Vypyr 15
Reviewed by:
MetallicSka, on june 23, 2011 2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Price paid: C$ 80
Purchased from: Music Pro
Features: Modelling amp, so it has tons of different amp settings. Very versatile, able to play any kind of music. I wish it had a better tuner though. That things hard to read. Once you find your tone, you rarely cycle through different settings again. I use this amp for at home practice, and for band practice. At maximum volume you can play with a drummer. // 8
Sound: Using an Ibanez GSA60 on this. This suits my style of music, because it has so many effects. From funk to thrash, this can do it all. Get slight buzz when not touching strings. Clean channel gets kind of fuzzy at high volume, still sounds good though. The distortion, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being clean and 10 being BR00T4L, this goes to about a 7. You can get some nice distortion, but it lacks a certain crunch, if you know what I mean. // 7
Reliability & Durability: I could depend on this, but I would rather not. This is not a gigging amp at all, it's perfect for practice though. The amp sometimes has a problem turning on, you need to turn it on without the cable in and then plug in after a minute or two or else I will start buzzing like mad. This has done it from day 1. // 6
Impression: This is a great match for any style. I have been playing for 4 years, this is my second guitar amp. First was some 10w Randall practice amplifier. I think this was worth the money. If this was stolen or lost, I would buy something much larger. Of course, I'm not looking for the same stuff I was looking for 2 years ago when I bought this. I love it's versatility. I hate the buzzing when turning on issue I talked about above. Favourite feature is the reverb, sounds great on a clean channel. Compared this to a Roland Microcube, liked this one better. I wish it had a beefier distortion. Overall this is a great amp for beginners ready to step up from their entry level combo pack amp, but don't want anything too big yet. // 7
Vypyr 15
Reviewed by:
Air_Stryker, on march 02, 2012 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Price paid: £ 95
Purchased from: PMT
Features: I believe this amp was made 2009 in China. It's a solid state modelling amplifier, best suited for bedroom practice, and just jamming around. If features 12 "clean" amp models, and with the push of a button, the same 12 models can be overdriven. Although on the clean setting, half the models sound like amps on a mid-gain crunch setting, and half are properly clean. When switched to overdrive, the mid-gain amps go to a highly over driven/distorted lead channel, and the clean amps go into a crunchy rhythm setting.
I also has 12 built in fully customizable effects, including tremolo, phaser and pitch shifter. I personally find the pitch shifter very useful, as it allows me to de tune my guitars from E/drop D down about four semitones to C/drop A#. Not entirely necessary for a fixed bridge guitar, but it's a damn godsend for a Floyd Rose style bridge.
There's not a whole lot else you could ask for a £95 bedroom practice amp/modelling. Personally I only use about four of the available 24 amp settings, and 3 of the effects, but I feel confident this amp could achieve roughly any tone your after. Obviously it's not going to turn heads like a £1500 head + cab setup, but that's not what it's for. Features are definitely worth a ten. // 10
Sound: I play this usually with me LTD EC1000 fitted with EMG 81 (B) and 60 (N). Admittedly my musical tastes are somewhat limited. I prefer metal to everything else, playing things like; Metallica, Pantera and Machine Head. It manages those with ease no doubt.
Otherwise I use my Gibson Les Paul Studio with Burstbuckers to play more classic rock like AC/DC or Van Halen and punk rock like Green Day and The Offspring. These kinds of tones are still no challenge for this amp.
I occasionally use the clean channel for playing songs like "Nothing Else Matters", "The Call Of Ktulu" (Metallica) and "Darkness Within" (Machine Head) and it holds it's ground. It's nothing special, I do get the feeling that although this is a modelling amp built to cope with anything, the main thing Peavey had in mind was Metal. In summary it'll work really well for metal tones, anything else it can certainly manage, but it won't amaze. // 8
Reliability & Durability: I have owned this amp for about a year and a half, and have never had any reliability issues with it, so I'd say it's excellent. However, I solely use it as a practice amp; since I got it it has never left my bedroom, it's not made for gigging and so I don't think I should rate it any higher than an eight. // 8
Impression: To summarize this is an outstanding practice amp for it's price, it has a plethora of amp models and effects that definitely outweigh it's rivals, such as the Line 6 Spider. As said before, it can manage pretty much any tone, but only really excels at hard rock and metal.
