Reeves Custom 30

[Phil M]

I'm not sure how many of you guys have played this amp because they're not exactly common, but KILLER is one word to describe it. It does the clean, edge of clean, crunchy and old school high gain really well. More versatile than I figured it might be for a one channel amp and the boost level control knob gives additional shades of gain or volume depending how the front panel is set. The power scaling really works well on this one. It's not the best sound in the box, but you can get decent tones at very low volumes. The footswitchable boost and reverb are nice modern additions for this style amp.

The Reeves is nice and clear with a Strat but my Les Paul just roars through it. It's not modern sounding distortion, it's old school late '60s/'70s style hard rock gain. Maybe a little beyond that, slight fuzzy edge around the notes too. I like my modern high gain channel switchers but I've never been able to get one to sound gritty and rude in this way. Think Humble Pie at the Fillmore, The Who Live at Leeds. Maybe Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes.

Anyway...I've always wondered how they got those sounds. I guess I never had an amp that excelled at it.

http://www.reevesamps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=42

Still not cheap, but a few hundred better than the regular price.

 

[voojo]

I auditioned one of these on the Reeves ten day trial period. I didn't end up keeping the amp at that time, but as is often said on TGP I wish I would have. I agree with what you said, really unique sounding cleans, and great crunch. The powerscaling was very useful, and the reverb was just superb in my mind. Not an over the top reverb, just right.

It's on my shortlist of amps I would like to own & keep! I'm suprised it's not more popular. It was designed in conjunction with Mark Stephenson, who knows his way around an amp!

Out of curiosity, do you have the newer MkII version, with the fixed bias?

 

[dk123123dk]

Do you own a head or combo? If combo, how's the weight?

I need a Hiwatt flavored amp. All my favorite artists used them. Seems like a no brainer that is often overlooked.

dk

 

[Phil M]

I auditioned one of these on the Reeves ten day trial period. I didn't end up keeping the amp at that time, but as is often said on TGP I wish I would have. I agree with what you said, really unique sounding cleans, and great crunch. The powerscaling was very useful, and the reverb was just superb in my mind. Not an over the top reverb, just right.

It's on my shortlist of amps I would like to own & keep! I'm suprised it's not more popular. It was designed in conjunction with Mark Stephenson, who knows his way around an amp!

Out of curiosity, do you have the newer MkII version, with the fixed bias?

Mine's a bit of an oddball "transition" model. It has the fixed bias and boost level control like the new MKII but not the toggle switch to turn the boost on and off without the footswitch (big deal).

I had another amp with power scaling and really didn't like it on that amp. It sounded really good cranked up but not with the power scaling set low. This one sounds good even practically turned off.

Do you own a head or combo? If combo, how's the weight?

I need a Hiwatt flavored amp. All my favorite artists used them. Seems like a no brainer that is often overlooked.

dk

This one's a head. The pictures I've seen of these look small but it's actually sort of a deep headshell. It goes back about 11 inches and it's heavier than it looks. I've never played a real Hiwatt so I can't really say, but it kind of has that sound of live Who.

It doesn't sound just like either amp, but it's clear and chimey like a Vox and grunts like a Marshall at the same time.

I love KT66es...

 

[Fifthstone]

I love both my Custom 6 and 12 and would go up in wattage if I had the need (I've gigged with both the 6 and 12). Phil M's description is spot on. My LP rages with these amps, but old school tones, which I favor. And the tone controls have a really broad sweep, which helps get even more out of these amps. I don't know how these amps can be so under the radar. I love mine.

 

[Phil M]

I'm guessing you've mic'ed the 6, maybe not the 12(?) All depends on the drummer and music I guess.

Anyway, here are some pics of the Reeves Custom 30. I dig it ...

 

[Probos]

Congrats and welcome to the club. I ordered mine last spring, ordered it as a combo but ended up purchasing a head shell from Bill and converted it over. Mine was a transitional model as well -- had the boost on/off switch on the back and fixed bias, but not variable control for the boost. So I sent mine off to Reeves and had that added (variable control that is),...got it back about a week ago. Reeves customer services is THE best I've ever experienced -- I sent them my 30 and they did the work in less than a week,....turn around time was so fast. Bill is the best.

So my 30 is completely pimped out with all the MKII mods now. You description of the tone is spot on -- it's very versatile for a single channel amp. The Power Scaling is awesome,...takes a little time to figure out how to dial your tones in, but after that U wonder how you do with out PS.

I'm actually gonna bias mine up today with a pair of SED 6L6's -- Bill mentioned that the 30 sounds really nice w/6L6's so I'm gonna give it a shot.

 

[Phil M]

Hey, I think I begged you to sell yours to me at one point last year.

Yes, Bill definitely deserves mention here. He really helped to make this happen for me and was a pleasure to deal with.

You also bring up something interesting. I guess mine had 6L6es at the shop and Bill mentioned that he liked it better with those but I wanted the KT66es. There's just something about those tubes. Anyway, I'd love to hear what you think once you get the 6L6es in yours. I assume it'll smooth it out, maybe tame to mids but who knows...

 

[Probos]

Hey, I think I begged you to sell yours to me at one point last year.

Yes, Bill definitely deserves mention here. He really helped to make this happen for me and was a pleasure to deal with.

You also bring up something interesting. I guess mine had 6L6es at the shop and Bill mentioned that he liked it better with those but I wanted the KT66es. There's just something about those tubes. Anyway, I'd love to hear what you think once you get the 6L6es in yours. I assume it'll smooth it out, maybe tame to mids but who knows...

Yeah -- we "asked" if I would sell you mine, but this amp is a keeper for sure.

I'll let you know on the 6L6's -- maybe not smoother, but I'm thinking a bit more headroom and tighter bottom.

 

[Phil M]

Cool, let me know.