Peavey Delta Blues

I am primarily a Chicago/Texas blues player. You could probably read the features in other submissions. This amp has just about everything you would need for a blues club-amp. The 15-inch seaker is what really does it for this combo, a very wise decision on Peavey's part. The cabinset is a little too open in the back, both for sound and tube-protection reasons. But it is plenty loud enough for most small to medium size clubs, and it is relatively easy to tote around. I think a presence control would be the only thing that I would add to this package. The boost switch is not particulary useful, becuase it sounds rather ratty.

The best thing about this amp is the clean channel. This amp stays relatively clean all the way up the spout, and the overdrive that you get once you pass seven or so is girthy, but the basic tone keeps its clean characteristics and definition. The key, I think, is the 30 watts into the fifteen inch speaker. There's plenty of bottom end, and it stays nice and defined. The overall clean tone is pretty round, and it really starts to sound nice once you hit seven on the volume. I play a strat and a tele (with a mini-humbucker in the neck), and the round quality of the amp helps bring out the qualities of these guitars. Gibsons also sound very nice through this amp, again the bottom end definition of the fifteen inch speaker doing its job. The distortion is very strong, a better choice for rock and even metal than for blues. For overdrive, I use a tube screamer, and believe me, this sounds ten times better that the boost switch. This amp lacks the rich, bouncy character of, say, a blackface Super Reverb, and there are probably dozens of reasons for that, including price. The reverb is satisfactory, but I use a Boss reverb pedal in front of the input (rather than in the efx loop), which helps sweeten the tone a bit. This amp is not the most responsive combo out there, but once the volume starts to get cranked, you'll notice more push behind your notes. For the price that you are paying, though, this is a pretty good sounding amp for blues. I think the Peavey Classic series' closest competition (in terms of price and features) is the Fender F.A.T. line, and I'll describe my experiences with them later.

I bought this one used, and well-used at that. I've gigged twice, no problems yet. So I can't tell.

Don't know yet.

Here's the real thing. You've got to judge this amp by it's price, what sort of music it's geared towards, and it's closest competition. For the price (even though I bougt it used), it's a very good value, and it does what it's supposed to do. This is an adequate blues amp, so we're not judging it against, say, a solid-state trick amp or a do-everything combo. The alternative, in terms of price, features, and power, is the Fender deVilles and deluxes.
I've owned a Fender Blues DeVille (both the 4x10 and 2x12), a Blues Deluxe, and a Hot Rod Deluxe. For the money, interms of features, these amps are very good. As far as tone goes, these amps SUCK. The key word is BRITTLE. For those of you who can afford $1500 and up for a Matchless/Bruno/Kendrick/Budda/etc., congradulations...you can buy yourself an amp with a tailor-made tube tone. For the rest/most of us, I don;t think it's unreasonable to ask for a good-sounding tube amp for under a grand. The Fenders sound awful. The louder they get, the harder and more brittle the tone gets. Even with the midrange cranked, your tone sounds like its hitting a brick wall. The Peavey's maintain a rounder and richer clean tone as you turn them up. Go ahead and try them side by side and listen carefully.
If you can get one of these amps new for around $400, you've made a good deal. But stay away from the Fenders, they're possibly the most frustrating amps on the markets. They come so close in all areas except for one, TONE. And thats a crappy deal no matter how much you pay.

I HAVE OWNED A LOT OF DIFFERENT AMPS OVER THE YEARS AND THE PEAVEY DELTA BLUES IS BY FAR THE BEST AMP I HAVE EVER OWNED.FENDER BLUES DEVILLE 4X10 HAS TO BE CRANKED UP TO LOUD TO SOUND GOOD,FENDER HOT ROD DELUXE HAS SAME PROBLEM,MARSHALL VS100 DOES NOT HAVE GOOD CLEAN SINGLE COIL SOUND,TUBE WORKS 2100R IS DECENT AT ALL POWER SETTINGS BUT THE DELTA BLUES HAS ALL THESE BEAT.IT GIVES MY FENDER STRAT THE BIG FAT BOTTOM END THAT IS MISSING IN OTHER AMPS.IT DOES THIS AT CONTROLLABLE VOLUME LEVELS AND THE O/D SOUND IS CLASSIC BUGS HENDERSON.IF YOU NEED 1 AMP FOR PRACTICING OR PERFORMING THIS IS IT. SELL EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT CAME WITH CHINESE 12AX7'S AND I REPLACED THEM WITH SOVTEKS.HAVEN'T OWNED IT LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE A CALL HERE.

Two Channels (clean/gain), tremolo and 'verb three eq's. Optional footswitch for tremolo and channel switching. Also has an FX send and return. Boost switch, too- but it sounds like crap when it's active. Oh yeah, it has one 15" speaker. That really helps kick out the low end and mids.

The clean channel is CLEAN... it even stays clean at very high volumes. On the flip side, the gain channel can go from clean to total 'cardboard box full of bees'- but there is a sweet spot that reminds me of an old bassman combo- with guitar volume full out, it has that silky sustain with a growl that jumps out when you dig in to the strings, and goes shimmery clean with the axe volume rolled back. Very nice!. It's also loud- the 2nd guitarist in my band has a 50 watt Marshall half-stack, and I can keep up with it (!!!!!).

