Peavey Windsor Guitar Amplifier Head (100 Watts)
All-tube. Single channel.
Overall User Ratings (based on 30 ratings)
Submitted September 22, 2012 by Brian A in Brandon, MB
"Peavey Windsor amp head"
I love this amp! The warm tube sound, and the kick ass volume you can get from this amp can't be beat.
Sound
I love and play late 70's style of rock and roll, Led Zep, AC/DC, Cheap Trick. I have a Fender Strat and a Gibson Les Paul, but the guitar of choice for this amp is the Les Paul. I got this amp used from a friend and I have it hooked up to 2 15inch bass speaker cabinet. The sound is probably a little darker and deeper than a regular cabinet but i really like it.
Features
For a one channel amp you can get some pretty great sounds but there all gonna be a least a little overdriven, its hard to get a pure clean sound, I have another amp for that. The more pre-amp the more distortion, but not metal distortion, distortion with tone! I like the a/b power setting better, and I love the resonance for that low end growl if I'm just jamming by myself.
Ease of Use
Super easy, just play with it and find your tones.
Quality
Had it for about 6 months,no problems so far, but I have lots of Peavey products, and there all reliable.
Value
I have played the real Marshall 80's era amp and I actually think this amp has better tone and distortion range. It also has a deeper fuller sound than my Peavey valve king 212, but only one channel so not as versatile. So if you play mostly 60's to 80's style of rock you'll like this amp.
Manufacturer Support
No need to call them so far, but if I have problems I take it back to my music store, which is a authorized Peavey dealer and they always stand behind there products.
The Wow Factor
Some people get all excited about brand names, Fender, Marshall, but I'm sold on Peavey's for the sound, price and quality. They are like the little brother that no one pays attention to. Give them a try you'll be impressed.
Musical Background:
playing for 30 years, Fender strat, Gibson Les Paul studio, jam with friends, play bass in a band,.
Musical Style:
mostly 60's 70's and 80's style rock
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Submitted December 17, 2008 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Aww, c'mon -- it's not that bad!"
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I'm always looking for inexpensive ways to extend the palette. It's not about finding a silver bullet solution, but to have a range of tools to choose from depending on the situation. I use 100W so infrequently that it makes no sense for me to invest in a high price boutique head.
I did make that investment for a MAZ-18, right in the sweet spot of the power I like best for small clubs. That amp is a tone machine, no doubt, and I'll end up buying one of his Route 66s also. But I just found one of those leftover Vietnamese-made Crate Palomino 30 W combos with one 12" Celestion in it (I'm guessing the Model Seventy-80 but not certain.) Not the same as the MAZ-18 exactly, but hey! I'll gig with the Crate just in case some dork spills beer my way.
Like the Crate to the Z-amp, the Windsor head does most of the job a boutique head would do for a mere fraction of the money. I like that idea. That's a perfect example of the 80-20 Rule: get 80 percent there for 20 percent of the cost. Cool by me. The only thing one has to watch is that reliability stuff -- some manufacturers have been horrible in that regard. But Peavey has always been solid, so I feel I can trust their product maybe a little more than the well-known German-based cost leader.
Sound
This is a matter of wide debate. The amp doesn't clean up perfectly, that's true. Now, that said, running 2x12 Greenbacks in an open Geezer Sound slant front cab plus a Vintage 30 and G12H in a closed-back Dr. Z "Z-Best" cab on the bottom, it's pretty damn impressive sounding to me.
It needs a lot of dialing in. It has all these controls on it, all of which are entirely unnecessary and in fact work against the tone. That's all true. But I just found a place to leave them and just forget that thery're even there. Do I wish they weren't there? Yes. For this price, is that a show-stopper? Nope.
Features
It has too many features. Just a clean signal path with a volume and a tone stack is all that was needed. It would be a great amp at that point, and probably could be even less expensive than it already is.
Ease of Use
Have to get past all the excess crapola. Once that's done, turn it on and off -- big whup.
Quality
The fit and finish is fine. It's not a boutique item and no one would ever mistake it for one. But it looks nice enough. Is it rugged? I really don't know -- I'm not about to bang it around if I can avoid it. It doesn't strike me as fragile, but I'm guessing it isn't exactly bulletproof.
Value
High marks here. I happened to pick up a B stock for a nice savings. But even at regular price, it's a good value for the money. I'd easily gig with this head if I ever ended up in a situation where such power was appropriate. I purchased it just to have it in stock for that purpose, but normally gig with 15W - 30W through 2 x 10s or 2 x 12s.
Manufacturer Support
N/A.
The Wow Factor
It's not UN-attractive, but it's not overly attractive either. What's most interesting is 100W worth of EL34s for a great price.
Musical Background:
active musician, guitar teacher, audio engineer
Musical Style:
blues, rock, country, jazz
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Submitted October 18, 2010 by a customer from hotmail.com
"The Dead have arisen The South wil rise again...Good Anp and Guitar will travel..."
