How to change filter capacitors Peavey classic 30 combo guitar tube amp

Another Peavey Classic 30 amp with leaky power supply capacitors. It is quite the job to replace these caps due to the 3 piece circuit board, limited access for component maintenance. If you have to change a defective cap, make sure to change them all. Save a revisit. It is a time consuming job. Best thing to do is take your time, double check your work. I recommend the F&T 500 volt caps for this task. Don't cheap out. After completion, these are actually pretty good sounding amps. Many bands use them for recording. Their only downfall is the PCB's cannot stand up to the road wear. Released in the early 1990's, its almost 30 years old! A great amp to give a second chance in life. I hope this info is of value should you decide to fix one.

[@NormeeShays]

I don't know much about electronics. But with this great video, I proceeded to change all caps on my beloved Peavey Delta Blues amp which recently started to make loud noises. Everything went perfect on first try and my amp is now like new! Thanks Terry!

[@robyking4499]

Thanks to the video, I could open my PC30 which was roaming quite strongly, to change the 7 caps you indicated . Not so hard to do, but the work was successful, and I can us again my PC30 which was too noisy for my old ears... I could see that 2 of them were leaking, but I changed all of them and now can keep rocking. 😀🎸🎸 Thank you from France for the great help!

[@rciancia]

Terry, I bought one of these DOA about a year ago and thanks to your first video I was able to easily get it working. I use it every week at band practice. You are spot on when you say these things are delicate. You always nail things in your video... you got this one down to a science !!! Nice work ! Ron

[@d-labelectronics]

Thanks man, I get quite a few of these amps in the shop. Usually the same thing, leaky filter caps, microphonic tubes, sometimes a bad solder joint. Glad the info helped you out. It is a great amp when operating correctly. Thanks for sticking with me. TD

[@SWAMPTTHING]

I just ordered my caps for my Delta Blues. Thanks for sharing your knowledge friend.

[@matthewjones8510]

Your theatrics are just fantastic.

[@deepwater2652]

Great video! I use my US built Classic 30 for everything from jazz to blues. Sounds great now - hope I can hold off on a cap job a little longer...

[@SirCrashaLot]

Excellent vid, I found TAD in Germany had all the caps I needed. I already have their tubes in actually. Will be gutting mine in a week or so. Very good overview and advice. I should have no issue taking it apart, thanks.

[@Robert-Smith]

I ordered my F&T high voltage capacitors still having trouble finding the 50V 2200uf though I started this because my normal pot is really sketchy so I have to change that so I might as well recap while I am in there I did see two of the 22uf high voltage caps were leaking. Your videos are a huge help and great entertainment as well. Thank you for all your help.

[@richarddavis7487]

Another great video. Thanks Terry.

[@CristianoNichelle]

Great video! I have a Peavey valveking 112 and this amp is broken my head with terrible HUMMM ... im electronic technician but I don't have too many tubes knowledgment ... today I change some caps and measure the Bias and is ok .... tomorrow I'll restart my works on this amp

[@kenmar4009]

I had one.. What a PIA working on the folded circuit board...

[@myrnabrean]

Very helpful, I just finished 1 of 3 pvc30s I am recapping tonight. Not that tough, my glue was easier than yours to remove for some reason. I did use a JJ 100uf 500v cap instead of the two 47s in parallel and I just wanted to give a heads up- those JJs are big boys and just barely fit under the chassis- I mean it is touching the top of the control panel. On the next two, I willl see if I can find an optimal placement that avoid that and post details.

[@DragonCrestPC]

Great vid Terry!

[@bluesbondsman]

Every time I see these peavey boards I think to myself, What were they thinking !!! saving a buck and causing misery !!!

[@edwardmonsariste4050]

James Brown said in an interview that when he was designing these amps, it was a battle of price, sound, features, and reliability. Hartley told him that the selling price would be $299, made in USA, and still expected a profit. So this amp is the king of price pinching tube amps back in the day. Now with advanced nano surface mount tech in China, this amp is a big old American dinosaur.

[@robertcalkjr.8325]

Thanks Terry. Sometimes it helps to use your heat gun and heat the old adhesive up before trying to remove stuff.

[@jessferrera3155]

Great video from D-Lab here

[@kendavis8046]

Terry, you never end a great video allowing an animal to upstage you! This is Tube Amp Theater! As a Tube Amp Theater thespian, you are supposed to know that! Thumbs up.

[@canaan_perry]

Nice job. Tricky to do.

[@bee17167]

Is the classic 50 the same self bias as well I would like to change them my self but wasn't sure it would need biasing oh always watching and learning bought a set of caps for the classic 50 will do them as well .

[@stephenquail3168]

the traces are nice and deep on those boards hah? I just recapped a Peavey Bravo.