It seems reliable enough as a practice amp, I've never had any problems with it. My favourite feature for this amp is definitely the pitch shifter, which I find very useful if ever I'm using my Ibanez RGD320, or my Washburn Dime 333.
If someone did steal it, or it was broken in some tragic accident, I'd definitely replace it with another one. There's nothing I can think this amp needs that it doesn't already have, other than perhaps a foot-switch for changing between the clean and over-driven channels. // 9
Vypyr 15
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on july 05, 2011 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 99.00
Purchased from: Guitar Center
Features: The amp features 12 different amp models with a clean and an overdriven option on all of the models. Each model is able to be tweaked with a 3-band EQ,pre and post gain,and reverb control. On top of those amp models you can add a "Rack" effect from the 12 customizable effects given on the amp. But with all of these options comes quite a learning curve.
I have no problems with any of the amp models. They are all different and usefull. Though the effects arent as impressive with one i never even touch which is a Reverse effect. Fun to play with for five minuets but mostly useless. a looper instead of this would be nice(an option on the larger amps in this line). The 12 customizable presets, which are easy to set, help make a dumb effect easy look over. There is also an input to play along with favorite song and a headphone or recording output.
A 9 due to learning curve and the reverse effect. // 9
Sound: The sound is very solid at both high and low volumes. The 8in spaeker does its job with no pops or rattles. All of the amp models sound great and the effects sound just as good with no annoying delay. With it being a solid state modeling amp the aps and effects have very nice analog sound. It just never sounds computerized. 10, quality and power make a nice team. // 10
Reliability & Durability: I would have no problem bringing on a gig with no backup. Feels solid, even after a few tumbbles from the trunk of my car and the occasional friend who thinks it makes a good seat. I can't see any type of neglect hurting the amp either. 10, like they say the small guys are the toughest. // 10
Impression: I play mostly Hard rock and Heavy metal.But with this amp a have ventured into some RHCP and some Clapton and the amp followed right along with me. I can't see anyone not finding this amp versitile enough to play their own style. Its oppenent the Line 6 Spider IV is left in the dust on the features front. Though I am a little biased as I still use my Rage 158 which I have brought to hell and back. Ater this amp I am now a Peavey guy. And if anyone stole it I would have them hunted to get it back. // 9
Vypyr 15
Reviewed by:
littleknarfy, on may 01, 2012 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 100
Purchased from: guitar center
Features: This amp is so fun and its just a great little amp. Features and knobs can be annoying until you remember all the functions and know what's what. It is lacking from its bigger brothers and is the very basic form of the "Vypyrs". It lacks the midi cable, it lacks the additional effects knob, and it lacks a decent speaker. It has 3 channels each with 4 additional presets to save all of your setups. // 8
Sound: The sound of this is moderate, it can handle good quality distortion and nice cleans. This speaker sucks its tiny and it just sucks, great for practicing but it can not beat drums. I play mainly heavy metal and thrash metal, you can get other sounds as well with this amp. I play this amp with a Ibanez RG3EXFM1 with d activators installed into this guitar. The amp has nice distortion I love the rectifier, has the best tone and is just better sounding than the 6505. If you don't believe me put the rectifier on red and put the low and high knob all the way up and then put mids to 0 or just 2 both are good. This is one of the best metal sounds that this amp can make and my all time favorite. The pickups add an aggressive sound and it works well. // 7
Reliability & Durability: This amp is very durable, and with all electronics, just don't get it wet with water of course. Its also solid state so it should last for a long time, I have had mine for 3 years still works well, but I modified it. Hooked it up with a 12 inch speaker and turned it into a beast version of the 15watt. You could just hook this up to a 4x12 cab or something similar and it would be amazing. So you shouldn't gig with this unless you have it modified with a bigger speaker or make it have a cable out. So it is possible. You could try to gig with this with the 8 inch speaker, but it would be close to dying afterward, mine started loosing tone and clarity at like 4 and it can go up to 13... Not good. // 7
Impression: This is a fun/beginner amp, it can be easily modified, just look some stuff up, you could simply by a 12 inch speaker and rebuild it, or just buy a 4x12 cab and turn the 15 watt into a head. that's one of things I love about this amp, its really amazing for 100 dollars, fun to mess with, but if it got stolen, I would probably just buy the 30 watt cause that is the 15 pretty much souped up. And its a lot better than the 15 with the midi out and the additional effects and it has a 12 inch speaker. I highly recommend this amp for practice sessions and if you are a beginner. It is a decent and very fun amp to modify! // 8
