Peavey Classic 50-410

Features have been well documented. I'm basically updating my review from 4 years ago now that I've had a couple different sets of tubes in the amp. Mine is the 4-10 combo...I love 10's for guitar.

I use two guitars: A Strat with Fralin Vintage Hot pickups, and a Samick TR-2 SG with Duncan Desiged humbuckers. Obviously, the humbuckers have a lot more output than the Strat.

I just wanted to comment on the tone of this amp after I installed two different sets of JJ tubes. Before I did that, the amp had a "loose" overdrive sound...kinda like Mick Ralphs in Bad Company. Sounded good for power chords, but kinda lost it for solo stuff sometimes.

The JJ tubes (preamp and power tubes) gave the amp a much smoother, tighter quality to the distortion. This is a nice upgrade for a nice amp. The amp will stay clean at high volume with the Strat, though with the SG, it starts to break up a bit at real high volumes...but in a most pleasing way.

I've played out with this amp a lot. I lug it to jam sessions and guys are always amazed when they hear it, especially since I just plug straight in without pedals. I like to control the degree of overdrive with guitar volume...interesting how many guys have NOT figured out how to do this...they just dime their guitar and do the pedal tap dance thing. The feature I really like is the active presence control, which can add some extra shimmer, or bite if you need it. Really useful when I plug in the SG, which needs a bit of help in the high end to sound crisp enough.

For my styles (blues, classic rock, country rock, folk rock) this amp is awesome. I'll NEVER sell it.

I've used this thing a lot for 6 years...just changed tubes a couple times. Nary a burp. Amazingly reliable. I use it all the time without a backup...well, I take an extra little amp (also a Peavey) but have never needed it.

Peavey has the best customer support there is. Check their web site...they have a great support forum with lots of nice Peavey users and knowledgeable techs to help with any issue you have.

I've been playing about 35 years, about 25 years real serious like. I'm not a major pro guy or anything, but know my way around the guitar. The only thing I don't like is the weight - 63 pounds. But it's worth it to get the sweet tone. Best tube amp value around.

My model was made in the year 2000. It has two channels, an effects loop, reverb (which doesn't work on mine). 50 Watts all tube, 4 10" speakers. One major complaint is that the panel is backwards. I don't understand this really, but I don't mind.

This amp is perfect for what I play. I'm in the band Hot Licks- www.myspace.com/hotlicks - we play blues/rock. The clean channel is warm, clean, and bright. The distortion is enough for me, but it wouldn't be enough for a metal player. It can give you a Keith Richards crunch all the way to a alternative distortion. I use a Fender Stratocaster and it sounds great.

The only complaint I have is that the reverb doesn't work. I'm going to get that fixed, it shouldn't be a major problem.

Never had to deal with them.

I love this amp. The tones are great, it's pretty easy to use, it fits me well. I use this with a Fender Strat and I use a Danelectro Wasabi AX-1 Distortion (for higher gain songs). It gives me everything I want in an amp. It's heavy, but it's relatively easy to carry (just bearhug it and get one hand under it). I wish the reverb worked, but I'll get that fixed. I love this amp.

This is a 1992 model with enough options to suit my playing styles and musical tastes which tend to be classic rock, blues and contemporary Christian. The cabinet is made of plywood and has a nice vintage look to it with the tweed cover. This model came stock with 4 - 75 watt RMS Eminence speakers as opposed to the Blue Marvel's in current production amps. It has a normal and lead option on the amp which you can toggle between the two with a footswitch. A second button on the footswitch gives you the option to engage reverb at some preset level on the amp. Also there are separate inputs to a bright or normal channel. I prefer the normal channel to bring out the bottom end of the amps tonal capabilities. The amp is rated at 50 watts, either at 16 or 8 ohms. This thing has more wattage than most people will ever need. I never have the master volume up past 5. If you need more volume just mike the amp. It is an all tube amp with 3-12AX7 preamp and 4-6BQ5/EL-84 power tubes. One of the nicest features is a built in fan to circulate air around the tubes. The power tubes can generate a fair amount of heat. Mine came stock with Peavey labeled tubes, which turned out to be Sovtek's. I use the amp for home playing/practice, freelance jam sessions and most notably with a contemporary Christian worship team. All in all a pretty vesatile amp. The post-gain and pre-gain feature makes it possible to achieve a variety of sounds from clean to a moderately overdriven crunch. All in all this amp serves my needs very adequately.

