Hartley Peavey’s now-global business began a lot like many other musical instrument companies that got rolling in the late ’60s and ’70s—a musician with a soldering iron and a knack for electronics applied both to the nascent art of rock ’n’ roll. Unlike a lot of those companies, however, Peavey has always remained steadfastly independent, and even over decades of massive growth, Peavey maintained a focus on affordability while delivering the features and flexibility of more expensive gear. While Peavey has dabbled in many facets of the sound and instrument business over the years (their PA systems are ubiquitous in nightclubs, theaters, airports, and even the U.S. Capitol Building), the company’s bread and butter remains amplifiers. One of the most famous—and desirable—is the ’70s Classic 30, a 30-watt combo amp with a distinctive, bluesy, classic-rock tone derived from a solid-state preamp and 6L6GC power tubes (the current production Classic 30 is all-tube).

This amp garnered a following among gigging guitarists and the amp-mod community, which constantly tinkers with the Classic 30’s tone. Fast-forward to 2008, when Peavey released cutting-edge modeling software called ReValver mkIII, which let users modify tones not just by tweaking knobs, but also by changing the virtual circuitry of the amp model. The following year, the company introduced the first series of Vypyr amplifiers, which were based on the company’s new TransTube modeling technology.

I recently purchased a Peavey VIP 2 and wanted to record directly from the USB port on the amp to Studio One. Then it will not show up in the list on Studio One 2. With Mac, if the device framework (i.e. Core Audio Framework for your device) is not setup, then the device will not show up when connected either. The editor software that. A 40W combo that morphs from a bass amp, to an acoustic amp, to an electric amp. The Peavey VYPYR VIP 2 guitar modeling combo amp uses Variable Instrument Input technology to provide 40W of amplification for a variety of instrument types.

The goal of TransTube, like many other modeling technologies, was to create tube-like tone with natural compression in the power amp, a wide dynamic range, and tube-amp grit. Now, Peavey has unveiled a second version of the Vypyr line, the VIP series, as well as an optional pair of foot controllers, dubbed Sanpera I and II. VIP stands for Variable Instrument Performance, and it means this latest iteration of the Vypyr line of amps is designed and built to handle electric 6-string, acoustic, and bass guitars. And after plugging in your weapon of choice, you can simply select guitar, bass, or acoustic settings, and the Vypyr will reconfigure and optimize its performance for that instrument. The onboard modeling engine also includes amps that are tweaked specifically for acoustic guitar and bass.

An Amp for Every Season The Vypyr VIP 2 reviewed here is a member of a three-amp family that includes the VIP 1, VIP 2, and VIP 3 (rated at 20, 40, and 100 watts, respectively). These amps are designed to accommodate stages and studios of every size. Filehippo.

Both the VIP 2 and 3 have a 12' speaker while the VIP 1 sports an 8' driver. The cabinet for each model in the series has a ported, semi-closed back designed to extend the low-end range. The controls on the back of the amp are basic and simple—just power input, on/off switch, and the Sanpera’s combined data and power MIDI connection.

At power up, the LED window on the Sanpera greets you with “Plug in, tune up and rock out!” You’re also treated to a dazzling lightshow from the—no kidding—78 LEDs on the amp’s front control panel. That number of LEDs may seem a bit excessive, but on this amp they are essential for navigating to the effects, amp models, and other features, and selecting and modifying the amp’s sounds.

Essentially there’s no menu system to navigate on the Vypyr. That’s a big plus for musicians who favor a simpler control layout. Apart from the Peavey-related amp models, there are 24 electric guitar amp models in the VIP 2, including 6534, “twin,” “xxx,” “British,” and “butcher” models. The six acoustic amp and six bass amp collections each include a Trace Elliot model (from the Peavey family, of course). A Trip to the Tone Library I first explored the Vypyr using a Fender Stratocaster plugged directly into the amp. I pressed the electric guitar button, and spun the amplifier knob to classic (an emulation of the modern all-tube Peavey Classic mentioned earlier).