Looking to go tube:Delta blues vs. Classic 30

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akaMrC

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Okay, I give up and cry uncle! Tubeheads of the world have now (don't know how) convinced me that tube is good. I have a Peavey Bandit 112. I like it, but don't exactly love it. I play with a small band (currently bassless), drums, guitar (me) and sax, with keyboards signing on. We play where we work, an RTF. So keeping with Peavey (maybe not) and a price around $300, can't go higher really, I've been looking at the Classic 30 and stumbled on the Delta Blues. Would either of these amps be loud enough to gig (gymnasium w/horrible acoustics or outdoors)? Which is better for classic rock and features? Sorry so long...any help appreciated.
 
akaMrC said:
Okay, I give up and cry uncle! Tubeheads of the world have now (don't know how) convinced me that tube is good. I have a Peavey Bandit 112. I like it, but don't exactly love it. I play with a small band (currently bassless), drums, guitar (me) and sax, with keyboards signing on. We play where we work, an RTF. So keeping with Peavey (maybe not) and a price around $300, can't go higher really, I've been looking at the Classic 30 and stumbled on the Delta Blues. Would either of these amps be loud enough to gig (gymnasium w/horrible acoustics or outdoors)? Which is better for classic rock and features? Sorry so long...any help appreciated.
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Do you have the ability to mic your amps? I mean, 30 watts is pretty loud, but if you're going to have a large crowd there, you'd probably want to mic it.

As far as the differences go, the Delta Blues amps come in a 1 x 15 combo, but I've read there is a 2 x 10 combo as well. The Classic 30 is a 1 x 12 combo. I'm not sure what the differences may be as far as the amp chassis, but the speaker choices alone make for a lot of choices. I love 10's and I love 12's, so for me, it'd be between those two choices. I just don't have a need for a guitar amp with a 15" speaker. If the 2 x 10 Delta Blues combo is an option for you, I'd A/B it with the Classic 30 and see which you like better.

But...between a 1 x 15 Delta Blues and a 1 x 12 Classic 30...I'd go with the Classic 30.
 
I've got a Classic 20, which was discontinued a long time ago because the 30s weren't much more expensive and had reverb, so everyone was buying those. It's got a single 10" and it's both really versatile and also really pretty controllable. I've tested Classic 50s, too, but never a 30. I always figured that if I were giong to upgrade I'd do it by more than 10 watts.

Anyway, I haven't played through a Delta, but I will give serious props to the Classic 30. All of the Classic Series amps that I have heard are really pretty good. Not boutique, but definitely can do "dirty", "heavy", "clean", and "brown" among others.

Currently I play through a Fender CVR with 2X10s, and I have to say that I think the difference between the 10s and 12s has to be in the "meat". The 10s I think sound better if you've got a solid bass in the band, because they seem to respond better to the frequencies that an electric guitar really fires out. However, if you're looking for a bit more thump, the 12s will help a lot.

I honestly don't know about the 15. My guess is that it's probably harder to get it to break up than with 10s if that's your bag...probably stays pretty clean pretty loud.

Just my $0.02.
 
I'll throw a vote for the Classic 30. As far as volume goes, it has been hailed by many of its users as the loudest 30 watt amp ever made. DAMN it's loud! I was lucky enough to pick up a used matching Peavey 112E cabinet to go with it, loaded both of them with Celestion Greenbacks, threw a set of JJ tubes in the combo and it's my go-to amp if I need something to cover a wide range of good sounds.

As Brent said, it won't sound boutique, but it will get you a lot of really good, very usable sounds at a decent price. For edgier, harder stuff I'll always go for my Orange, but the Classic 30 covers a lot that my Orange just can't do. It also mixes very well with other amps for a blended sound.

If you like the sound of it, you really can't go wrong with it.
 
I wanted to add that even for the Classic 30, those sound clips on Peavey's site don't do it justice. You really just have to play one for yourself.
 
I guess I should have mentioned in my earlier post that I have a Classic 50 410, so any experience with the Peavey Classic series is largely based on that amp. But...I have played the Classic 30 in stores and such, and it's similar.

And I agree with sile2001, they do have really good, really usable tones...especially for the money. And you really do have to play one to appreciate it. A friend of mine still asks me everytime I see him if I'm ready to sell him my Classic 50 410.
 
