Peavey Classic 20

I bought my Classic 20 on Ebay for $180 from a guy who said it was one of his favorites, but wasn't using it enough to justify keeping it. I was looking seriously at the Peavy Classic 30 at the local music store ($450.00 retail) but it was just too much amp to use on stage at my church. By the time I got the tubes heated up, there would be people running FROM the altar instead of TO it!

The features I like are the clean tube sound and the size. It's a 15 watt amp that's easy to carry and more than loud enough for my purposes. I really wanted to stay with a tube amp, and the Classic 20 is all that. With the master knob up 3/4 of the way and the volume knob just barely at 2, I get a warm, MOSTLY clean sound, with just a hint of distortion. With the knob settings reversed, the crunch factor is ferocious, which is a good thing when my wife is out and I want to make some noise.


There is no way to switch channels (clean and crunch). You have to turn the knobs to do that, so it's impractical in the middle of a song. The "boost" button makes the amp a little louder, but it doesn't have great tone on this setting, so I wouldn't ever use it. The Classic 30 does have a footswitch, so if you're leaning one way or the other, that could make all the difference in your choice.

The construction is sturdy, with stainless steel corner guards. The grille and tweed fabric covering are pretty tightly woven and seem to be able to take some abuse. as ithers have mentioned, the tubes are exposed, and get mighty hot, so you have to be careful handling the amp while its warmed up.

For me, this amp still beats the larger Classic 30 having the right amount of power and not too much. It's not as clean as the Fender Hot Rod Delux, but then, that amp has a lousy drive channel. If you use effects pedals for your distortion, this amp is all you need. But if you need a footswitch, go with the Classic 30.

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

This amp is ok. It is a small practice amp that is rated at 15-20 watts of power. It is a single channel amp that is real basic ad cheap. Peavey doesn't make these amps anymore and have replaced them with the 30 watt classic.

This is a tweed amp that will get you close to the old Fender tweed tones of the 50's 60's with some added features like better EQing controls and boosts.



UTILIZATION

The manual is helpful as it has settings that will allow you to get a good jump on the tone setting process. They have settings for blues, clean, and metal which helps the user to get a decent manufacturer tone. This allows you to have a good starting point and then move the dials to your specific desired tone.

SOUNDS

The tone from this amp is not really my cup of tea. The is geared toward the classic rock player who needs a good Fender tweed style amp, but wants more versatility. The amp is versatile for that kid of player. Having the boost switch is stretching in terms of classic Fender style EQing.

The clean tone is a pretty decent clean tone. You can crank the volume up more and it will get a mild overdrive tone. Having a master volume and a volume allows what you always wanted to do with a Fender tweed but not being able to punch the preamp section at lower volumes.

OVERALL OPINION

For me this isn't my favorite amp from Peavey, but it is a decent amp. Peavey doesn't make these amps anymore so you would have to go on the used market. I have seen these amps as low as $50 used but that is a long shot. If you can pick one up for around $120 you would be set. Not a bad price for two channel tweed deluxe style amplifier. You will get a very usable clean tone and a solid distortion tone fit for classic rock, country, and pop music.

I would recommend this amp to anyone who needs a good tweed amp and doesn't want to spend too much to get it. This is a good amp that will give you solid creamy rich classic rock tones all day long.

All Tube Amp (2 lamps in 2xEL84 preamp + amp)
15/20 W
One guitar input
1 channel: volume + bass + mid + treble + master. 1 pusher Boost
No reverb, no loop, 1 headphone output, 1 output additional speaker

UTILIZATION

Compared to its "big" brother, Classic 30, it has only one channel, while very simple configuration.
Its very typical lamp / blues, even at low volume. Volume (a gain) changes significantly the grain. Ideal with Fender.

Easy to connect, easy to adjust, easy to carry, the sound, the look (tweed clear as its big brothers) why have they stopped at Peavey?

SOUNDS

Perfect for playing the blues. Ideal for work in an apartment or inside (WAF * high enough). Ideal to take to work weekends in the countryside.
Attention only 15W: probably too short to play with a battery: climbing power, clean sounds are no longer accessible.
Sound thin veil at all levels of gain (not unpleasant kind of hiss that matter), but may in some irritating.
Correctors tones play their role across the spectrum: it can play crystalline medium can play at background, one can have a sound right (but sings anyway) or saturax runny.
on the other hand, it is unclear how the hyper-saturated California's clean (but blah, why there are external effects).

I use a small multi-effects (Pandora PX4) while held in one hand! Its the best lamps / compact.
Preference for guitars equipped with single (with a U.S. Standard Stratocaster is perfect).

WAF: Woman Acceptance Factor

OVERALL OPINION

I use it as a small amp work from 15/16 years, never a problem. He travels in the trunk of the car easy.
Bought new less than 2000 francs (€ 300) at the time in Paris rue Pigalle, if it again, I do it again. There is no equivalent today in this price range.

Only faults, not too serious in my opinion,
- The lack of reverb: when one has no effect, the sound is really dry.
- The lack of effects loop. Effects must then be located between the guitar and the guitar input of the combo: this is not ideal.
- Attention to lamps, they are not super protected

All Tube amp (preamp + 2 lamps in 2xEL84 amplification)
15/20 W
1 guitar input
Channel 1: volume + bass + mid + treble + master. Push a Boost
No reverb, no loop, 1 headphone output, an extra speaker output

UTILIZATION

Compared to its "big" brother, the Classic 30, it has only one channel, while very simple configuration.
Its very typical lamp / blues, even at low volume. The volume (a gain) changes significantly the grain. Ideal with a Fender.

Easy to connect, easy to adjust, easy to carry, sound, look (tweed clear as its big brothers): why have they stopped at Peavey?

SOUNDS

Perfect for playing the blues. Ideal for work in an apartment or indoor (WAF * quite high). Ideal to carry to work weekends in the countryside.
Attention 15W Only: probably too short to play with a battery: in the amount of power, clean sounds are no longer accessible.
Light veil sound at all gain levels (not unpleasant kind of hiss that matter), but that could irritate some.
The tone controls play their part, across the spectrum: you can play crystalline medium can play at background, you can have a right (but singing anyway) or saturax drooling.
on the other hand, it is unclear how the hyper-saturated California's clean (but blah, why there are external effects).

I use a small multi-effects (Pandora PX4) while held in one hand! The best value for their lamps / compact.
Preference for guitars equipped with single (with a U.S. Standard Stratocaster, it's perfect).

WAF: Woman Acceptance Factor

OVERALL OPINION

I use it as a small amp work for 5 / 6 years, never a problem. He travels in the trunk of the car easy.
Bought new less than 2000 USD (300 €) at the time in Paris Rue Pigalle, if it again, I do it again. There is no equivalent today in this price range.

Only defects, not too serious in my opinion,
- The lack of reverb: when one has no effect, the sound is really dry.
- No effects loop. The effects should then be located between the guitar and the guitar input of the combo: This is not ideal.
- Attention to the lamps, they are not super protected.