Peavey Classic 30 [1993-2004]

I got this amp for $470.00 at my local Sam Ash. I had been using solid state amps for a few years, and I decided it was time to step up to a tube amp. I got the extended warranty too(you need it) so it all came out to $550.00. Best little amp I've ever owned.

Well, comparing it to solid state amps, which I had been using for a while, there is no comparrison. The tone on this is to die for. Very warm, not like a Fender at all. The fenders just seem to be too airy for my taste. It can get fairly loud, enough to shake the house. But for club gigs, you'll need to mic it. This amp is PERFECT for blues. The OD/Distortion on it is really smooth with a nice breakup. All in all, a great little amp.

Well I have no complaints soundwise, but theres some things that I definitely would have liked. First of all, two equalizers would be nice. One for each channel. An included footswitch would be great...I mostly use pedals for my distortion though, so this doesn't pose too much of a problem. The tubes get really hot, more so than other tube amps.

Well it is very sturdy. But the tweed covering peels and cracks if you don't take care of it. Also, this is a tube amp, so you can't afford to drop it...it is much more fragile than solid states. But for just putting it in the back of your car, it'll work fine.

There's four words that accuratly describe this amp...Great First Tube Amp. It has a good enough tone where you will easily be able to tell the difference from solid state, but crazy tone fanatics might come up unsatisfied. So if you're new to the tube amp world, this is the amp for you.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Melodee Music, used, $250. I bought it 'cause I badly needed a new guitar amp.

-Superb tone, especially for blues, jazz, and rock... You can even get a good metal sound out of it.

-Loud, loud, loud. It's amazing how much sound can come out of one 12" speaker. Turn the volume to 25% on the clean channel in your bedroom and your ears are guaranteed to hurt after about five minutes of playing.

-Solid construction.

-Great looks.

-Great-sounding reverb and distortion.

-The only thing I can think of is that the EQ is not very responsive, even less so with the boost engaged.

Seems to be ruggedly constructed. Quality work here.

-Great amp overall. It will push more sound than a 120 watt 2x12 solid state. No shit. For $250, I am convinced that this is THE best deal I could have found. This thing rivals the famous Fender.

The Peavey Classic 30 is a monster box!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Bought through www used gear classifieds about 6 months ago. Heard it was a decent amp and the price was right - $200.

The amp has a great overall sound, not Fender like at all. The distortion from the el84's has odd harmonics that give it a nice crunch. The clean sound is nice, but again not Fenderish. I currently use it as a power amp for a Digitech 14d and with my Strat Plus Deluxe.

The only dislike I have is the lack of "chime" in the tone. I am very used to the Fender brilliance, but is not here on this amp.

The amp is well made and I recommend it.
12" and 30W from Class A biased el84's, 2 channels, reverb, & FX loop. The tweed covering is easily scuffed, but it is not too bad, but I think the black tolex version would fair better.

Overall this is a very portable and great sounding amp. The tubes are all original and are cranking along with the abuse it gets from constant overdrive. It keeps up well with the rest of the four piece band I play with.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased this jewel of an amp from a previous owner in May 1994. At that time in my life I was getting bored with Classical Guitar and had gotten heavily into the Blues. I saw an ad in a local publication for the amp and decided to check it out. I love the warmth of straight tube amps and decided to buy. I actually borrowed $150 from my girlfriend at the time for the amp that had only been played through for a couple of months.


The warm tone, the versatility, it is so light and easy to carry, perfect for small clubs and larger rooms as well. This amp has survived many bangs and drops as a result of heavy drinking college bar gigs. This amp has truly taken a licking but continues to scream out crisp cleans and beautifully dirty warm leads.



The only thing that is more of a hassle than a dislike would be having to change the tubes from time to time. Many a soundcheck has been interrupted by my lack of preparedness and running out to a local music store to purchase a power or preamp tube before a gig.



The amp is housed in a tweed casing. I believe the newer Classic 30s are encased in blace tweed. Mine is a classy looking blonde tweed that truly looks vintage and has some dings to add character. The Classic 30 is a very sturdy unit. Mine has held together very well to be a veteran of several years of heavy gigging.



This amp is great for any caliber of player. It has enough volume for small clubs and with a mic and a good monitor mix, can fill a larger room as well. I have enjoyed it's warm tone and looks since I first laid eves on it and will continue to use it until it literally falls apart.



This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com