Why not much love for Peavey Classic series amps?

[enroper]

I've read a lot about lower end amp suggestions, and am considering a Peavey classic 30 or 50, but wondering why people usually don't recommend them.

The odd thing is, people who do own them, rave about them.

Is there any inherent dangers/reliability problems? Anything I should know about?

So in a sense, why not more love for these series of amps. Is it just cause its not a fender/marshall/vox/*other big name* ?

[dcwave]

When I was a kid in early 80s, Peavy was the Behringer of amps - you only bought them because they where cheap. Having said that - I own 3 and sometimes they are the best choice for recording ear-bleeding distortion.

[FossilTooth]

They're totally fine.

I had a 2x12 classic 50 for years. Good sounding amp for not much money. The distortion channel is actually usable, unlike the Fender Hot Rod Series. The clean channel is quite a bit thicker ans smoother than the Hot Rods, where those entry level fender tube amps are quite a bit tighter and have a lot more chime.

I sold mine. It's a great gigging amp, and you'll have a hard time finding anything that sounds better in the same price range. However, as soon as you start recording really nice sounding amps, you may just lose interest.

It just wasn't a great recording amp. It had a fairly loud fan, and the tone was a little phony when compared with any really good amp. The classic 30 doesn't have a fan, which is a plus. The leaner tone of the 4x10 version, the big n' tight tone of 1x15 or the more oddball tone of the delta blues might translate a little better onto a recording than the somewhat murky 2x12 version, but none of them can hold up when you put them next to a Fender Princeton or an AC 30, or JCM, or whatever your poison is..

If you want to go for a cheap tube combo for the studio, I'd recommend the Blues Junior or the Pro Junior. Alternately, a used champ might be in your price range.

However, if you're looking for good-sounding a live workhorse on a budget, you'll be very happy with the classic series.

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by enroper

I've read a lot about lower end amp suggestions, and am considering a Peavey classic 30 or 50, but wondering why people usually don't recommend them.

The odd thing is, people who do own them, rave about them.

Is there any inherent dangers/reliability problems? Anything I should know about?

So in a sense, why not more love for these series of amps. Is it just cause its not a fender/marshall/vox/*other big name* ?

I don't believe Peavy suffer from their old reputation- for some things the Classic series is lovely- and the 5150 is a great amp for metal.
I'm not sure I'd buy one myself though.

[chetatkinsdiet]

I think what Fossil says nails it. They're fine little amps until you put them side by side with something else. I've really tried to give a variety of peavey amps a shot and they always fall short. Either too noisy, just not quite as much tone as whatever I'm comparing them too, etc. But, as far as reliable...they're tops. So, for a gigging amp that you don't want to put a lot of money into that sounds decent....sure, get one.

m

[enroper]

I was thinking a Classic 30 or 50 for gigging, a Blues Jr. for recording, and a Vintage Deluxe Reverb just for the hell of it.... thats my amp plan for the long run at least.

[chetatkinsdiet]

Originally Posted by enroper

I was thinking a Classic 30 or 50 for gigging, a Blues Jr. for recording, and a Vintage Deluxe Reverb just for the hell of it.... thats my amp plan for the long run at least.

careful....that deluxe might just be the one you use for everything.

m

[enroper]

Originally Posted by chetatkinsdiet

careful....that deluxe might just be the one you use for everything.

m

Haha, probably so. unless i become too paranoid to take it outside my house for gigs....

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by enroper

I was thinking a Classic 30 or 50 for gigging, a Blues Jr. for recording, and a Vintage Deluxe Reverb just for the hell of it.... thats my amp plan for the long run at least.

If you have a Deluxe Reverb I highly doubt you'll use the Blues Jnr very often for recording. The DR is miles ahead imho.

[LewisWu]

i remember using the classic 30 years ago, and having very few problems. the 5150's are a lot of fun, but they get noisy once you turn the knkobs past 12 o'clock.. but maybe that was my experience with them. I wouldn't compare them to behringer, as they dont sound like poo.

[chetatkinsdiet]

Originally Posted by enroper

Haha, probably so. unless i become too paranoid to take it outside my house for gigs....

That's what the DRRI's are for. Some nice deals on them used. $500-600....

m

[enroper]

Originally Posted by chetatkinsdiet

That's what the DRRI's are for. Some nice deals on them used. $500-600....

m

Yea, I've been looking for one. nobody in the philly are seems to have one. bummer.

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by enroper

Yea, I've been looking for one. nobody in the philly are seems to have one. bummer.

Check NJ Craigslist- they come up there fairly often.
I lived in NJ in 2007 and bought an awful lot on CL.

[enroper]

Originally Posted by octatonic

Check NJ Craigslist- they come up there fairly often.
I lived in NJ in 2007 and bought an awful lot on CL.

Awesome idea. Just checked and a guy in north jersey has one.

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by enroper

Awesome idea. Just checked and a guy in north jersey has one.

Cool !!!

[Unclenny]

I record with a C30 in tandem with Pro Jr. and an old Carvin.

The C30 tone is not exactly stellar and it can be noisy when cranked but I have tweaked up a tone that works for me with the above amps in combination.

As a solo amp for recording I think it would be lacking.

[jamsmith]

Again it come down to the ability of player. If you are ever in Atlanta GA, drop in an here this guy Barry Richman. Barry isn't internationally famous and probably sell more CDs off the stage than in stores or online. HIS fans include Steve Morse, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson. The dude has an awesome vintage collection.

But he gigs in small clubs with cheezy Peavy amps. Near about everyone of you would toss your entire rig in the trash to have the tone this guy has coming out of those Peaveys.

[RKelly]

Huge fan of the Classic series. Used a Classic 30 combo for a long time and I have a Classic 50 head at the studio. Would easily take it over a blues junior anyday.

Buy one!

[Master Tang]

The Classics 30 and 50 are killer amps imho. They don't get much love because I think people don't really play with them, and they aren't really high gain.

Spend a little time with one, and make a decision based on that, but I don't think you'll go wrong there. The DR is a badass too. You'll be fine either way.

[studjo]

to answer your question: more raving would drive the prices up

Jo