Peavey Windsor Studio

[daacrusher2001]

Would anyone care to review the Peavey Windsor Studio...?

I can't seem to find much info on it, and the only video I've seen is kinda weak.

Anyone have one and be willing to comment?

 

[Tele Fan]

I saw someone mention they were underwhelmed by it on here the other day but I can't remember if it was a thread dedicated to the amp or if it was just said in passing. I'd try a search and see what you can come up with.

 

[daacrusher2001]

I think I did see that...was looking for a little more detail. I thought it might make a good practice amp. Right now, I'm thinking of a Classic 30, but the Windsor had some features that seemed useful. I can't find one anywhere to test.

 

[emu!]

THere are 9 user reviews on MF. Most are praising the amp for the price range. A couple of users say it needs more low end, and changing the single power tube is a PITA as you must remove the speaker to get to it.

 

[DickensCPA]

I had a Windsor that I recently sold on ebay. You don't have to remove the speaker to change the PT, but it's still a PITA. The built in attentuator is on a "cage" for lack of a better term. This cage surrounds the PT. You basically have to take that cage apart to get to the PT. You can't leave it apart though cause the attentuator would just dangle.

It does have some neat features though. If you use the direct out XLR to record or go straight to a PA it alters the tone tremendously. The power sponge alters the tone too. That's pretty common with attentuators though. I had never used one before and I had my settings set up and when I played it live I had to readjust everything. I bought an omnisonic for the amp I have now and there's very little change. I've heard the Dr Z Airbrake is pretty good too.

Most people say you can't get a clean sound out of it. I disagree somewhat. You can get a clean sound, it's just not a very good one to my ears. The reverb is non-existent. I'm not a big reverb user, but if you are, you won't be happy with the reverb on it.

I would crank the bass to the hilt and put the mid on maybe 2 and treble on 0. Still not much bottom end. Real trebley, but not a sparkly treble, more nasaly. I think it would be great if you're going for that AC/DC sound or any other heavily distorted sound. Has distortion in spades.

 

[Southern Ill]

Don't expect any clean tones.....NO LOW END!!
Cheap build quality.....Dumb design in that it is all but impossiable
to change out power tube without pulling the bracket that houses the attenuator knob...

Go for the Classic 30 and never give the PV Windor Studio a second thought...

I tried really hard to even rate owning the one I had....My Lil' Smokey through a 2x12 cab had more balls than the Windsor Studio......

It was a huge let down for me....Oh-No LOW END!!!!

 

[Doug Ferguson]

I reviewed the Windsor Studio at Harmony Central, and posted a thread here on it. What Dickens says is true, although I found it to be a basically dirty amp that I could never clean up to my satisfaction, even with 6L6GC's and a speaker swap (the stock speaker from a Blues Jr.) They helped, but not enough. The reverb is sadly lacking, the second surprise, since all the Peavey's I've ever owned had fairly decent reverbs (and cleans). Also changing the tubes is a hassle since you need to remove the attenuator to get to the power tube and the preamp tubes. I wanted very much to bond with this amp, but it just didn't work out. The final staw was when I went to power it up last week and it wouldn't. It sounded like a relay had gone down and it just wasn't worth it to have it repaired. I returned it today to Sweetwater and have ordered an Epi Valve Sr. The WS is a great idea in need of better engineering and design.

Anyway, here are my reviews and those of some others.

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/...y/Windsor+Studio+20W+1x12+All+Tube+Combo/10/1

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-central-station/112564-need-tone.html

 

[mikethebike500]

I posted about my windsor studio a couple of weeks ago....and basically, I dont like it.......to get much clean outta it...theres NO bass...to get bass outta it....it's too dirty sounding for my taste and liking...and I upgraded to speaker to an eminence something or other...and changed the power tube to an 6L6...and the reverb is really not great at all either...I've played a Classic 30 here and there...and from what I recolect....their totally different sound.....and I'd much prefer the sound I could get of the Classic compared to the windsor......I had high hopes for it...but it really doesnt work for me....fortunatley I have Dr. Z maz 18 ...it sound a little better....

 

[Joe-Bob]

I was able to A/B the Windsor and ValveKing half-stacks. The Windsor was dark, one-dimensional, and uninspiring. I bought the ValveKing head, and I'm still glad I did. It's very versatile, and has lots of useable features.

 

[Yoni]

I love my Valveking 112 I'd say go for it for the price and you get more volume anyway.

 

[mikethebike500]

I love my Valveking 112 I'd say go for it for the price and you get more volume anyway.

+1...I bought the windsor online without trying it...thinking I would like it based on reviews....and when I tried out the valveking in a store....I was much more impressed

 

[e-merlin]

I had high hopes for it...but it really doesnt work for me....fortunatley I have Dr. Z maz 18 ...it sound a little better....

