In praise of the Peavey Classic 30

**stingx** · November 18th, 2006, 07:45 AM

I bough a C30 off Ebay last year. I was looking for a small, tube combo with balls and all signs pointed to the C30. Well, I have since re-tubed the amp with Eurotubes. I had a hard decision to make...did I want early or mid breakup, high headroom, etc? In the end I went with a custom solution that gives me the headroom needed at louder volumes and still can dirty it up quite nicely.

I then started contemplating replacing the stock Blue Marvel speaker. I was looking at Celestion Vintage 30s and G12H models. A friend pointed me towards the Emminence Red Coat but, in the end, I decided I liked the stock tone. I used my Shure Beta 57A and mic'd my amp direct into my 8-track. I wanted to capture a nice, very clean tone and I was using this to gauge feedback.

Anyway, I thought I'd share this little clip in case anyone was looking at obtaining a C30 and wondered just how clean it can sound. This is just purely my JV Strat into the C30...no processing added.

Peavey Classic 30 + JV Strat Test Clip

Robert**** · November 18th, 2006, 08:13 AM

Nice tone! What pickup position were you using?

**oldguy** · November 18th, 2006, 08:19 AM

That is indeed a wonderful clean tone. I bet that little monster rocks when it's cranked, too. Your strat through it sounds great! I was waiting for Jimi to start singing at some point in that clip.

Thanks for that, it can really help when a bargain pops up on the 'Bay, a pawnshop special, or a yard sale.
Just curious, Sting, is you JV stock, and what type/gauge strings are you using? I asked because those PU's sound killer and I wondered what setting you used for that clip.
Glenn

**SuperSwede** · November 18th, 2006, 09:07 AM

Stingx, those JV strats are really nice guitars. And that classic 30 has a wonderful sound.

**sunvalleylaw** · November 18th, 2006, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by stingx

I bough a C30 off Ebay last year. I was looking for a small, tube combo with balls and all signs pointed to the C30. Well, I have since re-tubed the amp with Eurotubes. I had a hard decision to make...did I want early or mid breakup, high headroom, etc? In the end I went with a custom solution that gives me the headroom needed at louder volumes and still can dirty it up quite nicely.

I then started contemplating replacing the stock Blue Marvel speaker. I was looking at Celestion Vintage 30s and G12H models. A friend pointed me towards the Emminence Red Coat but, in the end, I decided I liked the stock tone. I used my Shure Beta 57A and mic'd my amp direct into my 8-track. I wanted to capture a nice, very clean tone and I was using this to gauge feedback.

Anyway, I thought I'd share this little clip in case anyone was looking at obtaining a C30 and wondered just how clean it can sound. This is just purely my JV Strat into the C30...no processing added.

Peavey Classic 30 + JV Strat Test Clip

Thanks Stingx! That sounds awesome. Can you post a clip of it "dirtied up"? I am just a beginner and am shopping still. I have been playing at my lessons through my instuctor's Peavey and really like it. My first, and only electric, so far, is a 60th Ann. Std. Strat which I understand is a little similar to your JV. This place is awesome, keeps me inspired and practicing so hopefully one day I can make some tones like you, and the others here are dealing out.

Steve

**warren0728** · November 18th, 2006, 09:56 AM

nice tones....i am going to retube my classic 20 with jj's from eurotubes....probably going to go for more headroom and warmth and less gain....that combo with a bad monkey in front should be perfect!

ww

**stingx** · November 18th, 2006, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by warren0728

nice tones....i am going to retube my classic 20 with jj's from eurotubes....probably going to go for more headroom and warmth and less gain....that combo with a bad monkey in front should be perfect!

ww

Excellent idea. I use a Keeley modded TS9 but I am heading over to Sam Ash today to pickup the Bad Monkey and the Hot Head. A friend at work has the Bad Monkey and I like the extra flexibility it offers.

**stingx** · November 18th, 2006, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by sunvalleylaw

Thanks Stingx! That sounds awesome. Can you post a clip of it "dirtied up"? I am just a beginner and am shopping still. I have been playing at my lessons through my instuctor's Peavey and really like it. My first, and only electric, so far, is a 60th Ann. Std. Strat which I understand is a little similar to your JV. This place is awesome, keeps me inspired and practicing so hopefully one day I can make some tones like you, and the others here are dealing out.

