Underappreciated Amp Thread

[Beyond Black]

As the story goes, the XXX was supposed to be a signature amp for George Lynch, but before it was released the deal fell through between George and Hartley Peavey. The original version (with the mudflap check) shipped with 6L6's and was stupidly brutal sounding. You could swap in EL-34's, but very few people went that route. The second and third channels had very different voicings, with the third channel (Ultra) having a very scooped nu-metal thing going.

The second version of the XXX omitted the mudflap check (which was a stupid idea from the beginning). It shipped with EL34's and was vastly tamed down. The second channel sounded quite similar to the third (Ultra) channel. The Ultra channel just had more gain.

Yes, I owned both.

IMHO, no comparison. They were both brutal, but version one was an absolute fire breather with a wider array of voicings.

Ahh, I see. So any XXX out there with the trucker girl mud flap metal panel is the first version, and it’s much more brutal than the XXX II?

 

[Norton666]

As the story goes, the XXX was supposed to be a signature amp for George Lynch, but before it was released the deal fell through between George and Hartley Peavey. The original version (with the mudflap check) shipped with 6L6's and was stupidly brutal sounding. You could swap in EL-34's, but very few people went that route. The second and third channels had very different voicings, with the third channel (Ultra) having a very scooped nu-metal thing going.

The second version of the XXX omitted the mudflap check (which was a stupid idea from the beginning). It shipped with EL34's and was vastly tamed down. The second channel sounded quite similar to the third (Ultra) channel. The Ultra channel just had more gain.

Yes, I owned both.

IMHO, no comparison. They were both brutal, but version one was an absolute fire breather with a wider array of voicings.

Ahh, I see. So any XXX out there with the trucker girl mud flap metal panel is the first version, and it’s much more brutal than the XXX II?

They are both PLENTY brutal. Great amps. My understanding was that the XXX II was literally the JSX with a different name , because Satriani was no longer with the company. That’s what my Peavey rep told me at the time anyway

 

[skullfxr]

A lot of Fender Silverface amps
Peavey Supreme 160
Peavey Classic 30
Peavey 1x15 Delta Blues
JCM900 SLX

The classic 30 / delta blues are great, i have owned them both, they are pretty common on UG and some other sites..

SL-X is totally underrated. Killer amp

 

[Pentatonic Wanker]

As the story goes, the XXX was supposed to be a signature amp for George Lynch, but before it was released the deal fell through between George and Hartley Peavey. The original version (with the mudflap check) shipped with 6L6's and was stupidly brutal sounding. You could swap in EL-34's, but very few people went that route. The second and third channels had very different voicings, with the third channel (Ultra) having a very scooped nu-metal thing going.

The second version of the XXX omitted the mudflap check (which was a stupid idea from the beginning). It shipped with EL34's and was vastly tamed down. The second channel sounded quite similar to the third (Ultra) channel. The Ultra channel just had more gain.

Yes, I owned both.

IMHO, no comparison. They were both brutal, but version one was an absolute fire breather with a wider array of voicings.

Ahh, I see. So any XXX out there with the trucker girl mud flap metal panel is the first version, and it’s much more brutal than the XXX II?

Correct. And as stated above, there's nothing wimpy about the XXX II either......it's just not AS brutal as V1. First version is just magic imho.

 

[Pentatonic Wanker]

As the story goes, the XXX was supposed to be a signature amp for George Lynch, but before it was released the deal fell through between George and Hartley Peavey. The original version (with the mudflap check) shipped with 6L6's and was stupidly brutal sounding. You could swap in EL-34's, but very few people went that route. The second and third channels had very different voicings, with the third channel (Ultra) having a very scooped nu-metal thing going.

The second version of the XXX omitted the mudflap check (which was a stupid idea from the beginning). It shipped with EL34's and was vastly tamed down. The second channel sounded quite similar to the third (Ultra) channel. The Ultra channel just had more gain.

Yes, I owned both.

IMHO, no comparison. They were both brutal, but version one was an absolute fire breather with a wider array of voicings.

Ahh, I see. So any XXX out there with the trucker girl mud flap metal panel is the first version, and it’s much more brutal than the XXX II?

