Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

[rspst14]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

check out www.blueguitar.org, there's a whole set of mods for the Classic 30 and Classic 50. It's pretty easy to do yourself if you're handy with a soldering iron.

Ryan

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

I have a Classic 30. It seems to be an amp that you have to "season to taste" but once you've got the right ingredients it kicks, IMHO. I built a 2x12 cabinet for it and I'm still experimenting with speakers. So far (thanks to Stevo) my favorite speaker is the ceramic Weber Blue Dog. I tried a Celestion Greenback but the high end seemed to be a bit spikey on the OD channel, where the Weber calmed that down in a good way. I may end up with another Weber but I'm contimplating whether a Celestion G12H30 would work with the Weber. For the clean channel I'm using an Aphex compressor and it add's a beautiful clarity when using humbuckers. I get a great clean tone with it. As far as power tubes I'm using JJ EL84's with a # 35 heat rating and it for me they seem just right. Pre amp tubes are JJ ECC83S. I love the natural distortion I get from the OD channel but for heavier things I've got a Tonebone Hot British thru the clean channel and it just screams and chunck's at the same time. Boss delay pedal in the effects loop and that's it! Each to his own, but I'm very happy with it all.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

Guys, you are the best! Appreciate the info.

B

 

[Thames]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

Barlo,
If you want to try some Webers, email/PM me. I'll give you a discount.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

How about a Marshall JTM 30, or even the JTM 60 in a 1x12? Also look at Marshall JCM 600's. Great cleans verging on Fender's, and fantastic OD channels that go from mild blusey crunch to Marshall mayhem. They can be had at reasonable prices, and really require no mods to get a bunch of great tones.

No JCM 600's or JTM 30's on ebay right now, but here a link for the JTM 60.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38075&item=3740348738&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

Is 650 a good price for a used (but good condition) JTM 60? What about 700 for an old stock but not used JCM600?

B

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

Barlo,
If you want to try some Webers, email/PM me. I'll give you a discount.

YAY! Cool!

B

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

Quick note B, regarding the peavey query, the Classic 30 has my vote, yeah the speaker issues, well even so. That's tube, if you wanted something a little less fragile (all tube amps are considered fragile in regard to this), and you just wanted a power house to gig with, then you might want to look at the soild state Bandit 112, it 80 watts one 12, much more flexible eq and gain wise, and it's loop switches in or out from the pedal, has an extension cab out (drops load to 4 ohms/100watts). They are the center workhorse of the Peavey line, very dependable, and versatile, and get a descent tube like overdrive. Much more versatile then the Classic 30 .... Don't blow 'em off just because they are S.S. It's a gigging amp, remember.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

I see a lot of guys useing Blues Jr. lately??? But I think I know where
your coming from? My days of lugging 1/2 stacks and Fender Twins to
gigs are over. :yell: I gig with a BF Princeton of a Champ 12. I'm
suprised nobody mentioned this but I always carry a SM 57 with me
should volume become a Issue. ( It rarely does ?) The amp goes into the
P.A. ( Just my 2 cents )

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

Now my list looks somthing like:

1. Marshall JTM60 or JCM600
2. Peavey classic 30 or delta
3. A non-back breaking fender deluxe.

Kent, I don't have much allergic reaction to SS's, yet I'd be using the powertubes for overdrive most of the time. Not the lead channel. I love that and thus SS's kinda don't do it for me just because of that. I know myself, I will end up where I started.

kmcguitars, man you are right. Only if the places we have been playing where to have a good pa system. Those can carry only the vocals, and not much else.

B

 

[Thames]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

Now my list looks somthing like:

1. Marshall JTM60 or JCM600
2. Peavey classic 30 or delta
3. A non-back breaking fender deluxe.

Hmm.. Barlo, note that many JTM60 and JCM600 have reliability issues... just warning you.

Back breaking Fender Deluxe ? What do you mean ?
Hey I'm currently building my own DeluxeReverb these days, and I'm more into headaches than backbreaking !!!

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

My bad I meant, non-back-breaking fenders, a deluxe maybe!

What about them reliability issue? As I said I am not into so much tone search now. My priority is to get a dependable loud enough gigging amp that I can carry around (I know I gotta get a tube protector with peaveys).

Honestly speaking seeing so many working guys using Peavey classic 30's is the thing that could make be buy one.

Anyway I am in the getting informed stage. Will be buying one like the end of this month.

B

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

I recommend the Fender MiniTonemaster!!! Great cleans and hot overdriven sounds driven by a massive 1W power amp! That's right, kiddies, One Whole Watt! (j/k)

Peavey was started and built around designing dependable gear for working musicians that won't break the bank. I think they have done a decent job of maintaining that standard.

The amps you are considering are worthy of consideration.

