Peavey Classic 50/50

[Davii]

Hey all,

I've finally managed to get myself a valve power amp - Peavey Classic 50/50 - which, after a quick look under the bonnet, appears to [potentially] have it's original Peavey stamped valves installed.

As far as I can tell, everything works fine, so I'm not in any rush to replace them, but as this amp is circa early-mid '90s, I'm wondering if I should. Or to be considering having replacements in mind, especially if these really are the original ones from 20 years ago.

I got it via a shop on eBay, who I think just checked it was working after taking it in p/x or such.

Thoughts?

 

[dd12939]

Re: Peavey Classic 50/50

I've owned one for seven or eight years and have yet to replace the tubes. Mind you, I'm not a gigging guitarist so that may play a role, but I've put a ton of hours on them and they still seem to work fine. Maybe it's a case of "I don't know what I'm missing" but money's tight and so long as it works I'm not gonna mess with it.

As far as replacements, I've heard JJs work pretty well, but can't say from my own experience.

At any rate, congrats on picking up a solid piece of kit! What preamp/cabs are you using with it?

 

[Davii]

Re: Peavey Classic 50/50

I am pretty much of the opinion of it not being broke, so no necessity to fix it as well. As you say, wondering on whether I'm missing anything from sticking with potentially rather old valves, that I've no idea as to what work they've already done, has me scratching my head a little.

It did occur to me, after posting, that as the channels are seperate, I could change one side, and then compare the two. Assuming there's no issues to be concerned with by doing that(?)

I've currently got a JMP-1, Boss GX-700, and running into a single Texas Heat, though plan to get hold of a 2x12 when funds allow

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Peavey Classic 50/50

I hated JJ tubes in my classic 30. If the tubes are still working I wouldn't mess with them.

 

[Davii]

Re: Peavey Classic 50/50

That's pretty much where I'd got to, and with other fish to fry, any dabbling will come later. Or if anything packs up in the meantime, of course. I'll ressurrect this as n' when

It's certainly nice to have resonance, and prescence controls again - the bottom end of everything sounds so much better now :bigthumb:

 

[DankStar]

Re: Peavey Classic 50/50

cool. I have a similar setup with a jmp-1 and a carvin power amp. if you get something like a gsp 1101 or 11 rack (the two most reasonably priced good rack mounted modelers IMO) you can pretty much cover anything with that and the marshall.

 

[Davii]

Re: Peavey Classic 50/50

Actually, I've been toying with the idea of building my own preamp. As it was, I'd been looking at doing the whole thing when I stumbled on the Peavey, but it'll be something to perfect as a project kind of thing. I like the JMP-1, but never been completely enamoured by it either.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Peavey Classic 50/50

As far as I can tell, everything works fine, so I'm not in any rush to replace them, but as this amp is circa early-mid '90s, I'm wondering if I should. Or to be considering having replacements in mind, especially if these really are the original ones from 20 years ago.

Shouldnt be a concern at all. I have tubes that are now approaching 60 years old and are perfect. Unused a tubes shelf life is infinite. If a guy bought the power amp and didnt play it much then forgot about it after a few years its entirely possible that it came to you with plenty of life left in the tubes. Change them when they need it not just "because"

 

[Davii]

Re: Peavey Classic 50/50

Shouldnt be a concern at all. I have tubes that are now approaching 60 years old and are perfect. Unused a tubes shelf life is infinite. If a guy bought the power amp and didnt play it much then forgot about it after a few years its entirely possible that it came to you with plenty of life left in the tubes. Change them when they need it not just "because"

I dread to think what sort of noise I'll make at approaching 60 :crazy:

With any luck, there is plenty of life in 'em. Having read a few of the various discussions online about likes n' dislikes about various brands of valves, I didn't much fancy the headache. The last time I saw a valve head south, was as a kid, when the one in my folks' TV went supernova!