Gear    Review:

Peavey     Vypyr                                                                                                                           "VIP-1"     Combo     Amp

Tiny     Practice    Amp                                                                                                                                                                             with    a    Mighty    Roar.

When I purchased my Ibanez TMB-310 Bass Guitar from Sweetwater,      I knew I'd need a good practice amp to go along with it.  It had to be small enough to fit the tight confines of my bedroom project studio, sound good and be affordable ( -preferably under $150.00 ). 

A tall order to be sure!

 

After doing lots of research it became apparent ( -from all of the favorable reviews I was reading on various music dealer's websites      and on the web ), that Peavey's Vypyr "VIP-1" would be among the                                                                 top contenders for my consideration. 

( -ABOVE )  PEAVEY'S  VYPYR  VIP-1                                                                                                           

 

So, I went ahead and ordered one along with my Ibanez TMB-310.  And I'm really glad I did.  The VIP-1 lived  up to all the reviews I'd been reading and then some.  If you're looking for a great little practice amp ( -that  you can use with both bass and guitar ) this one gets my "thumbs up".                                                                  

"If     you're     looking     for     a     great     little     practice-amp     that     you      can     use     with    both     bass     and     guitar,  this     one     gets     my     thumbs     up!"                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 -Tomm     Buzzetta,    Editor     CTN .

Rated at 20-watts, capable of handling both bass and guitar signals and having a nice selection of ( 36 ) onboard amp models and ( 20 ) effects ( -complete with control parameters ), the VIP-1 gives you astonishing "bang-for-your-buck"! And when it comes to power, this little brute has it by the bucket load.

It's 20-watts actually sounds more like 50-60 watts!

                                                                                                                                                                                                  ( -ABOVE )  VYPYR  VIP-2 CONTROLS

 

I literally could not  turn the volume past the "one-and-a-half" mark for fear of having my neighbors complain!  And the "tone" and bass output of this little 1 x 8" cabinet was phenomenal as well. Perhaps we can chock    this up to the VIP-1's rear port and Peavey's proprietary speaker voicing. I can't say for sure. However, what

I can say is that I was thoroughly impressed  with the fat, "rounded" tone I got from this little practice amp. 

 

I kept telling myself "an eight-inch speaker shouldn't  be capable of putting out this much bass". 

None-the-less the Vypyr VIP-1 did!  Sure, it wasn't up to the levels you'd get from a 1 x 15" or 1 x 12" 

cab but it DID match what I've heard coming from some 1 x 10" 's.  

The Vypyr VIP-1 uses a 32-bit floating-point SHARC DSP processor for effects and amp modeling. And overall, it does    a good job. While I thought a few of the effects could've been better I'm not going to complain too loudly.

Remember, you're getting an amp that can handle both bass and guitar signals as well as transform your axe into several different instrument "models"( -all for under $150.00 ). 

( -ABOVE  )  VYPYR  CONTROL  PANEL                    

 

You're getting ( 36 ) onboard guitar/ bass amp "models" and an onboard effects processor. And all of this

is coming from a compact ( 17.5" H x 17.5"W x 10" D ) lightweight 20 lb. practice amp you can pick up for

as little as $129.99 ( -from Sweetwater, for example ). 

 

Imagine how much all of that stuff would cost you separately! And what a hassle it would be to lug around when gigging!  So, again, you'll get no complaints from me. This little monster absolutely ROCKS!                                

"Imagine     how     much     all     of     this     stuff     would     cost     you     separately!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              And     what      a     hassle     it     would     be     to      lug    around     when     gigging!"

( -RIGHT  )  The graphic to the right illustrates the Peavey VYPYR VIP-1's "instrument modeling" feature. If there was ever a "tone chameleon" of an amp, the Vypyr VIP-1 is it!  *NOTE:  The other models in the Vypyr Series also have this "instrument modeling" capability as well. 

Wrapping    up...

So, in wrapping up let's mention some of the features I haven't covered yet:  

 

* Bi-directional USB output ( -for recording )  * 3-band EQ   * Headphone Out and Aux/ MP3 / CD Input          * 1 x 8-pin DIN ( -Sanpera I, II footswitch I/O's )  * The ( 36 ) Guitar Amp models come in "Acoustic" and "Electric" Guitar as well as "Bass" Guitar flavors  * The ( 20 ) Effects include:  wah, chorus, compressor,

comp/ chorus, flanger, octaver, tremolo, rotary speaker, reverb, delay ( -with tap tempo ).

BOTTOM LINE: 

Peavey's Vypyr VIP-1 is a terrific little practice amp!  It offers you a ton of cool features, sounds great, is loud    as hell ( -for 20 watts! ) and can be had for a song.  A stone cold "steal of a deal".  Grab one of these little monsters before they stop making them. You won't be sorry! 

A    Peavey     "All-Instrument"                          Practice     Amp?

As nifty as Peavey's "Vypyr Series" is, how cool would it be if Peavey came out with an "ALL INSTRUMENT" 

line of practice amps ( -that had the Vypyr line's feature-set but included a "synth/ keyboard" level input

in addition to the guitar/ bass input it already  has -along with a crossover, a high-frequency driver and

mini ( wide-dispersion ) horn to handle the high frequency requirements of synths and keyboards.

WHY should synthesists and keyboardists be left out of all the fun? 

 

As a synth/ keyboard player, I'd love  to own such an "ALL INSTRUMENT" practice amp.  And I'm sure there      are plenty of other "multi-instrumentalists" out there who'd dig one too.  Finally, multi-instrumentalists could eliminate the hassles of lugging around more than one amp to their practice sessions, studio dates and gigs! ONE Practice Amp that handles everything.  WHY hasn't someone thought of this before? 

 

The Peavey Vypyr line is already so versatile -it's amazing they didn't just go "all the way" and come out

with this "All Instrument Concept" in the first place!  Let's hope they do so in the near future. I think a lot

of musicians would want one.  If they decide to make such a line, maybe they'll remember this article

and let me pick out a free one from their line up for giving them the idea.  That'd be cool.  I'd love

to be the first reviewer to get my hands on one! 

What    do    YOU     think?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Would     you     buy     a     Peavey                                                   "ALL       INSTRUMENT"     Practice                  Amp     if    they    introduced    such    a    line?

Leave your comments on our "Contact Page".  Maybe if enough people like the idea

Peavey will consider producing an "ALL  INSTRUMENT" line of Practice Amps.  Let's hope so!