Peavey Blues Classic

This amp was made in 97 and mine was a store demo for about 5 months before I bought it. The combo has a 15" speaker and is all tube. It has a tweed appearance, but taking the "Peavey" plastic symbol off the tweedface helps add to the classic effect. This amp has 2 inputs for the guitar: bright and normal, with a clean channel and a dirty channel. The channel switching is done with a Peavey stereo foot pedal, which must be bought separately (but is well worth the price). The Effects loop is highly useful, I use an SKB effects board and there is no noise when used with the proper amp effects loops. No headphone jack.
I wish this amp's dirty channel was a bit less rocky and more bluesy. I find the clean channel turned way up with the presence high gives a great, tubey sound with a lot of headroom and also some "clean crunch" to it. A miracle at that level. There are no features, however, that I never use. The attraction of this amp is its simplicity and ability to SCREAM. I use this amp at low levels at home, but playing out as well. Having been in an RNB band (Hammond w/Leslie, 4 horns) I was never outplayed. This amp has always had enough power and versatility for me. I suggest an Alvarez TS-9 Tube Screamer re-issue with. A beautiful, soulful, stringy sound.

My main axe is a 1997 Fender SRV Sig. Strat with Tex Special pickups, and occasionally a 1997 Epiphone Casino. This amp sounds 100 TIMES BETTER with the SRV, as well as new 2000 ESP than my recently purchased Marshall AVT275. For Blues and Bluesy Rock, this amp will ALWAYS deliver. It suits this perfectly. This amp is not noisy, but with the usual strat neck and middle selector switch hum. The Clean Channel is not distorted at high volumes, save for the beauty of a warm, clean tube amp. The cool part at really high volumes (Master at 8, normal at 5) you can control SO much from your guitar. I'm not happy with it at Master volumes 3-5, however. Some Punch is lost,even with the presence high.
The distortion is not highly brutal, but you can rock out for quasi-metal. A Peavey will always be a Peavey. For A Blues sound, however, the gain is there. Just knob around with it for awhile.
VERSATILITY is the name for this amp. Love the Blues but also play jazz, rock, and country? This amp will kick in with a beautiful bluesy feeling to any style. I use it regularly for Country/Rock gigs, and the Bright input lends itself well to this. The Jazz is to die for, especially for a Duke Robillard, soft side of SRV sound. I think Herb Ellis is even hiding in there.

The Reliability is remarkable. Here's why: same tubes from 1997 and it still sings. Only one tube blew ever. This thing is HEAVY, so make sure the leather handle is securely fastened to the top. Nearly lost her that way in 97. (Don't worry, I'm getting the tubes replaced next month.)

this is not applicable.

Been playing about 10 years, and have owned only one other amp, Marshall AVT275. This Digital stuff just can't stand up the sound Peavey has come up with here. Getting rid of Marshall and sticking with Old Glory. I would, without doubt, if it was stolen look for another. (Fender Bassman with extension cab would be tempting however).
What I love-Tone, tone, tone. All over, all the time, richer than one can imagine. What I hate-how heavy it is.

This amp was made in '97. This is quite a versitle amp. it fits along with blues, rock and roll, and alternitive. this puppy is is a two channel (Clean and Lead) switch on the amp with switch....but if you dont have the stereo foot switch your kinda screwed if you want to switch channels during a song. it has a passive eq (low, mid, hi) a pre and post gain control for the lead channel with a master volume but it doesnt say which one it is but you'll figure it out. this baby is fifty watts of power that can blow you away. this is an all tube amp. perfect for you srv freaks out there...so I think that everyone should tell peavy to put it back into production.....

with this amp I personally use either a custom fender strat w/texas specials(custom designed by my lead guitarist or on a redisigned essex gold-topped les paul (a cheap guitar turned sweet)it suits the style of rock mixed with blues and gospel that I play. the noise level is really low even if the amp is cranked but then again it is all in the guitar that you use. this amp scream srv to the bone but is also gives a cool crunch for all you metal people too. the clean channel distorts alot like the old jtm 45's at high volumes. this amp is definatly for the tone freaks out there if not than this amp isnt the one for you

