Peavey Classic 30

My amp has a "New style" front but lacks stock tube guard, assume amp is early run new style...it's 'black tweed" (pressed tolex?) black grill cloth.

First thing I did "to" the amp after purchase was take off the oval Peavey logo & paint a nice black & white yin yang on the flat backside...flipped it over & screwed it back on;)

Features already covered numerous times, lack of standby particularly glaring ommision, presence control would be a good idea IMO

Sweet tone, did immediate re-tube after purchase. Was sorta bummed that the sovtecs were buzzing on an almost new amp but was prepared for the disappointment after reading many reviews on the Classic 30.

Play thru an old Boss chorus an Ibazez soundtank tremelo & occaisionally use a soundtank tube screamer w/drive turned low just for a little boost. The boost circuit in the amp just a tad over the top in the small venue situations that I find myself in....the amp sorta "squawks' unless you're ready w/some slight eq/volume adjustments

Plan to have some of the mods layed out @ www.blueguitar.org/ done when my "tube amp guy" has some time & I have some extra cash>

The basic mods (stand by, presence control, tuning the OD circuit in w/different filter caps etc seem sensible options to me.

Too soon to tell, have a Fender DeVille for backup. (much prefer the Classic 30)

dunno, Peavey site doesn't list 112 ext cab, only the 212 "Beetlejuice" fronted cab. Combo looks ridiculous sitting on a table level cab IMO.

Guess I'll e-mail Peavey & ask "them" why the hell they don't offer a matching 112 cab anymore & tell ya ltr, eh?

Have been playing 20 yrs, classic rock, blues. "variety" Itza tossup if I would buy again, dunno> Crate currently busting their ass to compete w/Peavey in the small affordable great sounding tube amp category.

Crate offers a Tone Tubby speaker in their black V30 & Celestion in the Palamino (blond) V32....both have a standby switch;)

Altho I love the tone of this amp, I stongly suspect Crates V-30/V-32 offer similar satisfaction....didn't getta chance to try the Crate, it's a LITTLR bit more expensive and was unavailable locally.

Ha!....gotta say my Classic 30 looks cooler w/the yin yang switch on the front logo...give it a shot, blaze a trail into "boutique" amp territory

2 Channels. 1 EQ section for both. Effect Loop. All tube!

I'm using an Iabnez with a Dimarzio pickup (one that Steve Vai used).

Great tone, tone, tone! This is a great amp for up to rock. Once again, the tone is so sweetfully crunch, yet you get enough gain to solo with fluidity. This is not for heavy metal.

Clean channel is great, too. Almost like fender clean. Quality.

I hear the sound will improve with better tubes, but it still sounds great with sovteks in it.

I just love the tube tone, and it's loud, too.

Can't comment, yet.

Don't let the price fool you. This is a great sounding all tube amp for rock.

Looks cool (tweed), sounds sweet, light enough to carry around, still loud. My search is over for now, for a perfect rock amp.

It's the model before the present with the little metal Classic 30 tag. 2 channels with a boost button. Wish it was footswitchable. 30 tube watts are damn near as loud as 100 solid state watts. At least that's how it cuts through with a band in a live situation.

Not real fancy. But I'm not a fan of tons of knobs. I like the fact it has an effects loop. I'd give it a 10 if the boost was footswitchable.

I don't want to say it's a one trick pony because it will do almost any style except super crystal clean or Mesa type brutality. No Godsmack here.
It will do classic/southern rock perfectly. Even 50's and 60's type rock/pop music.
The clean has a nice natural breakup at high volumes if you play aggresssively.
Man can this thing hang with the band.... It is plenty loud and cuts through fine.

I will say that I only use it for practice and small gigs. Otherwise I use a XXX head with e34l's and a Genz G-flex with Scorpion speakers in it. That's my main rig.
This amp cannot be beat for the price.

Anyone who's having problems with this thing need to realize NOTHING is bullet proof, and some babies are born dead. I've been playing and working on equipment for a LONG time. Half the problems people are bitching about are either tube or patch chord problems.
Respect the amp for what it is designed to do.

