Flipped the Classic 20 and Found a Classic 30

I loved the Peavey Classic 20! I loved it so much, I wanted to get the bigger version.  So I flipped it on Ebay and waited for just the right deal for a Peavey Classic 30.  The Peavey Classic 20 is a great grab and go tube amp with 15 watts.  It has wonderful blues tone and it is plenty loud for its size.  However, I was looking for an amp that had great in-home volume levels but also the potential for gigging, able to keep up with a bassist and drummer without worrying about volume or tone.  The Classic 20 has great features-- such as an extension jack for a speaker cab and an input for headphones.  The accessibility of the tubes is just incredibly convenient.  However, the speaker is a 10" and that seems to limit the tonal quality, giving it a slightly nasal sound or what others term "boxy."

I love its tweed vibe and wish I could have all of 'em, but alas, I needed to flip it in order to get the amp of my dreams.  I found that amp, which arrived last night.  After saving and selling the Peavey Classic 20,  I now have the ultimate tube amp.  I would love to have had a tweed version again, but I was fine with the black tolex, since I am more interested in the sound and playability than the appearance. 

My sons and I have played it some already.  The clean channel is just that, full, warm and clean tones enhanced by the nice reverb.  The distortion channel is a great overdrive that will pan the range of dirty blues to rockin' metal.  I love the fullness of the 12 inch Blue Marvel Speaker.  The footswitch that came with it changes channels and turns on and off the reverb.  Also, like the Classic 20, the Peavey Classic 30 has a boost switch for going into a higher wattage output in the midrange in order to amplify a lead solo.  I am disappointed that the footswitch doesn't have a third button to turn this function on and off.  So far, I have read that in order to make that happen the amp would need to be modified in its circutry, something I am not willing to pursue at this point.

I am excited about the versatility this amp gives me to play with a combo or at church.  Truly a gig-worthy rig and the finest sounding tube amp I have played yet.  Four EL84's and three 12AX7's (appear to be Sovkek and JJ's, respectively) give this a true 30 watts of power, plenty for my purposes as a church guitarist who doubles as a blues musician on weekdays.  Check out my photos below and comment to give me your feedback, questions or ideas.  Thanks!  -- Guitar Man