I play a 1976 Les Paul Standard and a 1992 Made in Japan reissued 1954 Strat. I use a series of effects pedals for whatever my desired tone may need to reflect. I made two significant modifications to the amp that made a huge difference in the overall tone. I install a quad set of Vintage Weber AlNiCo 25 watt speakers for starters. The specific model was 10A125. They ran about $90 per speaker. The second, and I would say equally as important an upgrade was installing some used old stock tubes. I inserted 3 Telefunken 12AX7/ECC83 preamp tubes and 4 Amperex 6BQ5/EL-84 power tubes. HUGE improvement here. I can not stress this enough. Todays tubes are so lacking in quality tone. This ran about $115. I sold the old tubes and speakers on Ebay for about $140 to offset some of the cost. With the upgrades the amp is a tone monster. Because I do not know how an amp could have a perfect score here I give this area a 9. Besides the equipment is only as good as the ability of the player.

I have had one repair done on the amp because of a faulty resistor. So I must ding Peavey here. Other than that it has been rock solid. I have another older vintage Peavey amp ('74 Peavey Vintage twin reverb)that I've owned for over 30 years and it has only been in the shop once. Basically I think Peavey makes a pretty decent product.

Awesome support. Every question I've asked about this amp or my '74 Vintage Peavey Twin Reverb has been answered. Also the user forum at www.Peavey.com is loaded full of self help info. Check it out.

I've been playing for 30 years. This amp compliments my styles and range of tones. I think for the initial outlay the amp is at best a $350 - $400 investment (used), before the optional speaker and tube upgrades I mentioned. They are always up for auction on Ebay but be prepared to pay a hefty shipping fee. It weighs in at around 70 lbs with packaging. I would recommend this amp to anyone looking for versatility and affordability. It is in no way a Bassman, but it gets the job done for about $700 less. The pre and post gain controls are great at shaping your sound, which the Bassman does not have. I chose this amp based on a friends satisfaction with the amp and the tonal characteristics I heard. Because I have owned another Peavey for over 30+ years and it keeps getting better with time, this amp should do the same. The support at Peavey is rock solid. If stolen or lost I would buy another one. For the price you can't find a better deal around. If you do the upgrades you can come close to replicating a Bassman.

3x12AX7+4xEL84-four10"non labeled speakers(so they used to do in the first couple of years-mine is a 1994 model) efx loop,a nice refreshing fan-blonde tolex-great vintage look-2 channels-foot switch etc.

WARM WARM WARM--Great Fenderish clean- very good reverb-the drive channel brings you in a tube heaven dimension.This is a great blues-rock machine(Chicago Blues,SRV,Classic Rock tones):LOVABLE!!!!!

I've mailed a few questions concerning the dating and others technical aspects:they kindly answered in minutes!!!

I own a few tube amps(Fender,Marshall,Laney etc):this is a really boutique-like,hand crafted amp with a great price/quality ratio,and one of the best sounding around.Absolutely great!

Bought the amp late in 2004. It has two inputs and two channels. Being a 4x10 the cabinet is much taller than a standards 1x12 or 2x12. It is very heavy - I have fitted wheels to it!

The amp is very loud but as it has a master volume you can still get a wicked tone at home / studio / practice levels.

I play mainly blues & country rock. It has all of the tones that you would expect from a vintage Fender only better.

The sound without any FX is brilliant with both strat & tele. If I want a mental metal sound it works great with my Alesis Quasravverb GT.

When wound up the overdrive is thick and creamy.

I bought a Fender Hot Rod first and was very disapointed, the Peavey has the sound that the Hot Rod should have produced.

The amp is quite new still, no problems so far. It seems to be very well built. I have had a Peavey Express 112 65watt combo for about 15 years and it is still going strong - it just sound a little too transistory for the type of music I play now.

The Peavey European operation is based not far from where I live in the UK so I should expect good customer support.

I have been playing since I was a kid - I am now 50. The Peavey Clasic 50 is the best amp I have ever played. I might but a Mesa Boogie if I won the lottery!

