D'Lite from A Classic 30??

[michael tolar]

Hey everyone,
I'm a newbie around here and this thought has been running through my little brain for a few weeks now. I have a Peavey Classic 30 that I have used on and off since about 1998. I have done a couple of the usual mods and i'm still not happy. Does anyone know if this amp would work as a decent platform for a D'Lite type amp. I would gut the pcb and have to drill out for 6V6 tubes. Not sure yet if the trannys would work. Looking for any advice, for -or- against.
thanks in advance.

[Structo]

Here is the schematic for the Classic 30.
http://www.schematicheaven.com/newamps/ ... ssic30.pdf

It's possible that the PT would work as it has 332v taps.
But it doesn't list the current rating on it which should be at least 200ma. for a 2 6V6 D'Lite.

Since the 30 has four EL84 tubes it probably can handle it.

The output tranny probably won't work but somebody with more knowledge about the amp can tell you for sure.

Here is the specs for the original D'Lite 22 PT which has since been upgraded to a 300ma one.

[michael tolar]

Structo,
Thanks for the info and schematic. I'll try to do a little more research on the transformers. If I have to, I'll start from scratch but I wanted to try to save some bones by using this as a doner amp. I was really hoping to build the board, retrofit some tube sockets, move some controls around if needed and Rock-N-Roll.
Thanks again.

[phsyconoodler]

The chassis is big downer in the classic 30.Once you remove it you'll see what I mean.There is pretty much no way to make it into another amp without pitching the chassis altogether.It has three sided PC boards that are connected with solid strands of metal.Silly in the extreme.
Get another chassis built and start from scratch.The Classic 30 also uses DC heaters and the PT doesn't support a normal filament supply.The OT will likely work,but it is also mounted in a very silly way and is not designed to be user friendly.You are gonna hate life if you try and do this conversion.
You can certainly use the cabinet and speaker even,but the chassis I'd say is impossible.

[Todd Hepler]

I used a Classic 30 OT for a 2X6V6 trainwreck express clone. Works and sounds great! Sorry - I don't have any experience with the PT.

Todd

[michael tolar]

Thanks for everyone's input. I pulled the chassis last night and it does look like it would be a bugger to use. I do, however, have a second option. I also have an old Music Man RD-65, traveled with it a lot in the 80's. Any opinions on the trannys from the Music Man. I'll try to research a bit and find a schematic.
BTW, what are the diodes I've seen in the D'Lite schematics and layouts. They seem to never be labeled.

[FUCHSAUDIO]

You could make a cool D-style amp with that Music Man platform, as long as you follow the proper power supply and output tube wiring configuration, as the voltages are a bit different from a standard Fender style tube amp. I suggest punching the chassis so the 9-pins and power tubes are in standard Fender-ish/Dumble ish locations. Weber makes 9 to 8 pin adaptors which work well for this purpose. You'll have plenty of room in there to easily make it happen.

BTW: The Classic 30 Peavey is a dog to do anything with. While it's a true masterpiece of modern packaging engineering, it's clearly not something easily modified, serviced etc.

I would bet the three boards are wave soldered as one board (jumpers included), then it's snapped into three sections, then mounted into the chassis, and the amp is lit up in minutes, not hours !

It's clearly not designed to ever break nor require service, so it's almost unservicable, ya-know, because it will never need service.....kinda

[CaseyJones]

There are something like 20 different versions of the Classic 30. Regardless of which version you have the tranny has around 200ma to push 4XEL84s. If it runs 4XEL84s you can be sure there's enough there for 2x6V6 or if you're feeling adventurous two browned out EL34s. It will run cool w/ 2X6V6.

The voltages are more suitable for a Wreck than a D-Clone. Having said that 2X6V6s will work o.k..

Your Vintage 30 has 2x10" speakers, right? Last time I looked they were 16 ohms each for an 8 ohm total load. In a 2x6V6 config your OT isn't ideal for an 8 ohm load, it's 50% underloaded. Bear in mind that Matchless builds their stuff like that all day every day, also '70s Dumble combos often used a transformer designed for a 4 ohm load only driving an 8 ohm load.

I'd rip the whole mess apart, save the speakers and the transformers. Sell everything else on Fleabay and buy yourself a proper chassis. Build a Skybolt Replica cabinet for your 2x10s, add some sweat equity to the mix and you be in tone heaven!

[michael tolar]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I've decided to leave the Peavey alone-too much trouble. I am still considering using the Music Man though. I pulled the chassis on that one last night with my son, schematic in hand, and had a good look around. I'm thinking this one might actually work though tube placement will have to be completely re-worked. Interesting feature on this thing... the filter caps are mounted on the underside of the chassis. Power fed out the bottom and then back up into the main circuit. The whole thing is covered with big ashtray type arrangement. Guess I'll start trying to figure out an overall layout.

[stelligan]

You could make a cool D-style amp with that Music Man platform

+1

Still one of my fave amps is a non HRM 50 watt clone in an RD-50.
Much groundwork already done here: https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=1620

[FUCHSAUDIO]

RD-50 is a great platform, but very tight to work inside.....I've done a few ODS's but they were really tight fits ! That chassis is as small as a Princeton !
It does end up as an amazingly tiny 112 combo that sounded great !

[michael tolar]

Stelligan - Thanks for your post. It'll take some more study, but I'm pretty sure this is the way I want to go.

[BobW]

I would bet the three boards are wave soldered as one board (jumpers included), then it's snapped into three sections, then mounted into the chassis, and the amp is lit up in minutes, not hours !

That's exactly what Peavey does. Stuff, Wave solder, then Snap/Fold into 3 pieces.

fwiw, a gutted classic 30, does make a great 18w /36w marshall.