[marcos]

Looking to 'warm' up my sound with my Peavey Chorus amp. It has 2 Peavey stock 8 in. speakers in it that resemble Eminence type. Would a speaker replacement be better than getting a pre-amp. Anyone have experience trying this out.
Thanks

 

[Guncho]

Sounds trite but get a tube amp.

There's a 55 watt Bugera on Kijiji for $275.

I started with a solid state amp went tube and never looked back. There just no comparison.

 

[BGood]

Going with a 1X12" or 2X12 could make a huge difference. Since there is no provision for an external cab/speaker on your amp, you can make one , look it up it should be pretty easy.

 

[Budda]

Looking to 'warm' up my sound with my Peavey Chorus amp. It has 2 Peavey stock 8 in. speakers in it that resemble Eminence type. Would a speaker replacement be better than getting a pre-amp. Anyone have experience trying this out.
Thanks

Get a renown instead, bigger speakers.

 

[marcos]

Get a renown instead, bigger speakers.

I really like this Chorus model and its not heavy. Weight is a big issue as i gig a lot and need something light. Good call on the Renown.

 

[Guest]

Fender Mustang amps are great. Plus- I like turtles.

 

[BGood]

If you're set on keeping it as simple as possible, a way to give it some boom, would be to make a full back for it, close up the back. Might be worth a try. Then if not satisfied, experiment by drilling ports in the back. Start with a 2" hole, then two, then three, then ...

 

[BGood]

You seem to want to keep the same format. A cheap no hassle experiment would consist in making a full back for the amp. That will add some boom to it. If unsatisfied with the result, drill a 2" hole in the new back cover, that would air it and let some of the boominess out. Still not your cup of tea ? Drill a second port, then a third, then ...

 

[Budda]

I really like this Chorus model and its not heavy. Weight is a big issue as i gig a lot and need something light. Good call on the Renown.

Ah, makes sense. What about finding a 112 and putting a Neo speaker in it?

 

[Distortion]

Roll the presence way back if it has one.

 

[KapnKrunch]

If the chorus is stereo there will be two amps in it needing speakers, no? I would experiment with preamps first. In a store. No commitment. Nothing to undo. Safe for the amp.

 

[marcos]

Fender Mustang amps are great. Plus- I like turtles.

Mustang amps are good but not sure they will stand up to all the travelling that i do. I have had about 10 Peavey amps through the years and they are well built and take a lot of abuse.

Ah, makes sense. What about finding a 112 and putting a Neo speaker in it?

I also have the Backstage 50 model witch i converted to a 12 in from a 10 in. Males a difference but may look at the Neo speaker. Thanks for the tip

 

[marcos]

Roll the presence way back if it has one.

No presence on this one

 

[mhammer]

Safe to assume it's a Backstage Chorus?

If so, tell me what you want more or less of, and I'll see if I can pin down some simple and suitable mods.

I know folks will recommend tube amps. And yes, they can sound phenomenal. But a small solid-state stereo amp, with stereo chorus, that is easy on the back, and delivers most of the sounds you want and need, can provide its own pleasures. Certainly the Backstage Chorus 208 has a very flexible set of EQ controls.

I have two smaller SS Fender amps, one of them also a 2 x 8" stereo chorus job, albeit with a wee bit less wattage than the Peavey amp. It's certainly not a JC-120, but stereo chorus sounds nice. I also have a Champion 110, which is essentially a Frontman 25R. I modded the overdrive channel on both of them, and like them a lot more with the changes. Conceivably, some mods could be identified that make the overdrive sounds more to your liking. I'm assuming that's what's nagging at you.

 

[marcos]

Safe to assume it's a Backstage Chorus?

If so, tell me what you want more or less of, and I'll see if I can pin down some simple and suitable mods.

I know folks will recommend tube amps. And yes, they can sound phenomenal. But a small solid-state stereo amp, with stereo chorus, that is easy on the back, and delivers most of the sounds you want and need, can provide its own pleasures. Certainly the Backstage Chorus 208 has a very flexible set of EQ controls.

I have two smaller SS Fender amps, one of them also a 2 x 8" stereo chorus job, albeit with a wee bit less wattage than the Peavey amp. It's certainly not a JC-120, but stereo chorus sounds nice. I also have a Champion 110, which is essentially a Frontman 25R. I modded the overdrive channel on both of them, and like them a lot more with the changes. Conceivably, some mods could be identified that make the overdrive sounds more to your liking. I'm assuming that's what's nagging at you.

It is indeed a Backstage Chorus Mark. I have been using it in stereo for a few gigs with my Backstage 50 and it could need a bit more warmth if that makes sense. I use a Barber Gain changer pedal in the mix with a reverb and compressor for the 'country' thing that i do. I am still tinkering with it and trying to dial it in and find a suitable sound. I also agree that a tube amp is great but they just dont stand up night after night to the gigging and moving around that i do (mostly tube issues).

 

[cboutilier]

It is indeed a Backstage Chorus Mark. I have been using it in stereo for a few gigs with my Backstage 50 and it could need a bit more warmth if that makes sense. I use a Barber Gain changer pedal in the mix with a reverb and compressor for the 'country' thing that i do. I am still tinkering with it and trying to dial it in and find a suitable sound. I also agree that a tube amp is great but they just dont stand up night after night to the gigging and moving around that i do (mostly tube issues).

I was always worried about tube issues like that, because I'm not even remotely gentle with my gigging amps. They'll be with me forever, so I don't care they get a few scars.

But for tubes, I've had one tube go bad in the last two years. It was a Canadian made 12ax7 from 1973.

 

[Moosehead]

Best way to warm it up Imo is lighter fluid and a match. Buddy of mine had a 2x12 Peavy chorus, what a shit amp that was.

A voxac4 is cheap and sounds great. Try one.

 

[Mooh]

Looking to 'warm' up my sound with my Peavey Chorus amp. It has 2 Peavey stock 8 in. speakers in it that resemble Eminence type. Would a speaker replacement be better than getting a pre-amp. Anyone have experience trying this out.
Thanks

Good advice from others above. This place is something else!

2X8? www.loudspeakers.ca had a nice 8" replacement guitar speaker a few years ago and they may still have. I used a few in small amps that belonged to students to ease the icepick tone and they generally warmed it up too. No idea what the manufacturer was, though I seem to remember they were initially a bit of an experiment for the dealer so they may have been custom made. Maybe worth an enquiry.

An aside...my SS amp is a Traynor DG30 with a 12" Cannibis Rex and a few onboard FX. Might be my favourite SS amp since...I don't know...maybe the Jazz Chorus.

 

[mhammer]

So you can find the service manual, with schematic and parts layout, here: Elektrotanya for electronics experts (give it a moment for the download link to show up)

Referring to the schematic, I see many points for intervention. So again, I ask my question: what do you want it to do less or more of? For instance, is there one of the EQ controls that comes close to what you need it to do, but just doesn't go far enough? Is there som aspect of the overdrive sound you want a little more of?

 

[marcos]

So you can find the service manual, with schematic and parts layout, here: Elektrotanya for electronics experts (give it a moment for the download link to show up)

Referring to the schematic, I see many points for intervention. So again, I ask my question: what do you want it to do less or more of? For instance, is there one of the EQ controls that comes close to what you need it to do, but just doesn't go far enough? Is there some aspect of the overdrive sound you want a little more of?

I want it to sound warmer. The EQ is fine and it does work for me.
I have a sound in my head that i have been trying to get for ever (like so many guitarists). The Barber Gain Changer gives me enough gain for my style of music.Maybe i am expecting too much out of a SS amp.