Peavey classic 30 tube tamer

[Deleted]

I just bought yet another Peavey classic 30 1 12 guitar amp. These older 30's need a tube tamer on them. When I bought this amp, I didn't think I would have any problems in find a tube tamer for it. Boy was I wrong. Peavey told me they no longer carry this part.
So I wen on eBay just find one over priced that someone makes.
I then went into (I can make one myself) mode. So that is what I did. I feel the way I did it is simple and it doesn't take that long to make it. So I decided to share how I mad a tube tamer. This would also work on the Delta blues amp.

Here is the amp.



The tube tamer.


another view


Went to Home Depot. Bought the parts I needed.
List of parts; angle aluminum, some screws. I also used ATV for making gaskets for cars. It is rated at 400 degrees. So it is safe to use. Already had some on hand. also had to buy some angle brackets.

I cut the angle aluminum to size. I then drilled holes for the angle brackets. (Note next time I will use brackets with 4 inline holes)
Once I rechecked for fit I then had to cut about 1/4" off of the angle aluminum so the it would not hit the tubes. Once I did that I put a good bead of the ATV on to the bracket.Let it dry over night.

Next all I had to do was mark where the holes had to be drilled for mounting. Once mounted, I had to take it for a test run. Wow!!! It worked!!!! So for less than 12 dollars and a little bit of time, I feel I came up with a simple way to fix the Classic 30 tube rattle.

So you have one or know someone that has one and needs a simple way to fix. Here it is.

Hope this helps someone!

EB

[GuitarAttack Forum]

That is a cool project! Way to solve a problem!

John

[dnic]

Cool Eddie, so what are the symptoms of tube rattle? I just got an old Fender tube amp that the volume fads on and had some random popping. I played it for one service then changed it out back to my Peavey. The tone is amazing but the thing must weigh 20 pds more than the Peavey.

[Deleted]

I have had tube rattle now on Peavey and Fender amps. But tube rattle is just that. A rattle noise coming from the amp. It's the power tubes that do this most of the time.
On my Classic 30 you can hear the rattle come through the guitar being played. On mine it was coming through the speaker. Because of all the tube amps I have had, I check to make sure that the tubes are all the way into the sockets.

On your amp, it sounds like it could be bad power tubes, or the solder at the tube socket has cracked. Pretty common on both Peavey and Fender tube amps. I think what happens is. If a tube amp has some age on it, and owners that change out the tubes, some are not careful in changing them out and wind up cracking the solder on the tube sockets.

I look for these kind of amps, for one I can get them cheap, and two it's not a hard fix. My last classic 30 I pretty much had to re-solder every joint in it. But once I was done it was a great sounding amp. Should have never sold it.
this one that I just got has a bad reverb tank in it. So I just ordered a new for it.

Yes one of the reasons I don't like Fender amps is because the are so heavy. My Classic 50 with the 4 10's in was a lot liter than my Fender Twin reverb I had. I like both of them amps.

I have a Fender " Twin amp" Pro now. It's a lot like the Fender twin reverb but with a distortion channel. But it comes in at 77 pounds. I just spent a lot of money fixing her up. The amp has 12 tubes. Wound up spending close to 200 dollars just on tubes.
The thing I don't like about the amp is, you have to have the foot switch to make the trimelo work. So that cost me another 80 dollars for a Fender foot switch.
I have tried to sell the amp, but love the way it sounds, I keep taking the add down. I just can't move it. I have to have someone move it for me. (Do to my neck and pain)

But I love tube amps, they are a little bit high maintenance, and some can give you a lot of guff. But They are so cool when it come to making a great sound. All though my Rolland Jazz 120 is pretty good. (non tube) I bought it new in 1985. Still sounds great!

Dane, the only other thing with the fading in and the popping it could be is a bad Cap. Bad caps are easy to find. I done a few in the past. They are not hard to replace. Just have to have the right value of caps. But most of the time I look at this last. Chances are if the tubes in a tube amp have not been changed in a long while, Then it's a pretty sure bet they need to be replaced.

