All user reviews of 3/5 for the Peavey Classic 50/410 (Discontinued)

The Peavey classic is basically Peavey's take on an American classic amplifier. The best amp I can relate this one to is the Fender bassman. It is essentially a blues and mild rock amp. The tone is ok and not really promising. You really need a good distortion or overdrive pedal of some sort to get a decent tone out of it. I understand Peavey's need to do an amp like this to get into the Fender tweed market but in my opinion is that Peavey's excels as making high gain rock and roll metal amps and this is a bit of a let down.

Peavey Classic 50 410 Features

50 watts (rms) into 16 or 8 ohms
Four EL84s and three 12AX7s
Normal and bright inputs
3-band passive EQ
Presence control
Normal and lead volume
Lead pre- and post-gain
Master volume
Reverb control
Effects loop
Fan cooled
Chrome-plated chassis
Tweed covering
Footswitch included

UTILIZATION

Peavey Classic 50 410 Specifications

POWER AMPLIFIER SECTION
Four 6BQ5/EL84’s with 12AX7 driver
Rated Power & Load: 50 W RMS into 16 or 8 ohms
Power @ Clipping (Typically): (5% THD, 1 kHz, 120 V AC line) 50 W RMS into 16 or 8 ohms (Bias must be reduced to measure)
Frequency Response: +0, -2 dB, 50 Hz to 15 kHz, @ 40 W RMS into 16 ohms
Hum & Noise: No greater than 80 dB below rated power
Power Consumption: 200 watts, 50/60 Hz, 120 VAC (Domestic)

PREAMP SECTION
Two 12AX7’s

The following specs are measured @ 1 kHz with the controls preset as follows:
Pre & Post (lead) @ 0
Reverb Level @ 0
Bass & Treble EQ @ 12
Middle EQ @ 0
Master Volume @ 12
Presence @ 6
Nominal level is with Input Gain @ 6.
Minimum level is with Input Gain @ 12.

Preamp Normal Input:
Impedance: Very high Z, 470 K ohms
Lead Channel (Post Gain @ 10):
Nominal Input Level: -40 dBV, 10 mV RMS
Minimum Input Level: -70 dBV, 0.3 mV RMS
Normal Channel:
Nominal Input Level: -17 dBV, 140 mV RMS
Minimum Input Level: -28 dBV, 40 mV RMS
Maximum Input Level: 0 dBV, 1.0 V RMS
Preamp Bright Input:
Impedance: Very high Z, 470 K ohms
+12 dB boost @ 2 kHz
Equalization (Lead and Normal Channels): Custom bass, middle, and treble passive-type EQ
Effects Send:
Load Impedance: 1 K ohm or greater
Nominal Output Level: -6 dBV, 0.5 V RMS
Effects Return:
Impedance: High Z, 2 MOhms
Designed Input Level: -6 dBV, 0.5 V RMS (Switching jack provides Effects Send to Effects Return connection when not used.)
External Footswitch Function:
Reverb Defeat (when reverb control is raised)
Normal/Lead Channel Select (when Lead activated)

SOUNDS

I suggest using a good tubescreamer pedal if you want to get a good pop/rock tone. You can already get a smooth distortion breakup with the amp but this will allow you to take it a level and half to that singing sustain that you need for lead playing.

I playing this type of amp and this amp with a good Fender susperstrat or Stratocaster. If compliments the tone of this amp very nicely. This is more of a mild overdrive amp fit for country, rock, and pop and having that tweed look on the outside just makes you think the blues. Since the blues is best played on a Stratocatser then that is generally what I lean towards.

OVERALL OPINION

These amps have now been updated with a new look and other minor tweaks. This amp is a fun amp and you can get this thing to do a lot more than a Fender Bassman could with the added volume controls, effects loop, and further EQing controls.

On the used market you can find these amps for right around $500. The newer ones are around $999 and Peavey doesn't really hold their value all that well so you might be able to find one cheaper than that.

I would recommend his amp to anyone who wants what a Fender Bassman cannot do and do it at a much cheaper price. These are great for recording or gigging. Easy tone and easy to dial in for a good band mix.