If want stage volume that will only get louder as your hearing gets worse, this isn't the amp for you. Go get a couple of 4x12's with your fav. head and have at it. Don't forget new batteries for your Miracle Ear.
Look at those concerts of your fav. artist. Do you really think they're playing through 15 Marshall full stacks? See how many are mic'd. Or look at Warren Haynes and some of the later Jimmy Page vids. They use combos most of the time. That's what the P.A. is for, monitors too. Imagine that.

Sorry for the rant.

This amp gets a little noisey with OD or distortion pedals. It takes effect in loop very well. Nice and quiet. I only use od pedals as a boost for solos. I use a DD3 CH5 and a BF5. That's about it.
The amps own distortion is more than adequete for AC/DC Zepp. even early Van Halen. It actually does the first 2 VH albums VERY well.

Peavey. Best for the $$$.

2006 classic 30 112 w/ factory tube guard (must!)
Features listed before. For the price point I feel the Features are fine

I waited 6 months after purchasing to write this review to avoid new gear shock. Stock this amp desrves an 8 after new jj tubes and celestion vintage 30 this amp deserves a 10 for the price. A 9.5 against anything in the market. When I purchased this amp I was strictly looking for something to cover SRV to Pink Floyd to lighter AC/DC. For heavier AC/DC to Slayer I have a JCM 800 2x12. It will play lighter metal well but if your looking for a solo amp to cover everything including heavier metal, as much as I like this amp I would keep looking. Originally it was between this amp and several fender tube amps. After spending quite a few hours at GC a/b'ing them I walked out knowing that for me I made the right choice with the 30 and for a very reasonable price. I now have added a second classic 30 112 to my rig and use them run through stereo and can do awesome pan effects through them on stage and with the JCM 800 running mono as a center for a little bite on classic rock songs I have found my sound. I placed a celestion greenback in the second classic 30 and like the mix between the 2 speakers however if your onlying running the 1 30 I recommend the vintage 30. Very full fat sound through it yet capable of plenty of bite. I feel this amp does Blues better than any amp under 1500, after mods, and will hold its own doing classic rock. This amp loves to have a wah in the mix, and handles OD with the best of them and takes distortion well but not perfect, can sound fuzzy. Yet loves fuzz pedals also if that make sense. The spring reverb on the amp is acceptable but if reverb plays a large part in your sound I would reccommend an add on, I purchased the EH Holier grail and it does a much better job IMO.

Have only had for 6 months and so far so good but not long enough to make a comment. Feels like it is built solid. Again do yourself a favor and buy a tube guard, it could save your gig. The LOUD popping sound when you turn it off is a bit worrying but apparently normal.

Never dealt with

I've been playing for 21 years and am lucky enough to have the $ to buy what I want "within reason". But just because you can afford a 2K amp doesn't mean you should overlook affordable ones. I bought this not because it was cheap but because to me it was the sound I was looking for. Fenders just don't do it for me personally. The older fenders to me were much better. This amp takes to single and humbucker PU's equally well. I'm not saying you must buy this amp but I feel if your looking for a blues to classic rock amp you will be doing yourself a disservice if you don't at least give it a try, and then buy what sounds best to YOU! To you younger guys please buy what you like not what your idol likes or what everyone else owns, other wise you just sound like everyone else. I gave it a 10 not because it's the greates amp in the world but because for the value nothing touches it.

I have a 2002 tweed model, still in pristine shape. Picked it up used recently, after looking for a really nice one for a couple of years. Compared this amp side by side to the Fender Blues Junior and Deville, a couple of Marshalls and Crates, and a Carr Rambler. The Carr won, and at $2k+ it should have. But for $300 used ($600 or so new) NOTHING CAN TOUCH THE CLASSIC 30! I'm 53, and have been playing and buying amps for 35 years. Been through an early 70s Fender Pro Reverb, same era Twin, a Randall, and a couple of other Peaveys. Again, nothing can touch this amp. I'm hard rock as it gets, but love the blues. This amp can do it all. I also have the matching tweed Classic 112E extension cabinet. Do you know how loud 30 good tube watts can get? With the 112E onboard you can peel paint at 100 yards. Fantastic tone with stock tubes, but JJs will get the juices really going.

