thinking of a smaller amp

[Mark N]

I a thinking of trading my Blues Deville 410 and going to something smaller, I have started gigging and I think I need something lighter and easier to carry around. I've thought about trading to a Blues Junior or Peavey classic 30, I play mainly country and some old rock tunes, use a 52 RI and a MIM standard and a Boss blues driver for overdrive. What could I expect from these 2 amps?

[trag-o-caster]

See my Tech 21 post. I've played through several Blues Jr's, and thought they were OK, but I seemed to really like the tone of the Pro Jr. better, even with it's smaller speaker - but that's just me. The Classic 30 is a great amp for sure, and probably more reliable than the Fender's from what I've heard from a few techies. To my ears, they sound good, but lacking in bottom end. When mated with the matching 1x12 cab, they sound SCADS better. Great amp!

[biker joe]

Used silver, brown, or black face princton, deluxe, or vibrolux. Preferably one with reverb. Then also get a weber mass to allow for overdriven sounds or to just get the tubes in the sweet spot at lower volumes.

[stantheman]

Silverface Princeton or Deluxe (6V6's rule).
Classic 30 is a darn good Amp and DON'T FORGET to check out the Peavey Delta 2X10 Combo which to me
sounds like it might be the best for your Tone & wallet,
and it's light AND potent AND you lose two of those 10's.
There's also one other GREAT POSSIBILITY....You can call
one of the Cabinet Guys and have an OLD STYLE 2X10
Tweed cab assembled for your Deville (which would be
one very cool Deville).

[Synchro]

Basically you would have a lighter amp with plenty of headroom for gigs. You could start by re-configuring your current speaker cabinet, removing two of the speakers. Make sure to match the impedance requirements of the amp.

Just the reduced weight of 2 less speakers might be all you need but if not you could always mod the current cabinet or buy/build a custom cabinet. 2x10 amps have always sounded great to me!

The BF/SF Fenders are great, and I highly recommend them – although coming from the amp you've got, I would think you'd want at least the power of a Deluxe Reverb, and more likely the Vibrolux. Unfortunately, you're going to pay more for one of those than you paid for your current amp.

With a used Peavey Classic 30 or Delta Blues 210, you'll get a great amp for an unbeatable value, typically $250~$350 on H-C or FleaBay. It might not be a "lifetime" amp, but with 30 watts from 4xEL84s, they sure as heck can be a blast to play while you're looking around (and saving up!) for that "keeper" Vibrolux.

Valuable "pro" tip: the Peaveys seem to sound much better when you take that ugly logo off the front grille. ;-) Don't know why that is, but they all do. Hehe. (And if you're worried about losing the logo plate, just tape it to the inside of the cabinet somewhere.) Best of luck, CS :-)

[Mark N]

Thanks for all the replies! I'd really love to try out a silverface deluxe reverb or vibrolux but around here there are simply none and I am kinda stuck in a rut of not being able to spend out any money either. I would either trade mine on on something (even) or continue to play the Deville. Last night was the first night I played out using my new blues driver and nothing else. I was using a Boss ME 6. What a difference...tone was right on! Someday soon I will have to take a drive (an hour away) to the music store that stocks Fender and Peavey stuff and try some amps out. I like the Deville but it's just too heavy to lug around.