Peavey Vypyr Vip 2 - 40-watt 1x12 + Review

This latest iteration of the Vypyr line of amps is designed and built to handle electric 6-string, acoustic, and bass guitars.

Hartley Peavey'southward at present-global business concern began a lot like many other musical instrument companies that got rolling in the late '60s and '70s—a musician with a soldering iron and a knack for electronics applied both to the nascent art of rock 'n' coil. Different a lot of those companies, nevertheless, Peavey has e'er remained steadfastly independent, and even over decades of massive growth, Peavey maintained a focus on affordability while delivering the features and flexibility of more than expensive gear. While Peavey has dabbled in many facets of the audio and instrument business organization over the years (their PA systems are ubiquitous in nightclubs, theaters, airports, and even the U.S. Capitol Building), the company'due south bread and butter remains amplifiers. One of the about famous—and desirable—is the '70s Classic xxx, a 30-watt combo amp with a distinctive, bluesy, classic-rock tone derived from a solid-land preamp and 6L6GC ability tubes (the current production Classic thirty is all-tube). This amp garnered a following among gigging guitarists and the amp-modernistic customs, which constantly tinkers with the Classic thirty's tone.

Fast-forward to 2008, when Peavey released cutting-edge modeling software chosen ReValver mkIII, which let users modify tones not but by tweaking knobs, but besides by changing the virtual circuitry of the amp model. The following year, the company introduced the first series of Vypyr amplifiers, which were based on the company's new TransTube modeling engineering. The goal of TransTube, like many other modeling technologies, was to create tube-like tone with natural compression in the ability amp, a broad dynamic range, and tube-amp grit.

Now, Peavey has unveiled a second version of the Vypyr line, the VIP serial, likewise as an optional pair of foot controllers, dubbed Sanpera I and II. VIP stands for Variable Instrument Performance, and information technology ways this latest iteration of the Vypyr line of amps is designed and built to handle electric 6-cord, acoustic, and bass guitars. And afterward plugging in your weapon of choice, you can merely select guitar, bass, or audio-visual settings, and the Vypyr will reconfigure and optimize its performance for that instrument. The onboard modeling engine also includes amps that are tweaked specifically for audio-visual guitar and bass.

An Amp for Every Season
The Vypyr VIP 2 reviewed hither is a member of a three-amp family that includes the VIP i, VIP 2, and VIP iii (rated at twenty, 40, and 100 watts, respectively). These amps are designed to accommodate stages and studios of every size. Both the VIP 2 and 3 have a 12" speaker while the VIP 1 sports an 8" driver. The cabinet for each model in the series has a ported, semi-closed back designed to extend the depression-stop range.

The controls on the back of the amp are basic and simple—but power input, on/off switch, and the Sanpera'due south combined information and power MIDI connection. At power upwardly, the LED window on the Sanpera greets you with "Plug in, melody upwards and stone out!" Y'all're also treated to a dazzling lightshow from the—no kidding—78 LEDs on the amp'due south front command panel. That number of LEDs may seem a bit excessive, just on this amp they are essential for navigating to the furnishings, amp models, and other features, and selecting and modifying the amp'south sounds. Essentially at that place's no card system to navigate on the Vypyr. That'southward a big plus for musicians who favor a simpler control layout.

Apart from the Peavey-related amp models, there are 24 electric guitar amp models in the VIP 2, including 6534, "twin," "xxx," "British," and "butcher" models. The 6 acoustic amp and 6 bass amp collections each include a Trace Elliot model (from the Peavey family, of course).

A Trip to the Tone Library
I starting time explored the Vypyr using a Fender Stratocaster plugged direct into the amp. I pressed the electric guitar push, and spun the amplifier knob to classic (an emulation of the modern all-tube Peavey Classic mentioned earlier). Each electric guitar amp model on the Vypyr has iii virtual channels, clean, crisis, and lead. These channels are accessed by pressing the amp selection knob and are indicated by a change in the LED color from green, to orange, to red—so far, so easy.

The Vypyr's TransTube engine pretty easily belted out solid approximations of the Archetype'south tone. There was sparkle to spare in make clean mode and a very tube-like sense of selection dynamics, and the amp was very responsive to pickup changes. Its dynamic range is plainly not as pronounced as what yous'd hear from a handwired, all-tube philharmonic amp, but at $200, it's impressive and fairly natural. Each of the Vypyr'due south amp channels offers adjustment to the pre-gain, lows, mids, highs, and postal service-gain settings. And turning up the pre-gain on the Classic's make clean setting produces an articulate overdrive tone with enough of spank and range for picking nuance. The Classic's crunch channel can sound a scrap harsh with brilliant single-coils, but dialing back the treble controls on my musical instrument took care of the harshest overtones and helped give the amp a gritty, sustain- and harmonic-rich distortion.

