Profex II- really that good?

Jim Ives · Post by **Jim Ives** » 30 Jul 2003 4:38 pm

I'm wondering if the Profex II is really that good? I see alot of them sold here in the Forum, so I figure there must be something to it. But I also figure if they are that popular, Peavey would have started making them again.
Do you Profex II owners use that many different parameters? With my distortion and reverb pedals it seems to me like I may have enough, but I am open to suggestion, especially when it comes to being able to justify getting a new gadget.
Thanks for the input....
-Jim

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Mullen D-10
Boss RV3
Fulltone Full-Drive II
Evans FET 500
Sho-Bud Pro II D10
Fender Stratocaster

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 31 Jul 2003 1:10 am

Hmmmm. Seems like if they were really happy with them...they <u>wouldn't</u> be selling them. At least, that's the way it works for most stuff.

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 31 Jul 2003 5:12 am

As far as bang for the buck, a ProFex is a good deal, in my opinion. They are relatively easy to use, and you have the ability to have a bunch of different sounds available instantly at the push of a button. You can get a good sound if you spend the time programming. The Newman presets are a good starting point. I used to have several good sounds stored for steel, a couple of fiddle presets, and some decent guitar sounds. It was very handy. I still use it occasionally when I get a job where I need to take all three instruments. I have never used a TubeFex, but would like to try one because of the tube preamp, I think I would like that a lot better. Pretty hard to beat the sound of a tube !

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Doug Earnest
The only Zum Keyless U12, Fender Cyber Twin

Bill R. Baker · Post by **Bill R. Baker** » 31 Jul 2003 5:26 am

I sold my Profex II because I bought the Tubefex and Transtubefex. Otherwise I would not have parted with the Profex.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 31 Jul 2003 6:39 am

I think a Profex II with a Peavey "Tube Sweetener" is a hard to beat combination.
Erv

Jim Ives · Post by **Jim Ives** » 31 Jul 2003 7:28 am

So far that's 3 "Yes" and 1 "No".

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Mullen D-10
Boss RV3
Fulltone Full-Drive II
Evans FET 500
Sho-Bud Pro II D10
Fender Stratocaster

Duane Dunard · Post by **Duane Dunard** » 31 Jul 2003 9:13 am

Jim, The Profex-I and II's were around for quite awhile, but the number of units ordered by dealers probably no longer justified production. Manufacturers watch numbers very closely. I liked my Profex II, but simply got tired of the clutter of rack equipment on small stages. Plus I became too dependent on the effects to hide my poor playing skills. The small Boss RV-3, when adjusted properly, works fine, but quess what? They don't make them anymore for the same reason!

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 31 Jul 2003 11:13 am

Jim, the Profexes, Tubefexes and Transtubefexes were/are made for the huge 6-string market. That we steelers can use them is just a coincidence. Our market is too small to inspire such products. Consequently, Peavey's production decisions are made according to the 6-string market, which is highly volatile and trendy as far as FX units go. Whether a product is taken off the 6-string market or not says nothing about it's usefulness for steel. The fact that some of these products have become untrendy and out of production for 6-stringers means we steelers can grab them up at great prices on the used market. The fact that so many steelers use these Peavey FX units shows that they work for steelers in a situation where a lot of 6-stringer products don't. Admittedly the Profex is at the low end of these products now, but it's also at the low end for price. So it still serves a need for those steelers who want a unit proven for steel but at a low price.

Dennis Wood · Post by **Dennis Wood** » 31 Jul 2003 11:45 am

I have used all three, and have a Tubefex now. I can't tell a big difference in the effects of all three units, or the clean sounds with the ttfex and tubefex. THe tubefex sounds better at the higher gain stages when you crank the preamp tubes.
just my opinion.

For what its worth, i don't think my tubefex sounds any better than just my guitar and amp, but i like haveing the tuner and different reverbs, delays etc. Sometimes i just carry my guitar and nash400 and am completely happy with my tone. The tfex is great for playing direct to a board or house pa system.
I wouldn't want to be without my tfex but i am not dependent on it either.

Dennis

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Sierra U-12 Crown Gearless, Peavey Nashville 400,
Peavey Tubefex,
Peavey Stereo 212,
Peavey TT Bandit w/ex speaker. Regal Reso, Tele, Strat, 1970 Les Paul Std.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 31 Jul 2003 3:47 pm

I had a TubeFex for a while. I didn't like it very much. It was complicated to program and too noisy for recording. I upgraded to a Mesa/Boogie preamp with a Lexicon MPX-100, which works much better for the sounds I'm after.