They are both PLENTY brutal. Great amps. My understanding was that the XXX II was literally the JSX with a different name , because Satriani was no longer with the company. That’s what my Peavey rep told me at the time anyway

Interesting.

 

[Ventura]

Fryette amps

Fuchs
Cornford

But bang-for-buck?!?! Fryette hands down... Incredible amps and cabs. Steven Fryette has a good sly sense of humour too (see his PCB inscribed messages, they're rather tongue-in-cheek).

 

[Ventura]

Peavey Classic 30 - just saw this above!!!

I put an AlnicoGold into one, changed the rectifier, re-tubed it, and man, that amp is still making its rounds in various recording studios for its tone. Such a dope amp for how little they can be purchased used.

 

[BeZo]

Redbear

My MK120 slays, and the MK60 I had tips too. They are more recently fetching what they're worth IMO.

I love my Rivera Knucklehead too. My K100 in stereo with a Rectifier was the best tone I've ever created.

 

[BeZo]

I'll throw in Verellen amplifiers. My Skyhammer is continually blowing my mind every week at practice. I've seen a few bands rock the Meatsmoke too (guitar and bass). Everything I've heard from Verellen is awesome, and they deserve some praise.

 

[Ventura]

My K100 in stereo with a Rectifier was the best tone I've ever created.

Jesus I'd like to hear a high volume sample of this

 

[ZEEGLER]

I knew from the title of the thread that Rivera amps would pop up. Pretty much any of the Knucklehead series of amps are fantastic and very much underappreciated for what they can do. Super versatile and pretty much bulletproof. My Knucklehead II is built better than any amp I've ever seen.

 

[Kordoba]

As the story goes, the XXX was supposed to be a signature amp for George Lynch, but before it was released the deal fell through between George and Hartley Peavey. The original version (with the mudflap check) shipped with 6L6's and was stupidly brutal sounding. You could swap in EL-34's, but very few people went that route. The second and third channels had very different voicings, with the third channel (Ultra) having a very scooped nu-metal thing going.

The second version of the XXX omitted the mudflap check (which was a stupid idea from the beginning). It shipped with EL34's and was vastly tamed down. The second channel sounded quite similar to the third (Ultra) channel. The Ultra channel just had more gain.

Yes, I owned both.

IMHO, no comparison. They were both brutal, but version one was an absolute fire breather with a wider array of voicings.

Ahh, I see. So any XXX out there with the trucker girl mud flap metal panel is the first version, and it’s much more brutal than the XXX II?

They are both PLENTY brutal. Great amps. My understanding was that the XXX II was literally the JSX with a different name , because Satriani was no longer with the company. That’s what my Peavey rep told me at the time anyway

JSX = XXX II. According to internet legend there may have been some minor tweaks with the XXX II.

XXX = 3120. The only difference are the cosmetics and the 3120 shipped with EL34s.

 

[valveheavytone]

Mesa Stiletto Stage 1 is killer with KT-77's and a boost!

 

[Kordoba]

Crate Stealth.

 

[Beyond Black]

As the story goes, the XXX was supposed to be a signature amp for George Lynch, but before it was released the deal fell through between George and Hartley Peavey. The original version (with the mudflap check) shipped with 6L6's and was stupidly brutal sounding. You could swap in EL-34's, but very few people went that route. The second and third channels had very different voicings, with the third channel (Ultra) having a very scooped nu-metal thing going.

The second version of the XXX omitted the mudflap check (which was a stupid idea from the beginning). It shipped with EL34's and was vastly tamed down. The second channel sounded quite similar to the third (Ultra) channel. The Ultra channel just had more gain.

Yes, I owned both.

IMHO, no comparison. They were both brutal, but version one was an absolute fire breather with a wider array of voicings.

Ahh, I see. So any XXX out there with the trucker girl mud flap metal panel is the first version, and it’s much more brutal than the XXX II?

Correct. And as stated above, there's nothing wimpy about the XXX II either......it's just not AS brutal as V1. First version is just magic imho.

The XXX II gets brutal! I’ve seen Suffocation and Havok use these live and both bands had ridiculous tone. The last time I saw Havok playing XXX II’s (a few years ago) their tone was so sick I bought one that night when I got home! Reverb for $450! I will definitely be scoring a XXX in the near future.

