Peavy Classic 30

[bhika]

Hi All,

I have a Peavy Classic 30 that I really don't know how to use.     I know a few of you mentioned owning one of these on rrguitarmans recent post. Could any of you give me some basic settings for different set-ups. ie Bluesy, Rock, Clean, Acoustic. They give you a couple sample set-up in the owners manual, but they are of limited use. I dont use anytype of pedals, wouldn't know what to do with one if I did.  Thanks in advance.

[unclrob]

I start with all the settings at set as flat as possible,in most cases the knob is at 12 o'clock.Add a pinch of reverb to taste.Next I set the gain channel with a pinch of edge with the volumn about 10% over the clean channel volumn.Back at the clean I adjust for the clean tone I want,this does depend on weather I'm using my Tele or my White Falcon.As I'm adjusting I will switch between the chanals so that I have a good tone between them.It really just takes time to get to know the amp and the guitars inter action.Have fun and play away.

[tuffythepug]

I start with all the settings at set as flat as possible,in most cases the knob is at 12 o'clock.Add a pinch of reverb to taste.Next I set the gain channel with a pinch of edge with the volumn about 10% over the clean channel volumn.Back at the clean I adjust for the clean tone I want,this does depend on weather I'm using my Tele or my White Falcon.As I'm adjusting I will switch between the chanals so that I have a good tone between them.It really just takes time to get to know the amp and the guitars inter action.Have fun and play away.

Great advice Unclrob
Jeff, that'll get you started off on the right (or in your case should I say "left' foot).   I had a Classic 30 for a few years before I sold it to my neighbor when I had a chance to get a used Fender Blues Deluxe at a local guitar store tent sale.  In retrospect, I think the Classic 30 was in some ways better than the Fender.  The 30 watt power rating made it a little easier to achieve that overdriven tube amp sound I liked so much.  It worked equally well for totally clean tone with a hint of reverb.   
Jeff, are you using this as an amp for acoustic or electric, or both ?  For electric I think you want to turn you guitar output volume way up and rely on the gain and volume of the amp for the volume level you need.  When you set the pre-amp gain at the higher settings, activate the "boost" button and then adjust the volume  appropriately you can really get a creamy overdrive that sounds great out of that single 12" blue marvel speaker.    I never used it for an acoustic amp but I would guess you need to stay away from the higher settings for the pre-amp gain when using an acoustic.   I know that it has a great clean tone which should work just fine for most acoustic pick-ups.
Keep experimenting with different settings and you'll find the combination that gives you what you want.  Unless you really want some wild effects this amp will work great by itself without any effects pedals.  Having said that, I do remember that I used a Boss super-chorus pedal with it quite a bit.

By the way Jeff, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of your L-10 which Fed Ex is supposed to deliver on Tuesday.

I already gave Bluesman67 one of these so I guess I should give you one too.   Us lefties can't be left out when it comes to these cute little fellows.
For you Jeff..............................     

[bhika]

Thanks UnclRob ANd Tuffy I'll have to play with it this weekend.

Tuffy, how do I save out the Lefty Guitar Smiley?

[tuffythepug]

Thanks UnclRob ANd Tuffy I'll have to play with it this weekend.

Tuffy, how do I save out the Lefty Guitar Smiley?

Not sure how Bluesman67 did it but he managed to save it and now uses it as part of his signature.  Why don't I just e-mail you a j-peg of the little guy.   

[AtlasHeating]

I owned the Classic 30 until I gave it to my son, and I have the 2 10 Delta Blues, which is the same amp with 2 10" speakers.
I like the sound and the tube overdrive possibilities.
Depending on your electric guitar, you can set the tone for solo then back off on your volume on the guitar and get a pretty decent rhythm sound with little overdrive.
This works well with my Tele copy but not with my archtop electric. If you have the footswitch and want to use that, you can set up each chanel for the same senario (Crunch and Overdrive and Clean and Rhythm).

[Tycho]

The C-30 is a great little amp.  I've bought and sold various amps since I bought my C-30, but I don't think I'll ever part with it, even though I've now got some other really nice amps -- a Matchless Lightning, a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue and a little Swart Space Tone.  I once accidentally spilled beer rgtht into the top of the Peavey at practice.  It screamed and howled for a while after that, but eventually settled down and went right back to normal.  (Note: I don't recommend trying that yourself.)


When I first got my C-30 (about ten years ago), I tended to use the drive channel a lot.  I eventually stopped doing that.  The drive channel has a good sound, but  you can't adjust the tone separately from the clean channel, and that made it difficult for me to switch between the two channels, since I would want to tweak the tone each time I did so.  So I switched to just using the clean channel, and setting it as AtlasHeating suggests.  Or just using pedals when I wanted a lot of drive.

Like many people who have discussed the C-30 on places like Harmony Central, I've never found much use for the Boost button.

One of the other guitarists I play with gave up on his Marshall combo and just borrows my C-30 whenever we play.  He runs it through a Peavey 1X12 extension cabinet I bought for it.  That "deepens" the sound a little bit, to the extent that that might be necessary.  It's always sounded great on stage. 

(I don't think they make the 1X12 extension anymore, but they now offer the C-30 as a head with a matching 2X12 cab, which would do pretty much the same thing.)

[Andyroo]

It's not the Peavey Classic 30, but I've had the Delta Blues 115 for about 7 years.  I love this amp.  It's the same circuit as the Classic 30, but with a 15" speaker, and tremolo.  I use it in much the same fashion as stated.  EQ around 12 o'clock (tweaked to various rooms) volume up about half mast.  It's a very loud amp, so I usually use a pedal for OD sounds.  Experiment, it's fun!  If you're not live, than anything goes.  The drive channel is just fine, although the fullness of the clean channel dies out when you switch over, that's why most folks run a pedal in front of the clean.  But if you tweak the knobs on the drive channel, you get some killer sounds too.  Try running the knobs opposite what the manual says....I can't remember since I'm not with my amp right now, but flip flop the Pre and Post knobs.  Dime the knob that gives you the drive, and then just crack open the volume control barely.... maybe on 1 or so.  That will give you something different to play with.  I've used this amp for acoustic too, and it does the job decently.  Fishman Rare Earth HB in the soundhole of my L-03R.  Same with bass.....but only at very low levels.  That 15" speaker is versatile!

Have fun   

droo