Any love for Peavey Windsor (studio)

[Little Timmy]

At least on paper, this seems like a great amp. At around $200, it has me thinking.

I may be looking for an amp that I can use for practice (with a moderately loud drummer) and for gigs... If I sell mine. Play mostly blues and classic rock, so I don't need pristine clean.

I know spending another $50-150 opens up a bunch of options, I'm just curious if it would really be worth it. Or, are there other options in the same range you all have compared favorably to the Windsor?

[Syrus]

I really dig the head version.
It's a copy of a Marshall.
Its also very very affordable.
Prices here ranged from 450 to a meager 220 euro. Which is insane for a 100watter.
The top has a great sound and very nice features.

!! BUT !! I've also heard from other guys, as in 1 or just 2 that burned the transformers.
Could also be of abuse. No spkr jack plugged in or just plain overheating/overusage.


The studio seems like a nice amp, with its multi tube adaptability. But its supposed to be very dark sounding with humbuckers. A outboard, cq EQ pedal fixes this properly.
This is a costly affair if you don't own a EQ pedal before hand.


So 100w : ]

Studio : [

[bsruther]

I just sold a Windsor head yesterday. It was modded by a local guy that does mods and has his own line of custom amps. It had a pentode/triode switch and the wattage was knocked in half with two power tubes removed. This thing was a tone monster and even though it was modded, I'd imagine it wasn't too far off from it's original sound. Only reason I got rid of it was because even with the power cut in half, it was still too damn loud. I kept it in the sun room and when I played it, I'd open the windows, hook up the wireless, crank it and stand 20 feet from the house. It was fun, but not something I did very often. The guy that bought it played about three chords and said "I'll take it".

The studio seems like it would be a great amp with the reduced noise levels. One thing these amps lack is headroom, but the headroom can be increased by putting 12AT7s in V2 and V3.

[Little Timmy]

Yeah, kinda crazy that I've seen the 100w versions selling for less than some of the studios. If I wasn't looking for a "grab-and-go" amp they would seem attractive. Although I would need to do something about the volume level.

As far as headroom in the Studio, do they lack "clean headroom"? Does swapping in 12AT7s reduce gain to clean things up (at slightly reduced volume?) Also, wouldn't swapping in a KT-88 increase overall power output, meaning everything would be a little louder before you get to the point of breakup?

Got to admit, I'm really interested in a platform to try a bunch of different tube options. Sort of like a Tweaker on a budget

[TOMMYTHUNDERS]

Wolfbrigade uses Windsor heads with a Boss HM-2 in front of it. Wolfbrigade is a phenomenal band. If they use them I have faith in it.

[patternrecognition]

I thought the heads and the combo/studios were completely different circuits, not at all alike.

[bsruther]

Originally Posted by patternrecognition

I thought the heads and the combo/studios were completely different circuits, not at all alike.

After a little checking, I think you might be right. The studio is class A and it appears that it may be voiced differently as well. I believe it has an on board attenuator too.

[Syrus]

The Studio is different from the top.

The top is 1:1 Marshall plexi clone. Just google pepsi experiment I think.
You can find a vid on YT about this amp and how its a clone of a 9000 dollar Marshall.

I'm going to sleep now, but I've posted that vid before somewhere on this board.

The amp is very good for its price, but the transformers can't take a beating is what I'v heard.

That being said, there is one for sale at 450 euro in a store near my place.
I've yet to go out and buy it, because I can clearly remember the last time I saw it on sale at thomann.de for 220 euro...

It twists your perspective a bit.

[Little Timmy]

Seems like many of the clips on YT talk about speaker replacement. And in doing some forum searches here and TGP, it looks like the two most recommended upgrades are speaker and OT. And it appears they aren't really "recommended" they're more "necessary." So, now instead of $200-250, it's more like $400-500, depending on the speaker OT cost and installation. Am I off base here?

[laxcdn]

I have tried one a couple times and really liked it, but wanted a 2 channel which this isn't.

[TOMMYTHUNDERS]

have you heard the new wolfbrigade record? their windsors sound great! give it a listen.

[Little Timmy]

Originally Posted by TOMMYTHUNDERS

have you heard the new wolfbrigade record? their windsors sound great! give it a listen.

That may be, but if they're using Windsor heads (we assume they're doing this on the recordings) through who knows what cab/speakers it's not really relevant to the questions/discussions about the Studio model.

If I were in the market for a 100w head, the Windsor would definitely get a look, but that's not what I'm after. And I'm not into metal either, so what I have heard doesn't do it for me.

[GitFiddle]

Jonesy does all his demo videos with a Windsor and everyone of them sound awesome.

Scroll down to bottom of page:
Installation Tips & DIY Videos

[TOMMYTHUNDERS]

Originally Posted by Little Timmy

That may be, but if they're using Windsor heads (we assume they're doing this on the recordings) through who knows what cab/speakers it's not really relevant to the questions/discussions about the Studio model.

If I were in the market for a 100w head, the Windsor would definitely get a look, but that's not what I'm after. And I'm not into metal either, so what I have heard doesn't do it for me.

i'm not a metal fan either.