Peavey Classic 30 Questions

[exrunnerguitarist]

My AC30 is just too much for my dorm room so I'm looking for a smaller but still great sounding amp. Thinking about picking up a Peavey Classic 30 and eventually swapping out the speaker. Has anyone put a Celestion Gold in one or maybe a greenback? Advice?

 

[cratz2]

I've upgraded three of them for friends. One with a Vintage 30 and two with G12H30s. The amp sounds pretty good stock but a brand new G12H30 sounds better than the Blue Marvel that has three years worth of break-in.

 

[StompBoxBlues]

Just my opinion, but I own a Classic 30 and I don't think you will be able to play it low enough and get the sound you want....it's not really a bedroom amp (dorm amp).

It won't be all that quieter than the AC30 I don't think.
Have you thought about an attenuator?

 

[exrunnerguitarist]

I'm not talking about running it at break up. I'll probably use the master volume plus a couple pedals for some extra boost. And no I haven't, I'll look into them though.

 

[david(j)]

I thought the classic 30 was great for college. It was loud enough to gig, portable, sounded great, and works great with pedals.

if you put a new speaker in it, it comes to life, but some of the popular replacements are pretty efficient and can increase the volume quite a bit. That can be good or bad.

if you're after the vox sound, I don't think te c30 is all that similar, but it is a workhorse of a little amp for sure.

 

[StompBoxBlues]

I'm not talking about running it at break up. I'll probably use the master volume plus a couple pedals for some extra boost. And no I haven't, I'll look into them though.

Yeah..that could work ok. Probably better than an attenuator.
I just had the idea you were cranking it...maybe because I didn't see why you couldn't do the same with the AC30?

 

[Endr_rpm]

Slap a g12h30 in it and google the 15 watt mod, makes it more small place friendly but even at half power my classic 30 does fine at band practice as long as I'm not looking for knopfler clean at volume.

 

[boonhogganbeck]

Another vote for g12H30. I've got the mojotone clone of that in mine and really like the way it sounds.

 

[Miles]

Just my opinion, but I own a Classic 30 and I don't think you will be able to play it low enough and get the sound you want....it's not really a bedroom amp (dorm amp).

It won't be all that quieter than the AC30 I don't think.
Have you thought about an attenuator?

I agree with this. The Classic 50 actually has a better 'bedroom' level volume taper due to two volume controls.

Also, the classic 30 is a fabulous amp, but I also agree that it won't be much quieter than your AC30. I also would NOT replace the stock speaker. I think the blue marvels are voiced great for that amp. They're high quality eminence manufactured speakers. Not crap.

 

[ledzep618]

I've had both...the Classic 30 is great, but it isn't gonna be much quieter than an AC30 as others have said. I think you can get better cleans at a lower volume from an AC30. That being said I love both amps, there really is not great dorm room option. If I were you though, I'd keep the Vox and get an attenuator as someone else mentioned...Z Brake Lite

 

[exrunnerguitarist]

I've had both...the Classic 30 is great, but it isn't gonna be much quieter than an AC30 as others have said. I think you can get better cleans at a lower volume from an AC30. That being said I love both amps, there really is not great dorm room option. If I were you though, I'd keep the Vox and get an attenuator as someone else mentioned...Z Brake Lite

I'm not trading or selling my vox, just looking to pick up something in addition. Looking into the AC4 also.

 

[StompBoxBlues]

I'm not trading or selling my vox, just looking to pick up something in addition. Looking into the AC4 also.

I'm not pusing anything in particular, but though I use Budda SD-II's in my bands, and have for years, I just picked up an Egnater Tweaker 40 (it has two channels). The Tweaker 15 I think it is, is single channel, but MAN...you can play at ANY volume (including band volumes) and the master(s) work fantastic...it has tones of tone and shaping switches...

You can choose AC30, Marshall, or Fender sound (though so far to me the "USA" (fender) just sounds the best of the three main mode settings, but there are switches (as well as EQ) for tight bass or normal, bright or normal, mid-cut or normal, also vintage (little more bassy) or modern (more bite) as well as gain control.

The thing about this amp, here in Norway, in kroner it is one of the least expensive, and forgetting about price, one of the best amps I've used.
It's REALLY flexible, and because of the switches, I find I can adjust when at low volumes (boost bass and treble with switches and knobs) and get it sounding VERY nice for practice...it easily (at least the two-channel 40) is loud enough for the band, but then I open it up, adjust down bass and treble, and get it sounding great.

Just a suggestion, it is a very inexpensive, FUN amp.

 

[BeauDavid]

I actually just picked up a classic 30 tonight and I wasn't even planning on even buying an amp. It's definitely the best bang for your buck. It definitely will work great for dorm room volume with the second channel engadged, you can tweak the pre and post gain knobs to get a nice low volume. My friend switched the speaker with a weber blue bell and let me tell you it REALLY came to life.

 

[guiltless]

Greenback. Made all the difference in mine.

 

[Goo Fighters]

I'd also suggest a 'Tom's Tube Tamer' to curtail tube rattle when you do get to crank it a bit more. $20 on ebay.

 

[Pantalooj]

I'm in the camp that thinks the Peavey Classic is a nice amp for the money, but I wouldn't buy one for low volume use. 30 watts in a tube amp that doesn't have power scaling or power reduction options is really just too much.

 

[Goo Fighters]

I'm in the camp that thinks the Peavey Classic is a nice amp for the money, but I wouldn't buy one for low volume use. 30 watts in a tube amp that doesn't have power scaling or power reduction options is really just too much.

Depends on where you live, really. A dorm room might not work out too well, but I've been playing my Classic 30 up to about 3.5 on the volume dial in my condo for years with no complaints. Keep it around 2 - 2.5 later at night. I had a Mesa 5:25 combo that did much better tonally at lower volumes with the smaller cabinet and 5 watt mode enabled.

 

[Gretsch&Vox]

Also, the classic 30 is a fabulous amp, but I also agree that it won't be much quieter than your AC30. I also would NOT replace the stock speaker. I think the blue marvels are voiced great for that amp. They're high quality eminence manufactured speakers. Not crap.

I agree.

 

[LPMojoGL]

I really enjoyed the PVC30 I had at all volumes.
I liked it even more when I ran it through a separate cab.
Definitely do not like the Blue Marvels. They are horrible speakers, imo.
Takes pedals well.
This was recorded at bedroom volumes with family asleep in the other room, pv kicks in around the 1 minute mark:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=605320&songID=4474448

 

[I-IV-V]

I've always liked this vid of a completely stock C30.