The Peavey Classics are nice amps. I have a friend who says the Delta Blues is one of the best amps he's ever had. He's had some pretty cool amps, so it must be worth checking out.
 
I just don't think 30 is enough for outdoor gigs. The peavey classic 20 and 30 are louder than you'd think for the wattage, but they can't stay clean once you start to push the volume. If you turn them up all the way, they are good and loud, but they are also plenty distorted. I need to keep a little cleaner.
 
If you're in a venue where the 30 tube watts of the Classic 30 isn't enough, you should be miking it. At that point, you can have all the power in the world but because speakers are so friggin direction, the volume won't be properly distributed. Anyone right in front of you will get hearing damage and anyone just slightly off to the side won't be able to hear you.
 
Peavey Valveking 112

I just bought one with tax out the door = $394 - 50Watts all tube
 
The valve king is probably a useable combo, but you might as well budget in better tubes and speakers right off the bat. What is that, like $150 over that out the door price? For 5 and a half, there are some other contenders that come into range.
 
Slow down

cephus said:
The valve king is probably a useable combo, but you might as well budget in better tubes and speakers right off the bat. What is that, like $150 over that out the door price? For 5 and a half, there are some other contenders that come into range.
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What's wrong with the tubes and speaker? I know they are on par with other amps in that range. IMO - no change required.
 
I was reading reviews. People who bought them thought the preamp tubes were cheap and the speakers broke up. That's how they make the price point. So, I don't know.

I was digging on this tweed classic 50 with 212s that was 550 as a "B" stock at music 123. this is the $800 version.

http://www.music123.com/Peavey-Classic-R--50-212-i68573.music

Hey, I'd probably give the valveking a looksee. I have a couple classic 50s from the late 70s early 80s. One is a 410 and one is a 212. I've used the 212 for like 25 years. It's probably a piece of crap to most. I likes it, tho. It's only half tube (power amp). the valveking no doubt stomps it.

I would love to get a non-6L6, 50-watt, 2x12 combo amp to replace my combo amp. I really don't want to spend $800 right now on that.
 
I'm more a bassist than a guitarist, so I'm not obsessed with guitar gear.

But - I have a Delta Blues, which I chose over the Classic 30 because it comes with tremolo. On two occasions where I've had bands recording in my studio, the guitarists have chosen the Delta Blues over their own amps - and in one of those cases, his amp was a Classic 30!

I also have a Fender Concert Amp - the Rivera design with 4 10s. The Delta Blues develops more clean volume than the Concert.
 
Ok

cephus said:
I was reading reviews. People who bought them thought the preamp tubes were cheap and the speakers broke up. That's how they make the price point.
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Most of the reviews I read were idiot's saying stuff like "It's OK, but it doesn't compare to my Mesa full stack".

I take all reviews for what they are, someones opinion. I can tell you this, after playing Solid State amps my entire life, the Valveking is 1,000 times better.

As for the speaker, it sounds fine to my ears. If I ever get that picky about tone I will lay my guitar down and never play again.
 
gvarko said:
better.

As for the speaker, it sounds fine to my ears. If I ever get that picky about tone I will lay my guitar down and never play again.
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whoooaaaa, thats a serious statement. you may want to retract that. Your solid state years led you to where you are now. Now, your experiencing real tube tone, at some point you will want something that sounds better than that i would think. I've been there.

some day you may take the plunge into boutique, or higer end stuff, when you do, you'll do the "mcfly" thing to your forehead, like me.

Id hate to see you quit playing alltogether :)
 
If it sounds good to you and makes you play better, then that's great. No one else could tell the difference between a really good sounding amp and a great sounding amp anyway. There are too many other factors: PA, mics, mixer, effects, stupid sound men and engineers. The amp is only to make the player FEEL like he has the voice of Zuess. You won't really be able to buy it.
 
cephus said:
I just don't think 30 is enough for outdoor gigs. The peavey classic 20 and 30 are louder than you'd think for the wattage, but they can't stay clean once you start to push the volume. If you turn them up all the way, they are good and loud, but they are also plenty distorted. I need to keep a little cleaner.
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have you owned a Classic 30? I've played indoor and outdoor gigs with the 30 of over a 100 people un-mic'd easily. I probably had the amp on about just past 1/4? The 30 was as easily as loud as my bandmates peavey bandit (60-100 watts, can't rememebr.)
 
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