VH 140 C vs. XXX

[headlessdeadguy]

Well since getting my XXX a few months ago I have really neglected my Ampeg so Friday night I had some friends over and decided that my new Avatar 4x12 has had sufficient break-in time and it was time to see how both amps perform cranked up.
I ran the Ampeg through the Avatar Vintage 4x12 with V30's and T75 and the XXX through the Line 6 4x12 with G12H70 Celestions.
At lower volumes I liked the XXX crunch a little better so I played that rig with my LP XPL with EMG 81/85 set up and gave my buddy my other XPL with a dimebucker in the bridge ( I hate the tone of that guitar through the XXX) and the Ampeg.
At high volumes the Ampeg OWNED the XXX. No comparison. The lows were thunderous and that thing really reached out through the mix.
So we switched guitars. Same thing only more difference, Ampeg is even more badass with the EMGs. Switched cabinets. Same thing.
I see now why I had to have another Ampeg after selling mine years ago.
So now what do I do with the XXX so it can keep up. Boost? Tubes? Mods? Bias? This is only my second tube amp so I am lost.
On a side note has anyone had experience with Avatar Vintage cabs? It has developed a rattle after friday night and I read that you can run a screw through the back into the center brace and the rattle will go away.

 

[Anonymous]

The truth is, the XXX will probably never sound like the VH140C and vice versa.

If you go for a brutal metal tone, I don't think there are much better options than the VH140c.

As far as the rattle in the cab, put a folded up rag between the baffle and the back of the cab.

 

[jessexxx]

heres what i have done with my xxx

v-30 loaded cab..(this one change alone kept me from selling the xxx,..it completely got rid of that "sizzle/fizz" that hi-gain peaveys are known for.)..these amps hate g75's!!

jj 6l6's-some of the xxx come with el34's,..the xxx is a mid-voiced amp..having el34's in it makes it a treble monster,...6l6's make it a dropped tuning cream machine ...i dont use drop tunings and i am very very happy with this amp....depending on how old the amp is dictates which of the 2 it has,..i always change tubes when i buy a used amp...it just eliminates a potential headache.

active tone control- dont forget that 12 oclock is zero on these amps..turning a tone knob to 11 oclock is like subtracting...very small adjustments make huge differences..

loose/medium/tight switch-on the back of the amp..another adjustment tool that makes a big impact.

these amps dont like any type of treble boosting (like the dimebucker for instance)....

of course all of this is what i have found for my tastes,....but these are pretty versitile amps..and pretty underated....i would try to work the bugs out..it should blow any ss amp away....

good luck

 

[headlessdeadguy]

heres what i have done with my xxx

v-30 loaded cab..(this one change alone kept me from selling the xxx,..it completely got rid of that "sizzle/fizz" that hi-gain peaveys are known for.)..these amps hate g75's!!

jj 6l6's-some of the xxx come with el34's,..the xxx is a mid-voiced amp..having el34's in it makes it a treble monster,...6l6's make it a dropped tuning cream machine ...i dont use drop tunings and i am very very happy with this amp....depending on how old the amp is dictates which of the 2 it has,..i always change tubes when i buy a used amp...it just eliminates a potential headache.

active tone control- dont forget that 12 oclock is zero on these amps..turning a tone knob to 11 oclock is like subtracting...very small adjustments make huge differences..

loose/medium/tight switch-on the back of the amp..another adjustment tool that makes a big impact.

these amps dont like any type of treble boosting (like the dimebucker for instance)....

of course all of this is what i have found for my tastes,....but these are pretty versitile amps..and pretty underated....i would try to work the bugs out..it should blow any ss amp away....

good luck

I did dial the tone controls back tonight and have a whole different amp. I have been playing the XXX non-stop,even tonight with a new guitar. I love that amp,but the Ampeg just does it for me

 

[Inearthed]

I have a SS150 (basically, same thing as the VH140C), my problem is that I can't seem to dial back the brightness / high end of the amp. Suggestions?

