Peavey Classic 50 or Hot Rod Deville?

[clovis]

Hey guys,

I'm John. I'm new here and needing some amp advice. I currently use a 2x12 Peavey 5150. I am wanting to change my gear setup and go with a 4x10 amp. I would like to get either a Peavey Classic 50 or a Fender Hot Rod Deville. Does anyone have any opinions on these amps? Which is better, cuts through the best...has the best combo of cleans and gain, etc etc?? I play in a band where I'm constantly fighting to cut thru the mix. The rhythm guitarist never backs off his endless chord pounding when I'm soloing and I've been using EQ, a TS9, and a Boss Blues driver to try and cut through.

I also am a bit tired of the darker tone of 2x12's and would like a 4x10 setup. So what are the pro's/con's between the two amps?

Thanks,

John R.

 

[Reeek]

Sounds like a choice between whether you prefer 6L6's or EL84's as a first consideration.

 

[Chiba]

I've owned both these amps in the 4x10 configuration and if I were to get either of them again, I'd go with the Peavey in a heartbeat.

I liked the clean channel of the Fender a little better, but the crunch channel of the Peavey kills it IMHO.

I also found the plastic jacks, nuts, and general construction of the Fender to be inferior to the Peavey.

--chiba

 

[hasserl]

Neither one, get a SF Super Reverb for less, have it recapped and black faced. It will sound MUCH better than either one of those turds and will retain it's value, even increase.

 

[scottl]

Originally posted by clovis
Hey guys,

I'm John. I'm new here and needing some amp advice. I currently use a 2x12 Peavey 5150. I am wanting to change my gear setup and go with a 4x10 amp. I would like to get either a Peavey Classic 50 or a Fender Hot Rod Deville. Does anyone have any opinions on these amps? Which is better, cuts through the best...has the best combo of cleans and gain, etc etc?? I play in a band where I'm constantly fighting to cut thru the mix. The rhythm guitarist never backs off his endless chord pounding when I'm soloing and I've been using EQ, a TS9, and a Boss Blues driver to try and cut through.

I also am a bit tired of the darker tone of 2x12's and would like a 4x10 setup. So what are the pro's/con's between the two amps?

Thanks,

John R.

I'd say you need to address the problem. The rhythm guitarist issue will always be plagueing you. He needs to shut up. Do something about it. Turning up or cutting through more will only make the music worse.

Scott

 

[hasserl]

Originally posted by scottl
I'd say you need to address the problem. The rhythm guitarist issue will always be plagueing you. He needs to shut up. Do something about it. Turning up or cutting through more will only make the music worse.

Scott

Man, if you're successfull with that you'll have accomplished something most bands never can. Ego's are involved and it becomes a touchy subject. Part of the problem you may be having may not be the other guy. Is your amp pointing at your calves. You may not be hearing yourself, but blowing everyone else out. The same might be happening with your rythmn player. Do you guys use stands to point the amps up towards your ears?

I've struggled with this at times, where it seems like I'm just not cutting thru, only to listen to a recording playback and be astounded at how well I was cutting thru the mix. Just not where I was standing. Try stepping out in front of the band by about 12 feet and check out the mix out there.

Good luck,

and I still say go with a SF Super Reverb instead of your other two choices.

 

[Tag]

Originally posted by hasserl
Neither one, get a SF Super Reverb for less, have it recapped and black faced. It will sound MUCH better than either one of those turds and will retain it's value, even increase.

Those two turds sound as good or better than 98% of the boutique amps talked about on here in A\B testing to my great ear. I prefered my 4\10 Deville to my 66 blackface SR. Thats why I still have the DeVille and the Super is gone.

The PV has much better drive tone, the Fender a much better clean tone. I also really like the PV 2\12 more than the 4\10 version. The DeVille I slightly preferred the 4\10.

I also agree with Scott. No matter WHAT amp you have, if the other guy keeps blasting, it will always sound like $hit.

 

[pjrhd28]

I have a 4x 10 Deville (its for sale if you're interested) and the clean tones really are great.

Worse thing about the amp ( and this has been pointed out lots of times) is that the EQ is not assignable to the three channels and I find that very frustrating (that's one of the reasons I got a MB MK IV).

I also don't think the distortion on the Deville will be as "rich" as your 5150; I know its not near as rich as the MK IV.

One other thing- the volume controls on the Deville are SO non-linear that it seems like a 1/16 inch twist at certain levels increases the volume A LOT.

It's still a pretty darn good amp in the $400 to $500 used price range.

 

[hasserl]

Originally posted by Tag
Those two turds sound as good or better than 98% of the boutique amps talked about on here in A\B testing to my great ear. I prefered my 4\10 Deville to my 66 blackface SR. Thats why I still have the DeVille and the Super is gone.

LOL! I KNEW you would respond when I typed that. You're too predictable.

I geuss it's perfectly fine for us to have different opinions on this, and if you prefer a Hot Rod over a Super Reverb that's your business.

John, I still recommend the SR though, you'll be way ahead of the game with one over either of those others. JMO of course, YMMV, and all that other stuff.

 

[Tag]

Originally posted by hasserl
LOL! I KNEW you would respond when I typed that. You're too predictable.

