Delta Blues 210 Review

30 Watts into 16 or 8 Ohms. 2-channel preamp. Two speakers. Tremelo w/ speed and intensity. Normal volume control on clean channel. 3-band passive EQ (bass, middle, treble). Boost switch. Master reverb. Effects loop.

Features:	8.7
Sound:	9.7
Reliability:	9
Impression:	10
Overall rating:	9.4
Users rating:	7.7
Comments:	5

overall: 9

Featured review by: Dreadnought, on january 16, 2004

Price paid: $ 519.99

Purchased from: Sam Ash

Features: The amp was made in 2003, though I don't know what year it originated in. It is an all-tube combo amp (30 watts) with two 10 inch speakers (Blue Marvel brand) and has two channels. Knobs are: Normal (clean volume), Pre (pre-gain), Post (post-gain), Reverb (duh), Bass, Mid, Treble, Tremelo Intensity, and Tremolo Speed. Not as many options as other amps out there, but I wasn't looking for tons of effects and enough wattage to knock a wall down. Also has external speaker jack, remote switch (footswitch) jack, and effects send and effects return (effects loop).

Everything is laid out nicely and easily accessible, and the classic chickenhead knobs are a nice addition. Everything seems to be extremely well built, no wobbly inputs/knobs and no loose screws.

The footswitch allows you to switch between the clean and lead (distortion) channels, and let's you turn on and off the tremolo. I do however wish they had made it able to turn on and off the reverb instead of the tremolo...

I give it a 4 because it's lacking a headphone jack and footswitchable reverb. // 8

Sound: I play a Squier Stratocaster (not those crappy Affinity Strat's, I play an actualy Stratocaster copy... much higher quality than the Affinity's) and an Agile 2500 HS (I think that's the model, it's the SG copy that they sell [or used to sell]) with all stock pickups, as I don't know enough to switch them and don't have enough money to take them to a shop to be switched.

Besides looking good, this amp sounds AMAZING. With crystal clear bell-like highs and tight and responsive lows, this amp will suit every clean style imaginable. I've compared it to the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, and although the Fender has sparkly cleans, it just couldn't match the tone and punch of the Peavey. I only cranked it up to 5 (of 12) and that was loud enough to nearly make my ears bleed, and it didn't distort, though I've heard that the Delta Blues 115 tends to distort at 4... Two thumbs up for the clean section.

This amp has to have some of the best crunch I have ever heard coming from an amp. I can easily get the mouth-watering distortion used in Metallica's cover of Whiskey In The Jar, and then just by turning down the pre-gain a few notches, get the perfect sound for Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Tightrope". You can't exactly get that metal sound (such as Opeth, Children Of Bodom, or Metallica) with this amp, but given the name (Delta Blues) you shouldn't be buying this amp for that genre. You can always just hook up your fav pedal (DOD Death Metal!) and get that sound.

It has "spring reverb" which is REAL reverb, which uses springs to produce the oh-so-relished reverb sound. Ergo, the quality of the reverb is completely flawless, and is nice and loose. The tremolo is amazing also, with perfect quality and no noise/hiss in the background when it is engaged (as with some multi-effects pedals). I've heard people complain that there is a sound drop when it is turned on, but i haven't noticed that; the only drop is in the tremolo itself, which is what it's supposed to do: to fluctuate your sound. // 10

Reliability & Durability: As far as realiability goes, Peavey is the reigning champ. I've dealt with them before with my Rage 158 (first amp and amp I had before the Delta Blues) and they were very helpful and quick to respond. I haven't had to contact them about the Delta Blues yet, as it's been holding pretty good so far. It seems to be sturdily built, as most Peavey's are.

I would certainly gig without a backup with it, though I might bring some extra tubes, because the there is no back cover and the tubes are just hanging out for the world to see (which CAN be cool). I give it a four because of the lack of a back cover... // 8

Impression: I've been playing for about one and a half years, and have come to appreciate a wide variety of musical genre's and equipment; this being one of the kinds in my collage of amps that I have tried. I play mostly metal, classic rock, heavy rock, and some emo/punk. For all my punk/emo and rock needs, this amp's got me covered. I can always just plug in my DOD Death Metal if I want to get that metal sound.

