Prages
10-28-2008, 02:10 PM
Up for review today is the Peavey Classic 30.
http://www.thewindtunnel.com/GuitarPics/C30Mic.jpg
http://www.thewindtunnel.com/GuitarPics/C30Settings.jpg
http://www.thewindtunnel.com/GuitarPics/C30Tubes1.jpg
Those of you who are familiar with me are probably already familiar with my love of the Peavey Classic amps, and especially the Classic 30.
It's a two channel amp with FX loop and extension speaker output. The amp runs off of 3 12AX7 preamp tubes and 4 EL84 power tubes.
The clean channel is darker and dirtier than a typical Fender clean. You can dial in a semi-Fendery clean at fairly moderate volumes, but Fender purists are probably not going to love the clean channel's overall darker and dirtier nature.
The dirty channel is my favorite part of the amp. Crank the EQ knobs all the way to twelve, put the gain at about 8-9, and the volume around 4-6 and what you get is pure overdrive heaven with a good mix of preamp and power amp saturation at moderate stage volume. For home playing, the volume can be turned down almost all the way without sacrificing all of the tone. Not running in the sweet spot (4-6 IMO) does take away from the punch and dynamics, but it doesn't completely kill the tone of the amp. It makes for a nice practice amp as long as you're able to play above 'there's a baby sleeping down the hall' levels.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Tone: The amp sounds great for OD and pretty damned good for cleans
Reliability: I've never had a problem out of my Classic 30. I bought it about 3 or 4 years ago at a pawn shop for $200. Other than replacing the speaker (for the tonal change...there was nothing 'wrong' with the original speaker) and the tubes (I didn't know how long those tubes had been in there prior to my buying it), I haven't had to do a thing to the amp, and I've used it for many, many hours of recording, 100+ gigs, and probably 50+ rehearsals.
Size: The amp isn't a back breaker. I haven't weighed it, but I'd be shocked if it was over 35 pounds. I've been known to throw my duffel bag full of pedals and cables over a shoulder, grab a guitar case with one hand and the amp with the other, and haul my entire rig in one trip from the car.
Cons:
Mid Boost Switch: This "feature" is fairly useless. The amp is already strong in the mids without the boost, and engaging the boost just makes the amp sound honky. There's also no way to control the amount of boost, and the preset amount is "a damned lot". On top of that, the boost is not footswitchable. If Peavey ever changes anything about the circuit of the C30, I'd suggest they forego the stupid boost switch.
Heat: The amp tends to run hot. This hasn't caused any problem with performance or reliability, but after playing a 4 hour gig, the metal chassis is pretty hot. Not hot enough to blister you if you touch it, but hot enough that you don't want keep your hand on it for any length of time.
Tube succeptibility: The tubes just hang down in the back with no real protection. You have to be careful when you stuff the power chord in the back and when you pull it out to make sure you don't get it wrapped around a tube and break it off.
Tube rattle: The tubes are held into place with wire retainer clips. If a tube is even slightly microphonic, the amp will amplify the sound of the wire retainer rattling against the tube at moderate volumes.
There are aftermarket 'Tube Tamers' and 'Tube Guards' on the market to correct those last two problems, though I have neither on mine. I've heard they work perfectly though.
Reverb: While the reverb is functional and sounds good, you wouldn't like it for surfy type of tones. Using more than just a touch of it can muddy up the tone considerably.
Speaker: The stock speaker can get a little harsh in the upper mids when you start cranking the volume to gigging levels. It also sounds a little dull and muffled at lower volumes. One of the best 'mods' you can do to this amp is to put a better speaker in it. I highly recommend the Celestion G12H30.
Overall, even with those negatives listed above, I still absolutely love this amp, and they are often amazingly cheap on the used market. They've even been heavily discounted new at Guitar Centers for $299 or something occasionally.
I think the price of a new one is fair. I think they go for about $550. Used is definitely the way to go with these, IMO.
http://www.thewindtunnel.com/GuitarPics/C30Mic.jpg
http://www.thewindtunnel.com/GuitarPics/C30Settings.jpg
http://www.thewindtunnel.com/GuitarPics/C30Tubes1.jpg
Those of you who are familiar with me are probably already familiar with my love of the Peavey Classic amps, and especially the Classic 30.
It's a two channel amp with FX loop and extension speaker output. The amp runs off of 3 12AX7 preamp tubes and 4 EL84 power tubes.
The clean channel is darker and dirtier than a typical Fender clean. You can dial in a semi-Fendery clean at fairly moderate volumes, but Fender purists are probably not going to love the clean channel's overall darker and dirtier nature.
The dirty channel is my favorite part of the amp. Crank the EQ knobs all the way to twelve, put the gain at about 8-9, and the volume around 4-6 and what you get is pure overdrive heaven with a good mix of preamp and power amp saturation at moderate stage volume. For home playing, the volume can be turned down almost all the way without sacrificing all of the tone. Not running in the sweet spot (4-6 IMO) does take away from the punch and dynamics, but it doesn't completely kill the tone of the amp. It makes for a nice practice amp as long as you're able to play above 'there's a baby sleeping down the hall' levels.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Tone: The amp sounds great for OD and pretty damned good for cleans
Reliability: I've never had a problem out of my Classic 30. I bought it about 3 or 4 years ago at a pawn shop for $200. Other than replacing the speaker (for the tonal change...there was nothing 'wrong' with the original speaker) and the tubes (I didn't know how long those tubes had been in there prior to my buying it), I haven't had to do a thing to the amp, and I've used it for many, many hours of recording, 100+ gigs, and probably 50+ rehearsals.
Size: The amp isn't a back breaker. I haven't weighed it, but I'd be shocked if it was over 35 pounds. I've been known to throw my duffel bag full of pedals and cables over a shoulder, grab a guitar case with one hand and the amp with the other, and haul my entire rig in one trip from the car.
Cons:
Mid Boost Switch: This "feature" is fairly useless. The amp is already strong in the mids without the boost, and engaging the boost just makes the amp sound honky. There's also no way to control the amount of boost, and the preset amount is "a damned lot". On top of that, the boost is not footswitchable. If Peavey ever changes anything about the circuit of the C30, I'd suggest they forego the stupid boost switch.
Heat: The amp tends to run hot. This hasn't caused any problem with performance or reliability, but after playing a 4 hour gig, the metal chassis is pretty hot. Not hot enough to blister you if you touch it, but hot enough that you don't want keep your hand on it for any length of time.
Tube succeptibility: The tubes just hang down in the back with no real protection. You have to be careful when you stuff the power chord in the back and when you pull it out to make sure you don't get it wrapped around a tube and break it off.
Tube rattle: The tubes are held into place with wire retainer clips. If a tube is even slightly microphonic, the amp will amplify the sound of the wire retainer rattling against the tube at moderate volumes.
There are aftermarket 'Tube Tamers' and 'Tube Guards' on the market to correct those last two problems, though I have neither on mine. I've heard they work perfectly though.
Reverb: While the reverb is functional and sounds good, you wouldn't like it for surfy type of tones. Using more than just a touch of it can muddy up the tone considerably.
Speaker: The stock speaker can get a little harsh in the upper mids when you start cranking the volume to gigging levels. It also sounds a little dull and muffled at lower volumes. One of the best 'mods' you can do to this amp is to put a better speaker in it. I highly recommend the Celestion G12H30.
Overall, even with those negatives listed above, I still absolutely love this amp, and they are often amazingly cheap on the used market. They've even been heavily discounted new at Guitar Centers for $299 or something occasionally.
I think the price of a new one is fair. I think they go for about $550. Used is definitely the way to go with these, IMO.