I havent had it long enough to determin its reliabiliy but it hasent let me down in the year that I have had it. we had to replace the tubes in it when we got it because they were crappy asian tube so we replaced it with some sovetek russian tubes and it is asumb. but I havent had any problems with it

The customer support that I get is good. not only is the peavy company good but the local guitar shop is owned by the coolest peavey certified technition ever....thats just mine and my bands opinion

I have been playing for for nine years and the only other effects that I use with it is an origional electro-harmonix big muff pedal but it doesnt mesh well if the lead channel is on. If this amp were stolen I would hunt down the sucker that stole it and beat him or her like a three year old in wal-mart. I really liked this amp. I with that it had a fifteen inch extension cab to go with it. this amp really ranks up there with the big boy jtm's and fenders at half the price. I chose this amp because it combined new technology with classic sound while the look payed ommage to the classic amps. over all this amp is highly recomended by me

97 blues classic amp. 15 inch speaker, 2 channels lead vs. normal, effects loop, great for srv, hendrix styles.50 watts of power(plenty on this amp)Tube amp, tweed covering

This amp has a killer sound. I love this amp alot.I love the blues and this amp fits well.I use a Jimmie vaughan signature stratocaster and it sounds great with this amp. The clean channel is awesome and the lead/distortion channel is great too. The clean/normal channel is what I really like about it most.

I have had no problems, but I haven't gigged yet. So I have no real idea of how it would last when gigging all the time.

The company's website/support has responded within a day to all questions I have had.

I have been playing for a few years now and have 5 amps and this is without a doubt my best one. If it were stolen I would definately buy another if i could find it, if not I would buy its counterpart the classic 50 410. I chose this one for the quality sound it has.I have a 1980 50 watt peavey bandit also and it sounds great,but not as good as the classic. I would definately recommend buying it if you have a chance, they don't make them anymore so get it while you can.

I've no idea what year this amp was made,but thank God it was! I do know it is no longer made - what a pity. This amp is tremendously versatile for me! Playing Louisiana swamp blues is effortless as the warm murky tone naturally inherent in the 15 inch speaker literally oozes out of the cone and all over the floor-subsequently climbing up the walls like good voodoo vines born of classic tube technology should! When i'm in a Sun Records mood I simply crank up the "Billy Riley" sounding reverb to about 6 (it rips at 5 - I just like to approximate the " Flying Saucers Rock and Roll " sound) and soar above solid state tyranny. For relatively more modern sounds-Jimmie Vaughan,Brian Setzer,Colin James or dare I say it-Jimmy Page-(there I said it!)the whisper to a scream potential is definitely available.Two channels give you an opportunity to go from crisp yet full rhythm to (with a footswitch-in my case a new one-the original was not included in my used amp purchase)a surprisingly clean yet nasty sounding lead. There is an effects loop but I'm not qualified to comment on it as I'm firmly entrenched in old school technique,i.e.plug in ,crank the reverb,hit the footswitch for lead and plug my echo and Ibanez Tube King into the top-normal channel of course.It's a good thing this model was not made with a headphone jack,for if it was my neighbors would be deprived the unique privelege of enjoying my musical stylings,and I would be robbed of the ambient room sound of the Blues Classic. I do wish wish it had 2 15 inch speakers,as it would improve the overall sound by seperation of the signal.I use this amp at home and for club gigs-it has ample power for both.I like it loud at home too-although I can't get kicked out there!

I use a Jimmie Vaughan signature series guitar w/ Tex Mex pickups through this amp and after owning Gibson Les Pauls,Fender Mustangs,Danelectro U-2s,Fender Telecasters and other guitars too numerous to mention I must say Peavey probably used a time machine to see what this guitar would sound like through their amp.It is the perfect combination for most blues and rock and roll styles! It is somewhat noisy but it makes it a challenge to find the right body position in relation to the speaker-I love a good challenge! The noise is from the lead channel mainly but I must say it's probably the Tex Mex pickups more than the lead channel.Tremendous variety exists in the amp-with a 5 position pickup selector available.The clean channel is absolutely clean at any volume.The distortion is brutal but clean,clean,clean.