[@qrxtra9397]

Thanks! i have an peavey classic 212 100 series, and it started to have some issues after i accidentally left it on for 24 hours while idle. i will start having a look onto these caps etc maybe i will be able to fix it :P

[@PeterDad60]

What? I never heard that leaving your amp on for 24 hours could damage it! In fact I used my Fender EC VibroChamp as a space heater by leaving it powered up all winter once. My room was warm, the floor was warm. The amp is still loud and had no issues at all. Don't they leave the display amps and TV's on 24 hrs. a day, months on end in the salesroom floors?

[@benlogan430]

D-lab is where it’s at. Delta blues 2/10 is my favorite inexpensive amp. I have a classic 30, and 20. I’ve never had an issue yet. The blues and the 30 are 90’s made so caps must have been done before I got em. My tech loves my Peavey solid state and will enjoy my Peavey tube amps soon too. Lol

[@aliveandfilming2]

Handwired. This amp would sound great! I wonder how much a conversion would cost?.... :-)

[@jgcapdevielle]

HI , CONGRATS GOOD VIDEO RIGHT THERE !!! im a peavey classic 30 owner , yesterday i just turn it on and second valve doesnt work , but that wasnt all, i could see smoke came from valve imput ,,,, any advice to solve these failure '?????

[@tolerbearALTII]

Can through hole filter capacitors in a power supply be improved by increasing them to a greater value to make the power supply quieter and more efficient especially in guitar amplifiers? Also how would I fatten up the sound of a Peavey VSS 20 and make the distortion channel fatter with more gain with less noise? Thanks.

[@videolabguy]

The amp hums 'cause it doesn't know the words!

[@mrGoesto11]

Would have loved to have seen the repair of that wire connector...cute chocolate labbie!

[@alvomano9662]

I took my amp to repair, tube change plus it was getting really hot really quickly, I got it back and sounds fine with a bit of hum going on but the curious thing is that it is super loud now I can barely pass 2 with the volume. What could have changed?

[@goldendreamer2122]

I wish you would have shown the soldering part of it a little bit.is that what you do to get those ends that you clipped out of there? on the other side you heat the sodder up a little bit?

[@Kenhenderson97]

ok so, I'm sure you've been ask, but what causes the classic 30 to get so hot when in use? some times mine will get so hot it will just shut down and I have to wait for it to cool. I ask this because I plan to replace the caps but while I have it open I would like to go ahead and address this issue as well if I can.

[@jambojamin]

So no need to change the 2200 uF 50 v caps? I may give this a go just wondering about them.

[@timayris3375]

Great video but it makes me feel like throwing my classic 30 in the bin. Just lost power on the output tubes and is humming. I don't have the skills to repair it and I imagine a tech will charge quite a bit for a rebuild like that?

[@idahovintageelectronics3589]

Hi terry are the new Illinois caps as bad as the older ones? I see a lot of the parts suppliers are stocking them.

[@rcknicholson]

Any advice on changing filter caps in my roland ac-60 amp…where do send for replacements?

[@lonerider92]

Is that white noise normal in C30s? Mine has recently started doing it and the reverb has went out. Would recapping it fix the reverb issue? I can get around the whitenoise if that doesn't fix it.

[@shanemichaels8289]

Thanks so much

[@robertocastaneda7959]

Hello I bought a used Orange Crush 20RT that has humming/buzzing upon startup with nothing connected to it. The hum/buzz is simply there, not affected in any way by what I do with the knobs. The amp only works with head phones in (the noise goes away and I can hear the guitar playing...I can manipulate the distortion, reverb, etc). Is it safe to say the amp may only need a speaker, or possibly a wiring problem related to the speaker? Thanks for any help.

[@marka.monroe9539]

What about the smaller tubes on the amp? Are those also El84?

[@andrewreynolds2647]

Hi can the glue be heated to aid its removal or would that create other issues, I take it the glue used is the type used with a glue gun. Thanks for the info, the demo of this work was really helpful, great video. Cheers. Andy. Scotland.

[@1dotele]

You are good where are you located I have one of these beasts and there is no way I would try to tackle this job

[@yusdiy]

Sir, what are you doing feeding your dog those yummy capacitors. Lol.

[@billevansagain]

How much would to change the caps on a classic 30 head

[@MrSmildiger]

Dear Sir, I have a PV 115 Delta Blues combo Amp. and I am wondering if I can use the same caps as you are suggesting for the 30 classic ? (the board looks very much the same) I very, very much appreciate any of your feed back. Your Videos are darn good ! Also how do I get this electrolyte spill off the board ?! Isopropyl Alcohol 99% doesn't seem to do it. Thank you so much !