I have to keep you vintage and boutique fanatics in line.

 

[hasserl]

Originally posted by Tag
I have to keep you vintage and boutique fanatics in line.

LOL!!!

But I don't really fall into either of those categories, I just dislike the Peavey Classic series amps and Fender Hot Rod amps a lot. And I do like the vintage Fender stuff, but it's mostly priced rediculously high these days. However, silver face amps are still somewhat reasonable, and make great platforms for really good amps.

 

[Killa-B]

It may be worth pointing out that the Peavey Classic 50 is nowhere close to 50W (true RMS output). A quartet of EL-84s may hit around 30-34W when really pushed.

For the price of your 5150 you could try a Kendrick Black Gold 35 (used), or the early 70's Silverface SR with some work would also sound great.

Most speakers don't really fully "bloom" until 15+ feet away. As others have suggested it's a good idea to stand around other places in the practice room and see if you can notice major differences.

 

[Donn Rowe]

Originally posted by Killa-B
It may be worth pointing out that the Peavey Classic 50 is nowhere close to 50W (true RMS output). A quartet of EL-84s may hit around 30-34W when really pushed.

For the price of your 5150 you could try a Kendrick Black Gold 35 (used), or the early 70's Silverface SR with some work would also sound great.

Most speakers don't really fully "bloom" until 15+ feet away. As others have suggested it's a good idea to stand around other places in the practice room and see if you can notice major differences.

The Classic 30 uses a quartet of EL84's..I belive the Classic 50 uses 6L6's...

 

[MuseCafeChris]

Originally posted by DonR
The Classic 30 uses a quartet of EL84's..I belive the Classic 50 uses 6L6's...

Nope. The 50 also uses a quartet of EL84s.

The Classic 100 uses EIGHT of 'em!

 

[Donn Rowe]

Originally posted by MuseCafeChris
Nope. The 50 also uses a quartet of EL84s.

The Classic 100 uses EIGHT of 'em!

They must love those 84's

 

[aeolian]

EL84s? Really? Maybe that's why the Peavy sounds better cranked than the Deville. But also check out the 2-12 Deville. I heard Michael Burks playing though one of these on 12 once, and the sound (besides being louder than God) was great.

I used to love my Classic 30 with a Mesa/Celestion Black Shadow 90 in it. For the money and size, it was a great blues rig.

 

[clovis]

I should have pointed something out at first. I NEVER use the lead channel of my 5150. I HATE the tone. I use the rhythm channel with the gain button on and the pre-gain set WAY low. I turn the post gain volume up to get the sound I want, then usually just use my TS9 and Blues Driver pedals for lead boost or a heavier/dirtier rhythm sound.

I did talk to my singer and he showed up for practice without his guitar!! Says he forgot it, but I think he was wanting to hear how it sounded with just me playing rhythm and lead. Of course I had to alter a few things, but everyone said...get this..hahaha "It sounded better". No lie. Lead playing sounded a tad empty with only a bass and drums driving the rhythm...but it worked for the most part.

I did try leaning my 5150 back once and I could hear it better, but the tone changed somehow. The singer runs his guitar into an overdrive pedal and then straight into the board. So he's coming out the monitors and mains. At practice I usually don't mic my amp because our PA setup is really small and at the gigs, the bassist is now wanting to just run through the board. I keep telling him his amp sounds better and micing it would be best, but he doesn't listen. We really need another power amp and some more speakers...then I think it would work. But we're running on a tight budget and limited resources. "making do" basically.

Our first show is next Saturday and I'm really wondering how I'm gonna run my sound. I know the bassist will run direct, just like the singer playing 2nd guitar. If I don't mic, then everyone who's not DIRECTLY in front of my amp won't hear me..esp. when I take a solo. Any thoughts here??? This 1st gig of ours is an outdoor gig too...hahahaha

John.

 

[bluesdoc]

I recently took my Classic 50 head off the market after playing it again. Pretty amazing amp for cheap. I think the main differences between the C30 (which I also own) and the 50 must be iron content. Bigger transformers can make for much more sound. The C50 is quite large compard to the C30 and yes, both use 84s.

But Scott nailed it. Getting louder isn't the solution. Might feel good for awhile though...... Also, there is no significant difference in loudness between 35-50 watts. It's all a matter of bottom and headroom.

jon

 

[Rock Fella]

in a choice between the classic50 and the hot rod de-VILE , the classic 50 every time my friend , its got the sweetest cleans and kickarse drive, i think the deville is outclassed completely by the peavey.

ive a 6505 peavey head on order, you wanna hear the drive that animal is capable of

jimmy

 

[Killa-B]

Both Classic 50 and 30 are good values. Hard to beat them for the price range.

p.s. Michael Burks just played my wedding reception, and he was playing one Maz 38 2x12 combo, 2 Dr. Z Delta 88 heads ,and two more 2x12 Z cabs--all orange. He had a Klon, and some ordinary modulation effects on his board and that was about it.

His tone was incredible, super fat and meaty at all times, but compressed and airy with a strat. My wife and I took the first dance to Little Wing, unbelievable. Michael and the band were very courteous after the show, great great guys.

Don't miss Michael, I believe he may be the very hottest blues player on the planet.