Bought this new in I believe 1991 for an unbelievable $350.00 bucks. I'm old and have CRS (Can't remember shit} No later then 1991 I am sure of that. The amp has been clear across the US and has held up great. Last year one of the circuit boards went tits up and it cost me about $140 to fix but for an amp this old that has seen almost daily use that?s pretty good I'd say. The amp has had only one tube change. The amp is a real gig machine and for blues it can't be beat. I do wish the amp had a little more bottom end. The amp has a bright and normal input and came with a reverb and lead footswitch which still work fine. This amp has not a mark on it other then the plastic peavey faceplate broke off years ago. (Use the cover it comes with when transporting the amp)The amp also has an external cabinet outlet. 4 10" blue marvels (again needs some better low end balls)3 12AX7's and 4 EL 84's. 3 band EQ etc etc.

All this amp needs is a good strat and a TS-9 and yer in for a set with double trouble. I do find the amp is a bit noisy depending on where it?s plugged in. With the compressor and TS-9 it tends to pick up radio signals and I don?t know why. The order in the effects pedals seems to make no difference. If anyone has the remedy for this e-mail me and tell me. This doesn?t happen everywhere and I assume it?s a problem with the wiring in the house or club not the amp. I of course could be wrong so if ya know please e-mail me. Great sounding for most styles of music. Clean is silky smooth. Dirty is well....dirty like it should be.

It?s a tank. Only problem described above. Oh the tech said the PC board may have shorted due to a bug but the possible offender was nowhere to be found so who knows.

Peavey has always been great. I have always been able to call and discuss the amp with them. A rare thing anymore AAA+. Warranty on the amp was a year if I'm not mistaking. Didn?t need it until the amp turned 13. Never a problem when calling these folks.

Been playing off and on for years. This amp is the best I have owned and for the money I paid it can't be beat. If it were stolen I couldn?t afford to replace it for what they cost today. I have played through Marshall's and Fender's and everything in between. This amp holds it's own with the best of them. It does what it is designed to do and then some and that's all you can ask. The only thing I wish this amp had was the ability to plug into it and sound exactly like SRV. Maybe it's my playing. The amp is great.

Not sure about the year - bought it new possibly around 94/95. See other users for standard inclusions. Doesn't have an fx loop but never used it anyway. Don't care about a headphone loop as this amp is best played at volume. Only use it for home use now but used it every week for 2 years as a gigging amp. Only comment is that it is rather heavy, but then you don't have separate head which is a pain anyway.

Three guitars used with this amp - a rickenbacker v381, a vintage reissue strat with special bridge single pickup and occasionally plug an acoustic in. Also have an old ricky copy with two high gain humbuckers. All guitars sound 1st class through this one - I used to own a fender 2x12 and couldn't cope with the very high gain but the peavey copes easily.

I play mainly clean/slight overdrive so find the overdrive channel is a little overpowering, only use it up to about 6 before the sound is too much. Clean channel is clear, and breaks up nicely once past 5 or 6 - I find needs to be set a mid to high volume levels before it starts singing. I love the sound - sold the fender within one year of buying this one as was gathering dust!!

No issues. I have dumped this amp in the back of many cars over the years and never failed me once. Had the tube changed a couple of times, but that's about it. Very robust.

Never had to deal with peavey and no problems under warranty.

Playing for about 15 years now. This is my third amp and would buy another if it was stolen. I shopped around a bit when buying this one, but this one was in my local shop and I dreamed of owning it.

I have an older model. I bought it around 94/95 but it was probably a year or two (or three) when I got it. 2 channels, lead and clean. No headphones (who uses that anyway?). I just ordered the effects loop aftermarket kit from Peavey. $25 for that. There's only one 3-band EQ so you have to walk over to the amp and mess with it if you change channels or try to find something that sounds good with both channels. 2-button footswitch also does reverb. Can get plenty loud. When on the clean channel you have a "Normal" gain knob. When on the lead channel you have a "Pre" and "Post" for gain knobs. Pre is your saturation, post is your volume (probably breaks down to your preamp tubes and your power amp tubes I'd wager). And then a master volume knob. All knobs on mine go to "12"! LOL Take that spinal tap! LOL I use the amp pretty much as a loud speaker. The Line 6 DM-4 generates most of my tone. I set the Normal knob to 6 and the Master knob around 6 for most shows and let the DM-4 take over. This is the best amp for stompboxes in the world. The tube feel and reaction is still there even though your sound is being shaped by a TS-9, TS-808, Big Muff Pi, Boss Metal Zone, Marshall Shredmaster, Tone Bender, Pro Co Rat, DS-1, MXR Micro Amp, DOD Overdrive 250, etc.