Overall sound quality is "versatile"! I play strats and teles primarily (only Fender), and Ibanez SZ520QM guitars. With the strats you can wring out a pretty classic 60s tone without much work at all. Making a Tele "twang" the way it ought to took a little searchin', but it's there, and way sweet. As for my hard rock orientation, the Ibanez fits guts to blood with this amp! Let some gain loose in the clean mode and this amp sings forever. As for crunch, well it's not a vintage Hiwatt stack, but it does awfully well. Maybe a little weak on the bottom end, but play with it and you can get there. I lost my enthusiasm for most pedals and outboard gear awhile ago, but pair a Boss Blues Driver and TR-2 tremolo with the Classic 30 and you are in Bluesburg one minute, and Laramie the next. Much tonal variety to play with in this little brute.

I wanted this amp because of it's rep for reliability in addition to it's power level, straightforward approach, and word of mouth encouragement from other owners. It delivers. And, can you say "Peavey"? Probably says enough about dependability, huh? I've had zero issues with it or the 112E cabinet. Perfect for small to medium size gigs, and after as many years of playing out that I've had, I would NEVER go to any gig without a backup amp. At the very least, take extra tubes. Vehicles, people and electricity are very hard on tube amps.

Have only dealt with Peavey by phone, looking for an amp cover and replacement logo. Very, very pleasant folks. Extra fast service. Southern hospitality.

This amp and extension cabinet are with me for life now. Time to sell these other amps I've got. Maybe some day it will sit beside that Carr Rambler. If I and this amp parted I'd be on the phone and eBay immediately to replace it. And the best added benefit is, there is no amp and extension cabinet any cooler than the tweed Classic 30 paired with the tweed Classic 112E cabinet. Put one on stage and it alone generates a pile of buzz and questions. Great looker. Put a sunburst strat on a stand beside it, and a Fender Vintage Voltage tweed cable, and you've got the stuff mag ads are made of.

Pretty basic. Nothing out of the ordinary. You can read everyone elses review to see exactly what features this amp has.

Ok, the sound quality of this amp is not very good at all. It is very boxy sounding and it's hard to get the amp to sound decent at all. The gain channel on this amp is decent but it's hard to get a tone that sounds ok. I tried tons of distortion pedals on this amp and only a couple sounded ok. I do like the reverb on this amp.

This amp is very sturdy but incredibly annoying. This amp is VERY touchy. If you don't let it warm up enough before you start playing, it will work for about 30 seconds and then totally cut off. It also makes a lot of noise when it's warming up. It does not work well with certain effects. Some things sound very harsh through it. It is a tube amp, but decent tube amps shouldn't sound that bad.

Never had to deal with them.

I have been playing for about 7 years. I am a professional musician; I get paid to play and I have a good time doing it. I would never buy this amp again. I sold it when i bought my new amp. I recently picked up a Fender Blues Deluxe amp and it is by far better than this Peavey and i think it only costs a little more.

There is a possibility that switching out the Marvel speaker and upgrading the tubes might help with the crappy EQ of this Peavey Classic amp, but why waste your time? Just get a quality amp from the start.

My classic 30 was made in 2005...the older shape but with a tube guard. Im the second owner and just replaced the tubes for the first time. You all know the features so I wont rabble on. I use this at ALL gigs...pubs, clubs, party's where ever....mostly un-miked. Power wise? enough for almost any job unless your a rock star playing at 80,000 + stadiums...in which case your NOT reading this.

