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Author
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Topic: Jeff Peterson Is Right About the Peavey VMP-2!
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Mike Brown
Member From: Meridian, Mississippi USA
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posted 12 February 2002 08:10 AM
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My buddy Jeff Peterson has been telling me that I need to try using a Peavey VMP-2 mic preamp with my steel rig and that it sounds incredible! I'll admit that it does sound really good and I'm usually one to prefer transistor gear for steel applications. Normally, I try to obtain all of the tube gear(preamps, processors, etc.) that we design and manufacture to try in a steel rig for reference. The VMP-2 is our high end all tube mic preamp which Jeff uses in his touring rig and I can see why he likes it so much. As you can see in another thread posted today, there are quite a few pro tube users and pro solid state users when it comes to amplifiers. My demo rig consisted of two Nashville 400's with the VMP-2 in stereo. Check out the VMP-2's here; http://www.peavey.com/amr/vmp2.html Let us know what you think about it. I can be reached toll free at 1-877-732-8391 here at Peavey Electronics. Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation P.S., I also understand that two other members of Clint Black's band uses the VMP-2 in their live rigs.
[This message was edited by Mike Brown on 12 February 2002 at 08:37 AM.] |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 12 February 2002 10:42 AM
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Yea it's true. I'm a studio engineer and have taken part in many reviews for Recording Magazine. One of our favorite mic preamps ever is the Peavey VMP-2. It easily competes with the very expensive esoteric stuff. It's a very smooth and sweet sounding preamp and it would be perfect for steel guitar or really anything.Brad Sarno
Angelfish Studios
St. Louis Mullen U-12 |
Tommy Detamore
Member From: Floresville, Texas
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posted 12 February 2002 12:57 PM
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I'll second (or third. etc.) the quality of this preamp for recording. I use it as a pre on almost everything I do here. Also makes a great bass DI. Warms up a POD too. Built like a tank. Just re-tubed mine after five years. Hey Brad, you know what Paul Stamler thinks of it I bet. BTW, thanks for great articles in my favorite magazine. I canceled all my other subscriptions.Oddly enough, I never tried it as a front-end to an amp. Hmmmm... |
Earnest Bovine
Member From: Los Angeles CA USA
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posted 12 February 2002 01:46 PM
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Tommy Where is the VMP-2 in your signal chain? |
Tommy Detamore
Member From: Floresville, Texas
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posted 12 February 2002 02:03 PM
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Earnest, it's always at the front, whether as a mic pre or a line-input "DI". BTW, I have tried it as a steel DI but there was not enough EQ tailoring ability with the onboard EQ for me. Mike and Jeff, are you guys going straight into the power amp section or are you using the preamp in the amp? |
Earnest Bovine
Member From: Los Angeles CA USA
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posted 12 February 2002 02:27 PM
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Before the volume pedal on a short cord from the pickup?
I always thought that is the best way to use a pre-amp. |
Ken Fox
Member From: Ray City, GA USA
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posted 12 February 2002 03:23 PM
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Is the Peavey Tube Sweetner anything like this, or even in the same league as his device? I know it does not have balanced mike inputs, but is designed for instruments (1/4" and RCA jacks). |
Mike Brown
Member From: Meridian, Mississippi USA
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posted 13 February 2002 01:30 PM
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I tried it using a couple of hookup methods, ie; in front of the steel amps' inputs and the other way was straight into the power amp inputs on the rear panel of my 400's. The latter method didn't provide the equalization that I like to hear, so at this point in time I preferred it between my guitar and the input of the 400's. But, I still have a couple of other methods that I want to try. I'll hopefully be able to give you my opinion soon.Which brings me to Ken's question about our TMP-1 and Tube Sweetener mic pre's. First of all, the VMP-2 is a studio grade mic preamp,ie; low noise, low distortion, dual channel. The TMP-1 and Tube Sweetener do not have the tight specs that the VMP-2 has and are designed to be good low cost preamps.............BIG difference between these two units and the VMP-2. Either the TMP-1 or Tube Sweetener will work with instruments and do work well. If you need pricing on the above items, you may contact me here at the factory by phoning 1-877-732-8391 or by e-mail at mikebrown@peavey.com |
Jeff Peterson
Member From: Nashville, TN USA
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posted 14 February 2002 07:58 PM
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Sorry I'm late Mike...just got back(as you know). I run the VMP/2 second in line after my volume pedal and compressor(DBX). After that is effects(TubeFx), and then to the DPC-1400 to either 2X12's or 2X15's.
Mike, if you find you want to EQ a touch more than the VMP/2 can give you, you can access any of the multitude of EQ's the TubeFx has, and tweak away. By far, this is the most quiet and loudest, cleanest set-up I think I have ever used. The VMP/2 makes any set up I've tried tube-sweet, no matter how I've stacked it. Tons of gain--quiet--no distortion.....it don't get no better than that. It definitely stands up to my higher-priced(over-priced) preamps. Mike, I told ya' so.....keep at it, try my set-up, you'll never go back! |
John Russell
Member From: Austin, Texas
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posted 15 February 2002 08:27 PM
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Mmmm, might be time to reconsider the overall design of the steel guitar amp.Hope I'm not out of line, I've used Peavey gear for many years with generally good results but we're all familiar with the arguments pro and con. Tube vs. Solid state, sweet tone vs. clean gain, etc. I've recently been using a rack rig which includes the Tube Works Real Tube 2 pre-amp. I find it works well several ways, either in front of a power amp and external speaker cab. or in front of a combo amp. For big outdoor gigs I run it into the front end of my Peavey Musician Mk IV and speaker or my Nashville 1000. It adds sweetness and gain. I don't know the dynamics of engineering and marketing steel guitar amps but I've read several of Mike's posts on this subject. But I'm wondering the obvious--whether a tube/solid state hybrid amp would be a success for the steel guitar market. Might be the cure for "Twin Reverb envy." --JR |
John Lacey
Member From: Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada
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posted 16 February 2002 06:39 AM
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"whether a tube/solid state hybrid amp would be a success for the steel guitar market." Interesting point, John. Actually, it has been done before with the Evans Hybrid 300. Tube preamp stage and transistor output. Very clean, warm yet underpowered result. Maybe it's time to update the concept. |
Mike Brown
Member From: Meridian, Mississippi USA
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posted 19 February 2002 09:10 AM
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Input is exactly what I was looking for when I posted this message. As I said, Jeff Peterson always tells me how good this system sounds and I appreciate everyone's input. Thanks for using Peavey gear. |
Ken Fox
Member From: Ray City, GA USA
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posted 26 February 2002 01:23 PM
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In case anyone is interested, I saw one on Ebay today, it's got a couple of days left on it. |
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