Conference napalm::guitar

    
    	Peavey's and practice tapes at Acton Music.  The tapes are just
    	what you're looking for.
    
    	Are you the Bob Vezina from Westfield ??  Golf League?
    
    	Tom
    

    RE: Peavey classics
    
    The current Peavey Classic series is a tube-based design that comes
    in a 2 x 12" (not 2 x 15") and a 4 x 10" combo (amp and speakers in
    a single box) configuration.  A head only (no speakers, just the
    amp) version is available with various speaker cabinets.  All versions
    have a psuedo-tweed look that emulates late '50s Fender amps  (inspired
    by the '59 Fender Bassman 4 x 10).
    
    The Peavey Classic cranks out about 50 watts using both a tube preamp
    and power amp.   It's a master volume type layout (unlike most retro
    amps), so you can crank the preamps to distortion, without creating
    massive amounts of volume.  It has reverb, but I think it uses solid
    state combonents in the reverb circuitry (this only offends the 
    strongest of tube purists).
    
    Preamp tubes are your standard 12AX7 tubes.  The power amp uses four...
    I forget the number -- same tube as in a VOX AC30, Peavey Bravo,
    or Mesa Boogie .22 amps.  FWIW, this is a tad bit unusual, since most
    amps of its type use two 6L6s  (not bad, just differnt).
    
    IMHO, it's a great amp for the money.
    
    Note: 
    Peavey has marketed at least four different lines of amps under the
    "Classic" moniker.  Used Peavey classics could be radically different
    amps.
    
    Jim

    I second the endorsement.  It's hard to do better than the new PV
    Classics for a blues amp.
    
    I wish my dad had scoped out cool amps for me!

    Peavey also recently came out with a Classic 20: 20 watts into a single
    10" speaker.  It doesn't have channel switching, and I don't know about
    reverb.  They may also offer a 10 watt version.  Check the Peavey note, 
    number 1732.
    
    Dave

    Agreed.  I tried one at a local place not too long ago - this
    one was a head with 4x10 and 2x12 (15?) cabs.  It ripped for  
    that Stevie Ray Vaughn type stuff...
    
    jc

Thanks for all the comments.

I got hold of the Jam Trax for Blues yesterday at Acton Music, my son really
likes it; to the tune of 12:30 last night learning the scales.

The guy at A. M. was pretty helpful regarding the Peavy Classic and gave me 
the price quote to date $550. without any trade in. We will probably pursue
a used model first, but if that doesn't work out there is alway new. It's his
money.

Bob.

    Bob,
    
    Used PV Classics are going to be hard to come by...  They've only been 
    available for a year or so.
    
    jc

    I'm in the market for a new amp. I was sold on this new Fender Blues
    Deluxe (not to be confused with the "Deluxe") until yesterday. I was
    down at the local and was told that Fender had some probs with them. 
    Cuttting out, bad channel switching and some other things. Anyways, now
    i'm a little worried about my would be amp, so i started looking for
    something similar sounding in the same $ range ($600 Can.). I quickly 
    stumbled across one of PV's Delta Blues amps.--Cool! 30 watts,1x15 sp.,
    swichable channels,most excellent drive channel.Any comments on this
    thing???
    
    -kev

    Highly recommend checking out the Marshall JTM30 and what-not.  
    I was diddling with one the other day at ProJ..Err, ProSound and
    it wa s ahot little combo!
    
    Also (FWIW), I was perusing the latest Carvin Catalog and they had
    several all-toob combos (tweed covered, chicken-headed, naturally), 
    as well as a rackmounted 50wpc all-toob power amp.
    
    jc

    Can't justify $850 + tx for that little Marshall. I'm a bit of a blues
    freak, so that clean Fender sound is very much to my liking.

    Regarding the saleman's claim that Fender amps have reliability
    problems, I ask the following questions:
    
    	Does he have the Fender franchise?
    
    	Does he have the Peavey franchise?
    
    	If the answers are no,yes  I rest my case. I have talked to a
    number of people that have worked in various music stores and they
    told me how Peavey operates. They only give a franchise to a major
    dealer that can move volume. The dealer must place a huge initial
    order and then must sell a certain amount each year in order to 
    keep the franchise. As a result, Peavey dealers will steer people
    towards Peavey as a general rule of thumb, so they can meet their
    quota. Peavey sets up their pricing structure so that the dealer has
    a substantial markup. This give dealers the incentive to maintain
    the Peavey franchise and steer people to Peavey as much as possible.
    
