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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
 Posted - 11/09/2008 : 08:31:20
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<rant mode>
I've just been doing the "Blue Guitar" mods to my Classic 30 and I have to post a warning... this thing is amazingly fragile.
I've been soldering for 30+ years and have professional grade gear, and even with the most delicate touch the tracks on the circuit board will lift. I've had to repair 4 tracks that have essentially disintegrated with only one desolder/solder cycle. I haven't seen anything like this since some of the POS boards in the 70's.
Rating the quality of circuit boards out of 10, the Classic 30 is a 2-out-of-10 and your average Boss pedal is 9-out-of-10.
The other issue is that the hot-melt glue used to stabilise the big capacitors on the board has been applied very sloppily - it has been splashed on one of the fuse-holder clips and the fuse has become intermittent because of the glue. And of course, the fuse is GLUED into the fuse holder, so it had to be broken to get it out to remove the fuse clip. Not even sure the fise clip can be cleaned, and of course it isn't standard so there is no hope of getting a replacement. Blah.
I know the thing is built to a price, but its made in the USA and it should be better. Shame on you Peavey!! Shame!! 
</rant mode>
OK... once I get the fuse holder fixed and the thing put back together, I'll post some pics and an assessment of the mod. In addition to the Blue Guitar "basic" mods, I've bought an Eminence Cannibis Rex speaker for it.
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Edited by - Laurie on 11/12/2008 04:15:04 |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2008 : 13:50:17
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Hi Laurie
Sorry to hear about the poor quality of the PCB laminate.
PM, or better still, call me about the Hot-Melt glue.
Before you go nuts trying to remove it.
You might give Peavey a tech support email or call,
regarding what you have experienced, with the PCB delaminating.
I emailed them, & they we most responsive & helpful.
The reply came from "Mr. Hartley Peavey" himself.
But I'm guessing they have a whole department for that now.
Regards Dr. Bob
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the-destructor
Silver Member
USA
334 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2008 : 15:04:03
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I've commented on Peavey before, so I won't now.
Sorry to hear about the problems bud. Best of luck. I have the utmost of confidence in you.
 T-D |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2008 : 15:43:36
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quote:
Originally posted by the-destructor
I've commented on Peavey before, so I won't now.
Sorry to hear about the problems bud. Best of luck. I have the utmost of confidence in you.
T-D
Hi Laurie A Guys
We all do... |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2008 : 17:27:42
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| sorry to hear that i have not liked peavey in along time |
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Big Boss Man
Gold Member
USA
564 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2008 : 17:48:31
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| I don't think these amps were designed for modding or repairs. The PCBs are throw away and replace components if they break. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2008 : 19:25:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Big Boss Man
I don't think these amps were designed for modding or repairs. The PCBs are throw away and replace components if they break.
there seems to be a lot of mods on the net for the newer amps these days...Blackheart,peavey,fender blues jr,epiphone valve jr etc.... but as big boss man and laurie have stated it can be tricky working on them due to the modern manufacturing methods employed to keep costs down,i think Goran has modded a couple of the epiphone amps so maybe he will chip in with his experiences,i too believe the laurie is the man..... and will figure it out....but for the rest of us maybe a speaker/valve swap is the way to go...or get one of the older amps with PTP or real early PCB's which seem to be easier to work on....it can be real tempting looking at some of the clips on you tube and thinking of getting one and modding it but poking around inside some of these suckers could be lethal to people like me who would be only really an amateur when it comes to this stuff.... |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2008 : 23:59:55
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Right... done!
No pics yet. I can report that it has turned the Classic 30 into something that ... isn't a Classic 30. Its not a blackface Fender. It's not a Marshall. It sounds like something other - not sure what?
WAY more body, way less fizzy top end. The overdrive channel is FANTASTIC. Lots of compressed growl.
Anyway, I like it a lot more than it was before. I can recommend the Blue Guitar mods. It might actually get played now 
Pics to follow...
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Edited by - Laurie on 11/10/2008 04:59:30 |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2008 : 02:16:16
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Blackheart uses double-sided PCBs with 2-ounce copper traces.
I love mine & spread the word whenever I can.
