The Peavey Classic 30

[cfgsteak]

I really want one...

However, are there any other good choices in the same price range? I want an all tube amp that can take some pedals...

(look! I posted in another forum!)

[Mark Wein]

I think most guys around here will tell you that its the best value in that price range....The Orange Tiny Terror that I tried was great but then you need a speaker cabinet....more money.

[Prages]

I love mine, and you can sometimes find great deals on a used one. I've had mine for 3 or 4 years, but I only paid $200 for it.

The older crate Vintage Clubs, and the newer Palominos and V-Series get quite a bit of praise, but I have to admit, I've never played one myself.

I've also heard a lot of people talking about how good the new 5 Watt Blackstar is.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Blackstar-HT-Series-HT5H-and-HT110-Guitar-Mini-Half-Stack?sku=489746

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/regular/7/1/5/582715.jpg

[Chihlidog]

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-NFS-EPIEPABKSC50H

Cheaper than the classic 30, and I LOVE some of the sounds the guy gets outta the thing.

SHUjNcimakI

[Prages]

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-NFS-EPIEPABKSC50H

Cheaper than the classic 30, and I LOVE some of the sounds the guy gets outta the thing.

But that's just the head. Add another couple hundred for a cabinet.

And with Classic 30s, there are plenty of used ones on the market for under $400.

[Chihlidog]

But that's just the head. Add another couple hundred for a cabinet.

And with Classic 30s, there are plenty of used ones on the market for under $400.

Yeah? For the half stack? I always assumed that was just the head.


I gotta hear a full demo of one of those suckers. Everyone raves about them. I dont often see the used SoCals for sale but they seem to run around 300-350 for the head. I dont know about the cab. I wonder if I'd like the Classic 30 as much as I like what I hear from the Epi.

[Prages]

Yeah? For the half stack? I always assumed that was just the head.

I'm talking about the Classic 30 combo. There aren't too many used heads on the market, because they've only been around for a year or two.

I don't know if you'd like the Classic 30 or not. I really love it, but you play a lot heavier music than I do, so it may not have enough bawlz for the stuff you play.

[Chihlidog]

I'm talking about the Classic 30 combo. There aren't too many used heads on the market, because they've only been around for a year or two.

I don't know if you'd like the Classic 30 or not. I really love it, but you play a lot heavier music than I do, so it may not have enough bawlz for the stuff you play.

Oh. I thought we were talking half stacks. :o

[Prages]

Oh. I thought we were talking half stacks. :o

We're talking amps, not refrigerators. :o

[Chihlidog]

We're talking amps, not refrigerators. :o

You can always tell teh forumites who arent serious about tone. biggrin

[Prages]

You can always tell teh forumites who arent serious about tone. biggrin


cop0

[Prages]

Just watched the video.

It sounds good, but I really don't hear anything that I can't get out of my Classic 30, except for the reverb. The Epi's reverb sounds more lush to me. I'd expect the Epi to have a deeper, fuller tone than the C30, since it's going through a 412, but you can always run the C30 through a 412 if that's what you want.

I don't know. It sounded good, but didn't really steal me away from my Classic. :o

[Chihlidog]

Just watched the video.

It sounds good, but I really don't hear anything that I can't get out of my Classic 30, except for the reverb. The Epi's reverb sounds more lush to me. I'd expect the Epi to have a deeper, fuller tone than the C30, since it's going through a 412, but you can always run the C30 through a 412 if that's what you want.

I don't know. It sounded good, but didn't really steal me away from my Classic. :o

Real men ALWAYS use 4x12s.














:p

[SLBluz]

Real YOUNG men.......until they come to their senses.....:poke:

[Prages]

I've never regularly gigged a 1/2 stack. I've got one, but I've only gigged with it a couple of times. It's just not worth the hassle to me.

[12Pack]

I just found a classic 30 about an hour from me that someone is selling for $200.

Yup - I'm rubbing it in and will continue to do so when I pick it up.

biggrin

[cfgsteak]

I just found a classic 30 about an hour from me that someone is selling for $200.

