Peavey Triple XXX 112 Combo

Three switchable channels, one clean and two overdrive. Like the direct out for recording purposes. The nice thing for me is the bias switch and the ability to try different tubes, very Mesa for allot less! I'm not currently in a band, but this amp is loud enough to pay out with. Reverb not as nice as my Mesa, but respectable.

Some say the clean is just OK, I think you just need to tweak on your rig. I run an MXR 10 Bang EQ through the FX loop with a balanced setup I can use for clean or lead. If you don't run an EQ, you are missing out on what this thing can REALLY sound like. With my Keeley Compressor on and the EQ, the cleans are just amazing. Of course, the Triple XXX is known for it's high gain, and it does not let you down here. I really like the Crunch channel better than the Ultra. If I dial the gain down to about 10 o'clock, I can run a Strat or Tele and get that SRV sound easy. Crank the gain, and it's lights out man! Brutal if you want it to be, smoother is where I like it.

Built in the USA, unlike allot of newer Peavey products. It's heavier than hell because it's built like a tank! Bought it used, but it's been flawless for a long time now. I would never gig without a backup irregardless, even the best gear can break.

I've e-mailed once with some tube questions and they promptly responded with a good answer, that's all one can ask for I guess.

I own a Mesa amp as well, and it is better. But, the Peavey XXX can hold it's own for allot less money. It has a reputation as a metal amp, but is capable of more as long as the user is capable of more too. I use this amp with a 2x12 Cab with Vintage 30's and it just hauls *** and brings the mail all the time. This is a very good amp for a very good price, try it!

If you've read the other reviews then you know all about the features...Plenty of bang for your buck. 3 channels with separate eq's are getting hard to find these days, as well, so that is a huge plus. It is very loud and the single stock speaker handles the load very well as long as you don't drive the bottom too hard or the treble too high. I'm sure an aftermarket would sound a bit better, though.

This is my 80's rock amp...pretty awesome tones from Def Leppard to Van Halen to modern day tones. The distortion is very usable...you can hear all of your technique and you don't get caught up in the distortion making you sound good. THE AMP IS DEAD QUIET! Everyone needs to remember that their guitars(pickups) and effect pedals are the culprits! When you plug straight into the amp and turn the volume down on your guitar you get no noise! After you turn your guitar volume up is when you get a very slight hum when on the distortion channels. That is completely normal and goes away when you either play or lightly mute your strings. Remember single coils will always hum in positions 1-3-5. And Humbuckers do exactly that...buck the hum, so there is little to no noise from them. Oh yeah, when I plug straight in the distortion sounds amazing...no effects other than the included reverb are on and I can pinch harmonics that seem to last for days. The clean channel as everyone has stated is very dull sounding, but has great headroom, and I prefer this channel when adding effect pedals because you can get any tone from it due to its very workable voicing. I give it a 9 because of the clean channels dullness.

I've owned a 5150 stack and have never had any problems with that one, so when buying this I knew Peavey had a good name with me, and their 2 year warranty is pretty cool, too. No problems to date with this amp.

The shop I bought this from has always told me that Peavey is one of the better companies who own up when something is their fault, so I'm not too worried. I can't rate, because I've never dealt personally with them.

I've owned a 5150, a Traynor YCV80 and various solid state amps, but I am very happy with the tone that comes from this XXX. Tone will always be subjective, so you have to personally try one out. I play an Yngwie strat with humbuckers into single coil pickups and a G&L strat with single coils...both sound very different through the amp, yet amazing. You get to actually saturate the tubes at a usable level, so the harmonics are awesome sounding. Remember this is a rock amp...not a blues, jazz or classic rock sounding amp. It was a bit expensive brand new for a 112, when the 212 was about the same price...but I didn't need all of the wattage from the 212. If it were stolen or lost I would absolutely buy it again, because it is finally the tone I've been searching for all of these years. No preamp distortion pedals are needed, which add unwanted noise anyway.

It's all been said before, just read any of the other reviews...