Maybe combining the preamp and effects in one unit isn't such a great idea.

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<font size="1"><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax</font>

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 31 Jul 2003 4:24 pm

If you program the EQ out and use the Profex II only for effects I find it to be just about as good as any effects unit I have ever
owned or used. You just delete the EQ from a setting and set the outputs(+) at 100% and set the mix of each effect to taste and it works great. It is terrible if you don't reverse the mix and output values of the effects and you must remember that the next blank space after the last effect is where you set the output for that effect, move the curser to that blank space and hit edit.

Bruce Meyer · Post by **Bruce Meyer** » 31 Jul 2003 4:47 pm

I've had the Profex and now have a Transtubefex, which I've tried to tweak a lot to my taste. I think there may be better sounding units with more features out there now (for example the POD XT rack) but the Newman presets and the relatively low cost of the Profex makes it hard to beat for what it does.

Jerry. Could you please explain what you meant by "It is terrible if you don't reverse the mix and output values of the effects....". Thanks.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 31 Jul 2003 8:08 pm

Bruce, I said if you delete the EQ from a setting and don't reverse the values of the effect output and mix levels that it sounds terrible because the effects become overbearingly wet. With the EQ in the chain you don't need to reverse these values. Sorry I didn't make it clear what I meant. If you load a setting that the effects are connected with a + (I believe that is in series), if you then delete the EQ you will see what I mean, it will sound like in a barrel. If you then reverse the mix and output %'s it will sound great. I don't think this is necessary on a program that the effects are connected with -> which I believe is parallel.
Jerry

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 1 Aug 2003 5:13 am

I've had a the Pro-Fex II for over ten years with no problems and still have it on the bandstand right now. I switch back and forth from amps and stomp boxes to the Pro-Fex II and prefer it to the others. I'd get the Newman video to get more out of it than the standard settings. I changed most of the ones I use and created some others. I use about 8 different settings throughout the night. I've recorded with it and it's quiet and clean. I've got a Transtubefex and love it too. I'd get the Transtubefex if you can but the Pro-Fex II is fine too. I had the Tubefex and never liked it. The only thing I've changed in the line of effects is I've added the 882 Sonic Maximizer and the tone got thicker.

KENNY KRUPNICK · Post by **KENNY KRUPNICK** » 1 Aug 2003 5:38 am

I like my RV-3'S. I own two of them. Enough said.

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 1 Aug 2003 8:14 am

You woudn't believe the number of inquiries that I still receive about the Profex II. Remember the Peavey Session 2000 amp? Well, the reason that we could not continue the production of this item was because there was not a supplier of the RAM cartridge mechanism. We built about 150 S2000's and our vendor discontinued production of this vital section of the amp. This part is one reason why there is not a processor in our product line at this time, but who's to say that there won't be another Peavey preamp/processor. The Profex II was a great product just as the Tubefex and Transtube Fex units were. But, as technology advances, we advance with it or be left behind.

When a product peaks in sales figures, it's time to move on to "bigger and better" things, as they say. That's when the Tubefex and Transtube Fex units became a reality. I think that most steel players(including myself) can be accused of being slow in keeping abreast of the latest and greatest products.

The Profex series of processors probably wouldn't be as popular among steel guitarists if it weren't for Jeff Newman. I remember the positive review of the Profex II early on and it seemed that it took off from there. The Profex II is still a great processor, but it wouldn't be profitable for us to manufacture it again.

I'm sure that all of you have a friend that is always selling and purchasing new "gadgets" and that could be one reason that they may want to sell their Profex, not necessarily that there was something wrong with a unit. Believe it or not, I've spoken with players who own 3 and 4 of the Profex II's because they are being purchased at a low price.

Frank, if you've had your Profex II for over ten years, I'd check the battery or have a tech check the battery for possible leakage. Five years is about the most that those batteries will last.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

Tony Harris · Post by **Tony Harris** » 1 Aug 2003 8:15 am

I had a Profex 2 for a while. I noticed that a lot of the steel presets that I liked had a cut around 700 - 800Hz. A lot of players seem to do that on their amp's EQ. I found settings on my POD that sounded similar, then sold the Profex. The overdriven guitar presets were HIDEOUS!

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 2 Aug 2003 7:18 pm

I'm agree with Duane on this one. I'm changing over to a BOSS RV-3 soon as I win a bid for one on ebay. In fact, my Profex-I is now officially for sale if anyone wants it. Works great, but I just want to start packing lighter! NR