Yup - I'm rubbing it in and will continue to do so when I pick it up.

biggrin

:mad:

[Prages]

I just found a classic 30 about an hour from me that someone is selling for $200.

Yup - I'm rubbing it in and will continue to do so when I pick it up.

biggrin

Sweet!!!

Didn't you just get a C30 head, or was that somebody else?

[12Pack]

Sweet!!!

Didn't you just get a C30 head, or was that somebody else?

Yup - I got the C30 head - and just picked up the Celestions for it to build a 2x12 cabinet this morning.

For $200 I can keep the C30 combo at my practice space.

This is why I have no money for recording :(

[Chihlidog]

Yup - I got the C30 head - and just picked up the Celestions for it to build a 2x12 cabinet this morning.

For $200 I can keep the C30 combo at my practice space.

This is why I have no money for recording :(

:facepalm: All that equipment and you cant even record it.

[12Pack]

:facepalm: All that equipment and you cant even record it.

Yet.

[cfgsteak]

Yet.

This is the proper attitude...it reeks of GAS!

[Johnny N.]

I've also heard a lot of people talking about how good the new 5 Watt Blackstar is.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Blackstar-HT-Series-HT5H-and-HT110-Guitar-Mini-Half-Stack?sku=489746

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/regular/7/1/5/582715.jpg



I have really been considering one of the new low watt amps and this one looks very interesting. Many of them are getting decent praise but I really like the two channels on this one.

Based in large degree to what I have heard Prages post, the C30 is proably my favorite amp. Good cleans and good crunch with two channels. I just dont see me being able to play loud enough to make sense to have a 30w amp though.

I am going to see if I can find one of these Blakstar's around here to try out. If I like it, it will be time to sell of some stuff and get one.

[Prages]

The thing to remember is that even a 5 watt amp is going to be pretty freakin' loud. The Classic 30 sounds pretty good at low volumes...better at gig levels. A single channel 5 watt amp is still going to be too loud to crank in a bedroom for tube overdrive, and probably won't have enough clean headroom to gig. The Blackstar is one of the few affordable low watt channel switching amps I've seen, so while it may still not have much in the way of clean headroom, you should be able to get plenty of preamp distortion at low volumes.

Then again, like with the C30, it'll probably still sound better opened up.

[Johnny N.]

The thing to remember is that even a 5 watt amp is going to be pretty freakin' loud. The Classic 30 sounds pretty good at low volumes...better at gig levels. A single channel 5 watt amp is still going to be too loud to crank in a bedroom for tube overdrive, and probably won't have enough clean headroom to gig. The Blackstar is one of the few affordable low watt channel switching amps I've seen, so while it may still not have much in the way of clean headroom, you should be able to get plenty of preamp distortion at low volumes.

Then again, like with the C30, it'll probably still sound better opened up.



That's what I was thinking with the 2 channels.

I never really considered the C30 would work for what I need but I would love to get a chance to compare the two, especially at lower volumes.

Although it has served my needs perfectly up to now, I am pretty ready to move on from my modelling amp. It has something like 400 preset tone options and I end up using one clean tone that I created and saved and one crunchy type of tone that I found as a preset. Otherwise, I adjust the drive, reverb and delay once in while.

Thanks steak, now I officially want a new amp too. cop0

[cfgsteak]

That's what I was thinking with the 2 channels.

I never really considered the C30 would work for what I need but I would love to get a chance to compare the two, especially at lower volumes.

Although it has served my needs perfectly up to now, I am pretty ready to move on from my modelling amp. It has something like 400 preset tone options and I end up using one clean tone that I created and saved and one crunchy type of tone that I found as a preset. Otherwise, I adjust the drive, reverb and delay once in while.

Thanks steak, now I officially want a new amp too. cop0


Sorry! LOL.

I use a 5 watt Epi Valve Jr right now...I can dime it in my basement with minimal complaints from my wife. I want the Classic 30...I think it will get me off my butt and find some folks to jam with...right now I are too embarrassed to take my little Epi anywhere...plus i don't think it can keep up with drums anyhoo....