Vypyr 15
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on january 31, 2012 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 100
Purchased from: GC
Features: Not sure what year it was made. I play blues, 80s metal, and some modern metal. This amp has at least 3 models for each of my styles. It has 12 channels, and the ability to save 12 different settings makes it easy to switch for each style in no time. I'm never let wanting for more effects or some other feature, but I don't really use many effects other than the env filter, or autowah, the chorus, the flanger, and the tube screamer. I use this amp in my living room, and it has plenty of power, and the distortion levels don't really change as the volume does. // 9
Sound: I play a squire Strat with stock single coils, and after I solved the p-up buzz problem, it sounds nice and clear. It suits my style very well, which is mostly Judas Priest type stuff, and its enough guitar for me. If you have the amp on a high volume and If you use certain amp models, you can get a good bit of feedback. The Clean channels stay clean at high volumes, if you are on a clean channel. There are distorted and clean channels for all amp models. The distortion on the Mesa Boogie Rectifier is faithful to the real rectifier, and is a favorite by a good amount of metal guitarists. // 10
Reliability & Durability: I've never had any problems with it, but I've only had it about 3 months. I would use on a gig, but only a small one, since it's still a 15 watt amp. It has never broken down, I just flip the switch, and it turns on. No problems what'soever with it. // 10
Impression: This amp is a good match for almost any style, except if you play only acoustic. It's hard to get a good clean channel and a good distorted channel in the same amp, but this is as good as it comes. I would definitely replace it if lost or stolen. If I had a few more bucks then I would get the 30 watt version, but if not the 15 is still amazing. I love almost everything about it, and I don't hate anything about it. I played it back to back with a Line 6 Spider, and this blows it away. The spider does somethings well, but the Vypyr does almost everything excellent. The only thing I wish it had is the rack effects option so I could run tube scream and autowah at the same time. // 9
Vypyr 15
Reviewed by:
eLeCtRoFrEaK, on january 16, 2012 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 139.99
Purchased from: Local Music Store
Features: This solid state amp has 12 amp and effects sounds and is a one channel amp. It is lacking a lot of features that an average guitarist may need; mainly reverb and delay. I play my amp mostly home, but I have played in bigger areas such as schools and small outdoor activities. The volume on this amp only goes up to 13 but it is good enough for me due to the small gigs I play. // 7
Sound: I play Heavy Metal and this amp is not in any way ready for it. It comes with 12 effects, 12 amp sounds, and 4 presets which you can save sounds to. I'm using a standard strat guitar with it and the original pickups. This amp is very scracthy when it is at low volume, however when it is turn up a bit it has a decent sound. The distortions on it aren't that good either. I suggest you save more money and invest in a better amp! // 6
Reliability & Durability: First I'll start off by just saying that this amp is not an amp to rely on at all. I've only had it a year and it went bad already. I never overpowered the amp or used it for long periods of times; maybe 3 hours but not straight, and it still gets pretty hot. I would never again take this amp anywhere else than a band practice. The amp also looks very ugly in the back; it's speaker and amp is exposed with no cover. It is light weight but still not worth the money! // 5
Impression: Overall if you are a Metal player who like bands such as Metallica, Slipknot, Disturbed, Children Of Bodom, Slayer; or any other bands that play various tuning. This amp is not anywhere near close to what you should consider buying. I've been playing guitar for a year now and I would say I'm pretty good. I use this amp with a BOSS DS-1 or sometimes my Boss ME-25; yes I am a Boss fan! I would never again purchase a Peavey amp unless it's the Valve King half stack. I don't love anything about it; maybe I like the lightness of it but most average practice amps are light weight. I wish I had the chance to buy a amp over instead of this Peavey Vypyr 15 watt model! Save you money and invest in another amp! // 7
Vypyr 15
Reviewed by:
JL_Shredder, on september 30, 2011 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 100
Purchased from: C.A. House Music