I've only had this amp weeks as opposed to months or years-thus my naive exuberance? So far ,so good.

I've never dealt w/Peavey and only started playing one(a 4x10 w/a 50 or 100 watt head) in 1997 while recording my album-when it was given to me by the studio engineer as a gift. That amp was in my posession for about 3 years and it was the best sounding and most reliable amp i've ever owned-that has to say something about Peavey electronics!

I've been playing 20 years and I've owned everything under the sun but, alas, none of it was as good as my current setup-as far as I can remember-although an old Fender Mustang through a Marshall 100 watt head and 4x12 cab. sounded pretty good.If it was stolen/lost-I would buy another or a peavey 2x12 or 4x10.What I love about this amp is the sounds of old tube amps-what I hate is the dead body someone left in it-at laest I think they did-it must weigh 200 lbs.It could also use another 15 inch speaker!I compared it to a Fender Princeton chorus amp-solid state sucks! Except for the Fender Stage LEAD 2-THE MOST TUBE-SOUNDING SOLID STATE EVER MADE.i CHOSE THE BLUES CLASSIC FOR THE PRICE AND ONE OF THE BEST SOUNDING AMPS I'VE EVER PLAYED THROUGH.I wish it had tape echo and delay built in to go with the extra 15 inch speaker I wish it had.In closing-any self-respecting guitarist alive should seek out this amp and it's predecessors(Fender twin reverb,Bassman,etc.)at any cost-real human tone is quickly vanishing in the onslaught of technological advancement(?)We owe it to ourselves to be able to emote through real playing-big ass strings on chunks of wood that are hard to play (until you get good)through archaic old tube technology that belongs deep in the hull of some old navy ship conducting invisibility experiments or time travel-Paul Burlison,Scotty Moore,Jimmy Bryant,or Lightnin' Slim,Lonesome Sundown,Danny Gatton-w/ aFender through a Tube amp-could most modern players even touch these guys? Without effects? Buy a tube amp and try it.Preferably this amp.

I've no idea what year this amp was made,but thank God it was! I do know it is no longer made - what a pity. This amp is tremendously versatile for me! Playing Louisiana swamp blues is effortless as the warm murky tone naturally inherent in the 15 inch speaker literally oozes out of the cone and all over the floor-subsequently climbing up the walls like good voodoo vines born of classic tube technology should! When i'm in a Sun Records mood I simply crank up the "Billy Riley" sounding reverb to about 6 (it rips at 5 - I just like to approximate the " Flying Saucers Rock and Roll " sound) and soar above solid state tyranny. For relatively more modern sounds-Jimmie Vaughan,Brian Setzer,Colin James or dare I say it-Jimmy Page-(there I said it!)the whisper to a scream potential is definitely available.Two channels give you an opportunity to go from crisp yet full rhythm to (with a footswitch-in my case a new one-the original was not included in my used amp purchase)a surprisingly clean yet nasty sounding lead. There is an effects loop but I'm not qualified to comment on it as I'm firmly entrenched in old school technique,i.e.plug in ,crank the reverb,hit the footswitch for lead and plug my echo and Ibanez Tube King into the top-normal channel of course.It's a good thing this model was not made with a headphone jack,for if it was my neighbors would be deprived the unique privelege of enjoying my musical stylings,and I would be robbed of the ambient room sound of the Blues Classic. I do wish wish it had 2 15 inch speakers,as it would improve the overall sound by seperation of the signal.I use this amp at home and for club gigs-it has ample power for both.I like it loud at home too-although I can't get kicked out there!

I use a Jimmie Vaughan signature series guitar w/ Tex Mex pickups through this amp and after owning Gibson Les Pauls,Fender Mustangs,Danelectro U-2s,Fender Telecasters and other guitars too numerous to mention I must say Peavey probably used a time machine to see what this guitar would sound like through their amp.It is the perfect combination for most blues and rock and roll styles! It is somewhat noisy but it makes it a challenge to find the right body position in relation to the speaker-I love a good challenge! The noise is from the lead channel mainly but I must say it's probably the Tex Mex pickups more than the lead channel.Tremendous variety exists in the amp-with a 5 position pickup selector available.The clean channel is absolutely clean at any volume.The distortion is brutal but clean,clean,clean.