[Prages]

That's what I was thinking with the 2 channels.

I never really considered the C30 would work for what I need but I would love to get a chance to compare the two, especially at lower volumes.

Although it has served my needs perfectly up to now, I am pretty ready to move on from my modelling amp. It has something like 400 preset tone options and I end up using one clean tone that I created and saved and one crunchy type of tone that I found as a preset. Otherwise, I adjust the drive, reverb and delay once in while.

Thanks steak, now I officially want a new amp too. cop0

I really don't have any experience with the lower watt amps. The lowest watt tube amp I've owned was a 15 watt THD Univalve, and that thing was LOUD. Openned up through a 412 it would overpower a drummer, but it still didn't have much in the way of clean headroom. It had a built in hot-plate, so it could be tamed, but that left you with a tolerable volume for overdrive and no clean volume at all if you backed the volume off on the guitar.

I also went down the modelling amp road before I got into tube amps. I had played a solid state Peavey Classic Chorus for 10+ years and finally decided to upgrade. I had a Pod 2.0 (still have it) and got a Fender Cybertwin when they first came out.

I loved the Cybertwin at first. All those fancy knobs and sounds were great. Then I realized that I was playing with the amp more than I was playing guitar. I also never got a powerful enough sound at gigs. It was a good tone, it just didn't have a lot of punch. That's when I got a deal on a Classic 50 212.

One good clean channel, one good overdrive channel. That's all I really needed. And it had all the punch I could want.

It wasn't too long before I sold the Univalve and the Cybertwin and picked up the Classic 30.

Now I've got the Classic 30, the Classic 50, and the Bassman, and I couldn't be happier (except I need a good sounding 212 cabinet for the Bassman so I don't have to haul a 412 around to crappy little bars.

[Johnny N.]

Sorry! LOL.

I use a 5 watt Epi Valve Jr right now...I can dime it in my basement with minimal complaints from my wife. I want the Classic 30...I think it will get me off my butt and find some folks to jam with...right now I are too embarrassed to take my little Epi anywhere...plus i don't think it can keep up with drums anyhoo....



Yeah, I dont think I want to be hauling my modeller to any jams. I am pretty sure it would get far more snickers than your Epi. I agree. I think the C30 is a great way to go. I think I'll check out Craigslist and see if there are any around here. You know, just in case. biggrin

I would still love to try out one of these Blackstar's too.

[Ronk]

I was all set on grabbing a C30 until I played one of these the other night and I can't stop thinking about how good the cleans were - they were awesome! I wish I had tried the overdrive channel.

But right now I need to be talked down ... I have a bunch of stuff ready to be sold to free up some cash for it. GAS'n hard :) (I even offered the guy that owns it my SRV Strat for it)

http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Lonestar/LonestarSpecial.htm

[Johnny N.]

I was all set on grabbing a C30 until I played one of these the other night and I can't stop thinking about how good the cleans were - they were awesome! I wish I had tried the overdrive channel.

But right now I need to be talked down ... I have a bunch of stuff ready to be sold to free up some cash for it. GAS'n hard :) (I even offered the guy that owns it my SRV Strat for it)

http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Lonestar/LonestarSpecial.htm



That looks pretty amazing but it is an entirely different price range. A price range that makes me sweat.:eek:


:eek:

[telecaster911]

I know 2 guys that each have the lone star. Last time I heard the one, was around August and he had just purchased the amp. Before that, he was playing through a Reverend Hellhound. I liked the Hellhound's sound better. But to be fair, he had just got the Lonestar.

The other was the 2 12. Sounded good. He was using the clean channel, the drive channel with just a touch of dirt and hitting the front end with an RC Booster. This was in a blues band setting and it did sound good, but nothing that I thought was out of reach for a lot of other amps.