 

[skullfxr]

Crate Stealth.

Good one. I just discovered the model.

 

[jabps]

As the story goes, the XXX was supposed to be a signature amp for George Lynch, but before it was released the deal fell through between George and Hartley Peavey. The original version (with the mudflap check) shipped with 6L6's and was stupidly brutal sounding. You could swap in EL-34's, but very few people went that route. The second and third channels had very different voicings, with the third channel (Ultra) having a very scooped nu-metal thing going.

The second version of the XXX omitted the mudflap check (which was a stupid idea from the beginning). It shipped with EL34's and was vastly tamed down. The second channel sounded quite similar to the third (Ultra) channel. The Ultra channel just had more gain.

Yes, I owned both.

IMHO, no comparison. They were both brutal, but version one was an absolute fire breather with a wider array of voicings.

Ahh, I see. So any XXX out there with the trucker girl mud flap metal panel is the first version, and it’s much more brutal than the XXX II?

They are both PLENTY brutal. Great amps. My understanding was that the XXX II was literally the JSX with a different name , because Satriani was no longer with the company. That’s what my Peavey rep told me at the time anyway

True.

Pentatonic is on the money as well in regards to the original XXX and Lynch. It started as a modified Peavey Ultra Plus 120 (a highly underrated amp in it's own right) that Lynch had been toying with, modified by James Brown of course and evolved into the XXX. Peavey even had posters made up with Lynch promoting the amp at Summer NAMM that year 'cause I tried to get one and then poof...it fell apart. The mudflaps were Lynch's idea if what I heard from the Peavey reps were correct. Too bad because it stereotyped that amp right out of the gate at a time when Peavey had established their rep with high gain amps with the 5150.

I owned the XXX for a bit, it sounded amazing through the 5150 cabs, in fact all the Peavey's I owned sounded fantastic with those 5150's cabs. Never got the hate for those cabs. All Marine grade Birch barring the back when they first came out. I replaced the XXX with the JSX and as described, more refined. I threw 6L6's in almost immediately and it beefed up the low end and also helped the mids...loved that amp. Should have kept it. Fantastic low volume amp as well. One of the heaviest tones I ever recorded was with the JSX and a Genze Benz 2x12 Lynch Cab.

Ultra Plus 120
XXX
JSX
5150
5150II
Even throw in the Classic Series as well.

Pretty amazing tonal run for Peavey and James Brown at one time. And, those amps can still hang today...obviously as the 6505 series continues to thrive.

 

[RaceU4her]

Fender metalhead MH500

 

[jsp]

I'll admit I never gave the XXX much thought because of the tacky look. I'm curious to see how it sounds now.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

As the story goes, the XXX was supposed to be a signature amp for George Lynch, but before it was released the deal fell through between George and Hartley Peavey. The original version (with the mudflap check) shipped with 6L6's and was stupidly brutal sounding. You could swap in EL-34's, but very few people went that route. The second and third channels had very different voicings, with the third channel (Ultra) having a very scooped nu-metal thing going.

The second version of the XXX omitted the mudflap check (which was a stupid idea from the beginning). It shipped with EL34's and was vastly tamed down. The second channel sounded quite similar to the third (Ultra) channel. The Ultra channel just had more gain.

Yes, I owned both.

IMHO, no comparison. They were both brutal, but version one was an absolute fire breather with a wider array of voicings.

Ahh, I see. So any XXX out there with the trucker girl mud flap metal panel is the first version, and it’s much more brutal than the XXX II?

They are both PLENTY brutal. Great amps. My understanding was that the XXX II was literally the JSX with a different name , because Satriani was no longer with the company. That’s what my Peavey rep told me at the time anyway

JSX = XXX II. According to internet legend there may have been some minor tweaks with the XXX II.

XXX = 3120. The only difference are the cosmetics and the 3120 shipped with EL34s.

It's not internet legend; the Triple X II is a tweaked JSX circuit. I owned the Triple X II and spoke with techs at Peavey numerous times, and they told me that the Triple X II had some changes made for sure. I don't recall specifics.

I could not gel with that amp at all. Despite numerous PT & preamp tube swaps, different cabs/speakers, guitars and pickups, it just wan't for me.