I've only had this amp weeks as opposed to months or years-thus my naive exuberance? So far ,so good.

I've never dealt w/Peavey and only started playing one(a 4x10 w/a 50 or 100 watt head) in 1997 while recording my album-when it was given to me by the studio engineer as a gift. That amp was in my posession for about 3 years and it was the best sounding and most reliable amp i've ever owned-that has to say something about Peavey electronics!

A 50 watt all tube amp. Tweed covering. Effects loop. Tewo channels. A great sounding overdrve and reverb. 15 i. speaker, which gives it a very full sound. Standby switch. Two inputs, one normal, one bright. It has everything a amp needs.

I ply blues, praise & worship and coutry. I play a Tele with seymour Duncan Antiquitie pickups. Also play my Larrivee LS-09 through it. It is the first electric guitar that sounds good with an acoustic. Sound is so full from the 15 inch speaker. sound is fabulus. As my friend put it,"Anything youcould plug into that amp would sound good."

I play every weekend.I have used it for over a year with no problems.

I have never dealt with them, but my friend works for a dealer, and he says they are great.

This ws a limited run and you can no longer get them. I would ighly recomend one if you can find one.

This is a '93 model that I bought on Ebay, mint condition. Looks brand new, and may be NOS, in fact. It's a 50 watt tube amp with a 15" speaker, 2 pre amp tubes, 4 main tubes, reverb, 2 channels with channel switching and an effects loop. Speaker output jacks, remote switch jack, but NO headphone jack. (minus one)It's got enough power to blow shingles off of your neighbor's roof, yet you can tone it down to accomodate low practice tones as well.

I use a '95 Telecaster, and it has tone to die for. This amp has brought my Tele to life. I mostly play blues and southern gospel, and even cranked up, there is literally no distortion on the clean channel. The 15" speaker is incredibly warm, and the variety of sounds from the bass, middle and treble channels give a great selection of different sounds.

I've only had it for a week so far, so can't really offer an educated opinion yet.

I've used the Peavey web site, and they've always answered my questions promptly.

I've been playing for 15 years, and this is the nicest amp I've owned yet. I would definitely buy it again at the same price. Other than the lack of a headphone jack, I'm happy with it. (understatement of the week)

50W Combo amplifier, 1x15 speaker. Features have been discussed accurately in another review contained here. Standard Fender Tweed type of amplifier. Weakness is that it lacks separate tone controls for the lead and rhythm channels.

Mostly used Gibson Les Paul Standard, and Fender Strat Plus Deluxe through this amplifier. It has a great blues sound a la Stevie Ray Vaughn. The distortion on the lead channel is kind of unique. Doesn't really sound like Marshall or Mesa. It has a fairly compressed smooth distortion with lots of mid-high crunch. On the clean channel, turning up loud gives the classic blues tones. Kind of hard to get a crisp tight distortion though (like Mesa or Marshall)

Here's where it failed for me. The 15" speaker blew TWICE on me. I didn't use external preamplification or gain boxes. This was guitar straight into amplifier. Turning up on the clean channel really loud and going for the killer blues tone resulted in the cone of the 15" speaker ripping at the edge on two separate occasions. Then I got rid of the amplifier (full credit from store of purchase - which was pretty fortunate for me). There were no other problems, though, so I would say that the 2x12 or 4x10 versions of this amplifier are probably quite reliable.

Didn't deal with Peavey. Only dealt with dealer

Decent amplifier, especially given my previous impression of Peavey. It really has the blues tone, but the reliability of the speaker killed it for me. Ended up trading it in for a Fender Twin and a RAT pedal - this produces similar but better results.

