Upgrade Peavey XXX 212 speakers or sell it for EVH 50w?

[p4vl]

I've had this xxx combo since 2006 and have made all kinds of upgrades (EL34's, low output tube in v2). I also have a Lopo 212 extension cab with Celestion v30's (bought for my Engl Screamer head), so between the upgraded tubes and the cab my xxx sounds better than ever.

However, what I've seen and heard of the EVH mini is really compelling. I'm a bedroom metal rhythm player and I hate using OD's to boost my amps for rhythm tone and I like the EVH 50 because, like my xxx, it has an avalanche of gain. Although my XXX is sounding good these days, there still that bit of fizz in the tone.

Should I sell this heavy bastard and get a used EVH 50? I'm wary of Craigslist, and shipping this thing sounds like the opposite of fun.

Could a new set of speakers help to spruce up the xxx tone and get rid of some of this fizz (my Engl Screamer is a fizzy amp as well, so it's pointless to compare the two)? The combo is semi open, so does that mean I would need something bass-heavy to compensate? I'm thinking WGS?

What do you folks think?

 

[marvcus]

Question: are you able to play it at volumes above 1-2 on the dial?

I think the EVH will probably also sound fizzy at lower volumes if you play at home -- I could be wrong, but that was my experience with a 5150 combo and I assume if the 5150III also has gobs of gain, it's likely to have fizz, too.

If you like the XXX, no sense in letting it go. Speakers are a great way to get a new "amp" out of your amp. But once you get the bug to get something else, it's hard to not let it win. Consume you it will!

 

[sahlomonic]

I honestly think the XXX is a fine amp, and I'm partial to the Sheffield XXX speakers, too (although I may be one of the few that actually like them). V30s all around might be your best option. First, though, try an EQ in the effects loop. You can go cheap with a Danelectro Fish 'N Chips or the 'industry standard' - MXR 10 band EQ. The Fish 'N chips is perfect if you're a bedroom player as I doubt it would withstand constant gigging, but it does a great job for cheap.

When I had my XXX I found myself using the Ultra channel more for rhythms and the Crunch channel for leads. Also there is a weird thing that when you're using the Crunch channel, try turning the Volume knob on the Ultra channel - it does something with the EQ, almost like the 'Tone' knob on solid state Marshalls.

Also, because its an active EQ- try everything at noon or below, then adjust to taste. Anything past noon and it starts adding to gain and compression to the signal and could be where a lot of fizz comes from.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong though . . .

 

[p4vl]

I honestly think the XXX is a fine amp, and I'm partial to the Sheffield XXX speakers, too (although I may be one of the few that actually like them). V30s all around might be your best option. First, though, try an EQ in the effects loop. You can go cheap with a Danelectro Fish 'N Chips or the 'industry standard' - MXR 10 band EQ. The Fish 'N chips is perfect if you're a bedroom player as I doubt it would withstand constant gigging, but it does a great job for cheap.

When I had my XXX I found myself using the Ultra channel more for rhythms and the Crunch channel for leads. Also there is a weird thing that when you're using the Crunch channel, try turning the Volume knob on the Ultra channel - it does something with the EQ, almost like the 'Tone' knob on solid state Marshalls.

Also, because its an active EQ- try everything at noon or below, then adjust to taste. Anything past noon and it starts adding to gain and compression to the signal and could be where a lot of fizz comes from.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong though . . .

Already got the MXR 10 band, and it helps a bit. I've noticed the thing with the volume knob on the Ultra channel. Weird.

The v30's might be adding their own bit of fizz. The WGS Retro 30's impressed me, anyone ever tried them with a XXX or 3120 (which my amp basically is at this point).

 

[ZMAN]

Also ... try a set of EH 6CA7s ... they took alot of fizz out of my JVM 410. theryre a direct replacement for el34 pleny of gain and doesnt change the tone much. I also like k-100s for the xxx. I saw a guy on youtube witha set of them for a bugera 333 which is pretty much an xxx. Ive been wanting another xxx head now ... GAS is beckoning me for killer 7string tone

Z

 

[madrigal77]

I honestly think the XXX is a fine amp, and I'm partial to the Sheffield XXX speakers, too (although I may be one of the few that actually like them). V30s all around might be your best option. First, though, try an EQ in the effects loop. You can go cheap with a Danelectro Fish 'N Chips or the 'industry standard' - MXR 10 band EQ. The Fish 'N chips is perfect if you're a bedroom player as I doubt it would withstand constant gigging, but it does a great job for cheap.

When I had my XXX I found myself using the Ultra channel more for rhythms and the Crunch channel for leads. Also there is a weird thing that when you're using the Crunch channel, try turning the Volume knob on the Ultra channel - it does something with the EQ, almost like the 'Tone' knob on solid state Marshalls.

Also, because its an active EQ- try everything at noon or below, then adjust to taste. Anything past noon and it starts adding to gain and compression to the signal and could be where a lot of fizz comes from.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong though . . .

Already got the MXR 10 band, and it helps a bit. I've noticed the thing with the volume knob on the Ultra channel. Weird.

The v30's might be adding their own bit of fizz. The WGS Retro 30's impressed me, anyone ever tried them with a XXX or 3120 (which my amp basically is at this point).

Yeah, it's the V30's. They are the worst possible speaker for home playing. They really need to be cranked and in a mix to sound good. At home volumes they are a fizzy mess.

Swamp Thangs sound huge and sound good at lower volumes. GB variants also sound great at low volumes.

As far as the EVH, well it's my favorite amp (well, the 100w) so of course I'm going to say you should get it . This guy has a killer deal on one:

http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=132632

 

[nevusofota]

Go with the EVH for sure. Sounds great (not fizzy) at low volumes.

 

[p4vl]

Swamp Thangs sound huge and sound good at lower volumes. GB variants also sound great at low volumes.

What are GB variants? Greenbacks/WGS Green Berets? Keep in mind that this damned combo is 120 watts...

As far as new speakers, WGS Retro 30/ET65 impressed me. Maybe 2 Retro 30's in the Lopo, 2 ET65's in the combo? Anyone tried the Mesa C90 with a xxx/3120?

 

[D-Rock]

I also recommend turning the master volume way up, and keep the channel volumes really low. That will get rid of the fizz.