Peavey Classic 30

[HNB]

Got this as a partial trade for my Sunburst Jazzy build and I really enjoy it. It is plenty loud and the clean and dirty channels are both really nice. The dirty channel can go from bluesy overdrive to pretty heavy distortion with the preamp knob. This amp has seen some use for sure and has good character because of it. Only things it needed when I got it was some pot and switch cleaning and one chassis screw. Since I couldn't find an exact replacement, I just got four new screws and washers. It would be hard to notice them unless you were trying to. They fit in pretty well. I was a little worried about the stability of the channel switcher, so I got a heavy duty footswitch for it. The switch also turns the tank reverb on and off. The boost is really nice. It makes it louder and thickens the sound a bit. I think the stock speaker sounds great. I don't feel a need to change anything with it. Here are pics. I am glad it is an older version. I like the look of it more than the newer ones.

20190118_201536 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

20190118_201558 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

20190118_201606 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

20190118_201639 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

20190118_201623 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

20190119_123350 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

20190119_123354 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

[s_mcsleazy]

i recorded with one of these years ago. it wasnt my thing but it came across as a good amp.

[B]

I played a tweed 4x10 old style Classic 50 for a long time live. One of the best amps I've ever owned... Just a REALLY good sounding amp for a variety of uses. Grossly underrated and very often overlooked because it says "Peavey" on it. They are outstanding.

[HNB]

I feel that way about the US Peavey guitars. You can still get them cheap because they are Peavey guitars. They are really solid and sound good.

[Embenny]

I played a tweed 4x10 old style Classic 50 for a long time live. One of the best amps I've ever owned... Just a REALLY good sounding amp for a variety of uses. Grossly underrated and very often overlooked because it says "Peavey" on it. They are outstanding.

Yep. I'd rather take a 4x10 Classic 50 over a Hot Rod Deville, and a 1x12 Classic 30 over a Hot Rod Deluxe any day.

[Dok]

For anybody reading this thread, a great alternative to the Classic 30 is the Peavey Delta Blues (make sure it's the 2x10 version as the 15 is pretty flabby). Same amp + tremolo.

[stevejamsecono]

Nice! I had one for an interim amp for awhile and it didn't let me down. Definitely recommend you invest in one of those aftermarket tube protectors. I got one off ebay for like.. 40 bucks and installed it myself in about 15 minutes. Easy peasy and you won't have to worry about your tubes getting knocked around.

[HNB]

Do you have a picture of what you used for that?

[countertext]

Peavey Classic 30s and 50s kept the Atlanta scene alive in the ‘90s. We couldn’t afford no real tweed. Peavey was Meridian Mississippi US iron, and that was good enough for us!

[mizbiz]

Do you have a picture of what you used for that?

I'm guessing something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-stainless- ... SwxNxbbTQ3

[HNB]

Oh so a back piece? When I searched tube protector I saw covers for tubes and cage-like things that went around each tube.

[Shadoweclipse13]

For anybody reading this thread, a great alternative to the Classic 30 is the Peavey Delta Blues (make sure it's the 2x10 version as the 15 is pretty flabby). Same amp + tremolo.

That's interesting that you feel that way. I had a 2x12 Classic 50 when I was younger, and traded it for a Delta Blues. I've never felt the 15" Blue Marvel in the Delta Blues was flabby. Mine is tight and crisp, with really nice low end. The Blue Marvels in my C50 were pretty bad though. In either case, fantastic amps. I still rock the Delta Blues, and it can do just about any style pretty well.

Good call on getting an upgraded footswitch HNB! The stock footswitches feel really cheap.

[mackerelmint]

I played a classic 50 212 for a while back in the late 90s. Good amp. I played funk and disco through it. It lives to this day with a friend, who's taken to using it instead of his marshall JCM9000. Cuz it's better.

The upside of hyped gear is the price of solid bread and butter gear like that for cheap.

[Dok]

For anybody reading this thread, a great alternative to the Classic 30 is the Peavey Delta Blues (make sure it's the 2x10 version as the 15 is pretty flabby). Same amp + tremolo.

That's interesting that you feel that way. I had a 2x12 Classic 50 when I was younger, and traded it for a Delta Blues. I've never felt the 15" Blue Marvel in the Delta Blues was flabby. Mine is tight and crisp, with really nice low end. The Blue Marvels in my C50 were pretty bad though. In either case, fantastic amps. I still rock the Delta Blues, and it can do just about any style pretty well.

Good call on getting an upgraded footswitch HNB! The stock footswitches feel really cheap.

In general I think that big speakers for guitar amps are overkill. I've never had any problem with low end on my tiny 10" speakers and I usually end up cutting even that when it comes time for mixing.

[Shadoweclipse13]

For anybody reading this thread, a great alternative to the Classic 30 is the Peavey Delta Blues (make sure it's the 2x10 version as the 15 is pretty flabby). Same amp + tremolo.

That's interesting that you feel that way. I had a 2x12 Classic 50 when I was younger, and traded it for a Delta Blues. I've never felt the 15" Blue Marvel in the Delta Blues was flabby. Mine is tight and crisp, with really nice low end. The Blue Marvels in my C50 were pretty bad though. In either case, fantastic amps. I still rock the Delta Blues, and it can do just about any style pretty well.

Good call on getting an upgraded footswitch HNB! The stock footswitches feel really cheap.

In general I think that big speakers for guitar amps are overkill. I've never had any problem with low end on my tiny 10" speakers and I usually end up cutting even that when it comes time for mixing.

I know what you mean. One thing to consider here about our personal differences, is that I always run my amps pretty heavy on the treble. I really like the clarity of treble, and with the low end from the 15", it feels pretty balanced between bass and treble.