 

[King Guitar]

The first good amp I ever had was a Ampeg VH140C Head and Cabinet. I loved that amp, JC120 style cleans with chorus and a crushing lead tone. Man I miss that amp and (gasp) it was solid state.

 

[Anonymous]

The first good amp I ever had was a Ampeg VH140C Head and Cabinet. I loved that amp, JC120 style cleans with chorus and a crushing lead tone. Man I miss that amp and (gasp) it was solid state.

We both have that in common! The first "real" amp I ever had was a VH140C. I actually owned a few of them, living in St.Louis they were very common. Really great sounding amps! They were known to have some power amp issues but, I think it was the best overall high gain amp Crate/Ampeg ever had!

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I have a SS150 (basically, same thing as the VH140C), my problem is that I can't seem to dial back the brightness / high end of the amp. Suggestions?

I dunno man I just love the brightness/high end. It's me. Seems like cab selection is key here. V30/T75 combo has alot more bottom and seems to cut the brightness back a little compared to an all V30 cab. What cab are you using?

 

[headlessdeadguy]

The first good amp I ever had was a Ampeg VH140C Head and Cabinet. I loved that amp, JC120 style cleans with chorus and a crushing lead tone. Man I miss that amp and (gasp) it was solid state.

A good friend of mine in Pittsburgh had me locate one for him and deliver it to him. He unloaded his Dual Rectifier and hasn't looked back. He says that every time he plays out (deathmetal) all the young dudes in the other bands they play with are all over him wondering what the hell that thing is.
Funny these guys are all playing Mesa/Engl/Splawn etc and are loving the VH140c.
Tis badass

 

[nwright]

heres what i have done with my xxx

v-30 loaded cab..(this one change alone kept me from selling the xxx,..it completely got rid of that "sizzle/fizz" that hi-gain peaveys are known for.)..these amps hate g75's!!

jj 6l6's-some of the xxx come with el34's,..the xxx is a mid-voiced amp..having el34's in it makes it a treble monster,...6l6's make it a dropped tuning cream machine ...i dont use drop tunings and i am very very happy with this amp....depending on how old the amp is dictates which of the 2 it has,..i always change tubes when i buy a used amp...it just eliminates a potential headache.

active tone control- dont forget that 12 oclock is zero on these amps..turning a tone knob to 11 oclock is like subtracting...very small adjustments make huge differences..

loose/medium/tight switch-on the back of the amp..another adjustment tool that makes a big impact.

these amps dont like any type of treble boosting (like the dimebucker for instance)....

of course all of this is what i have found for my tastes,....but these are pretty versitile amps..and pretty underated....i would try to work the bugs out..it should blow any ss amp away....

good luck

Man, I completely disagree with most of the sentiments of this post...1.) the XXX is (well, was now) never stock with EL34's, always shipped with 6L6's...2.)I found the 6L6 tone to be pretty much the same as the EL34 tone...The EL34's had a more aggressive mid character (I'd say it was more "grainy"), but with 6L6's the lows AND the highs were extended a little bit, so the ability of the amp to be a "treble monster" IMO would be easier achieved with 6L6's, tone control settings being identical between the 2 tube types. I played my XXX through T75's as well as V30's...I prefer the V30's tonally, but IMO 75's are a good match for Peaveys - as the mid heavy peavey high gain sound meshes well with the more relaxed mids of the T75's (compared to the V30).

Also, with as sensitive tone controls as these amps have (active EQ's after all), I don't think there is any one part of the tone (lows, mids, highs) that can't be pretty well manipulated, so the idea that it becomes a treble monster is something I never felt with this amp.

Just talking about it has me wishing I hadn't traded it! I just shipped it out today in a trade for a brand new Randall V2!

 

[RaceU4her]

I have a SS150 (basically, same thing as the VH140C), my problem is that I can't seem to dial back the brightness / high end of the amp. Suggestions?

wierd, i would call my ampeg darker than most amps i have played, i like that though cause at band volumes it dosent get overly harsh. are you guys boosting? mine loves to be boosted

 

[ke2]

Hey, man. I checked out your band`s myspace. Very cool songs and playing. I like your mix as well, heavy as hell.

