All user reviews of 4/5 for the Peavey Classic 30 Head

The Peavey Classic 30 head is a two channel, small footprint amp. It puts out 30 watts of tube power out to whatever 16 ohm cab you desire. The cab only has one 16 ohm output with no other ohm settings available. It has a drive channel and a clean channel, along with a boost switch and built in reverb. The head has a three band passive EQ section (bass, mid, treb) and pre and post gain controls on the lead channel allow the user to hone in the distorted tones. Four EL84s and three 12AX7 tubes are used in the tube section. The two channels are footswitchable and there is an effects loop included.

UTILIZATION

This amp is robustly built. The material used to cover the head is not prone to ripping and after a few years of gigging still looks new. I’ve used it time after time for shows with no issues at all. This amp is fixed bias, so no adjustments are needed when swapping tubes. The footswitch will let you seamlessly change between clean and dirty sounds and the added effects loop lets you put your time based effects after the preamp. The head chassis is built strong and the knobs, jacks, and controls all seem very sturdy. The Boost feature is a waste of space really, it is not footswitchable and the boost in the mid frequency is just unbearable. Instead of just a regular volume boost, Peavey tried to make this so the lead tones would cut through the mix. A basic volume boost that was accessed through the footswitch would be more useful.

SOUNDS

It’s hard to find an amp that has a good clean sound and dirty sound, but this amp does. While a Marshall does a great dirty sound it lacks in the clean channel. Fenders are the other way around. I wouldn’t say this amp does either channel exceptionally well, but it manages to do a good job at both sounds in one amp. The clean sounds are a little fatter with less sparkle and clarity than a Fender clean, but it’s a good clean tone. The clean channel is very accepting of pedals both in the loop and up front. The dirty channel is more British voiced than American. It doesn’t nail the tones from my Marshall JCM but it comes fairly close. This is your middle of the road amp, country through rock tones. Metal and hard rock can be had by using a boost up front. Pair this head up with a 212 with Greenback and you have a pretty versatile rig.

OVERALL OPINION

This is your basic Peavey Classic 30 inside of a headshell instead of a combo amp. It’s a widely used budget amp that sounds great at a decent price. If you can pick one up used they are an extreme bargain and are real workhorses. The features are enough to get you by without needing outboard gear, though pedals work great with this amp out in front or through the loop. I would and have gigged it for several years and haven’t had any problems with the head. Load the tube section up with JJ’s or Ruby’s, put a TungSol 12AX7 in V1 of the preamp section and pair it up with a cab with Greenback style speakers and you have a great sounding two channel rig with reverb that will cop a lot of classic rock style tones at any volume (just remember to leave that boost switch off).

This is a 30 watt two channel amp that is geared towards the old school rock and country tones. This is generally a clean amp with a mild overdrive for channel one. For channel two you get a little bit more gain on tap but the voicing has is limited to the sweat classic rock tones. Not really a high gain amp even though it does have some good distortion on channel two. This is going to be an amp that you couple with pedals and effects to compliment your playing style.

This is the same exact specked amp as the combo version but just in a head form version. You get the same great tone and features but something that wil hook up to any speaker cabinet you have. It is a great little blues head if that it your thing with some modern twists.

UTILIZATION

Features
30 watts (rms) into 16 ohms

Four EL84s and three 12AX7s

2-channel preamp

Pre- and post-gain controls on lead channel

Normal volume control on clean channel

3-band passive EQ (bass, middle, treble)

Boost switch

Reverb

Speaker output jack

Chrome-plated chassis

Classic tweed covering

Dimensions: 19.625 in. W x 10.375 in. H x 10.625 in. D (Unpacked); 23.25 in. W x 14.625 in. H x 15.25 in. D (Packed)

Weight: 34 lbs. (Packed); 27 lbs. (Unpacked)

SOUNDS

Same tone as the combo but you will have a slight different feel depending on whta speakers you use and what cab you use. 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. Also having another channel is going to be a bit much for some old guys who this amp is marketed towards. However, if you need that versatility and the price is an issue then this would be a good amp.

The clean tone is a pretty decent clean tone. You can crank the volume up more and it will get a mild overdrive tone. When you engage channel two there you will get some good distortion much like a tubescreamer would get in front of an already overdriven Fender classic amp.

OVERALL OPINION

This is no longer available new so the used market is the only way to go. But they can be had pretty cheaply. 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 two channel 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.

Everything has already been said tube amp, 30W, series effects loop, reverb and footswitchable adjustable, non-switchable boost etc ...

I put 6 / 10 because it lacks a stand-by ... it's quite painful, as I said it's impossible to put the knobs to zero to turn it off when the balance is made ... to repeat, it's no big deal but on stage ... !

6 / 10 also foot switchable reverb ... forced to lug around a foot switch to 2 even for those who do not use the reverb ... like me: o)
If you connect a footswitch to switch only 1, it toggles the reverb ... you can not change channels ... (I am taking lessons if I'm wrong: o)).
So, I does not include the footswitch to my pedalboard, I posed next to when I played with this amp: o)

6 / 10 also to the power supply cord ... can not disconnect, but it's not the death is painful ... : O)

A switch of ohms would have been nice ... although that side, I only have 16 ohm speakers.

UTILIZATION

The setup is very simple, nothing complicated.

You plug, you let warm, gently attack you, you play and it sounds right now ... Rock and medium!

The manual? I remember reading in 2 minutes when I got head but I have no memory!

SOUNDS

It's quite an amp rock n 'roll and medium and I have not yet mastered but it sounds really good!

I use this amp to the Baloch. I sought a second head amp which is not too expensive and that sounds right away because I was tired of lugging my Soldano head between the 2 groups ... So contract filled!

The sound is warm enough, but perhaps too much midrange for me ... (My AV cabinet in 1960 is perhaps something too, I would have his head on my baffle V30).
She welcomes the pedals really well, I was quite surprised at the result!

The clean is clean with my Telecaster and crunch really light with my Les Paul, as Marcos says, it has its charm: o)

The distortion channel is nice vraiemnt is bold, it drools a little P'ti (it depends on the guitar that I use too), it's hot and whistling harmonics easily.

One thing that surprised me over my head Soldano HR 50XL + is no compression ... I never had the opportunity to play on an amp without any compression ... pick of the attack is really good broadcast ... : O)

OVERALL OPINION

- I use it for 2 months, I did a concert with for now.
- I like the fact that the amp is plug n play, it sounds right now and what I like not to be seen above.
- The price / quality ratio is really good!
- With experience, I would surely something less than medium and ESPECIALLY with a stand-by. Anyway, as I said, a second amp, I prefer much less the sound with my group baloche so it suits me very well this amp.