OK, All You Peavey Guys.......

Pigsfootpeete · January 3rd, 2005, 03:50 AM

After reading and enjoying all the posts in the "Peavey facination" thread, I've gotten very interested in getting another Classic 50 or Classic something, maybe the DB 210, etc. So, I just had to go read the reviews at Harmony Central. The general consensus is that these amps are reliable, sound good, and don't break the bank.
Some say they sound as good, or even better than most "boo-teek" amps.
Some say they don't- but are the best bang for the buck, and a great working man's amp.
My question is this. What components, ie., resistors, capacitors, or other widgets, could be replaced with better quality, or different values, that would bring them up to boo-teek sound quality. That elusive "magic" tone?
I'm talking about the Classic series, Delta Blues, etc.
Thanks , Ronny..... :? :D

ruger9 · January 3rd, 2005, 07:37 AM

I've never replaced anything but the tubes on my C50-410, but it made a big difference. I've got Phillps/JAN NOS 6BQ5s, which I got a couple years ago- they are too $$ for me now. If I had to replace them now, I'd probably go with the JJ EL-84's.

Preamp tubes? A 5751 sounds great in V1, but so does a 12AX7. And the tube compartment is easy to open & switch tubes around, so experiment.

Oh- I did change may power light to GREEN, just to be different!

stantheman · January 3rd, 2005, 01:04 PM

mine's the hybrid (solid state pre-amp) and in my situation it matches perfectly with Tech 21's GT-2
Box. I've really only used it for the "Bluebreaker
Beano Tone" which btw I'm addicted to. Everytime I get close to buying a Double Deluxe I play through the Classic
and GT-2 and NO WAY can I justify putting it on the backburner. I honestly should at least TRY some of the other settings on the GT-2 but I know People out
there who are spending 3K and more to get the sound
I play with for 300. Whenever I bring the rig out players
who could outplay me when they were in junior high always ask "what kinda pickups are in that Guitar -always the Guitar, they cannot accept the notion that it's the Classic and the GT-2

sshan25 · January 3rd, 2005, 01:34 PM

The only PCB amp I own is a DB115. Even though I have a hand built 59 Pro clone with a single 15" speaker, I've kept the DB. It's the # 1 backup for all my amps. It sounds great and it's bullet proof. It may not be the best amp I own, but it's the best $350 I ever spent on an amp.

e-merlin · January 3rd, 2005, 07:01 PM

If you're really interested in the mods available check out www.blueguitar.org .

I understand from a friend that does a few of these mods that the Classic 30 amps aren't the most tech-friendly amps and a bit of care and patience is needed when taking one apart and putting it back together.

Pigsfootpeete · January 4th, 2005, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e-merlin

If you're really interested in the mods available check out www.blueguitar.org .

I understand from a friend that does a few of these mods that the Classic 30 amps aren't the most tech-friendly amps and a bit of care and patience is needed when taking one apart and putting it back together.

Hey E,
Thanks for the info and the link. I don't understand most of it, but man it's great!! :D

HomeGrown Twang · January 5th, 2005, 10:22 AM

I have a DB 210 and have not done the Blue Guitar mods yet but I did install a set of JJ tubes and have swapped different preamp tubes to see what the effects might.I say start there the tubes make a huge difference and easy to do.A great amp.I have heard that the older versions had a volume loss when using the trem.My amp does not have that prob.Great for tryin those Danny G. organ rythm things.

Jim L · January 5th, 2005, 10:29 AM

I bought a barely used Delta Blues 1x15 (the original owner decided to go for an Allen Brown Sugar and didn't need it anymore). He had already gone throguh the amp and swapped in some higher quality NOS tubes, so I can't tell you what it sounded like with the stock tubes, but he said the difference was BIG.

All I know is that it sounds good... warm like a tube amp should. Also, having owned a few el84 amps (Blues Jr, Pro Jr, Crate Vintage Club 30) I find that it sounds less liek an el84 tubed amp than I expected... it's no blackface Fender, but it sounds good. The clean channel is great, actually. The 2nd channel (dirty) isn't ideal, but it does let you dirty up the amp at lower volumes.