I am set for life...now just have to find some old duds that still play and want to plays southern rock and the blues.
Sound
I am old. Been playing since 1965-had all kinds of amps and eqt. I really like this amp. I heard that you couldnt get a clean sound. But running stright up at 12 o clock gives the amp I have a great clean sound. I think it sounds like an old vox ac30. I also have an old amppag v22 and that is also a bright and nice amp...so with the two I am set. I run the amp through a fender botton of 4 12s. I dont need killer sound.. I just need a good sound that brings out the blues and the old rock classics. This amp will do that.
Features
It is a good 60-70s amp. Reverb would have been ok but my other amp has a real good reverb.. no Harvey had a great Idea and it shows. I will give him creit here.
Ease of Use
Its easy if you take time and play it a while. Its like driving a car.. Learn how it handles.. then push it to the metal.
Quality
Its about 40lbs..that heavey enough for me. Seams like it is built to handle the road.
Value
I always buy used and that way seem to come out ok...I got great value out of this amp. It had 5 hours on it when I bought it
Manufacturer Support
? Hvent needed yet.
The Wow Factor
It is like the 60,s and 70,s made to work and live a little longer...its not bang bang your dead.
Musical Background:
Old Blues Musician
Musical Style:
Blues, Southern Rock-Jazz
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Submitted April 5, 2008 by a customer from verizon.net
"All in how you use it"
Great for how I use it, suits me fine. To me it was worth every penny. For now, I'll keep it until something bigger and badder comes my way
Sound
I'm 34 and been playing guitar for 15 years now.I don't use the amp for distortion, ( has a bit too much "british rasp" tone for me). I use it only for power. I use a digitech rp-250 for my "slightly-scooped american metal" tone. The amp does very well for this purpose, and is very loud, on 2 it overpowers my drummer, and that's not easy. Don't forget to match the ohm's w/ your cab if possible, this will definately affect you volume. If using a processor with the amp clean, you might have to tweak your gain output from your effects so you don't run too hot into the amp. Also the a/b knob will help get a "loose british sound or a tight american sound",very important knob!
Features
This amp is nice for what it is, a single channel w/ boost option amp. Fine knob configuration, easy to dial-in. The construction is nice, seems very well built, and the tubes are very secure in the amp. (I can't see them coming loose at all???). Hey, it's a Peavey, I've owned many of their amps over the years and they have all been rock-solid, and this head seems to be no exception. But.... the Footswitch for the boost option is not included, seperate purchase.
Ease of Use
The learning curve on the amp is pretty small, just try some of the tips I mention above.
Quality
Built like a tank (for a tube amp). Seems quite dependable, but always get a back-up for playing out.
Value
I don't know of a better deal for a "All-tube" amp.
Manufacturer Support
Dunno, never had to use them.
The Wow Factor
I'm still getting used to the "white vynil" look. Might cover it with something I deem Metal. It does catch the eye though.
Musical Background:
Serious Hobbyist soon to be an Active Musician again
Musical Style:
Lamb of God meets C.O.C., Black Sabbath and Shadows Fall
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Submitted December 13, 2007 by a customer from comcast.net
"Noice-In-A-Box"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
SAVE YOUR MONEY for the real deal. Even if you're dead-set on Peavey, there's better choices. Take a look-see at that JSX 2x12" combo or head. Put your $400 toward something that'll WORK for you and your music, not AGAINST you.
Noice DON'T = music.
Sound
This is a distortion box, plain and simple. It's built for kids who've been handed some of Dad's hard-earned $'s for xmas. Can't evaluate this amp against anything of sound & playable quality. If you want to make noise for $400 retail, then i guess this is your ticket to blast.
Features
one-channel noise-maker. BTW ... this "texture" dial is more hype than reality. (and you DON'T get true single-ended class-A either. You can't just dial-down the wattage and "voila" .... it don't work like that.)
Ease of Use
It's an amp with dials.....how do you spell "Duh". Regarding "playability" .... it ain't got none. No dynamics; one-tone trick pony. Volume roll-off ?? Try "rolling off" a $50 Boss pedal .... same result.
Quality
This thing's (probably) built in some amp sweat shop overseas.....kids will drop it down a coupla flights of steps and ding it, or shake some tubes lose.
Value
After playing this box for a while....my sentiments regarding money spent is only re-enforced: SAVE your hard-earned $'s for the real deal. If you're in the market for an amp, BUY QUALITY. Don't worry that quality costs .... in the long run, you'll be much better off. And your music will be, too.
Manufacturer Support
If you unfortunate enough to buy this amp, you probably won't care.
The Wow Factor
A toy that would take up too much closet space. (Where would i put my shoes?)
Musical Background:
ex-clubber
Musical Style:
blues, rock,alternative,light jazz
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