Steve

Thanks, Steve. I should be able to find time to produce a dirtier clip over the weekend for you. Your 60th Ann Strat is a great instrument. Keep practicing. I started playing in the early 80s and stopped for a while and then got back into it again full force in the late 90s. I should be much better than I am for the amount of time I've been at it.

**stingx** · November 18th, 2006, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by oldguy

Just curious, Sting, is you JV stock, and what type/gauge strings are you using? I asked because those PU's sound killer and I wondered what setting you used for that clip.
Glenn

Hello Oldguy. The pickups are completely stock. I saw no need to replace them. I know some do but I cannot understand why. I ditched the stock 9s for 10s. I believe I use 10s on all my electrics except my old Kramer w/Floyd. I prefer D'Addario 10s.

Also, I recorded that using only the neck pickup, amp kinda turned up with the volume rolled back on the guitar a bit.

**Tone2TheBone** · November 18th, 2006, 10:41 AM

I don't complain at all about my Classic 30 (JJs also all around).

And that is saying something.

**warren0728** · November 18th, 2006, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by tone2thebone

I don't complain at all about my Classic 30 (JJs also all around)

tone...did you get a special set from eurotubes or just pick some up locally or online. I've heard eurotubes is THE place to get jj's because he hand picks the tubes according to the basic sound you are looking for.

ww

**Tone2TheBone** · November 18th, 2006, 10:50 AM

Warren - There's a shop here in town that sells them and thats where I go. They're a highly technical bunch of people there so I trust their stock. If I didn't have them so close I'd definately go with Eurotubes though. I'm not sure if the JJ tubes I get locally are hand selected but heck they sure sound like it to me. Anything is better than Chinese tubes man!

PS - I didn't know Les Paul was your dad. +1

**warren0728** · November 18th, 2006, 11:03 AM

yeah i got the tubes for my valve jr locally but i think i'm going to get the tubes for my classic 20 from eurotubes.

hey mr. paul is a super nice guy...thats a pic of when i met him at the iridium jazz club in nyc a couple of years ago!! I got one of his picks off of his mike stand (which he signed for me)!

ww

**Tone2TheBone** · November 18th, 2006, 11:10 AM

How many guitar players have a photo like that one. Well maybe a few but that is just awesome.

Oh I wanted to also add that I tried one of the speakers out of my Marshall Jubilee combo (a Celestion Vintage 30) with the Classic 30 and while those speakers sound excellent in the Marshall...I thought the stock Blue Marvel speaker sounded best. It compliments the cabinet better with sweet round mids (lower mids) and makes the amp sound like a vintage Fender amp.....or a nice Dr. Z Carmen Ghia.....or a.... The Blue Marvel works well in the amp IMHO.

**warren0728** · November 18th, 2006, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by tone2thebone

How many guitar players have a photo like that one. Well maybe a few but that is just awesome.

here's a little larger version....truly a musical highlight for me. You can see his pick on the table that he signed for me.

oh and to stay on topic....i think the peavey classic line of amps do not get the respect they deserve!

ww

**Tone2TheBone** · November 18th, 2006, 09:16 PM

Warren that is just an incredible photograph. Made me feel good seeing that. I've yet to make it up to the Iridium and I hope that it will be soon.

My Classic was a direct result of GAS acquired in this forum along with a good streak of shear luck. After lusting over photos of yours and Nel's I just had to have one. This series of amps are secret weapons of sweet tone. A serious chunk of the 'tone puzzle'.

**stingx** · November 19th, 2006, 08:58 AM

Hey Warren, that's a very cool picture with Les Paul.

**SuperSwede** · November 19th, 2006, 10:06 AM

Yeah! He still can play too! Really nice pic Warren.

**warren0728** · November 19th, 2006, 10:14 AM

his arthritis is pretty bad...mostly plays rhythm barre chords...if you ever get to nyc definitely hit the iridium on monday night...go to the late show and chances are you will get to meet him after the show.

my son wants me to take him because he really wants to meet him (gotta love that coming from a 10 year old!) I am going to take him soon i hope....flights from florida to nyc are cheap and we can stay with a friend of mine!

OH YEAH...keeping on topic: I STILL love my classic 20!

ww

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