Go figure.

I wouldn't mind having a Windsor Studio, or a Windsor half stack for that matter. Both are good sounding amps if used as intended. I really don't think the Studio was optimized for clean. It's mostly for getting the overdriven sound at low levels.

As big a fan as I am of Peavey stuff, I really don't think Hartley's designs are aimed at mainstream Tele players. I've come to the conclusion, based on the HP Signature guitar and amps like the Windsor and Valve King, that he's more of a Les Paul/Marshall guy with a little bit of Fender thrown in. I like the way my Tele sounds through Peavey stuff, but I wouldn't expect everyone to like it.

 

[Doug Ferguson]

I like the way my Tele sounds through Peavey stuff, but I wouldn't expect everyone to like it.

I think that's the biggest reason I'm so disappointed in this amp. I like the sound of Peavey's, and have for years. For a long time I used Peavey's exclusively. I especially loved the C30's -- great mix of Marshall and Fender tones, with a hint of Vox. That's the basic tone I thought I'd get from this amp, and it was almost there, but I could never get it there. I almost went with a Valve King 112, since they sound remarkably close to a C30 and are the same price as the WS's, but I don't need that much wattage, and the new Epi Valve Sr's have really sparked my interest. Still, I'll no doubt have a Peavey back in the stable, either a Delta Blues 115 or a used C30 head.

 

[FenderGuy53]

Would anyone care to review the Peavey Windsor Studio...?

I can't seem to find much info on it, and the only video I've seen is kinda weak.

Anyone have one and be willing to comment?

The Peavey video that you saw WAS weak.

Since I like the Brit's Vox/Marshall sound as well as the USA's Tweed/BF sound, I recently gave consideration to the Peavey Windsor Studio and the Fender SCXD, to meet my needs for a 15-watt, lightweight, practice/small gig tube amp.

I bought the SCXD and haven't looked back...

 

[plexi50]

This amp needs a larger quality Output transformer. The tiny Chinese 20 watt OT doesnt cut it nor does it have the ability to provide any real headroom. I ordered a Classic Tone 40 watt OT from Magnetic Components. I have used several transformers from them and they produce great tone. Other change to the circuit board were to replace those tiny microscopic tonestack caps with Xicons of the same value along with changing the treble peak cap to a silver mica 250pf. I removed and made 7 other part changes in the preamp as well. I corrected the bias resistor which peavey did wrong. If you look at your power tube you will see it is redplating after 2 minutes. The very poor bias is another reason for a very compressed sound with no bass. Change that 400 ohm cathode bias resistor out for a 750 ohm 10 watt. You will end up with 455VDC on the plate with 42VDC on the cathode bias. This amp is killer now and has clean and mean. It's like a water faucet: You have all that pressure behind the valve. But it cant be used and get out unless you open up the faucet. Thats what a bigger 40 watt OT will do for you along with some preamp modifications. There are a few resistors and 2 caps that dont even need to be in the amp. It is well worth doing it right / TRIODEAMPLIFICATION.COM

 

[MiloCroton]

This amp needs a larger quality Output transformer. The tiny Chinese 20 watt OT doesnt cut it nor does it have the ability to provide any real headroom. I ordered a Classic Tone 40 watt OT from Magnetic Components. I have used several transformers from them and they produce great tone. Other change to the circuit board were to replace those tiny microscopic tonestack caps with Xicons of the same value along with changing the treble peak cap to a silver mica 250pf. I removed and made 7 other part changes in the preamp as well. I corrected the bias resistor which peavey did wrong. If you look at your power tube you will see it is redplating after 2 minutes. The very poor bias is another reason for a very compressed sound with no bass. Change that 400 ohm cathode bias resistor out for a 750 ohm 10 watt. You will end up with 455VDC on the plate with 42VDC on the cathode bias. This amp is killer now and has clean and mean. It's like a water faucet: You have all that pressure behind the valve. But it cant be used and get out unless you open up the faucet. Thats what a bigger 40 watt OT will do for you along with some preamp modifications. There are a few resistors and 2 caps that dont even need to be in the amp. It is well worth doing it right / TRIODEAMPLIFICATION.COM

I ended up purchasing one of these amps online, and am horrified by the way it sounds.

Do you think its worth it for a total newb like me to attempt to mod this amp in the way you suggest?

I am in the UK, so I guess I will need different transformer to the one you describe?

Thanks

 

[lareplus]

Thanks, Plexi for your recommendations.

I like the features of the amp, particularly that it can easily be plugged into 4, 8 and 16 ohm cabinets. . .and that it can take a variety of tubes. Also, that there are only 3 tubes, which should make it inexpensive to swap tubes and thus change tones.