Peavey Classic 30 112 Guitar Combo Amp

I’ve had previous positive experiences with Classic 30’s and started looking into getting one for my collection but after some research I just wanted to say, if you’re looking for something you MIGHT want to do modifications on in the future, do your research first. These amps have a unique C shaped circuit board arrangement that makes disassembly and access for circuit changes and service more difficult than similar amps on the market. If you just want to use it as is, great. Go for it. But if you want something you can work on, fix a used one you bought not working, do mods, etc… do your research first and make sure this is something you’re OK with. It’s way more work and hassle than anything else you’re likely to be comparing it to when it comes to servicing.

The first thing I want to clear up from the start is, there’s a lot people writing reviews who don’t really know what they’re talking about when it comes to this amp. Yes they may have been playing for 50yrs but not on a level to make the right judgements on this amp. Take it from someone who has used the Peavey classic series on the road, in the studio, at home and just around town. I’ve used them on the road in Metal bands and Country bands… These Amps CAN DO HEAVEY METAL….. I’m so tired of seeing people who do not have a CLUE writing reviews, telling people that these amps cant go from country clean to EVH, Priest or even Iron Maiden heavy! They CAN and DO!
I have the original 1991 series when Peavey brought it back and used the Tweed covering for the first time. I was a touring country/rock musician back then and was looking for something with a good sound for the smaller venues. What I found was a Fantastic sound! Completely different than the older peavey amps. These gave me more control over my sound and more sounds from one amp. I can go from clean country finger picking to EVH type leads with the press of the boost pedal. I used 3 of these for larger shows and could attenuate one when recording. When the 50 4/10 came out I switched over night and used those in place of pushing these 30`s so hard night in and night out. Now days I’m playing in a 7 piece band with a horn section and at rehearsals I use a 30 then when doing shows, depending on the size, I go from one 50 to sometimes 2. I recently bought a 20 MH and use that when rehearsing with just the rhythm section. I found the 20mh to have a much brighter over all tone. These little 20mh’s are tone monsters with a vintage 30! I’ll be buying more of these bad boys! I’ve switched out the Blue Marvel speakers in some with either the Vintage 30`s or the Cream back H75`s. I’ve also done the tube swap in some as well. Swapping out the value-1 12ax7 with a 5751 if they have to much high crunch. Yes I tone them down a bit.. Who would of thought right?? Guess the guys who say these cant do metal haven’t turned it up enough to hear that lol… I recently had a friend come by my little home studio and bring his favorite 100w Silver Jubilee and we done a comparison. He was Shocked at how close I got to his sound with a 50 4/10. It is so close you would have to be a Marshall sound engineer to tell the difference!
The Bottom Line on these amps, with the right person who has the patience and ear for sounds and a few pedals, VERY few, these amps will cover almost any sound you could ever want or need…. If you are on the fence, BUY THIS AMP! You will Never Regret it. From Johnny Cash to Judas Priest, you will have the sound you need!
In the picture you will see a 20MH sitting on one of my 1991-1992 30`s

You can hear me playing these amps by going to my bands Facebook page. Its Sell Out. I believe in most the videos I’m using a 20mh and a 30 on stage. Go listen to the sounds I get and decide if they’re right for you.

First, the Amazon bullet points are very, very wrong. This is NOT made in the USA, it’s made in China. I spoke with the seller, Precision Audio, after I received the amp and they were GREAT. I’m keeping the amp and I give them five stars for customer support.

I’ve reported this to Amazon, the problem is on their side. Automation and databases are great until they’re not.

One more issue with Amazon, they lump different model amps ratings together. They did that here, most of the reviews are not for the Classic 30.

That’s the bad, the good? The amp is built like a tank, it’s gorgeous if you like that tweed look, it’s got tone for days, and it’s loud. I have a Marshall TSL 122, a Mesa Rectifier, and a Mesa Express 5:50+ and they’re easier to tame than this 30 watter. Getting “bedroom” volume may not be possible without using some pedals.

That’s fine by me, this is an affordable gigging amp, I bought it to play, I can get clean country, crunchy southern rock, hard rock, and pretty close to metal tones without a lot of trial and error. The reverb is sweet.

It reacts very well to the volume/tone controls on my guitars (Single coil Fender Strat/Tele’s, HB’s on Les Pauls, P-90’s, and some EMG active PUP’s).

I haven’t recorded with it yet, but you get what you give recording a guitar amp, and I haven’t gigged it yet, but based on years (decades) of experience, I’m not going to get the volume much past 4 even with a thunder-god drummer.

One con, no foot switch. I ordered one separately, but I love the amp, made in China or not, it’s a keeper.

Awesome!