Friggin' little Peavey Valve King!!!

tonejones · Post by **tonejones** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:16 am

Hey guys,
We just got this amp in at the store about a month ago, and I'm really shocked at how good it is........

I just don't understand Peavey......the Triple XXX and JSX head had more hype than I've ever seen and they both sound like a dog's ass (IMHO)

...then they come out with this Valve King....say before it's released that it's made in China (almost directly admitting it's cheap) and it outclasses their last 2 big last amps beyond belief!!!!

For anybody not put off by all things Peavey, try one if you see one....I think you'll be surprised (best thing they've done since the VTMs IMHO)...

Now for the big shocker....a 100W head can be had for around $500!!!!!

Star*Guitar · Post by **Star*Guitar** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:12 pm

Haven't tried the Valve King myself. I am not partial to 6L6 amps at all. It is cool that it can be switched from Class A to A/B though.

I love the XXX series amps myself. If you tweak them correctly...with a set of El34's. They simply kill anything Marshall is doing these days. I can get great Marshall JCM 800 tones from it. I have a XXX Super 40 112 after owning the XXX head. I popped in a set of EL34's and a Celestion G12H30 and I am in heaven with it. It is made in the USA and Musicians Friend is selling it for 500 bucks right now..that is with all the onboard effects...great delay, reverb(spring) chorus, phaser, flanger, pitch shift, tremelo etc. Great deal!

I hate supporting a product that is made in China, But these days it is almost everything...(Celestion). You have to admit the price is hard to beat. Peavey is known for making fairly bullet proof amps. Not like today's Marshall tranny eaters.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:21 pm

I have to admit I had to play an opening band guitar players XXX one night and I was a bit impressed with the tone. It was just one set one night. Hardly definitive.

I honestly think the JS is the worst amp Ive ever played by a huge amount. The absolute worst dynamics, not organic in the least bit. No complexity or life to the tone at all. I wondered how any amp manufacturer could ok a design like that. Enough kiddies were there eating it up though so I guess they accomplished what they wanted.

rjgtr · Post by **rjgtr** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:22 pm

Now amps are made in China? What happened to Peavey's pride of making it all here?

PlexiMan · Post by **PlexiMan** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:19 am

I have to admitt. I recently played the 1x12 combo and was pleasently surprised. Granted didn't blow my socks off but i was kinda surprised. I'm sure my expectations were not all that high but i think they are going to sell a bunch of these at the price they're going for. The 100watt head goes for just under 500 bucks i believe. They even have a the matching cab (which is supposedly all birch) for $399. The speakers i'm sure leave a lot to be desired but for a brand new all birch cab that's impressive. Like i said i think they'll sell a boatload of em at those prices..Chinese made or not..And yeah The "Proudly made in the USA" marker won't go on these

tonejones · Post by **tonejones** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:15 pm

Billy Batz wrote:

I have to admit I had to play an opening band guitar players XXX one night and I was a bit impressed with the tone. It was just one set one night. Hardly definitive.

I honestly think the JS is the worst amp Ive ever played by a huge amount. The absolute worst dynamics, not organic in the least bit. No complexity or life to the tone at all. I wondered how any amp manufacturer could ok a design like that.

I had the exact oppostie experience...

Played thru a Triple XXX a few times.....
1. In a store (where you really couldn't tell)
2. Borrowed one to get thru a weekend when my amp was down (sounded like crap until both distortion channels went out, I dimed the pre on the clean channel, pulled out my TS-5 and it was bluez revival that night.....bought a PODXT the next day and played it thru the efx loop for Sat. night)
3. Did a plug-and-play benefit for a local guy with cancer......figuring it sounded bad last time, but the dist. channels were getting ready to blow....same snarling trebly sound as before!!!!!

With Star's post it makes me wonder how much tweaking changes these animals, and the JSX for that matter (it's basically a Triple XXX voiced/modded for Satch IIRC)......

Still a little shocked with the ValveKing....what would that badboy sound like with a Mullard/NOS tube instead of Sovteks????

4

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:32 pm

Like I said it was one live set on a cramped muddy stage where the cymbols always drown out everything so it wasnt ideal reviewing conditions.

Star*Guitar · Post by **Star*Guitar** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:39 pm

IIRC only the Valve Kings are made by Peavey in China...as least as of now...who knows what the future brings....Of course..they do have a export line of guitars that are made in Korea.