Peavey Classics

[jmcorey]

Have a Peavey Classic 20. Used to be really fizzy distortion, so I got some JJ's and that made it much better. Still sounds boxy and very middy. It as an external speaker jack, so I then ran it into a Carvin Legacy 1x12 cabinet. Completely changed the amp sound: much cleaner and clearer.

So went to another store, and tried their Peavey Classic 30. Less middy, but still fizzy distortion. Then ran it through their 6505 cabinet, sound didn't improve as well. The Classic 30 has two channels, so I'd prefer having that to a one channel amp like the 20, but the 20 sounded better with the new tubes and the external 1x12 speaker cab. The 12 in. speaker in the Classic 30 was vastly inferior.

If I were to swap tubes and get another speaker for a classic 30, does that really improve the sound of the amp? I'd get JJ's most likely, but what speaker would make the Classic 30 sound better?

Thanks....

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Peavey Classics

If you mean "better" as in getting rid of the fizz from the OD channel, no. I have a Classic 30 as well and have never been able to warm up to the OD channel. It's kind of hard to recommend a speaker because we all hear things differantley and what one player loves, another is going to hate. I've settled (for now) on a Celestion Vintage 30.

If you have'nt already, you might want to try an OD of your choice pedal into the amps clean channel. Or for a bit of a differant flavor try a pedal into the amps OD channel. I keep the Pre-gain set no higher than a 9:00 position and the Post-gain around 11/12:00 and adjust a pedal accordingly and IMO it works pretty good.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Peavey Classics

i've been debating for ages weather or not to keep my C30 stock or get a new speaker... I have a 1x12 Classic series extention cab for my C30 combo amp as well and the ext cab is a sealed back... It adds a hell of a lot more lows and the sound is over all better... but the speaker in the Ext cab is a 75 watt Peavey of some sort....

The OD channel on the C30 i find is harsh but it works wonders with my Stock tele.... i have no idea why but that MIM Tele and that C30 OD just click....

 

[bvc310]

Re: Peavey Classics

If you mean "better" as in getting rid of the fizz from the OD channel, no. I have a Classic 30 as well and have never been able to warm up to the OD channel. It's kind of hard to recommend a speaker because we all hear things differantley and what one player loves, another is going to hate. I've settled (for now) on a Celestion Vintage 30.

If you have'nt already, you might want to try an OD of your choice pedal into the amps clean channel. Or for a bit of a differant flavor try a pedal into the amps OD channel. I keep the Pre-gain set no higher than a 9:00 position and the Post-gain around 11/12:00 and adjust a pedal accordingly and IMO it works pretty good.

To warm up that amplifier, I would recomend doing a fairly simple amp mod to it, you will just need to change a few resistors and caps. You can find the mod a http://blueguitar.org/articles.htm. I did several on mine afew years back and wow what an improvement.

 

[hellatone]

Re: Peavey Classics

i've got a C30 and a C20 -- new speakers and tubes did wonders for each of them -- i've got JJs in both -- Bob at Eurotubes has packaged tube selections for various amps, and they sound pretty good -- the C30 has a celestion g12h30 which made a large difference in improving the sound -- in the C20, I put an old fender bassman speaker which sounds great --

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Peavey Classics

i've got a C30 and a C20 -- new speakers and tubes did wonders for each of them -- i've got JJs in both -- Bob at Eurotubes has packaged tube selections for various amps, and they sound pretty good -- the C30 has a celestion g12h30 which made a large difference in improving the sound -- in the C20, I put an old fender bassman speaker which sounds great --

How did you do with the distortion in the C30 after the speaker change? Still Fizzy?

 

[hellatone]

Re: Peavey Classics

How did you do with the distortion in the C30 after the speaker change? Still Fizzy?

the distortion channel on the C30 sounded like crap before i got the new speaker, and .... it sounded like crap after. i solved the problem by never using the distorition channel. I put a spina-modded ts9 or a spina-modded vox wah in front on the clean channel, and voila, as they say. the C20 has a master volume which gives great cranked tones at dining room levels. BTW -- i want to get some sort of attenuator and stick it in the C30 and see what that gives me, since i've never been able to crank the C30 up to natural OD because it is too darn loud! :smokin:

 

[Mephis]

Re: Peavey Classics

I run my classic 50 through my 6505 cab and it sounds great.

I then again I don't use the O/D channel, the 6505+ can do low/mid gain tones alot better.

I think that's the moral of the story, classic series=clean amps.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Peavey Classics

Do you all think that they take to OD/Dist pedals well?

 

[butnut]

Re: Peavey Classics

+1 for Celestions. I got another one for my extention cab...SUPER! Never used the dist channel, it is crap. I use a Jeckyl & Hyde overdrive and MXR Micro Amp...pure tone bliss. Modded TS9 for boost.

 

[Soujurn]

Re: Peavey Classics

Before I blew up my Classic 30, I ran it with a Vintage 30 speaker and JJ preamp tubes and NOS EL-84's of varying brands. Sounded wonderful on the clean channel.
I found some usable tones from the distortion channel, but the boost switch just sucked whenever I put it in.

I've decided to keep the amp cab, chassis, etc... and build a point to point hand wired amp and stick in it for fun.
I'm looking for schematics and diagrams now.

 

[Shnook]

Re: Peavey Classics

I replaced the stock speaker in mine with a Eminence Governor as well as putting in NOS tubes. I found that by putting a RCA 5751 in there I got a lot more head room. I *think* it's in the phase inverter spot. Brimar and Siemans in the other sockets. JJ pre-amp tubes sound dull to me. Power tubes are fine though.

It now sounds MUCH better than stock. I used the amp along with a Wiggy 2x12 cab with my band yesterday and got all the tones I needed from both the normal channel and the lead channel without help of an OD pedal. Just a BJF Sea Blue EQ. Even my bandmates commented on how good it sounded.