In praise of the Peavey Classic 30

stingx · Nov 18, 2006

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 · Nov 18, 2006

Nice tone! What pickup position were you using?

oldguy · Nov 18, 2006

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 · Nov 18, 2006

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

sunvalleylaw · Nov 18, 2006

stingx said:
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.

R

Steve

warren0728 · Nov 18, 2006

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 · Nov 18, 2006

warren0728 said:
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 · Nov 18, 2006

sunvalleylaw said:
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.R

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 · Nov 18, 2006

oldguy said:
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 · Nov 18, 2006

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

And that is saying something.

warren0728 · Nov 18, 2006

tone2thebone said:
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 · Nov 18, 2006

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 · Nov 18, 2006

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 · Nov 18, 2006

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 · Nov 18, 2006

tone2thebone said:
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 · Nov 19, 2006

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 · Nov 19, 2006

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

SuperSwede · Nov 19, 2006

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

warren0728 · Nov 19, 2006

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

sunvalleylaw · Nov 19, 2006

Is this version the same as you are talking about? The face seems a little different, but I believe it is just a newer version?

Tone2TheBone · Nov 20, 2006

sunvalleylaw said:
Is this version the same as you are talking about? The face seems a little different, but I believe it is just a newer version?

I have the old style

View attachment 708

View attachment 709

The top is different...the new versions have the knobs upside down so you can adjust without looking at the amp standing on your head and levitating over it.

sunvalleylaw · Nov 20, 2006

tone2thebone said:
I have the old style

View attachment 708

View attachment 709

The top is different...the new versions have the knobs upside down so you can adjust without looking at the amp standing on your head and levitating over it.

This one I am looking at does not come with the foot pedal. I am told aftermarkets work fine. That is interesting about the controls. Functionally it should be the same? I understand the chassis changed a little but the sound stayed the same.

tot_Ou_tard · Nov 23, 2006

Man O Man StingX Y & Z that was chillingly beautiful.

More! We want more!

BJunior · Dec 21, 2006

I now have a brand new Classic 30 Sitting under the Christmas tree in a box.... unopened.. (well I did take a look at it....).

Can't wait until Christmas Morning..

I'm really looking forward to using it...it was listed at $469. and I got it for $450.00.

Picked up a Boss Delay at the same time to go along with my Chorus.

sunvalleylaw · Dec 21, 2006

BJunior said:
I now have a brand new Classic 30 Sitting under the Christmas tree in a box.... unopened.. (well I did take a look at it....).

Can't wait until Christmas Morning..

I'm really looking forward to using it...it was listed at $469. and I got it for $450.00.

Picked up a Boss Delay at the same time to go along with my Chorus.

Excellent!! I hope to join you in C-30 ownership in the not too distant future! Congrats!

R

Justaguyin_nc · Dec 21, 2006

BJunior said:
I now have a brand new Classic 30 Sitting under the Christmas tree in a box.... unopened.. (well I did take a look at it....).

Can't wait until Christmas Morning..

I'm really looking forward to using it...it was listed at $469. and I got it for $450.00.

Picked up a Boss Delay at the same time to go along with my Chorus.

BJunior: Under the tree? Can't you make like two little holes for input and powerchord? would be one rocking x-mas box!... Congrats.. look forward to hearing some clips from it...

Stingx: thanks for the clip... sounds so sweet...

Warren: thats a picture to last a lifetime.. very fortunate indeed

stingx · Dec 23, 2006

More Classic 30 Action

I remember someone wanting to hear the C30 "dirty". I was a bit busy for a while with work but I finally got the time to run a few guitars through the amp and capture some different tones that the C30 is capable of producing.

00:00 - 00:34 Yellow Ledbetter-ish clean tone using an Ibanez RS140 (neck single coil) - Nice breakup when you really hit the strings.

00:39 - 00:57 Angie intro clean tone using a Schecter PT (bridge humbucker) - Just for another clean example uses humbuckers.

01:02 - 02:09 A little drum, rhythm, and lead...both guitars are my Schecter PT (rhythm part uses the bridge humbucker and lead (right speaker) uses bridge 'bucker) - Various "dirtiness" here!

02:10 - 02:45 Lonely is the Night intro/riff (Schecter PT; bridge 'bucker)

02:46 - end Back in Black Riff (a la Robert!) I used the Schecter yet again.

No effects were used on this recording except some compression during mastering. Every take/part is simply a guitar into the amp and mic'd with a Shure Beta 57A straight into my Zoom MRS-8 multitrack recorder.

Here's the clip: http://www.box.net/public/91d1lryz7s

To keep your amp sounding its best, re-tube every two years.

warren0728 · Dec 23, 2006

stingx said:
To keep your amp sounding its best, re-tube every two years.

there a new set of jj's from eurotubes "from Conner" under my tree right now for my classic 20!

BTW...nice playing....you got a nice variety of tones from that c30!

R

ww

sunvalleylaw · Dec 23, 2006

Thanks StingX! I was the one who asked to hear the "dirtied up" tones. As Warren says, and as always, nice playing. I hope to pick up a C-30 just after the first of the year. This helps confirm my choice. Then, finally, I'll be able to change the "Shopping for my amp" in my sig line. Thanks again.

r_a_smith3530 · Dec 25, 2006

sunvalleylaw said:
I hope to pick up a C-30 just after the first of the year. This helps confirm my choice. Then, finally, I'll be able to change the "Shopping for my amp" in my sig line. Thanks again.

As nice as the Classic 30 is, the Classic 50 is just that much better, and before making your decision, I recommend that you give one a test drive. IMNSHO the Classic 30 has two minor shortcomings. First, the way that the tubes are mounted, they tend to rattle. There are several aftermarket solutions out there to correct this. It is well documented. The other shortcoming is the lack of a standby switch, so that if you want to unplug and plug an instrument in, you should shut the amp down. That pop, snap, or whatever that you hear when you disconnect or connect an instrument in to a valve amp is something the valves do not like. The Classic 50 incorporates a "standby" switch that separates the input circuitry from the power circuit.

As a bonus, you get 20 extra watts to do whatever you would like with! BTW, this is not to diss the Classic 30, as it has the same circuit design as the other members of the Classic family.

In praise of the Peavey Classic 30

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