Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

[Matt42]

I'm thinking about picking up a Classic 30 as a replacement for my Hot Rod Deluxe. I've had the HRD a little over a year now, and I'm still really not happy with it, especially the Drive channel. I bought it originally as a clean amp so I figured I didn't need a stellar 2nd channel. However, as my current band has evolved, I have been playing with increasing amounts of distortion. It's also too loud for most of the venues in town, I've only turned it up past 3.5 once or twice. Enter the Classic 30. I've played on a few Classic 30's and 50's and I know I can dial in a pretty good distortion for what I need. They are relatively cheap, so I could easily pick one up, sell the HRD and have money left over. Ideally, I'd like to be able to get some boomy fat cleans, a bit of country twang, and some heavy blues/rock distortion. I can do some of this with pedals, of course, but the more coming from the amp, the better.

My only questions are, how is the stock speaker? and how is the clean channel? I would also just welcome general opinions of their gig-worthyness and tonal quality.

 

[richard parker]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

Never owned one but played a few. Much better than the Hotrod particularly for overdrive. Seem to remember the cleans being pretty good too.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I've played one after I repaired it for a friend. Very good clean tone, good distortion (much more than I expected actually).
The stock speaker (it's an early '90s though, can't comment on the newer ones)was quite good and suited the amp well.

This friend played his for over 10 years, gigs (we're talking beer/basement/crusty punk gigs, not polite bar-stuff), rehearsals and whatnot. The only problem he had (which I fixed for him) were a couple of loose solder joints (after over 10 years: not bad IMHO).

I'd say go for it. They're impressive lil' beasts.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I've owned a 30 and a 50. Better crunch, and for me the cleans were better. However, I can understand someone digging the Fender clean. Takes pedals well.

I say go for it.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

Ever thought of an AC15 !

GREAT for smaller venues, and you can crank that little thing to get that sexy driven tone.

If it was my money i would get an AC15 over a C30 any day of the week !

 

[Matt42]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I'd be worried about clean tone with an AC15, while I don't use a TON of clean sounds, I do use them.

I'm definitely leaning towards this now. Just gotta get the money together.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I have played Calssic 30 a ton of times. Never got one, but would LOVE to have one! I'd get that over a Blues Jr. Anyday, and the Blues Jr. Is pretty nice.

 

[checo]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

Absolutely love them. Sold mine and kicked myself in the butt for it. Afterwards, scored a classic 50 combo for 300 on craigslist..minty. Changed speakers (did not care for stock speaker). Tried all kinds of speakers for different tones. Finally settled on two emi red fangs. Pain in the butt to change them though. Sounds fantastic and would not trade or sell for anything. The G12h30 also sounded great. Am currently looking for a second classic 50 combo just to have one with the g12h30's. Also have a classic 100 head. Sold my traynor 3 channel head, Marshall dsl2000, fender twin reverb, fender hot rod deville, Marshall dual reverb....a/b them with the band...peavey classics are keepers.

 

[chadd]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I was never a huge fan of the classic 30 gain channel, nor the HRD for that matter. It sounds like the 30 will work for what you want and that's the important part. Worst case scenario, you can take the cash left over and buy a replacement speaker. I would just replace the volume knob on the HRD, use the HRD 2nd channel for a lighter gain flavor and mix in a pedal or two for additional flavors. In the end, you will have more versatility and an amp you already know. Maybe it's just my inherent dislike of EL84s talking, I don't know.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I have a classic 30 and have had it for many years. (10 or so) Only amp Ive never had problems with. The clean is very good, the bluesy tone is very good. Its not a metal amp so I have to use a pedal if Im looking for more gas, but for cleans thru classic rock, it cant be beat. Its portable and all, so what not to like? I retubed it once only out of desire to mod the tone. The only snivel Ive ever had with it is when playing heavy stuff at high volume, Id hit a low string or chord and it would kinda thud alittle before the note would ring thru. I figure the speaker was loading up alil, but that was under pretty extreme stuff. I swapped out the speaker with a private jack and problem solved and now it has a much darker tone too. Its a GREAT amp IMO and really responsive to speaker changes. One other small thing and this is kinda nit picky, but just for the sake of full disclosure: If I have the boost on and the volume loud and reverb full on, it will hum alittle. All I have to do is dial the verb down a touch. (I dont use the boost much tho). Ive heard putting the verb tank in a bag they make for them or relocating to the side will fix this.
I cant recommend it enough..