Wonderful clean channel sound. I dig it. Again, crystal clear platform for decent effects to really sound their best. The lead channel I didn't used to like but I think that had more to do with my guitar(s) than anything. I'm using a Gibson Nighthawk Landmark series which has a pair of Gibson Mini-humbuckers (like in the Explorers and some LP's) and it has coil taps too. The amp is a little noisy with hot pickups on the lead channel. The spring reverb sounds genuine, not fake. The clean channel doesn't break up very easily even at high volumes which is nice when you're pushing overdrive pedals at high volumes and when you want clean....you just want it clean! Anyway, back to the lead chennel: nice thick saturations ala ACDC are possible and in fact, easily reproduceable, nice creamy overdrive right at the breaking point and more poignant blues drive tones are also pretty easily created. Though with only two channels and one EQ, it's not the best gigging amp.

Very dependable. I've ran this thing through ringer many times playing on the road for the last 9 years. It's always held up. Had one issue with a phillips screw head somehow got wedged in the circuitry and was shorting stuff out. Had to have happened at the factory too. Weird. Any way easy fix.

Support seemed helpful and friendly when I called about the effects loop.

For what I do, and the gear I use it's perfect. I've played along side pro's and usually their first reaction to the sight of it is..."why the hell are you playing through THAT?!" Then they hear it and are amazed by the tones I'm getting. Even my sound guy whose been exposed to hundreds of bands and has played in as many himself is absolutely blown away every time we do a show. But here's the trick: The Peavey Classic 50 by itself is OK. Pretty good, I'd rate it. The Line 6 DM-4 gets a similar rating of "Not Bad". The two of them together: Holy freakin cow! How two slightly better than mediocre pieces of equipment can get together and have this amazing tonal perfection is beyond me, but I'm not complaining. Write me if you want to know my DM-4 settings. Happy to share them. :)

The features seem pretty well spelled out in prior reviews.
It has pretty much everything I require feature wise. Mine is a 2002 model. It is mint and flawless. The previous owner played it a few times and put it in his closet when he realized playing the guitar took a bit of time/commitment/work. I stole it for $325. The local music store is asking $699 and it is no more mint than mine.

First a little background. I have been playing since I was 7. I'm 48 now. I've been through a few amps over the years. I used to play primarily Gibsons (Les Pauls and SG's) through Fender amps (Twins, Dual Showmans). Back in the late 80's I switched to Stratocasters but stayed with the Fender amps. In the 90's I used a Paul Reed Smith through a Marshall half stack.
That said, I'm currently playing a MIM Strat through the 50 4X10 classic. This is undoubtably the nicest amp I've ever owned. I did ALOT of shopping this time around. I wanted a 4X10 or 2X12 for portability reasons. I tested all the Fenders/Marshalls/Peaveys/Line6's etc. The Peavey blew them all away. I DIDN"T WANT to like the Peavey. They were always cheesy, joke amps back in the day. This amp dials in great clean sounds or tube distortion sounds effortlessly. I have a boatload of pedals but now they just get in the way of the tone. The amps reverb is sweet. The amp sounds glassy, clean, punchy and sweet in the clean setting. The drive settings will perfectly reproduce Page sounds (Heartbreaker), ZZ Top (Waiting for the Bus), Captain Beyond (Mezmerization Eclipse)Clapton (Layla) etc etc etc. It is stunning.
I compared all the Peaveys against each other as well and I liked the 4X10 and the Delta Blues almost equally, but the 4X10 moved the air a bit more and seemed like a better choice as one never knows how big the room they will be playing in is. The 2X12 was a VERY nice amp too, but the clean sound was not quite as full with it. The amp is quiet as hell (even with a Mex strat) unless you are right on top of it. It can get very loud if necessary.

I imagine so. I have a friend that has beaten the hell out of his classic 30 with no ill effects.