-two footswitchable channels and footswitchable reverb -presence, master volume, normal volume, Pre, Post -normal and bright inputs (you lose a lot of gain using bright, so I use normal and fiddle with the knobs to get a nice attack -1 non-buffered, non-footswitchable effects loop -2 speaker outputs (16 ohm, 8 ohm, or both 8 ohm when they're being used at the same time) This amp certainly has the features I'm looking for, but the average Joe would probably enjoy a footswitchable buffered effects loop as well as seperate EQ control for each channel. A "record out" would have been really nice too. I play this amp at home and in a few jazz bands as well as jamming with friends on it playing rock and funk

This amp sounds fabulous. It's totally up my alley for those nice trebley sounds that aren't completely shrill. I play it with an Epiphone Emperor (hollow-body), a mexican strat, and an ovation standard balladeer. The past six years at school I've played through Peavey solid states (they're great bang for the buck), but my Epiphone and my Ovation sound terribly boring through them. With this I can get the ballsy tone I've always been look for. The amp delivers super-warm clean sounds and that silly, happy, jazzy distortion that is the climax of my musical masturbation. The clean sounds give the Ovation a nice well defined unharsh tone, and the Epiphone enough bite not to be the world's absolute mellowest guitar. But all that's nothing compared to how it makes my strat sound. First of all, I tend to use a Zoom 4040 through the effects loop with all the EQ and PRE (except sometime OD) effects turned off (this way it doesn't interefere the cheesey digital crap doesn't get in the way off my quest for a tone that's mellow and round enough to be pleasant, but has enough bite to demand attention). The Blues Classic's sound doesn't do that stupid Fender "sparkle" thing, it makes good, down-to-earth noise. I usually crank the master, leave the normal volume at 5 or 6 so that when I want to solo I can turn my strat to ten and kick the ass out of a 20 person horn section. In general the sounds that come from this amp are reasonably mid-y and, as a result, have more substance than a lot of amps in this range. Being an aspiring jazzer I really dig the 15" speaker. I tried some Fender 4x10" combos but the sound was not near as good at lower volumes. My one real beef with the Blues Classic, however, is that it doesn't have quite the clean headroom you might expect from a fifty watt amp. My rhythm playing comes through nice and clean and warm, but a lot of the time (especially with my Epiphone) my solo tone gets muddled a bit at high volumes. Hence the 9.

I've had this amp for about eight months now and I haven't had any problems, but, seeing as I haven't owned for that long, I don't feel I'm in a position to offer a reliable opinion. My other Peavey amp ( a rockin' Rage 108 Yee Haw) has never given any trouble and I've had it for six and a half years. Also my school district uses a lot of Peavey mikes, speakers, amps (guitar, keyboard, bass) and I've never heard of anything going awry.

The warranty is not impressive. It's something like one year whereas a Fender F.A.T. amp will give you a five year warranty. It's not a big problem for me because I don't really put the amp through much rigorous transportation, but if you're thinking about buying this amp, bear the "warranty factor" in mind. I've never dealt with the company, but I hear the customer support SUCKS. Dealers have told that it's reputation for customer support is potentially as bad as Fender's, but as I say I can't really say because I've never personally dealt with them.

I've been playing about six and a half years and I've heard a lot of people use a lot of different and make it sound great. This amp does that for me. When I play Marshall or Fender amps I don't sound as good. What I would counsel anybody looking to buy a guitar to do is shop around with the tone color you have always wanted on your mind. Maybe it's the sound Hendrix on "Crosstown Traffic", maybe it's John Mayall, maybe it's the Backstreet Boys, whatever,,, When I went shopping for an amp I wanted great sound quality. The rest of it really didn't interest me. The amp could be more versatile, but I'd rather have a couple of good sounds than a billion crappy ones. The one thing I really dispise about this amp is how heavy and big it is. The size problem is that the amp's chassis was designed to accomodate 4 10's so the thing, which could have been a medium-sized combo, is the size of a Fender Deville. Peavey has never made light amps, but this is thoroughly unnecessary. I wouldn't be surprised if there are just blocks of lead in there just for the hell of it. I have a friend who plays a Fender Blues something or other with one 12 that can deliver a lot of sound, but isn't much bigger than a practice amp. If I had to do it over again, I'd go somewhere like Toronto or New York where I could try out a tonne (metric) of gear and make a slightly more informed decision. As it is, however, I have no regrets. My amp and I get along well. I bitch at it for putting my back out every time I have to move it, but when it makes music I have no choice but to apologize to it and listen to it make my guitar sing.