No problems after four months of gigs and rehearsals- the back of the amp is open, and I worry about knocking the tubes out (or worse) as they are very exposed.

Peavey has always responded promptly to my e-mail inquiries.... I haven't had to have any warranty service yet, so I can't comment on that.

Would I buy it again? Well, a week after I bought it, the store got an old Music Man 65/135 212 combo for $400- if that had been there the day I bought the Peavey, I probably would have gone with the Music Man instead. I'm very satisfied with the Peavey, but I'm not fanatical about it.

2 channel, 30w, all tube combo with tremolo, reverb and channel switching 15" speaker, speaker extension jack, effects loop. I play blues and the 30 watts are more than enough. This is a loud bastard. I never use the tremolo, I loose to much volume.

As I said I play blues and Hendrix stuff. The overdrive is absolutely great, sounds a bit like an old Marshall. The clean channel is OK, but not very great. It will distort after "6 o'clock" and the sound changes to a harsh irritating noise. I use an American standard strat (only single coils)

NO NO NO...that means I'll never gig with it without backup..In fact I don't even take it with me to gigs anymore! The damn thing keeps breaking down, eating tubes and making noise and crackles all the time. I HATE IT! Wish I've never bought it. Thank God I saved some cash so I'm gonna sell it and buy me a Fender Blues DeVille, which I should've done before buying this shitty amp!

The repairman at the shop where I bought this amp tried to get some schematics from Peavey...he waited 3 weeks and still....no schematics!

NO!!! I'll never buy a Peavey anymore...just Fender for this guy! I bought it because it sounded pretty okay for the money.
Buy a Fender, much more reliable!

Wanting a 1x15 tube combo I could afford, this Delta Blues is a godsend.Playing in a duo, in small clubs & lounges, 30 watts is more than sufficent.Although it has all the latest features(channel switching, fx loops) I'm used to my tube screamer & vibro-verb & don't use them on stage.When playing at home though, I use it all.Perfect for practice or stage.Why are tremolo & vibrato not included anymore?

I play every thing from Sinatra to SRV & this little monster smokes!Playing country,blues,rock,& standards,I generally use a clean setting up front,which can be difficult playing 4 hours( no standby?), but it remains clean as a whistle.Gives my Tele & Strat the big fat tone I love.

I've been using this amp for 4 months w/o a back-up & have not had a single problem. I have used Peavy gear for years,so I'm very familar with their exellent service.I don't even bother to worry about it.

I've never had a problem finding a Peavy dealer anywhere, big city or small town.Find me another company in America who consistently produces quality,up-to-date,&affordable equipment.Hartley For President!!!!

I collect tube amps(Fender,Ampeg,Supro,etc.) but I gig with a Delta Blues & a 4x10 Classic,love 'em.My Delta Blues also makes a killer harp amp.Try hooking a small horn or tweeter to the ext. speaker jack for your "unplugged" set.Remember, PLAY!!!!

With only 30 watts, this all tube amp sports a huge 15" speaker, and two superb footswitchable clean and drive channels. The volume on the channels can be adjusted independently, and along with its reverb and tremolo, can be accessed from the footswitch. It also has an effects loop, and adjustments for boost and intensity. The most surprising feature is its low price (in the $600's).

This is the most versatile amp I've ever played. It can go from really clean, to blues, then to rock and roll in a heartbeat. Its great tone is aided by a huge 15" speaker and its arsenal of three 12AX7's and four EL84's. This amp is loud ? while it has only 30 watts, it's almost as loud as the Fender Blues DeVille (60 watts). In fact, I bought this amp to replace my Blues DeVille. It was a better choice, not only from an economical standpoint, but also because the DeVille needed to be cranked up to half volume to sound good. While this was OK for live situations, it was way too loud for practicing at home. The Delta Blues however can achieve full and beautiful tones, both clean and broken up, at very manageable volumes. Other advantages include agile footswitch control of channel switching (with independent controls for lead and clean), a wonderfully lush tremolo, it's a remarkably versatile amp. One thing though, while the reverb is not bad, its not as intense as it could be and could use a bit of improvement.

Even though I've only had it a few weeks, I'm certain that with Peavey's reputation for building solid amps, it will be just fine.

I would buy it again. It's an extraordinary amp with sweet sounds - an excellent value for the money.

Good clean sound, good drive; remind me of old '65 twin reverb but with drive channel! It sounds better than blues deville (have both) dont worry about the 30W, it's loud!!

Great vintage sound!! Any body want to buy a JCM 900??? would trade for a delta blues!!

1 day old !! no problem!! ... yet???

??

Would buy a second one!! for stereo!

Has tremolo,reverb,channel switching,4 el84, 15'speaker : what else?

Very loud.Can sound like a Vox ac30 or a Fender Super reverb: I prefer the clean channel for the headroom and the dynamic, if I want more bite I put in front a Marshall Guv'nor and It's ok.

I have it since july '95 without any problem