Getting a clean sound from a Peavey Classic 30

electrogrimey · 28-09-2010 07:37PM #1

Recently bought a second hand Peavey Classic 30, this type, and I've been struggling to get a fully clean sound from it. This isn't much of a problem for me, because I like a bit of crunch, and bought it for that reason, but I just find it strange that no matter how much I play with the channels and settings, there's no completely clean sound.

Anyone have any advice?

damonjewel · 28-09-2010 09:07PM

electrogrimey wrote: »

Recently bought a second hand Peavey Classic 30, this type, and I've been struggling to get a fully clean sound from it. This isn't much of a problem for me, because I like a bit of crunch, and bought it for that reason, but I just find it strange that no matter how much I play with the channels and settings, there's no completely clean sound.

Anyone have any advice?

Just an idea, but could the pickups be too hot for the amp? Maybe bring the volume down on your guitar, or lower the pickups on the guitar so there is not too much drive from the strings.

electrogrimey · 28-09-2010 10:13PM

damonjewel wrote: »

Just an idea, but could the pickups be too hot for the amp? Maybe bring the volume down on your guitar, or lower the pickups on the guitar so there is not too much drive from the strings.

Never thought of it being to do with the guitar actually...that's an idea. It's an Eric Clapton Signature Blackie, with the Noiseless pickups, and they're pretty low. I normally keep the volume at 10 so it doesn't shoot up during a gig, but I'll try turning the amp up and the guitar down and see if that helps alright.

balducci · 29-09-2010 09:51PM

Can you adjust the bias or is it fixed? If you can your power tubes could be biased really cold. Could even be the type of 12ax7s you have in the preamp section. Did you re-tube it? any idea how old the tubes are?

Dord · 29-09-2010 10:22PM

The Classic 30 has a fixed bias, so no luck there unless you want to have it modded for an adjustable bias. Are you using any pedals with it or plugged directly in?

electrogrimey · 30-09-2010 04:09AM

Dord wrote: »

The Classic 30 has a fixed bias, so no luck there unless you want to have it modded for an adjustable bias. Are you using any pedals with it or plugged directly in?

Tu-3, Crybaby, DD7, and SD-1. I'd be surprised if it was anything to do with them though, because a cable problem or whatever shouldn't result in a slightly crunchy sound...

As for the tubes, I got the amp second hand, and apparently it was only a few months old, and rarely used, so there shouldn't be much ware and tear involved. I don't think it's a problem, I'm wondering more about settings, and if the 30 normally sounds quite crunchy on clean anyway?

Dord · 30-09-2010 01:08PM

electrogrimey wrote: »

Tu-3, Crybaby, DD7, and SD-1. I'd be surprised if it was anything to do with them though, because a cable problem or whatever shouldn't result in a slightly crunchy sound...

As for the tubes, I got the amp second hand, and apparently it was only a few months old, and rarely used, so there shouldn't be much ware and tear involved. I don't think it's a problem, I'm wondering more about settings, and if the 30 normally sounds quite crunchy on clean anyway?

Ok, I'm not trying to be smart or anything but have you tried running the guitar directly into the amp to confirm if the pedals are a problem?

If the sound is ok then, put one pedal back in at a time.

electrogrimey · 30-09-2010 03:01PM

Dord wrote: »

Ok, I'm not trying to be smart or anything but have you tried running the guitar directly into the amp to confirm if the pedals are a problem?

If the sound is ok then, put one pedal back in at a time.

I've played gigs with no pedals and it's the same thing - using a gold tipped €30 lead too, so there shouldn't be any problem there either.

balducci · 30-09-2010 08:00PM

http://www.scribd.com/doc/10913350/Peavey-Classic-30-Amp-Manual

here's the manual if you don't have one. there doesn't seem to be a 'clean' suggestion. I reckon roll off your guitar volume a bit and keep both the pre and post gain controls to a minimum. Funnily I saw some reviews saying the amp is great for clean jazz tones. Maybe it's time for a new set of tubes.

It's definitely not the guitar as it's single coils your using - humbuckers could explain the problem but not single coils - although.... do you have them set really close to the strings? too close will give you a dirty signal. Fender's website have suggested heights in their setups section

Dord · 30-09-2010 08:41PM

electrogrimey wrote: »

I've played gigs with no pedals and it's the same thing - using a gold tipped €30 lead too, so there shouldn't be any problem there either.

The gold tipped lead wouldn't make any difference.

The only thing I will say is that you could roll back the volume on your guitar to "clean up" the sound. It's a dirty sounding amp, not an amp known for it's crystal clean sound.

electrogrimey · 01-10-2010 12:53AM

Oh I know it's a dirty sounding amp, that's why I bought it, just sometimes it seems dirtier than it should be, and that I sometimes can get from it.

Keeping the guitar volume down is something I'll definitely try, should have though of that.

Am I right in saying that (in layman's terms) pre is the gain, and post is the volume? Never fully understood them.

Thanks for the manual link, got it second hand so I didn't get a manual.

Bootsy. · 14-10-2010 01:56AM

I have one of these too and have the same problem.

I found that if you keep the 'pre' down really low and just turn the 'post' up it helps (that could actually be the other way around, I can't remember right now!!)

I looked into this before and found some info about changing particular tubes that can give it more headroom. I never did anything about it though!

I think it was here: http://www.blueguitar.org/new/articles/blue_gtr/amps/peavey/c30_origmod.pdf

Lots of other good info there too.

Getting a clean sound from a Peavey Classic 30

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