When Peavey initially began producing theWolfgang guitar in late 1996 (most were produced in 1997) it only came in the Standard model (the Special had not beenintroduced) and it was available in six colors. It came in Black, Ivory and 4curly maple (quilt top) options.

• Peavey Speaker Serial Numbers Chart
• Peavey Electric Guitar Serial Numbers

These were red, amber, purple andsunburst (shown above). People often refer to the Sunburst as 'TobaccoBurst', but to the best of my knowledge Peavey did not make a color withthis name. There is just the one sunburst color that can look verydifferent in photographs based on the lighting.

The Gold top was added later in the yearand was used to primarily to paint guitars a color other than black when atop was rejected for one reason or another. Also, only the tremolo model was produced,other than a few prototypes (see #1542).The 'stop tail' or fixed bridge model was not introduced until the 2nd yearand never came in a quilt top. There were no 'Specials' the firstyear. EVH played a Sunburst original year quilt throughout the VH3tour and the 2004 tour. Unfortunately he smashed it the last show inTucson along with another guitar in an unfortunate display of anger aboutwho knows what.As everyone likely knows EVH had been withMusic Man (Ernie Ball) from 1990 through most of 1995. During that time theyproduced approximately 6000 Music Man EVH guitars, or 1,200 per year.This is a number directly from the company.

Most of thetops on the MM guitar were (are) exceptional. However, by the time theWolfgang came along, getting good quality curly maple at a reasonable pricewas becoming difficult. Peavey and EVH had a price point they wantedto meet and the quilted maple they were getting was not to either of theirsatisfaction.

So after only 1000 to 2000 (I have new information as ofApril 2006 suggesting the real number is closer to 1,000) quilt tops were produced, Peavey switched to flame maple from curlymaple. They made a lot of Black and Ivory guitars (especiallyblack) during the firstyear, and later Gold as well. They had roughly 8,000 orders in year one for the Wolfgang anddidn't begin to fill them all. The rumor was that Ed was very unhappywith the overall quality of the tops, and rightfully so if he was judgingthem against his Music Man. So rather than raise the price of theguitars to get the more highly figured materials they switched to flame maple. This is how thestory has been told to me by several people at Peavey.

Also,1,000 to 2,000 may still sound like a lot but it isnot that many for a production guitar like this and probably less than halfare still in collectable condition. That is only an average 250 to 500per color.I can tell you from first hand experiencethat the tops on the first year quilt tops vary greatly. In a sheerjudging contest of the quilting qualities of curly maple they would performrather poorly. However, the great deal of variation in the wood isquite unique and I personally believe this is their charm.

They arenot the standard run of the mill quilts. If you go out looking for theultimate quilted top you will be disappointed with almost all of them.It is rare to find a super nice one. In fact, I have never seen theultimate quilt top on a production Wolfgang. Even the red quilt intheir original brochure is not a great example. If you go out lookingfor the beauty in the variation of the tops and their unique qualities youwill be quite pleased.I have had several amber original year quilt tops.By chance I ended up with 2 consecutive serial numbers. They are verydifferent.

The pair (consecutiveserial numbers) are shown below. Click on the thumbnail picture to seethe larger picture. Notice the difference in the quilts.So while there were only four colors produced,they varied greatly within each color. One reason is that the methodthey used to stain the tops did not provide for consistent results.They later solved this 'problem' so that the staining process could berepeated with consistent results. However, I think the fact theoriginal year guitars did turn out different is part of their uniquequality.

The guitars do not fade as much as the Music Manbecause Peavey had a better UV block on the first year models than MusicMan, but it wasn't until about the 2nd year that Peavey developed a unique UV blocker they put in the paint thatprevents the fading almost entirely. Music Man had all kinds of problems with serious fading(see the Music Man section). It is too bad Peavey didn't develop theadvance UV block intime for the First Year models. I have not noticed any real colorchange from fading though, except in the Purple as they might turn alittle darker. I also saw a red on eBay that looked faded. However, it is so hard to tell because the colorstaining was not consistent.When you consider that on average that250 to 500 per color were likely produced, this is a much rarer guitar than almostanyone realized. Just getting the number produced from Peavey has beenvery difficult.

The number I am using is the best guess from someonewho was involved in production and has been there quite awhile. Theyoriginally said probably 'no more than 2,000' but after furtherresearch it is looking like 1,000 may be the real number. I amcontinuing to try and get a hard number, but the majority got painted blackor Gold.When you further consider that maybe half (or less) of the original guitarsproduced are in collectable condition, this is far more rare than isgenerally known. I see about 10 to 15 (or less) a year for sale oneBay and not too many really nice ones. When EVH was out playing againthe interest (and prices) on his guitars really went up. There havebeen stretches of about 3 months without asingle original year quilt top coming up for sale on eBay.