 

[nwright]

Hey, man. I checked out your band`s myspace. Very cool songs and playing. I like your mix as well, heavy as hell.

Thanks, I recorded, mixed and mastered it, so I'll take the mix compliments, too! I must say in hindsight I'm not big on the guitar tones. I blended a 6505+ and Madison Divinity straight up 50/50. I wish I had spent a little more time tone shaping first.

 

[tweed]

Never played the 140C, I do own a XXX and play it on a regular basis. Stock 6L6's are still in it as well as the preamps, but I did change out the tube in V1 with a GT12ax7m, made a HUGE difference. The Crunch channel is a monster now, I have tons of versatility just on that channel alone.

I have 4 cabs I use with it depending on what im doing, 4x12 with Weber Stan spec greenies, 4x12 with XXX speakers, Oversized 2x12 with G12h80's, and a normal 2x12 with Hellatone(G12H30's). Sounds outstanding with all of them although the Weber cab and Hellatone cab's are my favorites at the moment. Mostly playing out with the Hellatone 2x12 as I don't need to kill small farm animals at gigs for the time being.

 

[jessexxx]

heres what i have done with my xxx

v-30 loaded cab..(this one change alone kept me from selling the xxx,..it completely got rid of that "sizzle/fizz" that hi-gain peaveys are known for.)..these amps hate g75's!!

jj 6l6's-some of the xxx come with el34's,..the xxx is a mid-voiced amp..having el34's in it makes it a treble monster,...6l6's make it a dropped tuning cream machine ...i dont use drop tunings and i am very very happy with this amp....depending on how old the amp is dictates which of the 2 it has,..i always change tubes when i buy a used amp...it just eliminates a potential headache.

active tone control- dont forget that 12 oclock is zero on these amps..turning a tone knob to 11 oclock is like subtracting...very small adjustments make huge differences..

loose/medium/tight switch-on the back of the amp..another adjustment tool that makes a big impact.

these amps dont like any type of treble boosting (like the dimebucker for instance)....

of course all of this is what i have found for my tastes,....but these are pretty versitile amps..and pretty underated....i would try to work the bugs out..it should blow any ss amp away....

good luck

Man, I completely disagree with most of the sentiments of this post...1.) the XXX is (well, was now) never stock with EL34's, always shipped with 6L6's...2.)I found the 6L6 tone to be pretty much the same as the EL34 tone...The EL34's had a more aggressive mid character (I'd say it was more "grainy"), but with 6L6's the lows AND the highs were extended a little bit, so the ability of the amp to be a "treble monster" IMO would be easier achieved with 6L6's, tone control settings being identical between the 2 tube types. I played my XXX through T75's as well as V30's...I prefer the V30's tonally, but IMO 75's are a good match for Peaveys - as the mid heavy peavey high gain sound meshes well with the more relaxed mids of the T75's (compared to the V30).

Also, with as sensitive tone controls as these amps have (active EQ's after all), I don't think there is any one part of the tone (lows, mids, highs) that can't be pretty well manipulated, so the idea that it becomes a treble monster is something I never felt with this amp.

Just talking about it has me wishing I hadn't traded it! I just shipped it out today in a trade for a brand new Randall V2!

let me start by saying your right about the fact that hey didnt come stock with the el34's...thanx for pointing that out,...but there modded from the factory for them..and the el34 swap is pretty common..i tried it,.....other than that i guess we will have to agree to disagree!...especialy about what the different tubes do in the xxx...

 

[BrokenHope]

Hello everyone, I own two Ampeg vh 140 c heads and I'm having some power issues. It is intermitten, I'll play for a while then it drops volume, sometimes no volume, it swells back and forth sometimes too. I took it to an Ampeg dealer, and of course it would not act up. I'm having a hard time finding vh 140 problems and issues on line. If anybody has any info I would appreciate it.

 

[Anonymous]

Broken hope look at your thread.