    	Visit any Peavey dealer. Ask them if they carry Fender guitars
    and amps, and they will steer you to Peavey. Ask them if they carry
    Mackie mixing boards and they will steer you to Peavey. Ask if they
    sell Shure mics, and they steer you to Peavey. Crown amp? No no,
    you want Peavey.
    
    	I'm not slamming Peavey gear. I own a bit of it myself and it
    is well made, and a good bang for the buck. I don't like high-
    pressure salemen and I despise salemen that  lie, or misrepresent
    the truth to get you to buy the product they want to sell. You
    can tell they're lying because their lips move!
    
    	I have not heard of ANY problems with Fender gear. Most problems
    with tube amps can be attributed to tubes. There is always the chance 
    of getting bad tubes in a tube amp from any manufacturer including 
    the best of the bunch.
    
	Mark        

    Thanks for the reply mark. Regarding the Dealer,It's a very reputable
    one (Steve's to be exact) and it deals with both the PV and FNDR.
    Besides that i know all the kats at the store quite well and they
    wouldn't sh*t me. Decisions decisions. Anybody own one???
    
    -k 

    RE: 2759.11	  -   I agree 100% with this.
    
     One thing, do your best to have these amps set up next to each other
    and A/B them side by side. Let your ears choose the amp to buy. I've
    found in the past that amps usually sound pretty good by themselves,
    but by placing them side by side with another amp sometimes confirms
    why you want one amp over another...  then there are other times that
    your first choice is blown away by the second amp. I personally know
    alot of guys using the Blues Deluxe amps and they haven't had any
    problems with them. Hmmmmmm...  makes ya wonder what the real scoop is.
    I think we all understand your caution, because we'd all have second
    thoughts...  especially when semi-serious money is involved.
    
    Good luck,
    		Fred (who owns both Fender *and* Peavey amps)

    My Blues Deluxe has been problem free.  I've heard nothing to indicate 
    anyone else has experienced any unusual problems.  Pick the one that 
    sounds best.  You may even want to A/B more than one of each -- amps are
    funny beasts.
    
    When I bought mine, I tried both of the ones the store had on 
    display (one in tweed, one in cream tolex).  The cream one sounded
    better.  I told them I wanted the cream one, and they went to get
    me one out of their back room...  I said, "No-- I want *that* cream
    one."   Maybe if I switched the tubes from one amp to the other,
    the tweed one would have sounded better, but maybe not.
    
    I also tried out the 50 watt Peavey Classic (on a number of occasions), 
    but liked the Fender better.  
    
    FWIW, I've owned a Peavey amp before and it was very reliable.  I've
    also owned a number of Fenders, all of which have been almost trouble
    free.
    
    Jim

    
    How bloody "lemony" can a tube amp get?  Pick the one that
    sounds the best to _you_.
    
    Personally, I think Steve's are a bunch of wanks. I wouldn't
    buy nose hair from them anyway, after the one and only
    time I went in their store... I was bass shopping for the
    top-of-the-line stuff, and had my checkbook ready, but
    after 30 minutes in the store left with no interest in ever
    going back. I had some little muppet geek following me
    around who wouldn't let me take stuff off the rack myself,
    and told me how I had to hold the bass, and what I had
    to plug it into, etc. etc. Actually, when I left, I
    suggested he clamp his labia on me and exhale, if ya
    know what I mean...
    
    -b

    re: .15
    
    Why would you buy nose hair from anyone??
    

    
    	And you went in their store?
    
    	Why didn't you go before you left the house?
    

    I think the Fender Blues Deluxe is 40-50 watts with 2 12" speakers.
    You mentioned a Peavey amp with 30 watts/1 x 15" speaker.
    You should be comparing apples with apples. Peavey has a full line
    of tweed amps that closely mirror Fender's offering. Find a Peavey
    model that has 40-50 watts with 2 12" speakers, and then compare
    to the Fender Blues Deluxe.
    
