Peavey Classic 20 Demo | First Look

Smart tweaks make this Mississippi tweed clubbing stalwart more flexible than ever.

Introducing the new Peavey Classic 20 watt 112 combo with an all-tube preamp and power amp, providing the distinctive sonic punch of the larger, iconic amplifiers on which it is based, but in a more compact footprint (7.25" x 14" x 7.75"/185mm x 356mm x197mm) weighing significantly less (34.7 lbs/15.7 kg). This latest addition brings new life into the legendary product line by now providing players that iconic tone in a package better accommodating to today's smaller stage and bedroom performances.

Boasting two channels that mirror the same voicing and gain structure of its bigger Peavey amplifier siblings, in addition to a specially designed boost function, the Classic 20 112 Combo is a versatile, powerful unit that is equally suitable to virtually all musical styles.

Two EL84 power tubes and three 12AX7/ECC83 preamp tubes deliver the rich, warm tube-amplifier tones that are so sought after by players and engineers. Each of the Peavey Classic 20 112 Combo's channels shares EQ, an effects loop, and reverb (all footswitchable), while the amp's rear panel features Microphone Simulated Direct Interface (MSDI) with XLR output and USB out, 3-position power attenuator switch allowing for 20 watt, 5 watt or 1 watt operation, and speaker defeat switch.

The Classic 20 112 Combo's front panel includes a ¼" INPUT jack, VOLUME knob, CHANNEL switch for selection of 'LEAD' or 'RHYTHM' channels, PRE-GAIN to control the input level of the lead channel (i.e. overdrive and gain), POST GAIN to balance the sound between the two channels, BASS, MIDDLE, & TREBLE EQ controls, REVERB to dial in the amount of ambience, a Pilot Light indicating when AC power is being supplied and the Classic 20 112 Combo's POWER SWITCH is in the "ON" position, STANDBY switch, and OUTPUT TUBE STATUS INDICATION (T.S.I.) LEDS that illuminate red or green, depending on the status of the output tube they are monitoring.

The Peavey Classic 20 112 Combo: genuine tube power and tone - no emulations or simulation - in a smaller, more manageable package and at an attainable price point.

© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024

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[tfajsh]

The best guitarist I ever knew played through a tweed peavey classic 50. I’ve had one for 22 years and wouldn’t trade it for anything. The tweed classic 20 will be awesome

[GoldensTosa]

I have a ValveKing 20mh head with a 1x12 extension Peavey cab. Sounds great for 98% of casual and club gigs, plus it’s lightweight and easy to transport. Thank you Hartley! Still great after all these years!

[brandonfindlay]

The intro was like a lo-fi 90s trip through Steely Dan's King of the World ... and it was lovely!

[raystory]

I got one of these puppies twenty years ago and its one of the best sounding and most reliable amps ever made. Buy one and you won't regret it. I do like the upgrades as well.

[toygigante]

I love the fact that it has the older Peavey Logo. Sounds amazing. 😮

[duncanfrere]

I played a Classic 30 combo w/12" for years. Great amp!

[vwharman]

Goodness gracious, Bohlinger’s phrasing on that intro jam was fantastic. The dude is so tasteful.

[robertiola]

turn it up John. I have two Mace's at home and they sound best loud!!! The Classic can handle it. Crank it!!

[MichaelWeathersby]

Used peavey amps for years 30 watt classics, special 130, Bandits encore 65, triumph 60. All great amps. Peavey was the last guitar and amp builder to go to china, he held off to long, and it killed his business, he couldn’t compete with the Asian imports prices .

[leeasbury]

The 1 watt option is LOUD! I have had the mini head for 5 or 6 years. I was demoing a guitar at a shop and that was the closest amp. It was used, but really it wasnt....paid $350, bought it on the spot and forgot about the guitar. I happened to have a matching tweed 115E cabinet from the 90's and I run it through that and it's really great. The overdrive channel even sounds great. Especially when you push it with another pedal. It has the exact same features as that combo. It's a really great amp. I don't know what they cost but I like mine.

[mikethomson]

I would Love to see Peavey succeed to the level they did in the eighties

[benlogan]

I’ve got a Classic vintage 4/10, Classic 30, delta blues 2/10 and a classic 20 head and all are excellent. All are old US made except for the head which is Chinese and does just fine.

[lukehearn]

I saw a dude shredding on a classic 50 cranked in Nashville last weekend at Garth Brooks' bar. All he had was a boost and EQ pedal. Best tone of the weekend, I was surprised

[SirLoinMagroin]

Excellent. Best Demo Ever. Especially on this amp. It's a real sleeper. Fender Tweed yet Marshall Plexi. Headroom and Nuance.

[johndoyle]

Great review, as always, John! I've had the Classic 20 mini head and matching 112 cab for 6-7 years. I'm sure they've improved the circuit in this new version, but the feature set seems similar, if not identical. It also sounds very similar to my ear. The overdrive channel is not my taste, but I love the clean channel and it takes pedals fabulously. It's the amp I use the most at home, in 1 watt mode.

[Scott__C]

Nice! John busting out the classical. Getting that Roy Clark variety in. Awesome!

[CoryHawthorneCharmGames]

In 94 I had a Boogie DC-3 on order at the store I worked at. For a joke (Yes, I was biased as a young man) I plugged into a Classic 50 Head. I immediately cancelled the Boogie and took the Classic 50 home. I still have it and it's the most underrated amp ever made. You can buy them used, American made from the 90s, for under 500 bucks. Then I bought a Clasic 30 and matching 112 cabinet and that was my gigging rig for years and years. I still have that too. Incredible amps. I have a bunch of amps now but those Peaveys still get used a lot. The dirty channel sounds super expensive and the clean is as clean as clean is.

[brianbouman]

This vid gave me the desire to uncover my Peavey Classic 50 410. It's been a while. Thanks John!

[RUSTY-A-L]

That amp sounds killer and you did an awesome job reviewing it.

[liquidsmokemustang]

I have the Classic 20 MH and both 112 and 212 ext cabs. Has always sounded great. I really love that Peavey installs V30 speakers in the cabs as well. One of my favs.