markD]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

i've worked numerous recording sessions (as the engineer) with the XXL. i think it sounds great. it's very easy to get a good tone to tape, it's fairly loud, is versatile. i think for the money it's really good.

[metallicarocks]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

Peavey makes good SS amps. I love the Bandits! Really ballsy tone, probably some of the best that I've heard from any ss amp. Doesn't have that cushion-over-the-speaker sound.

[nonamemx]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

I think its, hands down, the BEST SS Metal amplifier.

[savage]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

just got one used saturday and it is a keeper amp(or sleeper amp if you know what i mean?)
this thing shocked me completely,i plugged in expecting to hear a hars SS tone and what i did hear was totally the opposite [img]/images/graemlins/what.gif[/img]
it does a mean dime tone and does slayer tones as well
i also own the marshall JCM 800 which i love but for the $300 i spent on the XXL i am blown away!
It would make a killer practice amp and needs no overdrive pedals at all.
plus is makes a great LIVE amp which i found out sunday at our show!
[img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[TheSteveMan]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

It's a little big for a practice amp.. haha.
At any rate I love mine.
IN-YOUR-FACE METAL!

[img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[aldog1330]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

It's a little buzzy, but then again I'm comparing it to my tube head. For what its worth, my brother has had a Transtube Supreme (older model) for years and it really has held up good. Cheap, reliable, and sounds decent, while not being real heavy = perfect for a practice head!

[metallicarocks]

Re: Peavey XXL good practice amp?

As for live, I can imagine that they would be awesome, however I would mic it. Peaveys are really fucking loud. They really squeeze out volume out of the wattage. I've played through an older peavey 112 that was louder than some other manufacturer 212's. I will warn you though, like any SS amp, they get fartier as they go up. I think they do hold out much better at the higher levels vs. other amps their size. Not to mention the quality on these things. There are reasons why when you see an old amplifier still in use it usually has a Peavey logo on it. Tough amps. I've heard of everything from them being thrown from cars during car wrecks and (my little fuckup) dropping them down a flight of stairs and they still work. Try that with a Crate.