Awesome cleans, and a totally usable gain channel UNLIKE the crap Fender are putting out....with mud and more mud options. This amp can be dialed in low but as dirty as you like for home use, or take it out and gig and blow them away. The distortion or gain is superb for a small combo. I play mostly blues, classic rock and some top 40 stuff (when I must) and have no problems with this amp. The classic 50 is a shitbox....does not get the same tone or should that be QUALITY of tone. No noisier than any other tube amp.

This ones been at it for more or less 2 years....1 tube change and its STILL ROCKING!! The models made back 3 or 4 years ago were GARBAGE FIRST CLASS with tube harmonics, no tube guard and shoddy workmanship all round....they finally got it right in the last 2 or 3 years.

Um.....nuf said.

Ive been playing for 30 odd years, own a room full of classic collectibles from a 69 335, half a dozen les pauls form the 70's, an 82 fullerton 62 strat, an 88 62 reissue, 57 reissue, 52 tele reissue....the list goes on. Ive tried a pile of amps, the only thing close to this is the marshall DSL 401....a tasty lil tube amp. If it was stolen...not sure what Id do but Id get something depends on what pops up first but Id stay clear of ANY modern day fender....I recently tried out a custom shop pro sonic....what a box full of crap they make. If you see one of these at a good price....grab it....you will enjoy it.,

This is a brand new Classic 30 - the new design (I prefer the old look). Anyway no need to go over features - everyone before me has done that. They are the same in my amp as theirs. For what it is, I think the features are fine for this amp.

Here's where I differ with most of the previous reviewers. I think this amp sounds GOOD - but that's it. It certainly isn't a "10" or a "9" even. MAYBE the Classic 50 would warrant that - but that's not what this amp is. Let's be honest. It DOES get a nice warm sound that is punchy and somewhat mid-rangey - which is likely also due to the speaker type (Blue Marvel - it is mid-rangey). It gets a nice clean tone - good for Jazz, I think - and mellow blues. There is also a nice "light" overdrive on the "lead" channel with the pre set at about 2. I've always like a little subtle break up like that....but I'm not sold on the higher gain sounds. What I discovered, however, was that the amp lacks some bottom end and fullness to it. It is a boxy sound - which stands to reason given the size of the overall package. I think it would sound better with a closed back possibly. Perhaps an extension speaker would also improve that.

It is nice and lightweight...that is always a plus.

I brought it home and compared it to a Roland Cube 60 (sorry tube purists) that I have and the Cube had MUCH more bottom end - and the clean was just as good - IMHO. The Cube is a closed back design. The reverb is good - not GREAT. The Reverb on my Cube is actually better. I only play the Cube on the "Roland Jazz Chorus" setting - I don't like the other, fancy "modeling" type settings. Just a sidenote.

This amp - especially the overdrive - would likely improve somewhat if you upgraded the tubes. However, I did the same thing with a Peavey Delta Blues 210 recently and, while there was improvement in SOME areas (better bass response, more power) there were some negative effects as well. For example, a full complement of JJ's tubes in the Delta Blues added MUCH more mid-range to the sound. So much so that it was quite harsh and unpleasant on high notes. It hadn't been like that with the old Electro Harmonix Tubes. Then again, the breakup was smoother...so it's give and take. Point is, new tubes won't make this a DIFFERENT amp. It will still have the same personality. Same would go for the results with a speaker swap I would imagine.

The circuits between the Delta Blues and Classic 30 are virtually identical, so I'm confident I would have similar results on the Classic 30.

I will be returning this amp because it doesn't sound better than what I already have (Fender Deluxe Reverb RI and Roland Cube 60) - at least not $500.00 better. And that's really what it's all about in the end.

I'm sure its as reliable as any other tube amp in this price range...which is to say about average, I would think. I had one of these back in the mid-90's and it worked fairly well...but after a year or so I recall some sort of electrical problem with it. Can't remember what it was.

Never dealt with them.

Been playing for about 10 years...a little longer if you count the years I was a drummer and wasn't really trying to become a BETTER guitar player. Play mostly bluesy/jazzy type stuff - mostly fingerstyle. I like the "tasteful" players (Santana, Larry Carlton, Knopfler...). Not a bad amp for the price.