Features: I own a 2010 model of this amp. I recently purchased it as a practice amp (hauling my Valveking between rehearsals/shows and my house isn't exactly the easiest thing to do). For a 15 watt amplifier, this amp really can't be beaten. Having compared similar modeling amplifiers by Roland and Line 6, the Vypyr was the clear winner of that comparison test. It comes loaded with some pretty nice effects and amp models (especially for a 15 watt combo). After taking it to rehearsal one day just to play around with it, I found that, in true Peavey fashion, that it was actually loud enough to be heard over the drummer (who beats those drums very hard). Most solid state amps tend to get really muddy when used at full volume, but this amp stays fairly clean throughout it's volume range. // 10
Sound: I am using this amp with my Kramer Striker 211 custom with a Seymour Duncan JB model Trembucker in the bridge. It works very well for many different styles. The clean tones are spectacular, and the distorted tones have the perfect balance of good tone and response required for my neoclassical guitar playing. Unless you pump an unholy amount of overdrive combined with the amp's on-board Tube Screamer effect, this amp stays incredibly quiet. Being a tone freak, any practice amp that I'd use needs to have good tone, and Peavey has delivered yet again. // 10
Reliability & Durability: Being made by Peavey, this amp is highly durable. If some natural disaster caused my Valveking to stop working, this amp could probably handle as small club gig. Being fairly new, this amp has yet to even have one problem (unlike my old Behringer GMX 210, which had to be serviced 3 times due to the cheap parts that the company uses). Peavey on the other hand uses high quality materials, and I've never known someone who owned a Peavey to have any problems with reliability. // 10
Impression: Playing anything from folk music, blues, and rock to neoclassical shred, and even Cannibal Corpse style death metal in a friend's band, this amp delivers the necessary tones for writing any kind of song. Having been a guitarist for nearly 15 years (started at the age of four), I can say that this really beats everything but my Valveking half stack. If I suddenly lost this amp, I'd go right back and buy another one (finances permitting of course). There is so much to love about this amp, and not really much to dislike at all. As far as features go, I'd have to say that the versatility offered by their amp modeling system would be the absolute best feature if I had to pick one. Again, this amp was compared to similar units made by Line 6 and Roland, and the competition wasn't all that intense. Roland came in 2nd and Line 6 was left in the dust by Peavey's mastery over the world of amplification. Overall, this is a great amp. If you're a new player, I'd highly recommend it as a starter amp. If you're a seasoned musician that needs a highly portable and versatile practice amp, I'd recommend it for that too. If you have any need for a 15 watt amp, this amp is the one for you! // 10
Digital modelling amps are sheer crap; if you are a real musician (or, at least, a person provided good ears), then you know why. They certainly have their place in the actual gear market. But granting a straight 10 to this remarkable garbage proves you have nothing to do with music.
Not to mention Peavey's crappy speaker and cheap Far East labour, which will show up in a couple of months (buzzing or screeching switches, fading lights etc. etc.).
If we grant a straight 10 to this, how much should we grant to a Fender Champion Reissue, which is an all-tube in the same price range , and whose 5W RMS blows up any 15W modelling amp? A 173?
Well, my review was focused on its use as a practice amplifier; not its use as a studio or live amplifier. I would never use any solid state amp in a live or studio setting. I actually forgot about the crappy tuner, so my features should have really been an 8 or 9. And not to sound like an *******, but what grants you leave to assume that I "don't have anything to do with music?"
A brief answer to your question: not arrogance, but the fact you're using a guitar belonging to Ibanez's GIO Series. If you are acquinted to a pro player, plase be so kind and ask him why the unknown bastard at the UG said so.
Well, I just thought that you should know that my profile has not been updated in a while. I now mainly play a Kramer Striker 211 Custom (equipped with a Seymour Duncan JB Trembucker in the bridge and a JB Junior in the neck, with the middle disconnected. I installed both myself along with a genuine Floyd Rose and a brass block for that Floyd Rose. And since when did owning low quality instruments make anyone a sub-par musician. I suppose that musicianship must be something that one can buy then? Never mind the fact that I have been playing guitar for 14 years, piano for 3 years, mandolin for 4 years, bass for 10. Also, please disregard the fact that I am a music major studying composition and minoring in opera. You may also want to disregard the fact that I've already composed 6 sonatas, all before I reached the age of 16 (20 years old now). But hey, what do I know? I'm only a classically trained musician who does not happen to be rich, and I was never spoiled as a child. I guess that just makes me a bad musician eh? I'm interested in hearing your remarks...
