Peavey "100 Series" Classic 2x12 - "Death Cap" and Info?
Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 4:24 am
Please help me keep from accidentally electrocuting my wife.
I have an old Peavey "100 Series" Classic 2x12 combo Solid state preamp, 2x6L6 power section. Still has the Sylvanias. Not one of the all-tube Classic Series, not one of the VTs, either.
It was my college and post-collegiate live amp from abt 2001-2008 when I didn't know a thing about amps, bought used for $100. Banged around and abused because it was "an old Peavey". The Automixer footswitch is for the later version with "phaser" written on it, but it's always worked for the trem, too. A solid "make it loud" amp, if it never thrilled me. Playing thru it yesterday, it was a little boxy and honky at apartment levels, still haven't figured out a way to EQ it without putting the mids on 2. But, again, a totally solid "I'm an amp" amp.
I've moved on to other stuff, and the Peavey is currently in our little apt after shuttling around storage and closets. She's the drummer, but picked up her old guitar recently, she has a little pedalboard, and instead of buying her something cheap and battery powered for bedroom playing, why not give her the 50w amp that's already in the bedroom?
The knobs crackle, the reverb footswitch won't turn the reverb on (which I MAY be able to fix with a new switch?), and it's been 15 years since anybody looked inside the chassis. I replaced the fuse about three years ago when I brought it back home. I'm absolutely aware it needs a servicing. But it plays, it sounds nice, and nothing but that reverb issue seems "wrong" with it.
Here's the concern: I'm not a tech, nor electrically savvy at the amp level, I stick to fuzz boxes. This thing has a 3-prong cord, but the "on/off/on" power switch has me a little skittish. I once got some tingly current in my strings and pickups years ago while playing through this amp. Likely the sh!try wiring in our former garage. I took it to a shop (again, circa 2007) and the guy couldn't find anything wrong with it that might lead to me getting zapped via the guitar.
Knowing what I know NOW abt "death caps", I wouldn't turn it on after these 13 years if it had a 2-prong without getting it gone over. But it works, there's a 3-prong cord, it sounds "normal", and I haven't, in two days of limited testing, encountered anything I'd call an electrical problem.
1) Can someone please explain the "death cap" risk on this particular amp to me? I realize the 3-prong cable probably negates any risk, but the two "on" positions have me nervous, since I've gotten some juice in the past while strapped into it, whether it was the culprit or not. And it's basically been sitting around for 15 years, not getting healthier.
2) Other than the "janky old amp needs servicing" issues, does anyone have any reasons why she might not want to play it until AFTER I take it in to a tech? Any danger to her or the amp?
3) I'd LOVE to learn more about the "100 Series" amps. I know the Skynyrd and southern rock connections (grew up in Kentucky, went to school in southern Indiana - 70's Peaveys and Kustoms were commonplace), but all I can find on these is a couple of blog posts or "yeah, I've played those" posts on that Tele forum. The generic naming of the 100 Series (and weird typesetting on the back of the amp) doesn't help it's searchability, and the later "Classic Series" has bungled most internet searching for this model in the past. The Deuce, the 4-speaker Classic, the A and B versions of my Classic (different inputs and trem vs phaser)... etc. I'm not looking for anybody to tell me I've got a magic sleeper amp, I know what it is, I know how they're seen, but I'd love to know more about them.
I actually had a nightmare last night about Mrs. Shake wanting to play, reaching behind, turning it on, and ZAP, she was done for. It was not a good dream.
Pics to follow shortly.
I have an old Peavey "100 Series" Classic 2x12 combo Solid state preamp, 2x6L6 power section. Still has the Sylvanias. Not one of the all-tube Classic Series, not one of the VTs, either.
It was my college and post-collegiate live amp from abt 2001-2008 when I didn't know a thing about amps, bought used for $100. Banged around and abused because it was "an old Peavey". The Automixer footswitch is for the later version with "phaser" written on it, but it's always worked for the trem, too. A solid "make it loud" amp, if it never thrilled me. Playing thru it yesterday, it was a little boxy and honky at apartment levels, still haven't figured out a way to EQ it without putting the mids on 2. But, again, a totally solid "I'm an amp" amp.
I've moved on to other stuff, and the Peavey is currently in our little apt after shuttling around storage and closets. She's the drummer, but picked up her old guitar recently, she has a little pedalboard, and instead of buying her something cheap and battery powered for bedroom playing, why not give her the 50w amp that's already in the bedroom?
The knobs crackle, the reverb footswitch won't turn the reverb on (which I MAY be able to fix with a new switch?), and it's been 15 years since anybody looked inside the chassis. I replaced the fuse about three years ago when I brought it back home. I'm absolutely aware it needs a servicing. But it plays, it sounds nice, and nothing but that reverb issue seems "wrong" with it.
Here's the concern: I'm not a tech, nor electrically savvy at the amp level, I stick to fuzz boxes. This thing has a 3-prong cord, but the "on/off/on" power switch has me a little skittish. I once got some tingly current in my strings and pickups years ago while playing through this amp. Likely the sh!try wiring in our former garage. I took it to a shop (again, circa 2007) and the guy couldn't find anything wrong with it that might lead to me getting zapped via the guitar.
Knowing what I know NOW abt "death caps", I wouldn't turn it on after these 13 years if it had a 2-prong without getting it gone over. But it works, there's a 3-prong cord, it sounds "normal", and I haven't, in two days of limited testing, encountered anything I'd call an electrical problem.
1) Can someone please explain the "death cap" risk on this particular amp to me? I realize the 3-prong cable probably negates any risk, but the two "on" positions have me nervous, since I've gotten some juice in the past while strapped into it, whether it was the culprit or not. And it's basically been sitting around for 15 years, not getting healthier.
2) Other than the "janky old amp needs servicing" issues, does anyone have any reasons why she might not want to play it until AFTER I take it in to a tech? Any danger to her or the amp?
3) I'd LOVE to learn more about the "100 Series" amps. I know the Skynyrd and southern rock connections (grew up in Kentucky, went to school in southern Indiana - 70's Peaveys and Kustoms were commonplace), but all I can find on these is a couple of blog posts or "yeah, I've played those" posts on that Tele forum. The generic naming of the 100 Series (and weird typesetting on the back of the amp) doesn't help it's searchability, and the later "Classic Series" has bungled most internet searching for this model in the past. The Deuce, the 4-speaker Classic, the A and B versions of my Classic (different inputs and trem vs phaser)... etc. I'm not looking for anybody to tell me I've got a magic sleeper amp, I know what it is, I know how they're seen, but I'd love to know more about them.
I actually had a nightmare last night about Mrs. Shake wanting to play, reaching behind, turning it on, and ZAP, she was done for. It was not a good dream.
Pics to follow shortly.