SOUND SYSTEMS & PRO AUDIO
Musicians know the true magic of the holiday season. It’s the time of year when the gear they’ve been looking for is within reach. And what’s an amp without a guitar, and vice-versa? Cookies and milk, chocolate and wine, socks and underwear, and now reptiles and birds of prey! That’s right: Peavey’s VYPYR® X2 guitar modeling amp and Raptor® electric guitar are the newly appointed “dynamic duo” of the holiday season, plus the Sanpera® II Footswitch and PV® 25 ft. Instrument Cable are the perfect pair to connect and complement them.
What exactly does the VYPYR X2 modeling amp do?
It uses state-of-the-art digital technology to create unbelievably realistic models of a huge assortment of your favorite amplifier and effects sounds, so you don’t need to buy them one at a time.
What type of player could best utilize such a powerful beast?
The VYPYR X2 is an ideal amplifier for anyone who enjoys dabbling across different instrument sounds and styles. We’re talking about an Olympic gymnast level of flexibility. Players can even switch from electric guitar to bass to acoustic on the same amplifier.
Does Peavey have much experience with high technology?
The VYPYR Series evolution is part of what makes the X2 such a great option. The VYPYR Series launched in 2008 with many industry firsts, including an on-board USB, stomp-box presets, a looper, 5-effect simultaneous operation, and TransTube®, which is Peavey’s revolutionary analog/digital hybrid technology. Then, in 2012, the VYPYR VIP launched as the world’s first Variable Instrument Performance amp, designed for use with electric, bass, and acoustic guitar. Peavey became the first company to introduce instrument models to this already feature-packed amplifier.
Is this the latest version?
Nearly a decade later, the latest-evolution VYPYR X Series features updated styling, superior cabinet design for premier acoustic performance, and improved TransTube technology.
How manageable is this model?
If a guitar amp is on your holiday shopping list, the team here at Peavey recommends the fan-favorite VYPYR X2, offering 60 Watts RMS and a 12-inch custom-voiced heavy-duty speaker. It weighs just 28 pounds unpacked. It has Bluetooth® remote control and audio streaming in, making it super easy for players to stream backing tracks and control all the settings via iOS remote app control.
Can I access all the controls while I’m playing?
You can, but the Sanpera® II foot controller is hugely helpful when activating the looper and other effects. The coolest-looking and most functional foot controller on the market features dual, assignable expression pedals with tap switches, dedicated tap tempo and looper control, as well as footswitches for accessing presets, preamp "stompbox" effects, post-amp "rack" effects, delay and reverb.
Can it handle being stomped on with my boots?
The Sanpera II is housed in roadworthy and rugged cast-metal casing and features high-quality metal switches.
But what’s an amp without a guitar?
Peavey has the perfect companion. The Raptor Series Electric Guitar is solid, classic, and oh-so-stylish.
I’m familiar with Peavey’s extensive amp history, but what about guitars?
Peavey has a rich history of guitar making and pushed the industry to better manufacturing standards back in the 1970s. Today, Raptor guitars stay true to this tradition. They have an old soul, inspired by vintage instruments from the Golden Age of guitar building. Each guitar is crafted to inspire the player, delivering tone and sustain that will bring out their creativity and transport them to another time and place.
How long have Raptors been roaming Planet Peavey?
The Raptor Series emerged in the mid-1990s as part of the Peavey International Series, based on traditional solid-body designs. The Raptor starts with solid-body basswood construction and ergonomically balanced styling. Classic and sturdy, the maple neck offers a rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlays to guide hand positioning. The Raptor Plus’ bridge pickup is a dual-coil humbucker while the neck and middle pickups have single coils. The single-coil pickups offer a wide top pole piece, allowing for a bigger string window with more focus.
What are some of the specifics that I need to know?
Players will appreciate the versatility of the Raptor’s five-way pickup selector, offering hum canceling in the second and fourth positions. They’ll also take note of the fulcrum tremolo bridge and Peavey’s six-in-line headstock with straight string pull, which helps to reinforce the Raptor’s ergonomics and balance.
Is there a particular Raptor you would recommend that really roars?
A series standout is the Raptor Custom Marine Green. This model is unique not only for its eye-catching finish, but also for its exclusive PowerPlate™, an innovation from Peavey that’s mounted on the back of the headstock using the machine heads. It effectively increases volume and sustain while virtually eliminating dead spots on the fretboard. Meanwhile, this model’s steel bridge increases the amount of string energy transmitted into the body, further improving resonance and sustain.
What’s the main takeaway…what does the Raptor truly represent?
The Raptor Series proves that a good guitar is so much more than the wood, finish, and parts. These models are proof that a good guitar doesn’t have to carry a boutique price tag. A good guitar is about how it makes players feel as well as how it makes them sound.
Alright, I’m in. But there’s one last thing. Does the cord make any difference?
Sure it does. You don’t want to spend hours and hours learning to play well and sound good on a quality instrument only to have the tone compromised by a rinky-dink cord on its way to your versatile new amp. But you don’t need to spend a ton of money on some super boutique cord either.
PV® Series Cables are equipped with high quality Peavey connectors that deliver reliability at a nice price. And 25 feet of length is great for an instrument cable. It allows plenty of room to rock around the stage without being too long to where you’re always tripping over it or compromising tone along the way. Pick up a PV 25 ft. Instrument Cable to get connected.
Whether you’re looking to practice and play at home or for affordable gear that can hold its own in a live setting, the VYPYR X2 amp and Raptor electric guitar are a feature-packed combo at an affordable price point. To get the very most out of them, we highly recommend the Sanpera® II foot controller and PV 25 ft. Cable to complement and connect them.
Happy Holidays from the Peavey Electronics team!