The Bandit 112 is SS, but it also has a Sheffield speaker. I happen to like this amp. But it does weigh 48 lbs (better than 90, but it's all relative). I have found this amp to be quite versatile, but you have to judge that for yourself. I would recommend at least playing through one for a few minutes. Word to the wise: the eq is quite sensitive in this thing. Minor adjustments can produce wide-ranging tonal differences. But it is SS (read, dependable).

I really recommend that bands move up to using a PA for everything. It's so much easier to balance the sound that way. And then you could use a little bitty tube amp with a mic to get your sound.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

I think the first thing you should do is to pass that Rectifier on to someone who needs it, use some of your money, plus the proceeds from the Mesa, and get a really nice amp that does justice to your great guitars/pickups.

Any combo by Soldano, Bogner, Engl, Traynor, Budda, Fargen, Bad Cat, Dr. Z.

Just search the used market for those names, pony up a little dough, and you'll be happiest in the long run. Just get casters and a padded Tuki cover...then you won't have the added weight and size of a roadcase.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

LesStrat, thanks for taking the time man. Am gonna keep those useful suggestions in my mind when I go to a Peavey dealer.

B

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

I think the first thing you should do is to pass that Rectifier on to someone who needs it, use some of your money, plus the proceeds from the Mesa, and get a really nice amp that does justice to your great guitars/pickups.

Any combo by Soldano, Bogner, Engl, Traynor, Budda, Fargen, Bad Cat, Dr. Z.

Just search the used market for those names, pony up a little dough, and you'll be happiest in the long run. Just get casters and a padded Tuki cover...then you won't have the added weight and size of a roadcase.

Wise words GJ. You definitely have a point there.

I cannot take boogie's tone anymore, too much for me. Always checking out gbase and some other dealers for a 50W plexi. The old ones are like 3K, and when the right time comes I definitely have in my mind to sell/trade-in the boogie and get myself a 50Wplexi.

Gotta go with 50Watts tho, because I simply believe that 100W is too much.

On the other hand the 59 bassman RI that I have is a great amp. I mean it can do that late 60's and early 70's classic rock tones so well. And works with the od pedals I have (fulldrive2, Barber DD, mesa v-twin) very well for modern overdrive. Thus, I am sort of taking my time before getting a dream come true amp head.

Getting an amp head is simply not an option for these small gigs of mine. I now have problems carrying my bassman. Gotta get a truck or something for the cabs and all... See?

On the other hand, an amp is best played. Thus I also think by not carrying it around I am doing injustice to my bassman. Anyways, appreciate the input. I know I have lotsa things going in my mind. I wish that damn blues jr. had a little bit more output! :banghead:

B

 

[dr.barlo]

UPDATE: Got a Peavey C30

UPDATE: Got a Peavey C30

Guys, I was able to score a barely used Peavey C30 for 350. Gigged it twice already, and got very satisfactory results.

Primarily used the clean channel with the boost off, and volume quite up. Otherwise my LP makes it fart a little. The drive channel is quite good for a strat and a tele, I see why so many strat/tele players are using it.

Thanks for the tips, I think I ain't gonna be changing the speaker for now. As I said I am not in a tone quest, was trying to find a dependable, non-back-breaking and affordable amp. Am happy with it.

Yet gotta admit, when I switched to my bassman the difference was more than noticable. :smack:

B

 

[msplines]

Re: UPDATE: Got a Peavey C30

Re: UPDATE: Got a Peavey C30

Guys, I was able to score a barely used Peavey C30 for 350. Gigged it twice already, and got very satisfactory results.

Primarily used the clean channel with the boost off, and volume quite up. Otherwise my LP makes it fart a little. The drive channel is quite good for a strat and a tele, I see why so many strat/tele players are using it.


B

Do spend some time with the tubes, I've got two of these and they really repay the experimentation i've got 4 CZ EL84s and a GT12AU7 in V3, a GT12AX7R3 in V2 and an AT7 in V1 - makes all the difference.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

I think you would be making a mistake. Get one of those small luggage type handle/carts for the Bassman ...

I agree with this..... A Bassman is a great Amp. If you want something that is a little more versatile, look at a Super Reverb!! About the same power @ 40 watts, but the 4 10's move more air, and the reverb is amazing! Another option is a Marshall Combo, like a 50 watt 2 12" which has 2 channels. A 900 is very affordalble, but I don't know if it has the right sound for you!! Go play through a few and see! I have one of these. It is not very heavy, and has plenty of bottm with HB pups.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Overall Good Gigging Amp for a Working Musician: Peavey???

Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb. 40 watts, about as light as a hot rod deville, 2x10, reverb and tremelo, and a fat fender tone that is more in the vibro king/bassman camp than the hot rod or blackface reissue camp.