Most of thetime there is not one available. It is farmore likely to not find one than to find one available when you look.Compare this to the Music Man EVH, which is very collectable. There arealways a few to choose from and I have seen as many as 7 or 8 at a timeon a semi-regular basis available on eBay. So it really makes you wonder howmany are actually out there in collectable condition. I think it iscertainly lessthan 1,000 and maybe closer to 500! The Custom Shop Wolfgangs come upjust as often or more often and they only made 500 of those.After having owned so many of these guitars Ithink I can now say that the original year quilts are 'slightly' different from the later production models in their feel.

They seem overall heavier and the necks aregenerally nicer (not always). I think the materials they got that first year weredifferent, and possibly better in some cases. I have to say I like them better. This'perceived' difference also creates value becausefor someone who likes that specific feel, only an original year will do.If I could have only one production Wolfgang I would definitely have an original yearquilt top model.

And I would want one with the screw down trem handlethat were used on some that didn't have any play in it. The fact that Ed kept playing his original yearSunburst quilt for 7 years says something about that too I think.Serial Numbers- I have looked at the dates on the buildsheets of the original year guitars and compared them to the serial numbers.They are close, but not necessarily in order.

I think that is becausethe serial numbers are pulled during production and the delivery dateentered when the guitar is completed. A guitar that needed somethingreworked or was set to the side for some reason would have a later deliverydate even though it had an earlier serial number.

The first 500+ guitars that were built were black or Ivory,mostly black. I have not seena serial number below 580 that is a quilt and I have been told that it wasclose to 600 that they started producing the quilts. What is alsointeresting is that quite a few 'nice tops' were painted black,which means that although most black Wolfgangs are solid basswood that thereare lots of early year black ones with tops as well as later years as thispractice continued for a few years. If you look real close at thefinish you can see the solid basswood construction is in 3 pieces on thetops as opposed to the two piece maple tops.

The basswood guitars weremade of 3 pieces of basswood because they would 'curl' sometimes if only twowere used. They tried to do two and it 'potato chipped'. EVH hadnothing to do with this decision. It was done for 'strength'. The twooutside pieces were in the same direction grain wise and the center part wasflipped with the grain in the opposite direction. The black/ivory were CNC'd with the archtop from a solid blank as opposed to the maple tops whereit would be sanded down, a top glued on and then CNC'd. Thus, theblack/ivory have no top glued on, but the others have a maple top.

Ifyou have a black or ivory guitar that is two piece construction (look realclose at the top under the light) then you have one with a top.If you have a quilt top that is earlier than 580 I would like toget the number and a picture. Actually, I would like to get a pictureand serial number on any first year quilt you have. There may be a few special builds earlyon of quilts but I am pretty sure they didn't get production ramped up untilwell into the 500's or thereabouts. To get the build date of your guitarfrom the serial number you can go to the Peavey Guitar forum on their siteand post it as a question. Someone from Peavey will look it up andgive you the answer. This is the earliest serial number quilt I have seen and could be the best quilt I have ever seen on a production Wolfgang.

The guy who sold it to me said it was the very first one delivered to the Seattle area. I have had a few other Purple quilts and the color is significantly brighter than the others even accounting for this picture being taken in the sun. This could go back to the problems Peavey had with consistent color tones. It is in near mint condition It seems like the quilts were better early on and got less consistent (in general) as they went, which makes sense since Peavey switched to flame maple due to problems getting the quality of quilt they wanted at a price they were willing to pay.

Hey all,I recently picked up what I believe to be an early 90's Peavey Classic 50 212. It's tweed and it's got no effects loop. The serial number starts with '00-' and I don't know much more about it than that.I have 2 questions that someone more knowledgeable than me can hopefully answer:. What speakers came in these models? This amp is trashed and someone painted the back of the speakers black. I can still see serial/model numbers but that's it.

What tubes should this amp run? It's got el34's in it now.

No original footswitch so I bought a replacement and I noticed that the reverb doesn't switch cleanly; sometimes I hear an artifact of the reverb after I switch. Sometimes I hear a fraction of a second decay of the reverb even when it is switched 'off' from the footswitch. If I turn the reverb knob to '0' I do not hear the problem.Thoughts? I am the type of guy that reads this forum every day, absorbs information, and only post when I have something really pertinent to say or have issues that I know can be fixed. I really, really appreciate this place and the wealth of knowledge that is resident here.Regards,Roy. I have an 90s 4x10 version. Can't say I have heard the reverb issues you are speaking about.