    I haven't seen too many music stores that had both a Fender and
    Peavey franchise under one roof. Peavey dealers will have *used*
    Fender gear, and Fender dealers will have *used* Peavey gear, but
    I wouldn't expect one store to have a selection of new gear from
    both companies. If Steve's has both franchises and stocks new gear
    from both companies, then Steves is a very unique store in deed.
    
    Your mileage may vary!
    
    Mark

    RE: Note 2759.18
    
    Daddy's (DJM) in Nashua, NH has both new Peavey and new Fender amps
    in stock. My suggestion would be to take the trip if it's a reasonable
    driving distance and check out everything you can in the price range
    you plan on. The Peavey 2x12" sounds like the Classic 50 tweed. I
    however believe the author is looking at the single 12" Fender Blues
    Deluxe and not the Fender Blues Deville (which is offered in both
    4x10 or 2x12 configurations). Just my guess. If I'm confusing the
    issue, or completely incorrect here I apologize. 
    
    Personally...
    I like the single 12" Fender (tweed) Blues Deluxe actually. It has
    more sparkle in it's tone without sounding brittle to my ears. The
    Peavey has a more compressed sound by comparison. BTW, you'll never
    hear *me* say that compression is a bad thing, HOWEVER if it's not
    your thing then check out the Fender amps. They seem to have more
    sparkle in their tone. 
    
    If you're playing with a LOUD band...  you may want to look at something 
    with more "clean" power so you don't get lost in the mix.
    
    As always, it's just my opinion and your mileage may vary.
    
    
    Rock on,
    	     Fred

    RE: Original noter looking at the Fender Blues Deluxe (KAO)
    
    Node POLAR? OK...   Kanata, Canada is alittle far from Nashua...
    
    
    Never mind....     8-}

    Well, now I'm totally confused! I though Fender offered the following
    models of Tube amps:
    
    	65 Deluxe Reverb reissue - 2 6V6 output tubes producing 22 watts 
    	1 12" speaker - available in black or cream colored tolex.
    
    	Blues Deluxe - 2 6L6 output tubes producing 40 watts. 2 12"
    	speakers. Tweed covered cabinet with top-mounted chassis.
    
    	Blues Deville - 2 6L6 output tubes producing 60 watts. 4 10"
    	speakers. Tweed covered cabinet with top-mounted chassis.
    	
        Although both the Blues Deluxe and Blues Deville both use the
    	same 6L6 output tubes, they use differant output transformers 
    	and a differant speaker load, hence the differance in output
    	power. The Blues Deluxe probably has a 4 ohm output, while
    	the Blues Deville has a 2 ohm output. 
    
	There is some confusion due to 2 things. The first thing is 
    	Fender's product proliferation, which seems endless, and the
    	fact that Peavey has tried to out-tweed Fender. Peavey has
    	more tweed amp models than anyone with an endless array of
    	available speaker options, including separate cab enclosures
    	that can be used in a stack or as an extension cab. Fender and
    	Peavey have been matching each other blow for blow for many
    	years. Peavey has it's "Monitor" magazine/catalog, and Fender
    	has "Frontline" which closely mirrors "Monitor". No wonder
    	people get confused.
    
    	What I've been saying is that the original noter should compare
    	the Fender Blues Deluxe (40 watts, 2x12) with a Peavey model
    	that has comparable power and speakers. He mentioned a 30 watt
    	model with 1x15" speaker. That's apples and oranges.
    
    	Mark

    The Blues Deluxe is 1x12", 40 watts into 8 ohms
    
    The Blues DeVille is available in either 2x12 or 4x10 configurations,
    60 watts into 8 ohms.
    
    Both use a pair of 6L6s and have similar preamp sections; the DeVille
    offers a few more control options and an extra external jack.
    

    RE: .21
    
    The Blues Deluxe is 40 Watts into 1x12 (I have one, so I'm sure)
    
    The Blues Deville is 60 Watts into 2x12 or 4x10.
    
    So you're only partially confused, not totally...
    
    Jim

    
    	It kinda sucks to have a 4-10 DeVille and live in a condo...
    
    	Why wasn't there a SweatJam this year?!*!&%^$#
    
    

    I would like to say that it's defenitly 1x12, 40 w (Fender Blues
    Deluxe). Just to clear up some confusion that i've started. The PV is
    1x15, 30 w, both nice amps. Will have to do the A_B switch test for
    sure. 
    
    =kev