This is one top-end amp; a STEAL for the money that was paid for it. // 10

overall: 9.8

Reviewed by: da_guitar_boi, on april 10, 2007

Price paid: $ 474.99

Purchased from: Bill Hardin Music

Features: This amp is very versatile. I can get sounds anywhere from Keith Urban to John Mayer to Green Day to Big & Rich to even some Three Days Grace stuff. This amp can easily cover anything except maybe some really heavy stuff like Slipknot or Hunter. But what do you expect from an amp called the Delta Blues. It has 2 channels clean and od. the channels are selected by either a button on the amp or a foot Switch (sold separately). It has an FX Loop, 3 band EQ, Reverb, Tremolo, EQ Boost Switch (as far as I can tell it's basically the same thing as a "fat Switch" on a Fender amp), and a speaker out. The only features I wish it had would be a separate EQ for the OD channel. I also would like for the tremolo to be foot switchable instead of just the reverb. This is the reason for the 9 rating. Even though this amp is only 30 watts it gets pretty loud. My mom won't let me turn the volume past 2. another feature mine has is a protective grill in the back to protect the tubes but provide ventilation for the hot air. From what I have read the older did not have this feature. // 9

Sound: Right now I use it with my modified Squier Stratocaster. it has just 2 pickups a humbucker and a single coil. I play anything from country to blues to rock and contemporary praise and worship at church and it hits all those areas very well. it does get noisy with teh single coil but what amp doesnt't. There is a slight hum in the background when you turn it on but that might be from the ground, I haven't really worried about ti too much because you can't notice it when you are playing. this amp doesnt't have variety like amp but it can make just about any sound you want, except metal, and for that all you need is a good distortion pedal like a Jeckyl & Hyde by Visual Sounds. I haven't turned the clean channel up past 4 or 5 so I don't know if it will distort or not. The distortion is very very clear and crisp. That is the reason I bought this amp. When I hear the distortion channel I had to have it. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I would use it at a gig without a replacement but I would take some extra tubes just in case. I've only had it for a week so I haven't had any experience with it breaking down. As I mentioned before they added a cover for teh tubes which really impressed me. // 10

Impression: I Have been playing for 5 or 6 years now. I also own an Alvarez RD8C Acoustic/Electric with a upgraded Fishman pickup, A Samick Fairlane Bass, A Line 6 Spider II 15 watt, a Line 6 Spider II 150 watt, A Boss CE-5 Chorus enesemble, a Johnson Distortion pedal (piece of crap) and miscellaneous accessories. If my amp was stolen I would probably buy another one. I already answered all the other questions for this section in previous sections. // 10

overall: 9.3

Reviewed by: unregistered, on september 17, 2008

Price paid: C$ 400

Features: Not sure of the amp's year of manufacture, but it is the older version without the tube guard. This amp is versatile, I bought it for it's nice blues tone, it gets nice and thick, with a healthy but rich smooth distortion. It is the first amp that I've owned that I play clean, it has a tone you can feel. I play some blues, rock, some punky stuff like Clash, Rancid and Offspring. but with much more clean sound. Features described in reviews below. I don't mind, it looks kinda cool seeing the tubes glow in the dark. But enough of my night time habits. I gave the amp an 9 for the reason that it doesn't come with a footswitch. I can't think of why they would make that an option? (Heartley are you reading this? ) // 9

Sound: I'm playing a strat with single coils, and it suits me just fine for most things, and even better for others. I am running a chorus through the effects loop and a Cry Baby in front of the amp. Both more for tone, rather than for effect. I find it has a bit of a hum but once you play it disapears. The amp is just awesome tone wise with just a hint of tremalo and the reverb set to about 4. I'm playing in a cluttered room mostly, so a bit more reverb is needed at lower volumes. As above, it suits many styles of music, just a little fiddling and you can seriously alter the amps sound. I haven't had the amp up loud enough to have the clean channel distort just yet, but I'm working on it. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I have an '83 Decade, that hasn't failed me, I don't expect this to either. I don't gig, just jam here and there, so I wouldn't worry about a back up. The amp is new to me, but was in showroom condition when I bought it from a little old lady in Passedina.
Again, I gave it an 9, as far as I know the amp has never needed service for any thing other than the tubes were replaced. // 9

Impression: As above, I play a wide variety of things, it works, it is so versatile.
I've been playing for 25years plus, I still have my origional amp, a Peavey Decade 10w, but have been asked by my wife to "do something with it." If it were lost or stolen I'd be on the hunt for another, the value is fantastic. This amp costs a couple hundred less than a comparable Fender, but is made in the USA, not Mexico. I played Fender the blues deluxe, Hot Rod Deluxe, Traynor YCV50 Blue, and YCV40 and the fact that the price for this, used mind you, compared to the other amps was $200 less clinched it.

This amp is by far more versatile than the other amps, it has better tone clean than the Fenders, and a much nicer thick rich creamy distortion than any of them.
The only thing I wish it had was a footswitch included. But even the Fenders foot switches are extra. // 10

Comments

[Seth Shadows]

Good Review. I'll buy it. :cheers:

[ten_years_after]

this thing looks pretty cool but cant afford it

[Mecler]

I just got one recently, and I love it. I haven't found any flaws yet.

[Blasphemylol]

Sounds like an awesome amp! By the looks of it, it must be pretty loud if nobody have had the balls to turn it up

[Charlie4]

Corrrect me if I'm wrong [pun] but don't Peaveys usually have an annoying buzz? My valveking buzzes?