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How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:10 pm
by Just Mike
I'm picking one up this weekend and I know it's got some Jose inspired circuitry inside. I always thought they were kind of JCM-800 ish.
I'm thinking of using it for a mod platform.

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 5:46 pm
by T.J.Fuller
I know a sure way to find out.

buy your amp.

Post a clip of RWTD

in the appropriate thread

using the Peavey VTM-120 amp

and within 2 minutes...

you will have about 5-10 EVH forumites

tell if it is brown or not

..now, if it isn't brown to some degree at time of posting clip...

you may want to do this, for your own safety :hide:

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 5:43 pm
by jnewlyn
Had a friend many years ago who played these and they killed. The predecessor to this amp was the Butcher and that was very JCM 800 like. About the only difference was the 6L6 power tubes as far as I know. They were awesome.

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:02 pm
by Marshall SL12301
The VTM i played a few years back was more than brown enough :wink:

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:14 am
by Just Mike
Well, I got it home today and immediately replaced the power tubes. It's got 4 12ax7's and amazingly no microphonics. So I left them alone.
It sounds like a JCM-800.

But better. The tone controls seem to have more effect than those on a Marshall.
And the dip switches really do a lot. The one called "Comp" is supposed to be the Jose Zener mod. To my ear, it adds crunch and lowers the volume by about 15-20%.
Overall, it's too gain-ey for EVH I think, but it's probably a good mod platform...but it's fun to play the way it is. :what:

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:49 am
by jnewlyn
WHAT POWER TUBES

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:35 pm
by Marshall SL12301
jnewlyn wrote:WHAT POWER TUBES
it has 6L6GC's with a 12ax7 driver stock :wink:

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 1:30 pm
by jnewlyn
Yep. Should definitely be happy with that as a straight in amp.

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 2:19 pm
by Just Mike
jnewlyn wrote:WHAT POWER TUBES
Specifically, Groove Tubes "Gold series" 6L6's #4 rating...Why the "Gold series"? because that's what GC had in stock.

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:29 pm
by Bore Em at the Forum
I have a line on a VTM 60 at a decent price.......comparable in tone or a different beast altogether?

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:04 pm
by jnewlyn
Even better IMO. Nab it up and hit me up if you don't like it. 8)

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:55 pm
by rgorke
Get in line James, I am only 30 mins away.... :twisted:

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:16 pm
by Just Mike
I bought this thing to mod it into a plexi, but it sounds pretty darned good as is. Plus after looking at the schemo, I'm finding out that it isn't that much like a Marshall. It's got 4 12ax7's and I think the 3rd one is a FX loop buffer? I'm not much of a tech, but it looks like it's fed by the FX loop circuit. And the FX loop looks to be post Master volume so I'm suessing that's why the FX loop buffer is there?
The way I'm running it so far is pre gain on 5-7 and the 2nd dip switch on. Sounds pretty good, Gainy, but not too much.

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:49 pm
by jnewlyn
I really don't know much about the VTM's other than a friend who used them and live, he killed it with that amp. It sounded awesome. However, not really in a VH way but killer nonetheless.

I did own 3 Peavey Butchers and those are Marshall's as far as I'm concerned. Very cool amps.

Roger may live closer but my $ reaches DC too. :twisted:

Re: How Brown is a Peavey VTM-120?

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:18 am
by Bore Em at the Forum
My best friend was a bass player in a regional band and he loved those VTM's but he knew that you had to tweak those dip switches to get a good sound.

He also hosted an open talent night at a club and a guitar player had one. It sounded like dogs**t! LOL. I asked my friend "I thought you said those VTMs sound great?" And he replied, "Yeah, I also told you that you have to set them up properly and this guy doesn't have a clue!"