Don't have a clue.

I would replace this were it stolen without hesitation.

my Peavey Classic 50/4-10's is one of the first ones made I believe...there is no FX loop...I play mostly Ble=ues, r&b (60-70's even some 40 50's) I dont plsy Rap!!...No headphone connections, although it is very easy to add a headphone connection if you have just a basic knowldge of electronics...ala Craig anderson...I use this amp for playing gigs in fairly large clubs, and sometimes mike the amp through the PA.... I love this amp because it is all tube, and I am an all tube freak...I HAVE to have those hot (wam) tubes glowing in the amp to feel , and sound the way I want to sound...Sometimes I will run the Classic 50 in a stereo mode using a Zoom pedal...an old 3030...which is flimsy , but does the job nicely. I use at mainly as a boost.to make the Peavey scream....What a difference..

When I first plugged my U.S.A Strat into the peavey Clasic 59, and put the pick up selector in the 2nd position...it felt like Hendrix was playing "Little wing" or "The Wind Cries Mary"..etc etc...This is without the Zoom FX pedal...Hooking up the Zoom pedal, which is ancient by todays standards, and jus giving the front ent of the peavey a little boost , and EQ adjustment, maybe a little "doubling" quick slap back, the amp truly sings, and makes sounds that I wish I couls have gotten 20 or 30 yrs. ago..When I switch into overdrive (withe the Zoom pedal giving me a boost or a bit of distortion, the amp has unlimited sustain,and I have been told by people that I have jamed with.."wow, I have to get that amp") they were using marshals and Fender Twins, but, their sound couldn't come close to the Peavey..they would play a note and it would fade, while my guitar would sustain almost forever, and sound so full that it was almost a joke....I think the key to getting a GREAT sound is to overdrive the front end of the Peavey, pay CAREFUL attention to your EQ and distortion, as well as your compression...(not too much) Now I am talking about using a "lowly Zoom 3030"...I am sure that other "preamps, or boosters will do the same job, if not a better one....I would also like to say that the Peavey, sounds GREAT on its own, if you learn how to tweak the knobs, but it REALLY comes alive when you overdrive the amp..... little for old hendrix, and a lot for Super, heavy and death metal......When I play the peavey in the clean mode and add a little reverb an Tremelo from the Zoom, I sound like Pulp Fiction , or any of the Surf music from the 60's....I'm sorry for going on and on, but this amp does everything I want it to do....You just need to know a little about sound reproduction and you've got it made!!!!

The only negative thing that happened to me is that I had to solder the input jack a bit...I had been careless and put a computer keyboard on top of the jack and broke the connection...I fixed that in about 15 minutes...well maybe longer as I had to take the amp apart a little....I would use the Peavey Classic 50 on a gig without a backup if I had to, but I usually bring another amp anyway... an old Fender Tremelux, which I sometimes use for stereo, but usually don't, as It is too much a pain in the rear...I DID put all "different" tubes 12AX7's in the amp (Peavey) as I have a lot of them (old RCA'S , sylvanias, etc)hanging around, and it seemed to make the amp sound much better...Warmer, louder, more character etc..I still have the same old output tubes in there however....I do intend to experiment and change these tubes in the near future...

I bought the amp used and have never dealt with Peavey.

I have been a musician since a few years before the British invasion, about 1962. I played surf music, Duane Eddie,Top 40, Otis Redding, James Brown, Muddy Waters,Elvis, etc. When the Beatles arrived on the scene, I got into them, The Stones, (my favorite), the kinks etc.....also on to The Cream, Hendrix,Led Zeppelin,UFO, into the new wave groups...Bowey,etc...Punk music......Also Metallica, Cradle of filth, and a lot of the so called "alternative music" of today....But,,,,I have always been rooted in the blues...and R&B....I choose to buy this amp because one day I sat in with a group who was using the Classic Peavey, and I loved it from the first note....It is all a matter of learning how to use the amp for the best sound,,,sometimes just a compressor, booster, will mean all the difference in the world..I just wish I had a new speake cover, as mine is falling apart...but...the sounds that I get....KILL....even Mesa Boogeys, and Marshals...again...you have to learn how to use the amp...how to tweak it...Guitarists nowadays, should learn a bit about electronics....Best amp I have ever owned..