I have found this Vypyr to be my favorite of all the modeling amps I've tried.
It sounds great both clean and dirty, and is loaded with accurate amp models and good sounding effects. There's also plenty of gain for the heaviest of metal.
This amp will cover any type of music from country to jazz to blues to rock to prog metal to 80's metal to death metal etc etc. ....and it will do each of them very well.
Here are the amps modeled with this amp....Diezel, Krankenstein, Mesa Rectifier, Peavey 6505, Peavey JSX, Peavey XXX, Peavey Classic, B-Kat(BadCat), British Vox AC 30, Marshall Plexi, Twin Reverb, Vintage Tweed/Hot Rod Deluxe. All amps are modeled with a clean and dirty channel. I have found these models to sound very close to the amps they model. My favorites are the Rectifier and JSX models...probably because I prefer hard rock and metal.
You'll also find lots of effects and stomp boxes on board. These sound really good and are very usable. The stompboxes have a nice analog character to them as opposed to a digital quality you find in other modeling amps. Included is a Tube Screamer, Zakk Wild XR, Phaser, chorus, flange, fuzz, auto wah, octaver, tremolo and many more!! Also onboard you will find delay and reverb effects.
You can set up your own tones using the amp models, stompboxes, and effects...and then save them in one of the preset banks. You might also consider getting the Sanpera II foot pedal(sold separately) so you can control the amp from the floor. The footpedal allows you to access your custom presets and control all the effects. This would be great for any live gig.
The Vypyr Tibe 60 has a 6L6 tube section that includes a 12AX7 tube. You get a really nice tube vibe from this amp. These tubes are not just for show, they really effect the tone of the amp.
This amp is a 60 watt combo and has a single 12 inch speaker. It's very loud and should be fine for playing live gigs in small to medium venues.
The amp as a USB record out jack on the front panel. You can use a USB cable and plug the amp directly into your computer and record direct without an interface. There's also a headphone out jack and a aux. input for MP3 players.
I give this amp 5 stars out of 5. I've owned it for about 2 months and would not want to trade it or sell it for another amp at this time. I'm really happy with my purchase. I paid around 450 dollars for this amp.
The Vypyr is available in solid state models in the 15, 30, 75, and 100 watt range. The Tube models are available in 60 watt 1x12, 120 watt 2x12 combos, and also in a 120 watt head. Prices vary with wattages.
I have never played one of the solid state versions but I have read many favorable reviews on them and also have heard some impressive sound clips on youtube. If you can't afford the Tube Vypyr don't be afraid of trying the Solid State version in the 15, 30 or 75 watt range. These are pretty affordable and offer a lot of bang for the buck.
Here are a few clips for you to check out the Tube Vypyr 60 watt...same one I have.
Here's a demo of the JSX amp model. The amp is mic'd in this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2uyQ0yhL58
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a2HtWDG0vw&feature=related
Here's a nice video that covers the compatible Sanpera footpedals that control the amp from the floor(sold separately)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BW2LDc2r_Y&feature=related
This amp would be great for playing live, band rehearsals, garage jams, and bedroom practice. It does sound pretty good at lower volumes.
