[Uncle Daddy]

Has anybody tried the Peavey Delta Blues? I tried one recently at a practice session and was impressed with the tone.

Are there any significant reliability issues I should be aware of? This would be my first all-tube amp, and probably way too much volume on tap, but I'm thinking of the future. I don't play "metal" at all, and am currently learning swing, rockabilly and travis picking styles, mostly using my 5126 with stock Dearmonds.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[The Marlin]

I'd go Peavey Classic 30. The classic 30 and Delta Blues are basically the same amp, so it just depends on whether you prefer to have a tremolo or not. The Delta Blues will also be bit louder, the 2x10 or 1x15 conf is louder than a 1x12. The stock 12" does benefit from a swap out, but still sounds good. A Celestian Modern Lead is a good, cheap used option.

The first live Gretsch I ever heard (pre Fender Setzer Hot Rod) was through a Classic 30, playing to a room of about 200 people. It just blew me away. I sold all my pointy guitars and modelling amps, and bought my First Gretsch - the rest is history.

Marlin

[Fallen Saint]

The Delta Blues is the amp Darrel Higham (Imelda May) plays. If it's good enough for him - well....

I've also heard many good things about the Classic 30 and the Fender Blues Deluxe reissue.

[Synchro]

Originally Posted by Fallen Saint

The Delta Blues is the amp Darrel Higham (Imelda May) plays. If it's good enough for him - well....

I've also heard many good things about the Classic 30 and the Fender Blues Deluxe reissue.

I tend to agree. The Delta Blues is one of my favorite non-Fender amps.

[Snorre]

I tried out a Classic 30 and Delta Blues before deciding on the Delta Blues. I know every amp has it's quirks but the Classic 30 that I tried out had an annoying buzz going on. I ended up getting a used Delta Blues on eBay and it's a terrific amp - I use it as a back-up amp to my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III.

The only issue I am dealing with is there is a problem in the circuitry preventing the very much in working order Reverb tank to actually produce the reverb effect out of the amp's speaker. My guitar tech is working on it but hasn't pinpointed yet where the breakdown in the circuitry lies. In the interim, I use my Fender '63 RI Reverb Unit with the Delta Blues.

[big kenny]

I've got a Delta 210 and its ok, I like it, at that price point it is pretty sweet.
Couple more bucks get a Deluxe, or if you can mic it, that excelsior with a speaker swap is golden.

[pilgrim]

I bought 2 of em in Tweed. Side by side with the Executive they are close to the same sound.

[HBob]

Ronnie Dawson used a Delta Blues with a 15" in it. Sounded great with his strat for rock-a-billy. He placed a mic way out on the edge of the speaker.

[Synchro]

Originally Posted by HBob

Ronnie Dawson used a Delta Blues with a 15" in it. Sounded great with his strat for rock-a-billy. He placed a mic way out on the edge of the speaker.

The 15" really helps single could guitars to sound full.

[fender62custom]

l'm a little partial to Tweed Peaveys myself!! great tone to value ratio!! very versatile too..enjoy!!

[jmiked]

I've been using a Delta Blues for about 7 years. It's a great sounding amp. On the advice of Paul Yandell, I swapped the stock 15" speaker for a JBL D130 speaker, and it seems to have better highs. I play with a very clean sound, so I appreciate the more "hifi-ness" of it. I installed a small low-speed muffin fan in the back to circulate the air a bit better after the installation of a tube guard.

My only complaint is that the thing is so heavy. It's gotta be 50 pounds. I end up using my Roland Cube 30X most of the time.

No reliability problems at all.

[Synchro]

Originally Posted by jmiked

I've been using a Delta Blues for about 7 years. It's a great sounding amp. On the advice of Paul Yandell, I swapped the stock 15" speaker for a JBL D130 speaker, and it seems to have better highs. I play with a very clean sound, so I appreciate the more "hifi-ness" of it. I installed a small low-speed muffin fan in the back to circulate the air a bit better after the installation of a tube guard.

My only complaint is that the thing is so heavy. It's gotta be 50 pounds. I end up using my Roland Cube 30X most of the time.

No reliability problems at all.

Amps with 4 EL84s tend to run hot; good call on the fan.

[ChetEddy]

I had heard of the story that Paul Yandell had said that this amp was closest to what Chet had used. I got one,used off E- for around 450. The tone was great,except when you used the tremolo;then the tone became weird. I not only wanted the Chet tone,but also the Eddy tone,and I found that the tremolo was just unacceptable. If you want to have a tremolo effect,I would get the classic 30,and get a good tremolo pedal,a Fender Deluxe,or a -gasp-Mustang 3,which is a digital amp but has great echos and tremolos.

[tguen63]

Originally Posted by jmiked

My only complaint is that the thing is so heavy. No reliability problems at all.

That's my main complaint with most Peavey amps. All of the Peaveys I have owned were in particle board cabinets which is very heavy. I always wondered what a Classic 50 4x10 would sound like in a nice pine cabinet.

[JLoud]

My 5125 sounds beautiful through my Delta Blues. I love the combination.

[No-name]

Originally Posted by Synchro

The 15" really helps single could guitars to sound full.

I agree. sold every strat I ever owned until I put 11s on one and played it through my 115 Delta Blues. I like it. My Duo Jets sound good through it too. I haven't dialed it in for a Les Paul yet.

[shakerAU]

I've been playing my 6120 and Tele through a Delta Blues with the 15" speaker for about 6 months now, small clubs, big auditoriums and outdoor festivals, sounds great every time.
Highly recommended amp!

I replaced the 12ax7 with a 12DW7 (ECC832) in V2 to drop the gain, allows more clean headroom on the 2nd channel, big improvement!

[jimmyb]

I just got back from Sam Ash (what else ya gonna do on July 4th?) and played through a Delta Blues (1-15"). What a great amp! Set it flat, put the reverb on 4, and you're set. I was using my 6120-1959LTV, it sounded perfect. I wish now I had taken my Eastman Pagelli also but, Paul Yandell is (was) right about this amp.

Jimmy

[jmiked]

Originally Posted by ChetEddy

IThe tone was great,except when you used the tremolo;then the tone became weird. I not only wanted the Chet tone,but also the Eddy tone,and I found that the tremolo was just unacceptable. If you want to have a tremolo effect,I would get the classic 30,and get a good tremolo pedal,a Fender Deluxe,or a -gasp-Mustang 3,which is a digital amp but has great echos and tremolos.

Or you could just get a tremolo pedal.

I agree, though. The tremolo is the weak point, performance-wise.

[PacRat]

I currently own a Delta Blues and it is my favorite non Fender amp, it sounds good and the tremolo is to die for . . . all in all, it's almost perfect, if there is such a thing