Bass Player was lucky enough to get one of Peavey’s first production-model Pro VB-3 all-tube bass heads. Last night I took the 300-watt, 37-pound wonder out on the town to check it out.
First thoughts: Holy cow, this is light. Stacked against an 80-pound Ampeg SVT Classic, the weight difference—courtesy of the VB-3’s switching power supply—is serious business. Hauling it up stairs and slinging it atop a Genz Benz GB 610T-XB2 6x10 was no problem, and the two top handles helped maneuverability.
On a deafeningly loud club stage, the VB-3 doled out boatloads of booty. The head held nearly every EQ option imaginable: a Baxendall-style 3-band tone stack and a 9-band graphic EQ, plus low cut, bright, resonance, and presence controls. With the head’s extreme equalization offerings, I had ultimate EQ control. The overdrive channel, switchable with an included 4-button footswitch, produced a luscious, natural-sounding overdrive. With an MSRP of $2,599, the VB-3’s price tag seems a tad hefty, and I have some more time to spend with the head before deciding if it’s worth it. Stay tuned….