Of course, I do not feel the need to prove myself to anyone such as yourself. I just figured that this short conversation might make you think twice before you insult someone you do not know. A little modesty and consideration might serve you well.
There's no use reasoning with someone who granted straight 10s to a Peavey Vypyr, indeed. No offence. I've thought you want to discuss, in order to get more experience or simply to listen to other opinions. I just meant to tell you that your hard earned bucks could be spent on a quality practice amp, like the Fender Champion I've mentioned (there are some other 5 or 6 good all-tubes in the same price range as the Vypyr).
And the only thing that made me react were the straight 10s to a low quality amp, like the Vypyr. It doesn't deserve them even compared to other modelling amps. Vox DAs, for instance, are so much better (again, in the same price range). If you took my invitation to responsability - because granting 10s implies a certain responsability - as an insult, then you're right. I shouldn't have replied from the very beginning. You're not a rocker. WE like to speak straight about our ideas, without feeling offenced every time when someone doesn't agree to them.
And I definitely don't agree Vypyrs are good amps. Period.
Then perhaps we got lost in translation. If you want to discuss gear itself, then I will readily admit that I'm not the authority. I spent most of my time improving my technique and compositional abilities rather than learning much about gear.
Your last comment really made your point much clearer, and I agree. This amp does not deserve the 10s that I gave it. I was on the defensive because I thought you were insulting my musicianship rather than my knowledge of equipment (which definitely needs to be augmented). As I said, I use a Valveking 100 half stack for shows, rehearsal, and recording at the moment. That particular amp works very well and sounds very good. That said, I'm currently looking into the Carvin X100b which seems to better suit my playing style. Many people that I know have been recommending Bugera amplifiers, but after owning a Behringer GMX 210 as a beginner, I will never purchase anything made by said company. The cheap input jack on that amp broke twice within my warranty period, and two knobs broke shortly after the period was up, but now I'm rambling.
If it was my knowledge of gear that you were calling into question, then I fully acknowledge my mistake in taking offense and apologize for the bits of rudeness in my previous comments. Once I have purchased the x100b (or whichever head I decide on), I just might look into the Champion that you mentioned. If that is the case then perhaps new scores are in order. (6,5,4,6 for an overall score of 5.25)
Wow, that's a strong argument. There's one angle you didn't consider. Maybe I want to play a ton of different styles. A fender champ won't let me. It won't even let me play 2 styles. That's why I like the vypyr. I agree, its not the best amp for $100 dollars. But if you find an amp that has as many models and styles as the vypyr for the same price, let me know. I've only been playing a few years, but I've shopped around a ton. I got this amp on recommendation from my guitar teacher who has been playing for almost 40 years. He also owns 32 guitars, so I imagine he knows a little about equipment.
My wife got me this amp for Xmas. I use it whenever I want to practice at lower volumes, and still be able to get decent tones. Of course I'll never be able to achieve the tone I get with my normal setup, but that's expected from a digital modeling amp. I think it's good for what it does though. I'll give it a solid 7.
Just love this amp! For 99$! its definitely a great one.
Got good sound and reception.. the construction could have been better though. But I would definitely recommend this one!
I use this with SB-1.
has great tone and you can do practically anything with it from BMTH to Green Day to country shit. great amp with many possiblilities
I hate this amp. its a step up from my sp-10 but its garbage. I Like real music and the tone quality and feedback are awful. Plus its just way to complicated one good amp is good for me with no effects, No bullshit just music.
Not to mention Peavey's crappy speaker and cheap Far East labour, which will show up in a couple of months (buzzing or screeching switches, fading lights etc. etc.).
If we grant a straight 10 to this, how much should we grant to a Fender Champion Reissue, which is an all-tube in the same price range , and whose 5W RMS blows up any 15W modelling amp? A 173?