First of all I don't understand the need of some reviewers to mention thrash/death metal or whatever that garbage noise is in the same sentence with a Classic 30-

Now having said that-after never being able to afford a Mesa since tonight, I have been using two Classic 30's in stereo for 2 years now and the sound is unreal. You think one sounds good?? Run two and you will get out of this world tone. Tone and presence for days you WILL fill the spectrum of sound for the money these affordable babies costs.

My rig is two 30's with two Celestion 1981 real not re-issue vintage 35's instead of the BM's. I use a Studio LP and a Fender Double locking Squire ran through a Digitech reverb, MXR Phase 90 (modded), Japanese Turbo Tube Screamer, Boss DD6, Boss Chorus Ensemble and Boss SD1(modded). I get every tone from EVH to Tom Petty as I am in a top 40 cover band we do Queen to Journey to Styx and even some modern rock like Jimmy Eat World etc and these keep up with ALL of it.

I do recommend swapping the BM's for Celestion's for pure rock.I am installing fans in the chassis of each this week to keep the tubes from overheating the transformer, a common problem I have is they do overheat after 5 hours of use a night at an average gig.

Overall these hang with my boogie, my Classic 50 head and Avatar cab and my Blue Voodoo cab. Buy two today!!

I dare anybody to try and find an amp better than this one for the price and quality. Good luck because it isn't going to happen. I have had this amp since 1995, and I can tell you that I love it. It won't take much to make your ears ring on the power side. I love the tone especially when the channel is turned on, great boost.

Again, if you don't have a bunch of dough, and you want a really great amp that can play right along with some of the big boys, and maybe even give them a run for their money, then this is the amp for you.

Back in the mid-90's I purchased a used Classic 50 head with a 4x10 cabinet, along with a '91 American Fender Stratocaster and the two had a great tone together, a perfect fit of hand in glove. I was blown away the amp's tone. My previous experience with Peavey amps was a negative one. I plugged into the Classic 50 and it was magic. I used that amp on many gigs and thought it had great tone. As a previous critic wrote, it does not go all out growl for 80's rock and 90's grunge. But if you use an Ibanez Tube Screamer or any good compression (the Boss CS-3 is more than sufficient), it will give the amp some extra push needed.

My oldest daughter began playing guitar and I handed down one of my Strats and the Classic 50 to her. When I found out that Peavey discontinued production of the Classic series, I kicked myself for handing down the latter. I would even try to trade with her. She, being very wise, refused. I couldn't blame her. She has an awesome amp.

When I found out that Peavey was reissuing their Classic series again, beginning with the 30 watt, I saw light at the end of the tunnel. On October 3rd, 2009 (ironically SRV's birthday), I purchased the Classic 30 along with a 2009 Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster. Again, it was a perfect fit.

I have never had the problems of tube rattles or microphonic distortion, either in the 50 or the 30 watt issues and I push my amps hard. I have been curious about replacing the speaker with a Celestion Classic. One of the guys at Charley's Guitar Shop in Dallas highly recommended it. But for now I am more than happy with the Blue Marvel speaker.

I have the tweed version. I bought it used about a year ago. I purchased one of those little gizmos off eBay that holds the tubes in place, replaced the tubes, and haven't had ANY microphonic problems. Not one. I replaced the speaker with a Celestion. The Blue Marvel is a great speaker despite what some have said, but I had this Celestion in another amp and liked the sound, so I switched it out. I have a bud that gigs 5 nights a week and has used one of these ON EVERY SINGLE GIG for the past 15 years. Once again: Every gig for FIFTEEN YEARS! He's never had it fail him once, never takes a backup (this is his only amp) and has only replaced the tubes about every 2 years just to be safe. I heard his, loved the tone and started watching for a used one locally. I bought it mainly to leave upstairs in my music room, so I've only gigged out with it a few times because I didn't feel like hauling my SF Twin Reverb. It sounded great in its own right. I just found out how to get a good overdriven tone out of the distortion channel, something I had no confidence in at first. But, I dinked around a little and found it. Now, I'll be using it more on gigs. Think I'll use it this week-end in fact. The build quality is mediocre - mdf cabinet, printed circuits, cheesy looking tube sockets (like some of the newer Fenders and just about everything else), but as long as it sounds this good I'm keeping it. Had the guys rating this model previous to me used the tube "gizmo" I doubt they would have had the problems they reported. Peavey really should address that issue and handle it from the mfg. plant. Tube rattle seems to be a recurring problem with these from what I've read, but I haven't experienced it.

FWIW: My guitar bud who I mentioned earlier worked here in Memphis at Taylor Music, a store that sold used gear. The owner of that store once told another friend of mine that when he sold Peavey Classics, they never had to be returned for repairs. However, he said he was always getting Fenders back for repairs. You can get a lemon with any brand, especially those with printed circuit boards. I'm happy to say mine isn't a lemon.

Please note that I have an older version(peavey logo on grille cloth not tweed). I do wish I had a 50 because it has a master volume so that I could crank the post gain and keep it not as loud with the master. On to the review, I love this amp. Personally I think the clean channel is very very good but I have heard better. Now on to the distortion channel I love the classic rock tones I get with this things distortion channel. I can get great rock tones without external pedals but with a little bit of gain boost from a pedal, or if you are in a situation where you can crank the post gain, this thing screams. It can get good 80's-90's metalish and hard rock tones, but don't expect modern fierce thrash metal distortion out of this, which I personally don't like but I know some do, besides most looking for that sound aren't looking at a classic tube 30 watt. I still can't believe how versatile this amp is it goes from a bright clean sound, to deep blues, to hot led zeppelin style rock, back to a hendrix like blues. It takes all of my pedals well(which consists of mostly overdrive and distortion pedals). I bought it used for cheap and the stock tubes haven't failed me yet, but I plan on getting a replacement set soon. If stolen the first thing I would do is save for another 30, or if I had the extra money maybe a 50. If your playing in small bars or just practicing this amp is perfect for you. Also if you find you don't like it, it's probably because you don't have it loud enough(serious) you probably aren't getting into the great tube distortion this amp has to offer. I highly reccomend this amp to anyone.