The stock Blue Marvel speaker sounds nice, but at high volume, I'm hearing some ugly speaker distortion. I don't crank it often, but I still might try to upgrade the speaker when I have the extra cash. Still, not something I feel I need to do to make it sound good.

January 3rd, 2005, 03:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
Pigsfootpeete Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Memphis Posts: 324	OK, All You Peavey Guys....... After reading and enjoying all the posts in the "Peavey facination" thread, I've gotten very interested in getting another Classic 50 or Classic something, maybe the DB 210, etc. So, I just had to go read the reviews at Harmony Central. The general consensus is that these amps are reliable, sound good, and don't break the bank. Some say they sound as good, or even better than most "boo-teek" amps. Some say they don't- but are the best bang for the buck, and a great working man's amp. My question is this. What components, ie., resistors, capacitors, or other widgets, could be replaced with better quality, or different values, that would bring them up to boo-teek sound quality. That elusive "magic" tone? I'm talking about the Classic series, Delta Blues, etc. Thanks , Ronny..... :? :D __________________ *....I've forgotten more than I could ever hope to remember.....*

January 3rd, 2005, 01:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
stantheman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 5,071	1978 Classic 2X12 mine's the hybrid (solid state pre-amp) and in my situation it matches perfectly with Tech 21's GT-2 Box. I've really only used it for the "Bluebreaker Beano Tone" which btw I'm addicted to. Everytime I get close to buying a Double Deluxe I play through the Classic and GT-2 and NO WAY can I justify putting it on the backburner. I honestly should at least TRY some of the other settings on the GT-2 but I know People out there who are spending 3K and more to get the sound I play with for 300. Whenever I bring the rig out players who could outplay me when they were in junior high always ask "what kinda pickups are in that Guitar -always the Guitar, they cannot accept the notion that it's the Classic and the GT-2 __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

January 3rd, 2005, 01:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
sshan25 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albion, RI Posts: 125	I'm a fan The only PCB amp I own is a DB115. Even though I have a hand built 59 Pro clone with a single 15" speaker, I've kept the DB. It's the # 1 backup for all my amps. It sounds great and it's bullet proof. It may not be the best amp I own, but it's the best $350 I ever spent on an amp. __________________ There's no such thing as too many guitars

January 5th, 2005, 10:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
HomeGrown Twang Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2004 Location: Cape Cod MA. Posts: 124	DB210 I have a DB 210 and have not done the Blue Guitar mods yet but I did install a set of JJ tubes and have swapped different preamp tubes to see what the effects might.I say start there the tubes make a huge difference and easy to do.A great amp.I have heard that the older versions had a volume loss when using the trem.My amp does not have that prob.Great for tryin those Danny G. organ rythm things.

January 5th, 2005, 10:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jim L Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrimac, MA Posts: 378 13 Photos	what HomeGrown says... I bought a barely used Delta Blues 1x15 (the original owner decided to go for an Allen Brown Sugar and didn't need it anymore). He had already gone throguh the amp and swapped in some higher quality NOS tubes, so I can't tell you what it sounded like with the stock tubes, but he said the difference was BIG. All I know is that it sounds good... warm like a tube amp should. Also, having owned a few el84 amps (Blues Jr, Pro Jr, Crate Vintage Club 30) I find that it sounds less liek an el84 tubed amp than I expected... it's no blackface Fender, but it sounds good. The clean channel is great, actually. The 2nd channel (dirty) isn't ideal, but it does let you dirty up the amp at lower volumes. The stock Blue Marvel speaker sounds nice, but at high volume, I'm hearing some ugly speaker distortion. I don't crank it often, but I still might try to upgrade the speaker when I have the extra cash. Still, not something I feel I need to do to make it sound good.

January 3rd, 2005, 07:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
ruger9 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hackettstown, NJ Posts: 1,726	I've never replaced anything but the tubes on my C50-410, but it made a big difference. I've got Phillps/JAN NOS 6BQ5s, which I got a couple years ago- they are too $$ for me now. If I had to replace them now, I'd probably go with the JJ EL-84's. Preamp tubes? A 5751 sounds great in V1, but so does a 12AX7. And the tube compartment is easy to open & switch tubes around, so experiment. Oh- I did change may power light to GREEN, just to be different!