I must say that I do love the sound of this amp! I've used it with a variety of guitars in different bands and it always comes through. I bought it before a show last year (put a Vintage 30 in it an hour after I bought it...), and when I set it up to play my bass player told me that he thinks it sounds like his Mesa... In one band I do Trans-Siberian Orchestra music. Lots of gain, and very little clean. When I watch video clips of us, there is a HUGE difference between my tone and the other guitarist's Line 6 Flextone II. I also do a lot of Maiden, Queensryche, Rush, and Metallica type stuff in another band. If I crank up the gain, I can bring my strat and still hang! I'm also doing an 80's new wave style band... twist the knobs around a little different and done! I am going to say however That this a metal amp first and foremost. It could use a little more bass to make it sound full when you are the only guitar player (some people close the back of the cab...). It can also be very hard to get a low-gain sound when you back the gain down. The clean channel is pretty good as well, though it can be a bit harsh if you're not careful. It's actually better than most hi-gain amps. Overall though, this is a very good sounding amp. I was interested in an H&K Duotone (my new love) so I brought it to jam and played the two of these amps with the same speakers. It held it's own quite admirably. It may not sound AS good (the distortion on a duotone is so clean), but it was close.

After about four or five months, the amp wouldn't switch to and from the clean channel. I thought it might be the relay switch in the amp. I took the switch to the store and tried it with another one. No problem. I took the amp in and left it for a few days... No problem. They gave me a new switch and I took the amp home. I haven't had a problem yet. Must have been a bad switch. My previous Ultra 112 had no problems in my 5 years of owning her. I don't expect a lot of trouble...

I have been playing for about 10 yrs, doing mostly heavier stuff. I've been using a Fender Amer. St. Strat, and ESP LTD EC-100, an Ibanez Custom S-540FM, and 2 B.C. Rich USA ST-3s. This is the second Peavey I've owned, and I also have a Sovtek Mig-50 modded by Cesar Diaz, and a Red Bear MK-60 (incredible tone, with one channel and no loop!). I recently bought a Hughes and Kettner Switchblade (versatilty AND tone, too soon to say about reliablilty), and haven't been using this much lately. However I didn't hesitate to buy this based on my experience with my Ultra 112. I got a good closeout price on it so it was a great deal. Peavey used to be make good amps at a low cost... but they're getting a bit pricey these days... I would still recommend this as a good deal to anyone who likes rocking music! I still love mine, and it makes a fine backup...

updating lasty review

with Groovetube 12AT7 clean sounds nice with a strat sorry I didnt explain on last review


low volume seems really nice with this BOMBER!!!

I hate that it has so much gain but in a band situation that wouldn't be bad

if left on to long 12ax7eh tubes get microphonic sovtek 6l6wxt not as good as this amp can excel with... get some GT6l6GEs or better

I put a groovetube 12at7 in v1... IT gives my triple XXX a nicer clean sound for 15 bucks

real nice tubes dont matter though except for fizzy sound just get some NOS tubes or turn down gain and guitar knobs!!!

GOOD THRASH sounds!!!! SCOOP & MIDRANGEY sounds available!!!

BRUTAL distortion!!! IF you DIAL IN STOCK sounds OR GET NOS tubes for MORE Quality/Variety

maybe find a fane medusa100 for the combo!

2003

need one more od channel I play hard blues to thrash

it beau coup power

plexi od texas distortion and clean SRV and master of puppets

the clean distorts if you dime everything it is not VOX quality clean though (fender clean IS overrated 6973 Valco is better)

I use it with jb jr strat

it works for everything except everything at once!

Aint perfect so I'll give it an 8

yes except after 1 hour of gigging (it has 3 eh preamp tubes and 1 good gt tube if i replaced the eh tubes it would work a lot longer!

XXX is like Marshall It RULES!!!

The features are the same as every other review describes so I will not waste time describing them. For heavy metal, the features are great. What I want to point out is how practical this amp is from a power and logistics point of view. I had always wanted a tube amp but have never really played in bands but wanted to jam with other players. I knew I would need more than my practice amp to be heard above a drummer. I knew a full head and stack would be overkill for my situation. So this thing sounded like the perfect solution when I bought it off Ebay - 60w all tube - good to go.