[@jivaankiko9865]

Hi Terry ! Great videos! I have a question, I own a Peavey classic 50 head. It fires up but doesn’t put out the sound I am used to hearing. Upon further investigation, I noticed my output tubes are not lighting up, no glow not even warm to the touch. Any advice on where to begin looking for the cause of this problem. Love this amp and would like to get it back on its feet again, Thanks !

[@d-labelectronics]

Inspect the tube socket, see if the pins are spread. If so, best to replace the sockets that show damage.

[@RobertKohut]

Nice!! Funny too!!

[@ferraridinoman]

Young Terry does Wine (Whine) at times!! (but he loves doggies so he'd get my vote anyway!)

[@frankstetka7206]

Peavey is a good mix of quality and crap but in a better ratio than many Fender and Marshall units in some cases. IC is a sad capacitor brand made in USA. Replaced many in Peavey’s

[@williamcastleberry7338]

I have a friend that has a peavey 200 classic (tube amp). The amp went out on him about a month and a half ago. he get's very little volume through the speakers after a lower power situation . All the tubes are lighting up , I had him to take a cord and plug into the effects send and a little amp that he has, to see ip it was the pre-amp or power amp side. Well it's not the pre-amp side , he was getting signal out the send side. I had him then take the chord and plug into the return side and the little amp send, no more sound than plugging into the amp like normal, I told him that it looked to me like the power amp had gone out. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks

[@d-labelectronics]

Check the screen resistors. They could be bad. That is the first thing I would check.

[@mattgarcia440]

The adhesive is hot glue, a little heat gun usage to warm it would have worked great.

[@drumcrazy5866]

Safety first!!!! I've made it to the 5 minute mark where you're poking pins inside this amp with bare fingers. Any chance of adding a capacitor discharge procedure to this video? 2nd, I think I hear SSD, maybe SD card read/write noise coming from the camera and/or recording equipment. Sure sounds like SSD noise to me. If it's a USB connected camera, you'll find this noise on the USB ground which runs right through the camera, right next to the power valves. Still, it'd be hard to isolate any faults if one is crispy from failing to discharge caps. My 2 cents...

[@cobblewright]

Yes. Why was the discharge of the caps omitted from this video? Seems dangerous and if an inexperienced person followed this video they may be electrocuted.

[@tacotele6819]

If you have the Chinese made Classic 30, the board and parts layout are completely different. They did away with the 3 piece board with a one-piece board, but they put in a ton of small filter caps instead of the larger ones, I guess so it would fit. I can't find a schematic for the new version anywhere.

[@doc_matter]

Is the newer one the chineese one

[@tacotele6819]

@@doc_matter yes it is

[@daveogarf]

LOL! "Illi-NOISE" cumplacitors! Good one.

[@demonphreak2570]

Must be government issued bcuz they suck too.

[@anthonylavoie5856]

Those peavey help you to put some bread&butter on the table ! :)

[@kenhancock8931]

Thx terry hope you have a great day! is marsha still invisable??? short wave girl would be upset if she can't see her nana!!! lol

[@Robert-Smith]

Where can I find the axial 2200uf 50v capacitors they seem to be hard to find

[@Robert-Smith]

also what type of adhesive do you use. thank you

[@shckltnebay]

I have one that starts that whine after warming up, sounds great till about 3 min of playing then no sound but a whine that does not respond to volume, I changed out the bias resistors and swapped the tubes same problem. I dont see a leaking caps. Any suggestions?

[@daleburrell6273]

...I'd replace the capacitors ANYWAY-!!

[@shckltnebay]

@@daleburrell6273 Turned out to be a bad solder joint on the boards probably on a tube socket, I reflowed about 90% of them and fixed it. Both mine and my friends are sold off now.

[@coldfinger459sub0]

Is hot glue acceptable to use to hold down electronics components

[@d-labelectronics]

Yes, I would try not to let it contact the solder joints as it could cause corrosion.

aaaaaHHHHHH!!! Thanks.

[@jeremydmccann]

Thankfully, I think that Peavey changed the design of these and the new Classic 30's do not have the 3 piece board.

[@kbkman7742]

You would hope so because that looks like such a disaster to repair

[@lucancherby]

what kind of adhesive do you use to fasten the caps to the circuit board?

[@robertcalkjr.8325]

Whatever you use just make sure that it is non-acidic.

[@dhpbear2]

2:45 - That goop looks like it was deliberately applied to the ends of the cap for *some* reason!

[@d-labelectronics]

Yep a bit-o-honey

[@johnmccabe7645]

Great Terry! Hey can you hook up a cap backwards and show us what happens?

