Peavey XXX or 5150 owners, please help!

[Jupiter]

Hey guys!
I listened to the Peavey XXX clips on chrissnider.net , and i'm really, really impressed by them. Could any XXX owners comment on if the clips on the site are a good representation of how the amp actually sounds? If it can pull those tones off, i just may pick one up. Also, how does the amp do with an OD pedal in front of it for leads?
I also really liked the tone he got from the 5150 {not the one on the "clean" channel, the other one}. The other guitarist in my band uses a 5150 combo, and it sounds completely different from this. His is extremely trebly and brutal {in a good way}, but this one sounded nice! Is that clip a good example of how the 5150 head sounds? How does this one do with an OD for leads? Whenever i do lead stuff on my friend's 5150 combo, it always sounds very cold and thin, and doesn't have enough body to make fast alternate picked runs sounds warm and smooth {think: John Petrucci or Mattias Eklundh}.
Please help! Any comments are much appreciated.

[screamndemon69]

i have a 5150 head and have been using it for a few years as my main amp. it is a solid built amp and after you get somebody (like FJA) to lower the gain a bit and re-bias it, it can be very versatile. Peavey is known for great customer service if you ever have problems.
the XXX has a good clean sound (i've played the head version and the 2x12- i like the 2x12), the crunch is awesome but the ultra channel is useless IMHO. it would be kinda useless to buy a three channel amp if you don't need the third channel. i liked the overall looks of the combo and would find the crunch and clean channels very useful.

[JerryP]

I'd say the clips on Chis's page are pretty much how those amps sound stock.
The 5150 combo is different than the head. I hate the combo myself. The original 5150 or the 5150II with it's lead channel moded back to the specs of the original are great amps. The 5150's need the bias mod so the tubes can be biased warmer. IMO they sound too thin, buzzy, and brittle the way they come biased from the factory. The clean is not very good with out some mods to clean it up.
The XXX comes with 6L6 power tubes but most people seem to prefer the EL34's in them. Stock the XXX is very thin and buzzy to my ears. The XXX has an amazing clean for a high gain amp. I have clips of modified 5150's and XXX'x on my soundclip page.
Jerry

[Jupiter]

Jerry,
Would you say the XXX clips on your page are a good representation of how the amp sounds in person? Not quite the tone i'm going for, no offense.

[JerryP]

They're close. I think the amp sounds heavier in person. I'm not very good at recording or playing for that matter, but it gives you an idea of the sound. The clips on my page are of a modified XXX. The clips on Chris's site sound pretty much like the amp sounds in person for a stock XXX.
Jerry

[Jupiter]

Well, i just won a Triple XXX off the the Bay for $561! Anybody have some settings that they reccomend i try out?
Also, what kind of tonal difference do the EL34's make as opposed to the 6L6's?

[JerryP]

Start with the EQ settings all at 12 o'clock. Turn the master volume up to about 2 or 3 o'clock. Keep the channel gains on the crunch and ultra below 12 o'clock, any higher and they sound too buzzy. Use the channel volumes to control your overall volume. I like the loose setting on the resonance switch best. The EL34's will take the edge off and make it smoother. Most guys seem to prefer the EL34's in the XXX. I have some clips of modified XXX's on my site to hear the differences between the 6L6 and EL34 tubes.
Jerry