New chassis model bought new in Jan 2006. Features listed hundreds of times. Clean and gain channels share EQ and that is OK for me. Needs a tube guard.

Bought tube guard direct from Peavey for about $18. It looks better and costs less delivered than the one on the Bay.

Stock tubes are like the patch cables that come with your dvd player-EMERGENCY USE ONLY-UPGRADE ASAP!

Played for ten months with the original Sovteks and finally made the change to JJs. With stock tubes-7. With JJs-10. CHANGE THE TUBES.

You can turn the volume low for practice with good tone. Crank it to loosen the plaster or get divorced. You could gig small or medium rooms w/o a mic, but why?

Some people complain about the stock Blue Marvel speaker. Play it. Break it in. If you still want a $100 speaker trade out, do it. I think an extension cab is the better choice. Changing the tubes is the key to unlocking the tone for this amp.

Change power tubes to JJs. Change pre-amp tubes to JJs or Tung Sols. With the speaker broken in and the right tubes this amp sings. Like "piss off your friends" good.

Both clean and dirty channels sound great. Using your EQ you can find just about every rock, blues, and country sound that you want. Find that in another $600 amp.

I use a Bad Monkey OD, VooDoo Fuzz and a two button channel/reverb switch. There is a lot of variety mixing the organic distortion of the 12ax7 with the pedals.

I am a play with the friends jammer and haven't gigged in 15 years. This should last anyones lifetime. Peaveys are built tough. If I were gigging, an extra set of tubes in the kit for insurance.

Have called to order the tube guard. Very friendly. Spoke to a woman to order the guard and a man to talk tubes. The guy had been with them for 17 years and we talked all kinds of gear. A real American, in the good ol' USA! Tube guard came in three days.

How do I rate this? For what it is and not for what it is not: American made 30 watt LOUD tube amp with great Vox-like clean and a lead channel crunch that makes any Fender HRD owner regret buying that POS.

I am mid-forties and can afford to buy any gear I want. I look for value and no longer care to pay for a brand label that doesn't come through where it counts-the SOUND.

I am down to this amp and a few guitars. I want to try the Epi Valve Junior head with an Avatar 2x12 cab to compare. I will post after I pull the trigger and get over the honeymoon period.

I play an 80's Burny Japan lawsuit copy LP(VH-1 PUs, AWESOME, gettum' while you can), Fender MIM Tele replaced with "real" Bill Lawrence PUs (another bang for buck no-brainer), Fender MIM Deluxe Powerhouse Strat (American components assembled 90 miles south = poor mans Clapton Strat)and imho, a great 335 type in a Dearmond/Guild Starfire.

I am a bang for the buck guy and the Classic 30 delivers in spades.

This amp is very versatile for what it is. I use this amp on two gigs. Country and rock band and with a young soul singerl. Great sounds. Just need the right guitar. B-bender Tele for country and Carvin AE-185 for other stuff. It is plenty loud and I have figured out a way to help the volume. More later. It is what it is. A tube amp with two preamp channels.

I replaced the stock speak with an Eminence Cannabis Rex and what a differnce. Great lows and smooth highs with alot of clarity. Big Difference. After finding out about using a volume atten in the effects loop, I decided to try my TubeWork RealTube 2 in the loop so I could crank the master and lower the volume with the TubeWorks. WIth a Boss ME50 in front of the preamp, this thing is killing. I set the clean master around 6 or 7 and it was beautiful. My Tele was singing on New Years. The lows are gorgeous and the concerns I have about the highs can probably be solved with a good pick-up swap. Tele has tex mex 3 pickup strat set up in it.

It's a Peavey. I am a big fan. Hartley is a Hero.

Never use CS.

Playing 25 years. Own a teaching studio and play out frequently. I often get late calls to cover for people and wanted a good sounding portable rig. I can carry my entire set-up in one trip. Amp, Boss ME50, Guitar and TubeWorks and am ready for anything. This is a great little amp and I will buy a back-up soon.