Funny thing, I bought my Little Giant 5W combo for $250, no tax, no shipping. At the time, the head went for $150 & a separate cab for $100.
Now, the mess is $100 more @$350! Glad I got in when I did. |
Edited by - DeFrag on 11/10/2008 06:06:28 |
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pedals 4 pv
Platinum Member
Canada
1351 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2008 : 07:16:08
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| Sorry to hear about the damage to your Classic 30, Laurie. I would be absolutely heartbroken if anything happened to mine. |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2008 : 15:14:16
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quote:
Originally posted by pedals 4 pv
Sorry to hear about the damage to your Classic 30, Laurie. I would be absolutely heartbroken if anything happened to mine.
Hi pedals 4 pv! My Classic 30 is fine! Better than fine with the mods, actually (I can highly reccommend them)
It was just frustrating to have to repair the crappy PCB tracks and I wanted to post a warning - anyone who tries to mod a Classic 30 with a $15 Radio Shack soldering iron is gonna run into a LOT of trouble.......
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2008 : 15:29:45
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Total mod list:
Tube #1 - to Groove Tubes Mullard reissue 12AX7
Speaker - to Eminence Cannabis Rex 8
Speaker wiring - remove original plug and wires for the internal speaker completely. Wire the Eminence to a 1/4 inch low profile right-angle plug and plug into the extension speaker jack (ensures the amp always runs in 8 Ohm, and disables the internal speaker completely when you use an external cab).
Install copious amounts of open-cell weather stripping - between the speaker and the front baffle, between the front baffle and the cabinet, between the amp chassis and the cabinet.
Blue Guitar "basic" mods (http://www.blueguitar.org/new/articles/blue_gtr/amps/peavey/c30_mods.pdf) with great thanks to Blue Guitar for sharing!
- C18 to 0.047uf HV polyester film
- C19 to 0.022uf HV polyester film
- C14 to 250pF silver mica
- C11 to 750pf silver mica (500pF in parallel with a 250 pF - 500 on one side of the PCB, 250 on the other)
- R12 to 2M2
- C4 to 820pF silver mica (390 and 430 in parallel - 390 on one side of the PCB, 430 on the other)
- C7 to 390pF silver mica
- C2 to 0.01uF HV polyester film
- C1 to 250pF silver mica (on track side of PCB for clearance)
- R5 to 390k
- R41 to 120k |
Edited by - Laurie on 11/10/2008 15:47:37 |
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verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2008 : 16:30:38
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I had a Classic 30 for a while.. I liked its honkiness for clean/semiclean jamming - it cut through the mix. But the gain didn't do it for me. I sold it and now have a Subway Rocket.. I'm sure I'd have kept it with a mod like this(but I couldn't say no to the Boogie!).
How do you like the Cannabis Rex? I hear they open up a LOT within a few hours of playing..
It IS too bad that Peavey cut so many corners.. but at least they haven't yet shut down US operations (see: Ampeg, for Canadian: Garrison Guitars). I wonder if they made them in China, the MDF would be any lighter?! MDBF (bamboo)? I hear bamboo drums are very nice. |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2008 : 16:39:10
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quote:
Originally posted by verivorax
How do you like the Cannabis Rex? I hear they open up a LOT within a few hours of playing.
Yeah... I've played it LOUD for about 20 minutes to start the break-in. I've noticed it starting to open up. Will let you know how it goes as it breaks in. |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2008 : 03:14:29
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Pics....
The finished product:
The hot melt glue around the fuse holder (after cleaning and repair):
One of the "top and bottom" capacitors. The mod needed a value that I could only obtain with two caps in parallel, and there is no room on the component side of the board for the second cap. Notice both the legs run along the track to the next component on the track - that's because the pads failed when I installed the first cap from the component side (the ugly one on the solder side in the pic wasn't even on the board at that stage). Both pads for this cap delaminated and broke off the board.
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2008 : 22:39:42
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So Peavey is all good save for the PCBs then eh?
My 1st amp was a Peavey & I really loved the company, not unlike my feelings for Mackie nowadays. I think they still have decent products including some gear for unique applications but they have succumbed to a glut of competition not seen in the 80s. |
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Topic |
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Peavey Classic 30 Blue Guitar mods (with pics)
