The Peavey "Bravo" is a great little 25W (2xEL84, 3 x 12AX7) tube amp manufactured in the early 90's. I still remember buying mine from a shop in London's Tin Pan Alley and then lugging it across town on the underground to Isleworth. I can't remember what I paid for it then, but I think it was around £300.
Although many people have praised it for great "tone" I have never really thought it was that good. The clean is clean, but the "Ultra" channel, as Peavey call it, always sounded too fizzy and lacking in any balls. No real crunch... and I like crunch!
The Peavey amplifier forum used to have lots of info on mods to this amp but that seems to have all disappeared. If you do a search for "Peavey Bravo" you end up with lots of irrelevant info because one poster has Peavey Bravo" in his tag line and the search engine picks up everyone of his posts.
Lots of mods for the Peavey "Classic 30" are documented here so I will use the C30 mods as a basis for the Bravo.
Hopefully, this blog will document my quest for some decent sounds from this amp. If you have any suggestions/ideas please let me know.
Woz
4 comments:
C30 mods look a bit tame, I have many later PV schematics which can point the way to better sound, recording output, standby switch, adjustable bias etc.
Which late model PV amps would you recommend looking at?
The reverb can be improved in these amps simply by unscrewing the tank from the floor of the amp, and pulling it outside. The cables are a little short, but moving it as far away from the speaker magnet as you can improves its tone. A tolex bag like most amps have to isolate it from vibrations and keep it clean is a good idea, too. Cheap "upgrades"!
The best 5hing you can do for this amp is change the speaker. I've tried several and ended up with a Jensen out of a Super Reverb. I like the sound it produces as it is clearer on the high and middle while still holding the bottom well. My preference is to put it through a 2x12 closed back cab with green backs. I've been considering making a back for the amp as well.
I tamed it up a bit with some 12au7 tubes but others my not like this. It gives a strong fender clean sound. The dirty side breaks up later giving a fantastic blues sound. When turning the drive up, it can get good and saturated particularly when pulling the knob out to give that extra kick.
I have run 2 4x12's but I like the way it pushes the 2x12 better. Yes, it can handle the 4x12's; it is extremely loud.
I have put mics in front of it and found that 2 can give a great sound.
I am on my second Bravo as I sold my first and missed it so bad I had to have another.
My other amps include a Peavey Classic 50/50 and an Orange Micro Dark (this one was a gift).
I think with the changes I have made, thus is the best combo Peavey has made.
Keep rockin'
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