Blue Marvel Speakers seem to be the stock model, but mine don't have the stickers like the more recent ones do. As far as tubes go here is what I put in mine from EuroTubes: Standard Retube for C30, C50 and DB AmpsPrice: 68.50Description: Does your C30 or C50 have a case of the flabby lows, harsh mids & brittle highs?

Here is your answer! A matched quad of the JJ EL84's for power, two standard ECC83S's for V1 and V2 with a graded high current ECC83S for V3. Just let me know in the comments box on the check out page if your looking for max headroom, moderate, or an early breakup so I can select a proper grade for the power tubes.

EL34's are a different size from EL84's, and the won't fit in the same socket. Check again, I'm pretty sure you've got EL84's in your amp.BTW, They only made that version Classic 50 without the effects loop for one year. I can' remember exactly, but I think it was 1991.

Post pics on the Peavey forum, someone there is bound to know.I've got two Classics, a newer 410 with the FX loop, and a mid 70's 212 like the one in the top photo, but with tweed tolex. Unfortunately my 212 is just a door stop at this point. Needs more work than it's worth. Maybe someday it will be worth it, or I can use the cab for something else.The VTX Classics are great amps too, very under-valued, IMHO. I have an early '90's 410, that I purchased new. I believe it was in '91.

Peavey Speaker Serial Numbers Chart

It had no effects loop, but I had one added before I picked it up from the store. I have no idea why I thought this would be needed. I've used it maybe twice. Anyway, as for the tubes, on mine I remember it having the tube numbers labeled on the chassis. I think you have to look under the chassis at the back. It should be around the tube access cover.

It is labeled like the speaker output jacks. I don't have mine here right now to check for you. Now, the speakers are kinda up in the air. I've been told that they are Blue Marvels as well as Scheffield(?). I don't know. They sound pretty good, but can get a bit flabby & woofy at high volume with a little too much bass.

Mine are WELL broken in, so I assume that's just the way they are. I've never done a thing to this amp, other than replacing tubes. I have used & abused it more than I care to admit for almost 20 years.

It has NEVER let me down. I do plan to start addressing some issues that have always bothered me this winter. I'll get into that another time though. Congrats on your purchase.

Good luck working the bugs out. These are awesome amps.P.S.-I'd love to find one of the original 1x15 extension cabs for these things. I think that would be an incredible set up. Sorry for the possibly a really stupid question.

I am a bit confused about where the ext cab must be connected and what ohms rating it must be.?In the PV C 50 212/410 Manual, there is said:SPEAKER OUTPUTS:Speaker output (1/4') jacks are provided for 16 and 8 ohms. When both jacks are engaged, amplifier impedanceis 8 ohms.Yes, there are 2 jacks under the chassis lower side, one being marked 8 ohms (normally not used), and the other one marked 16 ohms (thats whereto the series-parallel inner 4x10' 16 ohms speakers connect in my 410). But, on the amp there is actually no jack to have clear marking 'ext cab, such and such ohms'Is the original 15' ext cab (man I wish I had this) 8-ohm? Click to expand.It's the Peavey VT Classic 2X12.

I've owned this one since it was new in the early eighties.1. 50W - Hybrid/ Solid state pre/ 2X 6L6 power amp.2. Non biasing.3. Stock speakers unknown. No info I've been able to find.4.

Awesome clean channel. Overdrive sucks with out pedals. (Just my opinion).5. (a) Automix both channels (b) One on board effect, I think it's a flanger.

Not all that impressive. (c) Foot switch controls channels, auto mix, and reverb. (d) Spring reverb.When I bought this amp in the eighties it was being touted by Peavey as the poor mans Twin. As far as the clean sound goes I think they got it pretty close. Not that it sounds like a twin but it's certainly as clean as one.

Lots of headroom. I used this amp back then for a chicken fried rock cover band I was playing with.

Skynyrd, ARS, Marshall Tucker etc. I read somewhere that Skynyrd even used it on some of their recordings.Best thing I did for this amp lately was to toss the original speakers and install a set of Eminence 'Texas Heats'.

Peavey Electric Guitar Serial Numbers

The original 'Sylvania 6L6' tubes are awesome if they are still good. Mine were worn out so I put a set of GT GE 6L6's. Those tubes brought it back to life in a big way.I also have to say that IMHO the SS preamp on this thing doesn't really do justice to it's really good power section. However if you've got a Roland Micro Cube laying around then just plug it into the Peavey and listen to it transform into a whole new animal.

It flat out amazed me what it could do with a modern digital preamp driving it. Of course everything with old amps depends on condition but anyone who owns a Micro Cube and wants to turn it into a 50W 2X12 tone monster on the cheap might want to think about checking ebay for one of these.

I'm pretty sure you can pick up a decent one for +- $200.Oh by the way. Of all my guitars it seems to like the Tele best.