Jehosaphat
479 posts
Apr 25, 2013
10:58 PM
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"Made in 1976 this is the pre cursor to Peavey's 'Classic' range.
Featuring 100 watts of 6L6 valve power this amp interestingly came out designed with a transistor preamp.
Has a sparklingly clean sound and nice reverb, it will also distort and achieve vox-like overdriven tones.
In fair condition for its vintage, it has some small surface rust on top panel, and light scuffing on the tweed.
Works well at present - it was serviced recently by MW amps in Wellington. "
Thats the blurb given by the seller.
I've googled the amp but there is a bit of confusion as to which amp it is exactly.
I am interested in buying it because it sounds like a powerful tube amp and the buy now price is an unbelieveably low one(forNZ)400$
I don't mind if it's clean sounding 'cos i've got pedals for dirt.
Does anyone here have any experience,knowledge of this old beauty?
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HawkeyeKane
1615 posts
Apr 26, 2013
7:18 AM
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Despite its solid state preamp, the design of the old Vintage series could be considered by some to be superior to the current Classic series, solely because of the fold-over circuit board now used on the Classics. Believe you me, amp technicians despise Peavey Classics these days.
I've never played through one, but as much as I love Peavey stuff, I couldn't even take a guess as to how it might sound with harp. It was one of Peavey's first successful production tube amps, and it's taken them a while to get their amps up-to-snuff compared to Fender and Marshall.
I CAN tell you from experience with my own Alamo Fury (which has solid state preamp and rectifier, but tube output like the Vintage), that solid state preamp can sometimes be lacking in good tone for harp.
But I've read good things from guitarists about them. Heck, Pete Townshend actually used a Vintage 4X10 in the studio while recording "Rough Mix" and "Face Dances".
Peavey still has the basic manual on file.
http://www.peavey.com/assets/literature/manuals/vintage.pdf
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Apr 26, 2013 7:44 AM
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Rick Davis
1664 posts
Apr 26, 2013
7:25 AM
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No, the amp will be a feedback nightmare. You cannot "tube it down" because there are no preamp tubes.
I know it is tempting but you should keep looking. This looks like a long project that ends up being useless for harp. I've been down that road a time or two...
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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
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HawkeyeKane
1617 posts
Apr 26, 2013
7:30 AM
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"You cannot "tube it down" because there are no preamp tubes."
Actually, one could "tube it down" with the help of a simple tube mic preamp. Swap out the usual 12AX7 that comes in those with a 5751 or 12AY7, and adjust the amp's gain settings accordingly. Not an orthodox approach, I know. But doable.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Rick Davis
1665 posts
Apr 26, 2013
9:31 AM
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Tim, the amp will still be a high gain beast. Putting pedals in front of it won't change that. Tube preamps are a good way warm up your tone, but they are not miracle workers. If it were me I would focus on a different amp for a project, and not throw good money after bad by adding pedals to a bad amp. It will still be a bad amp. As I say, I have made these mistakes in the past. I learned, and I don't make them any more.
I think Jehosaphat would spend a lot less time and money (and stress) getting where he wants if he starts his project with a better candidate. This amp will be a big frustration.
Tim, I understand you have an affection for Peavey amps, but I do not share it for this particular amp.
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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
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HawkeyeKane
1620 posts
Apr 26, 2013
10:56 AM
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"Tim, I understand you have an affection for Peavey amps, but I do not share it for this particular amp."
Well truth be told I have no love for it either. It'd be an interesting arsenal-piece for a guitarist, but as you said, for a harp player this amp would probably wind up being a frustration. I was only stating that the tube preamp route was a way to possibly alter the gain structure of it. I probably wouldn't try to buy it either.
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Hawkeye Kane
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