By itself it's great. But I was curious as to what an extension cab would do for it so I ordered a XXX 212 extension cab. This is now my ultimate rig! What you get is basically a 3/8 stack when you leave the internal speaker plugged in. I jammed with a guy with a half stack - 120w XXX head and a XXX 4X12. There's no difference to the ear in sound quality between the two even though mine in 60w and his is 120. He had an extra speaker but the difference that made was not obvious. My rig was also half the cost! But here is the biggest advantage: if I want to go play with another guitarist on the fly I just unplug my cab and I my combo is ready for action. The other dude has to lug around a head and 4X12 or no sound. Or I can leave my cab at the rehearsal space and take the combo home to practice.

I use a Jackson DKMG with Duncan Distortion in the bridge and stock EMG-HZ in the neck, and SG Standard with stock pickups and Kramer Focus 1000 (remember those?) with a Duncan JB trembucker. I go through a noise suppressor and a Crybaby 535Q. On the effects loop I have a Boss DD-3 and CE-5.

Perfect metal rig for classic metal and eighties thrash I play in standard tuning or Eb. Clean channel sounds great with a chorus pedal for power ballads (gotta please the chicks!) Distortion channels are somewhat noisy when you are not playing. Can get really crackly when gain is set past 6 or 7. Does not interfere at all when playing, though. I usually footswitch to the clean channel between songs because that it silent at any volume. That's easier than rolling off the guitar volume every time.



One thing that could be better is the reverb. It's decent but not spectacular. That's what I took off one point for.

I much prefer Peavey tone to Marshall tone. Always have.

I've only had it six months and no sign of problems. This is my first tube amp so I hope it doesn't become a pain in the rear. Peavey solid states last forever so time will tell. After the comet wipes out humanity, there will be alot of cockroaches jamming on all those Peaveys that are left over. With all those feet they could dig up some Boss pedals that will be in working condition too.

I would feel comfortable using it without a backup at a gig. If I could afford a backup I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have one. I suppose in a pinch you could mike a cheap solid state practice amp.

That's the bummer of buying it used. No warranty even though it is not even two years old. I've heard good things about Peavey support but have never contacted them.

I'm now an evangelist preaching the gospel of tube combos and extension cabs. This gives me all the power and tone I ever wanted. I love the flexibility it offers me. Hook it up to a 212 and 60w and it's perfect for jamming live or shows. Use it as a stand alone combo for practice, playing with CDs. I hate the weight but that's the nature of the beast with tube amps.

I've been playing METAL with a melodic side for about 5 years.

This is the 60watt combo amp and it is awesome. On the back it has a switch for 4, 8, and 16 ohms. Also has a loose, mid, tight switch that is nice. The pre-amp tubes are Electro Harmonix so they are great. The Power tubes are Ruby 6L6 something and the reviews on them are pretty good. I might change out the speaker to a Celestion but it's fine for now.

I probably will never try out the clean channel.

This distortion is high quality old school sounding. This is the sound I have been looking for. The 2 distortion channals have the same knobs. But you turn the knobs a little different on the distortion channals (like turning up the 'bottom' knob on one of the channels which takes the mids out)= This has the sound of air being sucked out of your ears. I love it's simplicity.

In my guitar I have active EMG Zakk Wylde humbuckers and I put in a new Energizer battery every couple of months. This little extra is overlooked by many rockers and they go and spend hundreds on pedals.

Only had it for a month. Peavey did a great job on this amp.

I've had a Soldano Hot Rod and that was nice and creamy. I have also had a Randall Century 200 (solid state) which sure did squeel nicely. But I like this Peavey the best. I can play it super quit late at night if I want and I don't lose any of the sounds.

Go and play one and you just may fall in love with it to.

Same features on other reviews.

Clean sound is fair. Distortion and overdrive are OHMYGOD! This amp is made for heavy metal ONLY. Don't expect it to be a country, blues or jazz amp. Hard rock or heavy metal styles from Metallica to Pantera.