 

[Matt42]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I was never a huge fan of the classic 30 gain channel, nor the HRD for that matter. It sounds like the 30 will work for what you want and that's the important part. Worst case scenario, you can take the cash left over and buy a replacement speaker. I would just replace the volume knob on the HRD, use the HRD 2nd channel for a lighter gain flavor and mix in a pedal or two for additional flavors. In the end, you will have more versatility and an amp you already know. Maybe it's just my inherent dislike of EL84s talking, I don't know.

Even the lighter gain stage on the HRD sounds like crap to me, there just aren't many tones that I find useable. And I've only had it for a year, so it's not like I'm super attached to it.

One of the reason I'm considering the C30 is because I really like EL84s, every amp I've played that had them sounded really good.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

Hey Matt . . . ever thought about the Laney LC30 ?

Imho, the LC30 can do 'more' than the Classic 30, tone wise.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I hadn't considered Laney much, but after checking on ebay, I'm guessing an LC-30 is going to be a bit out of my price range. If I were in a better position to be saving for gear, I'd be saving toward a Lonestar Special.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

For the money (and good tone) the Classic 30 is really hard to beat. Years ago, I had a Classic 50 410 that I thought had a nicer clean sound than many uber expensive boutique amps. Plus, it had the drive channel that was very usable.

The going rate for a used one is around $225 - $300. LA Craigslist has 4 of them.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

For the money (and good tone) the Classic 30 is really hard to beat. Years ago, I had a Classic 50 410 that I thought had a nicer clean sound than many uber expensive boutique amps. Plus, it had the drive channel that was very usable.

The going rate for a used one is around $225 - $300. LA Craigslist has 4 of them.

I was imagining about a $300 price tag, so that should be about right. Out here in the middle of no where, I'm stuck with Ebay as the most reliable way of find specific things, so I always expect to be on the high side of the used market.

 

[B2D]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I've used a Classic 30 quite a few times for guest or session work and they've always delivered great tone, and they're reliable. They can be kinda bouncy-sounding with hot pickups or buckers but with the right speaker they're great! I like using them with Fenders - it's somewhere between a Fender and a Voxy vibe. I actually used to have an older Classic 50 head as a backup head... another forumite owns it now. It was a cool head for places I couldn't bring or run my 100W head and it sounded good in most speaker cabs. Great straight-ahead rock tone and it took pedals well.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I never knew this, and just found out over at the Tele forum, the Classic 30 is just lik ethe 5W Black Star amps = diode clipping :-(


Lifted from the Tele Forum :


"I currently have a LC50 and have owned a Classic 30 and a Delta Blues in the past and it is an easy choice for me. Both amps have a great clean tones but the Laney LC30 wins for me because of it's superior sounding all tube dirty channel. It easily lays the fizzy Peavey's diode clipping distortion tones to waste. Unless you're into that kind of thing of course."



. . . did anyone else know this ? This is deff news to me !

 

[Bludave]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I've played through a number of the Peavey classic amps. I was really considering picking up a Classic 30 to leave at a rehearsal space we were going to use, but I decided to not do that. Overall I think they sound really good especially for blues or Rock. If you are planning on doing hardcore metal I would probably look elsewhere. I don't think these have enough gain for that application, but if you are using a Fender HRD you probably will get a better sound wth the Peavey IMHO.

 

[richard parker]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I have a Laney VC30 which I would say is a better sounding amp than the Classic 30 but I imagine that it would be quite a bit more expensive in the States.

 

[JamesPaul]

Re: Opinions on the Peavey Classic 30

I never knew this, and just found out over at the Tele forum, the Classic 30 is just lik ethe 5W Black Star amps = diode clipping :-(


Lifted from the Tele Forum :


"I currently have a LC50 and have owned a Classic 30 and a Delta Blues in the past and it is an easy choice for me. Both amps have a great clean tones but the Laney LC30 wins for me because of it's superior sounding all tube dirty channel. It easily lays the fizzy Peavey's diode clipping distortion tones to waste. Unless you're into that kind of thing of course."



. . . did anyone else know this ? This is deff news to me !

"Diode clipping" may just be how the TF poster chose to describe the tone - which I'll disagree with, but that's another story. It may also be that the TF poster is remebering the Peavey Classic from the 80's, which had 6L6 output tubes and a solid state preamp section.

Anyhow, I don't see any clipping diodes in the signal path on the current C30 schematic.