[@DragonCrestPC]

I almost spit out my tea when i read this lol

[@VinceVegasHomes]

where did you purchase from the 2200mf 50 v caps

[@d-labelectronics]

I believe on ebay

[@VinceVegasHomes]

@@d-labelectronics ANY SUGESTION ON GOOD MODIFICATION FOR A PEAVEY CLASSIC 30

[@voldbydk]

why is there so many wrong things about that amp ?? it sounds amazing but why ??

[@scottbroussard6051]

That bad power wire caused the caps to heat up and die.

[@lroy730]

Yep Peavey like Mesa likes to keep their Bias Fixed just like a Crazy Zealots !

[@OldWhitebelly]

Sure, Classic 30s sound great, but nothing makes you appreciate how nice old Fenders are to work on like a new Peavey. Unless you're talking about Mesas.

[@liberty5565]

I always hear about the horror of working on Mesa's, but they sound so damn nice.

[@witeshade]

Mesa amps are half amazing and half horrific to work on. They usually make a lot of good choices like using leads to fly the pots rather than soldering directly to the board, but then they also have heat problems by cramming so much stuff together, they often require significant dismantling like this peavey, and they have so many switches, transistors, relays, and complicated circuit parts that if you end up with an intermittent problem, it can be almost impossible to ever find the problem, especially if it is heat related or a bad pcb trace. You win some and lose some with them.

[@ix-Xafra]

How much honey do you use to get the dawg to lick your components...

[@johnsimms3957]

I hope Peavey stopped using those Illinois caps.

[@Wildman9]

Now all the PETA peeps will be gargling the dargilar.🔌🔧🎸✌😎

[@robertcalkjr.8325]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Why ask for it?

[@liberty5565]

A lot of caps are filled with mineral oil, not going to hurt. I know some caps have some nasty shit that I would have to spell phonicaly... Sure-Sol. But I agree, don't give activists any reason whatsoever, especially these days.

[@ronnielawson8276]

DR LEAKY

[@daleburrell6273]

1:02...the amplifier HUMS because it doesn't know the WORDS-(?)

[@trevorgwelch7412]

The instructions manual says : High Voltage Shock , No Serviceable Parts Inside , Return To Repair Shop ( China )

[@halbertking2683]

When people bring a Classic 30 into my shop for repair, I tell them make a speaker cab out of it. The price of these is so low and the labor to service it too time consuming to service it in a manner where everyone is happy. "Bic Lighter". Buy another one.

[@andrewreynolds2647]

Hal Pecher, are you serious ? These amps cost over £700.00 in the uk second hand £400.00 + your advice is poor or you charge way too much money for your services, I certainly would not take any amp to you for repair your attitude is mr chuck it away, you surely over value your time, typical attitude of today = throw it away, buy another one, as long as you aren't the one paying for it. Sad.

[@frankdou4132]

@@andrewreynolds2647 never seen a used one sell for €450 (which is £400) they sell from €200 to €350. when you change the tubes, caps and other small parts, a repair will cost more then the amp. so, if you can repair it yourself, fine, if not it is really better to move on to another amp. hate to say that, as I don't like to throw away things too...

[@andrewreynolds2647]

@@frankdou4132 I was referring to buying brand new in the UK, we always get ripped off on valve amps in the uk, 2nd hand these peavey classic 30s still command up to £ 450.00 if they are in real good nick cosmetically and functioning correctly, i have used one for years and never had an issue other than the obligatory valve replacement every couple of years. The perception is always going to be different between the people that play and love these amps and the repairer whos whole focus is on making money. The advice to just throw it away is ludicrous, i am an engineer and have worked extensively on systems electro mechanical far more challenging than repairing a classic 30.

[@douro20]

I don't know how many times I've come across Peavey sound reinforcement gear that has been beaten to the ground and sounds like trash.

[@geoepi321975]

where is your beautiful daughter?

[@djefferson5669]

You mean granddaughter?

[@kenhancock8931]

short wave girl is his grand daughter . ;-)

[@geoepi321975]

@@djefferson5669 yes, she is a very clever kid

[@pleximanic]

Horrible design!, these I refrain from working on. However, they sound pretty good.

[@blueconcretezebra]

Gah, what a tragic design.

[@samchipner1131]

Terry does your wife no your in the living room

[@tnickel2]

Not a job for the novice.

[@firemanmick]

What a stupidly complex way of designing circuit board layout. It is primed for failure with those ridiculous tiny jumper wires. and to have not 2, but 3 of them connected that way - it's almost like Peavey designed it to fail. Amp manufacturers have been designing combos with similar numbers of components for years without having to resort to this dogs breakfast.

[@pauldavis6356]

Worse. Design. Ever. With all that empty real estate in there couldn't they have put one flat circuit board in this thing???