30 year old Peavey Classic recap/retube

[Space1999]

So I have had a Peavey Classic 50 that I had out on loan to my writing partner and he finally settled on a Fender Amp that he likes, so my amp is coming home!

It’s been slowly losing volume especially on the overdrive channel. Random pops and clicks as well.

I found a guy on Reverb that sells re-cap kits for the Peavey Classic 50 from my generation and I bought it. It was 7 caps. It had very detailed instructions and tips.

II also bought some upscale JJ tubes to re-tube it after not being entirely happy with the longevity of the basic JJs.

I am going to re-cap and re-tube the amp this Saturday and then she is coming home.
I’m pretty stocked to have her back. It was always a great sounding amp.

Pat

 

[Raiyn]

II also bought some upscale JJ tubes to re-tube it

What makes them "upscale" ?

 

[Noodling Guitars]

So I have had a Peavey Classic 50 that I had out on loan to my writing partner and he finally settled on a Fender Amp that he likes, so my amp is coming home!

It’s been slowly losing volume especially on the overdrive channel. Random pops and clicks as well.

I found a guy on Reverb that sells re-cap kits for the Peavey Classic 50 from my generation and I bought it. It was 7 caps. It had very detailed instructions and tips.

II also bought some upscale JJ tubes to re-tube it after not being entirely happy with the longevity of the basic JJs.

I am going to re-cap and re-tube the amp this Saturday and then she is coming home.
I’m pretty stocked to have her back. It was always a great sounding amp.

Pat

Awesome!!! Peavey stuff is pretty good quality for what they charged back in the day. I don't have it anymore, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't replace the references to "Peavey Classic 50" with my "Crate Blue Voodoo" for reliability (and about the same price range). Loved that amp, but it broke down on me one too many times in its short time with me.

 

[Space1999]

What makes them "upscale" ?

Raiyn,

They are Apex matched JJ Tesla brand tubes.

No real fairy dust or anything like that. Although made on the same Phillips equipment in Slovakia, JJ Tesla’s are not completely the same as the original NOS Tesla tubes.

It was the testimonials of buyers describing the tubes as less microphonic with a nice blend of highs, mids and lows in a medium gain tube that made me want to buy them.

That and the fact that I am not going to spend large amounts of cash to re-tube this amp with Mullard’s or something similar.

I thought it was a nice compromise.

Pat

 

[Raiyn]

That and the fact that I am not going to spend large amounts of cash to re-tube this amp with Mullard’s or something similar.

Yeah. I wouldn't be giving the Russians any money either.

I'll be sticking to solid state.

 

[Space1999]

So we opened up the amp and disassembled it taking lots of pictures and notes.

The circuit boards were dusty and a little dirty.
Nothing isopropyl and some Kim wipes wouldn’t handle.

I used de-oxit to clean all the wire and ribbon connections and the top panel pots.

Then we took out our capacitor reader and I checked all the caps.

They read like they were brand new!

That was lucky because the guy who sold me the capacitor kit sent a kit for a Classic 30 and they were incompatible with the Classic 50.

So we re-tubed the amp and put it back together.
It roared! And sounded so sweet!

Apparently all the intermittent problems and the volume dip were caused by nothing but dirty connections.

Well I am happy and alls well that ends well.
I love the tone and depth of this amp.

I could do without the fan noise but it’s a tube amp.

Pat

 

[AJ6stringsting]

What makes them "upscale" ?

Tubes make a difference, in terms of gain structure, headroom and other minor details.
The way I see it this shapes tone ;
1. Pickups
2. Caps in the guitar .
3. Pots in the guitar .
4. Quality of the cable .
5. Buffer .
6. Pedalboard .
7. Eq .
8. Amps components .
9. Tubes .
10. Speakers .

As for the topic the OP posted .
Peavey made some great tube amps , solid state amps, speakers, guitars, some rack gear, PA and other great goodies .
I have a JSX and Triple X .... great amps and can stand up to any great anp out there , held in high esteem.

Lately, I've notice people are esteem. Peavey, Carvin, Bugera and other amps their lo g over due respect.
Enjoy your amp !!!!

 

[Raiyn]

Speaker should be at the top of your list - everything else runs through it.

The difference pots and caps in a guitar make is only due to their value and tolerance to that value. Everything else relating to them is snake oil and confirmation bias.

Tubes are not EQ

 

[Space1999]

In hindsight I see that solid state amps and tube amps both have their ups and downs and both have an unique sound.

I am just using the Peavey Classic 50 and the Roland JC-120 now and I think they both are great ambassadors for their kind.

I think the best sound for this guitarist is a mix between the two.

At the end of my pedal board I have always had a Radial Bigshot ABY and I like to run two amplifiers from it.

These two amps are a great pairing and both are pedal board friendly. So when it comes time to record I can pick the right amp for the job or record both of them.

As for live, I am leaning towards the reliability of the solid state JC-120. We shall see.

Pat