The original Peavey Classic was never intended to be a large crunchy rock 'north' roll amp, but the Peavey 6505, which was inspired past Eddie Van Halen'due south 5150 signature model, excels at these heavy tones and information technology'southward the foundation for the 6505 model on the Vypyr 2. The 6505 model matched up well with my Gibson SG's humbuckers and the sound was bubbly, baking, and retained dynamic response when you rolled back the pre-proceeds. And like most of the other models on the Vypyr 2, the 6505 responds much like a tube amp when you lot scroll dorsum your instrument's volume control.

Substantially there's no menu system to navigate on the Vypyr. That's a big plus for musicians who favor a simpler control layout.

The Teachings of Budda
Peavey aligned with boutique amp company Budda in 2008, and the insights they gained are apparent even in the Budda model included in the Vypyr. The Budda setting packs a big low-mid punch, making it excellent for in-your-face blues soloing, too as intricate jazz noodling. This Budda model was my favorite amp model on the Vypyr, due in large part to the dynamic range and full-bodied tone. A lot of modeling software tends to struggle with those two very important characteristics, but the Vypyr ii nails it hither in a manner that belies the amp's price.

Modeling software brings enormous versatility, and information technology tin can exist a challenge to make an amp simple to operate. I of the most of import breakthroughs with the Vypyr VIP series is the incredibly intuitive control layout. When I bought my first smartphone, an Apple iPhone 4, I was surprised to find no included user manual. With the Vypyr VIP two, information technology feels like Peavey took a folio from Steve Jobs' book of minimalism and intuitive operation when they designed the front panel. Your instrument selection determines the amp model pick, which is tweaked with a few tone adjustments (they typically sound great all at apex), and you select your effects by spinning a few lighted rotary knobs. The tuner, furnishings editing, and basic mixing command are all available within a button and a spin of those same rotary knobs.

Ratings

Pros: Low price. Lightweight design. Easy-to-navigate models and effects. Made for electric, bass, and acoustic guitar.

Cons: Feedback tin can be a problem at loftier gain or volume (there's no dissonance gate). Lacks the lows you'd expect from an amp marketed for bass.

Tones:

Ease of Utilize:

Build/Blueprint:

Value:

Street: $199
peavey.com

Effects Aplenty
In addition to the well-executed standard effects similar phaser, flange, reverb, delay, octaver, tremolo, chorus, and envelope filter, there are too some off-the-wall effects. Synth style turns your guitar into a cheesy-sounding lead synth, but it tracks the instrument's pitch exceptionally well. You tin also make your electric guitar sound like an audio-visual, a 12-string, a seven-cord, a sitar, or a bowed violin-like musical instrument. These models can all exist combined with each of the amp models, as well as the previously mentioned furnishings.

Sanpera—Far Beyond Steppin'
With the accompanying Sanpera foot controller you can access a looper setting. What's really cool virtually a looper effect with a multi-instrument modeling amp is that you lot tin can lay downward a bass line with a bass amp model, and then perform guitar solos over that with a guitar amp model. The Sanpera's II dual expression pedals are assignable, and then you tin can use them for wah-wah and volume furnishings, but also for decision-making parameters such as the speed of a tremolo upshot. The numerous stomp switches let you lot toggle effects in your virtual effects chain similar you would on a typical pedalboard.

The Verdict
If asked what I would wait to pay for something like the Vypyr VIP 2, my honest estimate would be about 400 bucks. So I was pleasantly surprised to notice the street price was one-half that. Equally a guitar amp lone, this device has a ton of value. It's versatile, the models are convincing, the controls are intuitive, and the lightweight chassis makes information technology a good practice amp or pocket-sized stage philharmonic. The additional bass and acoustic inputs, also equally their accompanying amp models, make the VIP two even more versatile to anyone who likes to practise and write with more than than simply a 6-string electrical. If you're looking for a fun and uncomplicated modeling amp with easy controls and a wealth of effects at an insanely nice price, I'd strongly suggest taking Peavey's new Vypyr VIP series for a spin.

Picket our video demo:

schmittblaccurity.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.premierguitar.com/peavey-vypyr-vip-2-amp-review

Share this post