One of the best blues/blues rock sounds I have ever heard was an Epiphone blues 30 with a Carl Martin Plexi Tone out front. I had to walk up to see what he was using. Now, the plexi tone is pricey, but the Epi isn't too bad, and I was very very impressed.:aok:

Then there's always the DRRI

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Blues-Custom-30-Watt-2x12-Combo-Amp?sku=480288

[telecaster911]

All that being said, I'd buy a C30 in a second if I ran across one for a good price.:aok:

[Prages]

The gear hog in my band has a Plexi-tone. That thing does sound great, especially through his blackface bassman.

[Johnny N.]

Hey steak, check it out:


http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2262672



I bet you could get it for $300 since he wouldnt have to ship it.

:aok:

[Prages]

Hey steak, check it out:


http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2262672



I bet you could get it for $300 since he wouldnt have to ship it.

:aok:

I think you're what I like to call an Enabler. :aok:

[Johnny N.]

I think you're what I like to call an Enabler. :aok:




biggrin

[Johnny N.]

I really want one...

However, are there any other good choices in the same price range? I want an all tube amp that can take some pedals...

(look! I posted in another forum!)



Ever since you posted this I started thinking about the same thing and I think the Classic 30 is about as good as it gets for the money (used anyway.) I do like those new Blackstar's too but I think you are right - C30 is the way to go.

That said, I just put my amp on cragslist. biggrin

I am going to get me a big boy amp. Now if I can get some pimple faced teenager to buy my Line 6.

[Denverdave]

Classic 30 sighting in Denver....

http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/1061612472.html

They are asking $399.00 so you could probably get it for $350.00 or less...

[cfgsteak]

Classic 30 sighting in Denver....

http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/1061612472.html

They are asking $399.00 so you could probably get it for $350.00 or less...

WHERE IS MAH TAX RETURN! Seriously though, all these adds lately are getting my pretty pumped up. The one you are referencing in particular!

[cfgsteak]

Ever since you posted this I started thinking about the same thing and I think the Classic 30 is about as good as it gets for the money (used anyway.) I do like those new Blackstar's too but I think you are right - C30 is the way to go.

That said, I just put my amp on cragslist. biggrin

I am going to get me a big boy amp. Now if I can get some pimple faced teenager to buy my Line 6.

Sweet...I may consider selling my Vox VR30...maybe I can trade it for a 1x12 cab...

I gots teh GAS.

[cfgsteak]

At church today this guy I know in the band had a Classic 30 so I got a little closer look. I talked to him about it and the only thing he said he didn't like about it was that the clean channel wasn't very clean. He is looking for a Fender clean...this has me a bit concerned...

I like playing a lot of country stuff...can I get some more opinions on the clean channel of a Classic 30? I rarely play anytihg completely clean...but I wonder if I should be concerned about the cleans on the C30...

[telecaster911]

I wouldn't worry too much about getting "Fender Clean". I usually end up dumping a little dirt on "Fender Clean" to warm it up a little.:aok:

[Johnny N.]

I think that is part of what I like about the C30. The clean is good but not super clean. I like a warmer sound. I cant see me ever playing super clean without juicing it up with some reverb at the very least anyway.

Prages also mentioned some of the Crate models. I found several youtube videos of the C30 and also the Crate V30 and the Palamino V32. I realize youtube videos are not the way to evaluate an amp but there are some good demos out there that give a pretty good idea. The Crate, especially the V30 sounded like it had a clean closer to the Fender clean everyone talks about. The C30 sounds warmer. I realize there a lot of factors but it seemed that way. The V30 gets really good reviews on the HC review page too. It might be worth checking out.

I think when it comes down to it, it will come down to plugging in and playing it with your guitar. I would love to get a chance to play a V30 and a C30. I am thinking that one of them will sound right to me. I am open to other ideas but those are in the ballpark I am looking for.

[cfgsteak]

Thanks Tele and Johnny! Its going to be a month or so until I buy one, so hopefully I get the chance to plug my guitar into a few different amps and check them out and see what sounds best to me. I appreciate the input!

[Prages]

Yeah, the C30's clean doesn't really get the shimmery crystal clean Fender sound. It's darker and has a little hair in it, especially when you turn it up past about 2 or 3.

Still a very good clean sound, just not a Fendery clean sound.