tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post3316662779506215219..comments2024-01-31T21:40:43.884-08:00Comments on Origami Night Lamp: Peavey Pacer Tube Amp Conversion Project, Part 1James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-83258243880386690992023-03-04T16:44:52.241-08:002023-03-04T16:44:52.241-08:00Hi Anonymous -
Thanks for reading some of this blo...Hi Anonymous -<br />Thanks for reading some of this blog post! Re acceptable tone, a really good player can make almost any amp sound good, even a Peavey transistor rig; as for me, I need the dynamic boost of hot glowing vacuum bottles to get me through the song.<br /><br />As mentioned numerous times, I never actually knew how to play guitar. Although I was able to get well paying gigs constantly when I was younger (due to a fortuitous combination of youthful chick-magnet good looks and a snazzy wardrobe, pro attitude and confident stage presence, knowing how to make approximately appropriate instrumental noises in almost any genre, having a sizable arsenal of cool vintage gear, and an ability to sing stacked vocal harmonies in all ranges) I never really acquired enough musical technique to be able to make an amp like a Pacer sound good.<br /><br />Also, guess what? The Peavey Pacers did "catch on"; they sold tons of them in the '70s. And as for the stock speaker you describe, which I assume are the Scorpion line, even they have their fan boys - presumably the same folks who enjoy eating poisonous puffer fish and drinking 190 proof Everclear straight.<br /><br />And finally, as for the Peavey badge, I hear that the version made of metal can be used as a fine offensive weapon, either wielded like a switchblade or precision thrown. I wouldn't dream of "passing judgement prematurely", or anything else prematurely for that matter.<br /><br />Cheers!<br />James Aoyamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-38818611137893813912022-09-23T21:07:35.426-07:002022-09-23T21:07:35.426-07:00this is a cool write up, but i can’t believe that ...this is a cool write up, but i can’t believe that you found the tone unacceptable! these amps sounds absolutely wonderful, and i’m really surprised that they have not caught on. the stock speaker (which yours did not have) is somewhat of a crucial component, which is something that will surely get overlooked by the uninitiated. i think the peavey badge will (unfortunately) cause some folks to pass judgement prematurely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-54634145070716424972020-09-16T23:38:40.784-07:002020-09-16T23:38:40.784-07:00Reply to John1948:
Hi John! Thanks for taking the...Reply to John1948:<br /><br />Hi John! Thanks for taking the time to read the blog. Sounds like you know how to work on solid state gear, especially Peavey stuff - I'm dumb, just know tube amps. I'll comment on a couple of your points:<br />- Keep squirting Deoxit will solve one problem - the pot will dissolve inside and a brand new replacement will sound great.<br />- Pretty sure the Pacer power-on lamp doesn't have a replaceable bulb; has to be replaced as a unit.<br />- Easiest way to get more (and better sounding) reverb is with a pedal. Highly recommend a Boss FDR-1.<br />- I'm not "down on solid state" - as mentioned in the post, a tube 1st gain stage is a musical crutch for me. Wasted my youth partying and constantly gigging, never really learned how to play.<br />- Yeah, older Peavey amps are made almost 100% bomb proof.<br />- Getting back into rocking out is a great thing - go for it!<br /><br />---JimJames Aoyamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-24075502119372473312020-09-05T17:53:52.761-07:002020-09-05T17:53:52.761-07:00Hi Mr Unknown -
Thanks for reading some of the blo...Hi Mr Unknown -<br />Thanks for reading some of the blogpost, also thanks for getting in touch! Wow, sounds like an insane and killer party rig - a Zoom pedal through a wall of Pacers with all knobs on 10... what could possibly go wrong?<br /><br />Well, keep on rockin' the free world!<br /><br />---JImJames Aoyamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-5770348345544281122020-09-05T13:33:29.772-07:002020-09-05T13:33:29.772-07:00The Peavus Pacer is one of the best dirt box / mod...The Peavus Pacer is one of the best dirt box / modeler driven amps ever made. I have been using them for decades and have not had anyone say it doesn't sound really good. I did seal the backs and put in EVM12 speakers in the 2 that I have. Giant improvement, not for distortion ,but for power handling and crystal clear sound reproduction . I use 2 Pacers driven with a Zoom 606 pedal (believe it or not) and I also run a Peavey ULTRA 112, all at the same time. The Pacers are set for low input volume and all eq's on or close to 10, and the master on 10 .It is basically run like a power amp. It is a great distortion box amp ,the best I have ever used.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933045970487418149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-85729463548375950752020-06-05T14:24:40.659-07:002020-06-05T14:24:40.659-07:00Mr. Aoyama: I have an old Pacer from about 1980 a...Mr. Aoyama: I have an old Pacer from about 1980 and it sat in my closet since 2005. Recently I took it out, replaced the A/C cord, replaced all the aluminum capacitors, upgrading the 1000uF caps to 2200uF, cleaned all the pots and cranked it up. Haven't played in years, so tone is not the amp's problem. Still need to replace the "Volume" pot although it is working. It seems to have a few dead spots that won't go away no matter how much "Deoxit" I squirt in there. Almost everything else seems fine except: 1.Power lamp is intermittent and I haven't figured out how to get it out of the holder yet. 2. I would like more "Reverb" level. It is clear but not quite enough. Maybe reducing the 10k input and output line resistors?<br /><br />The tone controls used to have little effect, but now they are working perfectly since cleaning everything up. Sorry you're so down on solid state. This is the only amp I have ever worked on that uses a xformer to drive the outputs. Also the only amp I have that uses a glass circuit board where everyone else at this level used the old phenolic boards that burn up when you try to solder in new parts. Maybe I'll start playing again!John1948https://www.blogger.com/profile/13381963496931120266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-79009055994009955912020-02-03T10:24:21.960-08:002020-02-03T10:24:21.960-08:00Hi -
Thanks for getting in touch! I kind of forgot...Hi -<br />Thanks for getting in touch! I kind of forgot that Peavey Pacer project - way too many other projects and home fix-its came along since, and I need to finish this one for sure. So thanks again for the reminder, and more details are coming soon.<br /><br />---JimJames Aoyamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-84953012704413803822020-01-23T12:01:48.552-08:002020-01-23T12:01:48.552-08:00Very cool! A friend of mine gave me one of these a...Very cool! A friend of mine gave me one of these amps not too long ago. It sounds OK. I as also thinking about converting it to a tube amp. Looking forward to seeing more on this!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05400311437875949572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-91201195577677491922020-01-23T11:59:34.883-08:002020-01-23T11:59:34.883-08:00Very cool! I just got one of these from a friend o...Very cool! I just got one of these from a friend of mine. Not terrible sounding, but not great. I as also thinking of doing a tube amp conversion. Looking forward to seeing how this turns out!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05400311437875949572noreply@blogger.com