In replacing tubes, I have learned to buy matched sets, and I wind up replacing them all.
I know there are some that like to change tubes and mix them up to get that (Tone) they want. But I like to keep things simple. It seems to work out better that way.
EB

[dnic]

Thanks for your reply Eddie, I was thinking that it was probably tubes but my Peavey has been very trouble free so I'm not used to what bad tubes sound like. The foot switch wire on this one is broken so that would explain why the tremolo is not working. Lastly this one has a 15" speaker and a ridiculously full sound. Need to get some tubes and clean it up, will be a great amp.

[Deleted]

I like the 1 15 sound. One reason I like the Peavy Delta Blues amps with the 1 15 in it. They have a sound all to their own.

Amplified parts is a good place to start you look for the tubes, also tube depot is another one. There a are a few on eBay as well.

What tubes are in the Fender amp? I can check to see if I have any on hand. They won't be new. But maybe are still good ones. I have a friend here that can test them out for me to make sure. I have a bunch I need him to test anyway.

One thing I have learned in tubes is that the Groove Tubes (New ones) are not as good as they use to be. I have read that they don't last as long as they once did. JJ's is a fairly good all around tube and won't brake the bank buying them. TAD tubes are getting up to the higher end tubes. Will cost more than the JJ's, There is one other brand but I can't remember the name of them but they are way expensive. Stovek is another one that I hear or read are fairly good as well.

OK on brand new tubes... Most of them need a brake in for around 100hr's. That is when a tube starts to really come into their own. Almost like buying a new speaker. I am still braking in the new tubes I bought for my Fender amp. But each time I play on it the sound gets' better and better... Yes you can hear the difference as time goes on.

EB

[dnic]

Thanks for the info Eddie, that's helps a lot. It will be a while before I get to this, both cash and time. I'm leaving foe Colorado anytime and will be gone for a week. So I'm shutting my brain off.

[Deleted]

HA! Good luck with shutting the brain off.

I found out today, that this amp does not have a bad reverb in it. I took it out of the bag to look at it. Someone had already but in a new one, but they had it the input going to the out put. so I switched the wires around and now the reverb works like a dream.
Some people. Bet this was one of the reasons he sold it to me so cheap. Good for me.


I got a line on another one, that is being sold super cheap. It's about an hour away from me. But as soon the guy gives me his address and a time, thinking of going there to get it. This one in the tweed (gold/brown) They also have a Fender deluxe in orange I might be interested in as well.

I know now I am hooked on amps. LOL!
EB

[dnic]

Maybe you should find a lighter addiction.

Should also add that I have no trouble shutting off my brain.

[Deleted]

I'm thinking of how I could make an amp that is in the 2 to 5 pound range, and still have all the sound of a big 77 pound amp. HA!

Boy not me, my brain is always on. My wife now can shut hers off.
EB

[Deleted]

got the new Reverb tank in today. I installed it, and WOW!!! It is a huge difference. If you are thinking of changing the reverb on your amp, you really need to get one of these made by MOD. Now I'm thinking of changing over to MOD on all my amps! LOL!
EB

[hoz]

I've been considering the stand alone tube reverb kit from MOD. Since none of my amp are reverb models. It would be nice to have a plug in unit.

My last reverb amp, Blues Junior, I traded for a j-25 because it was to new, haha. But now I am reverbless, sad.

[Deleted]

HA! HA! Yes I have seen the reverb kits. I thought of getting one too. I pass up on some great amps because they don't have reverb in them.
I really don't like most of the reverb pedals.
EB

[dnic]

The tank in my Peavey has been out for a few years so I use the one in my Boss 50M or something like that. Not a real fan of digital pedals but most of my analog stuff is down.

[Deleted]

Dane, want me to come out and fix the Peavey? HA! HA!
ED