Peavey amps last forever. I don't expect any problems from this either.

Almost perfect. Maybe some built in effects would add to it. Better clean tone, IF you really want it.

The other reviews have the grocery list organized better.
This new unit was made in approx. oct. of 2005 Each of the 3 channels has its own tone controls, no compromise here. The clean channel, with its passive tone controls, works good for me for finger picking, and all types of chord work. The 2 high gain channels are like a pair of boss metal zones. This comparison may excite some players and enrage others. I like the MT-2. To get a lower gain from the 2nd chan.(called crunch) I set the gain control from just above its lowest audible point to somewhere about 9 o'clock. Above this and you are back in high gain again. On chan.3(ultra) from 9 o'clock on,it is very high gain. It feeds back nicely at bedroom volumes. The channel switching with the footswitch is dead quiet. (I recently tried out a new Dual-Rectifier Head and was very surprised when the chan. switch popped intermittently.) The EFX loop works well and doubles a moderate volume boost, if needed. It would be nice if each chan. had its own loop. The Damping switch on the back gives 3 cool setting variations as to how the power amp reacts to the players touch. The reverb (an accutronics full size tank) sounds OK. Not quite as bright or strong as I'm used to, but useable. I'll give it a 9, only because of the challenge on getting lower gain settings on chan.2

I use it with either a Les Paul Standard or a Strat (that has stacked HB's.) A regular single coil of any variety will hum at the high gain settings. This is not a problem, it is a single coil reality!
The hiss/buzz or hum level present at the high settings is about the same as any amp I've heard. Put a noise gate in the EFX loop and it's quiet again. When I set the gain up, I'm not listening for HUM, I'm playing....Funny how I don't notice any hum then!? This thing covers all the clean, and some in between, and all the Extreme I need. I enjoy the (think gary moore) burning blues tone it puts out.
The Distortion (with its active tone controls) reminds me of, if it were possible, of a tube version of the mt-2. Turn up the lows, turn off the mids, ease up the treble and its moderm metal to the max. It really suits my style of clean rhythm and driven lead. Note: The active tone controls on the 2 hot channels should all be set to 12 o'clock, straight up. Then add or boost as you desire. A little movement, either direction, with produce a noticeable change. I'll give it an 9, only because of the previously mentioned reverb. Hey the distorion gets an 11 from me, so that evens it out!

This is the first peavey amp I have ever owned, so I don't have any track record for its reliability to report yet. I'll take it to a gig without a backup. The amp is new and no problems have surfaced so far. The footswitch is a sturdy metal box. The cabinet is 7 ply plywood. That beats the &@%# out of particle board any day! Another cool thing, the footswitch cable is detachable and about 20 feet long. Not the average short leash! A fan on the output tubes would help to extend their life....but the metal cage around them is good protection. And the little tubes have metal covers too. I'll give it a 9 because it appears to be designed well....after a year its a 10.

I have called them recently with questions about this amp, and they were helpful and informative to me! We have a peavey dealer in town, so any service is a short drive for me. The extended warranty (when I filled out the optional card and mailed it in) is 5 yrs.
Nothing wrong with that!

This rating comes via my own rose colored glasses. I started playing in the summer of 1963 and I'm 55 now. I enjoy various other guitars, mostly electric. I have a few other amps. None have the amount of gain this one does! I don't think I'll wait till it gets lost or stolen. I might get another one soon, cause it just plain smokes. If you are a tobacco user, I meant - sounds real good! I heard this amp about a year ago, and I don't buy things I hate. I did some comparing with the Dual-Rectifier...No reverb, 3 times the price, but not 3 times the tone. I have known about Peavey for decades and I wouldn't touch one of their amps with a 10 foot pole, UP TILL NOW!
This one sings for me! It weighs 60 lbs. But it is a real tube amp, with 2 iron core transformers, and real tube tone! Wheels are cheap.
I do think they should think seriously about changing the font on their logo, however, its too pointy for me. I got a 60% discount on this little machine! It lists for $1299. The money is gone, but the tone goes on! and on! and on!