peavy classic RE-tube

hellacaster · June 6th, 2006, 11:54 PM

Hi gang, I had a regarding tube replacement on my classic 50. I don't need new tubes yet, but I am going to school very soon and want to get extras now before I don't have the $$$. Of course the manual say only to replace them with peavy brand tubes. I bought some el84's I needed, now I found three JJ's 12ax7 that I need for $25. Is this a good idea, or is peavy just blowing smoke up our asses? This amp is my baby, and I'd hate to do it harm, but I don't want to pass on a deal either. Also does anybody know anything about those volume boxes that are for sale on ebay? thanks guys.

trdlasvegas · June 7th, 2006, 12:03 AM

No real need for Peavey Tubes. Peavey just rebrands other people's tubes anyway.

By the way $25 for 3 JJ 12AX7's is no real deal.

-Tony

tazzboy · June 7th, 2006, 12:12 AM

Don't bother with the volumes boxes those are B.S. just get the tube recommend and pop out the old put in the new and you are off and running.

Nub · June 7th, 2006, 01:01 AM

Call Bob @ EuroTubes; good prices, great service, and he knows Peavey amps:

http://eurotubes.com/index.htm

JohnnyCrash · June 7th, 2006, 03:06 AM

Brands don't matter for working conditions... but they do for sound.

Peavey's don't need to be re-biased, they're cathode biased which simply means for the end user... you can plug in new tubes and turn it on and play it :)

I wasn't too keen on JJ's EL84 tubes (the power tubes), the 12AX7s (PreAmp tubes) were OK, but I prefer other brands there.

JJ's 6V6s and 6L6s I really like, as well as the Sovtek 6L6WXT+ tubes... of course your Peavey doesn't use these, but I'm illustrating how some brands make tubes different than others - SO - try out stuff till you find what you like.

Objective tube reviews are great because they use very descriptive language that can help you "narrow down" your search without blowing a wad of dough... all to your tastes. Still, nothing beats trying a ton out yourself :)

Tremo · June 7th, 2006, 03:30 AM

'Scuze me Crash, but the gent said he had a C50. Those are fixed bias amps. So yeah, it would be a good idea to have it rebiased for the new EL84s.

PV doesn't make tubes, they just relabel the same tubes everyone else sells. They're probably Sovteks.

JohnnyCrash · June 7th, 2006, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tremo

'Scuze me Crash, but the gent said he had a C50. Those are fixed bias amps. So yeah, it would be a good idea to have it rebiased for the new EL84s.

PV doesn't make tubes, they just relabel the same tubes everyone else sells. They're probably Sovteks.

I've owned THREE Classics... two 50s and a 30.

I could've sworn they were all cathode biased deals... perhaps I should put the bottle down now? HEHE

JohnnyCrash · June 7th, 2006, 03:41 AM

Makes since though now...

Four EL84s cathode biased couldn't pump out 50w, now could it?

Now the 30 has the exact same tube compliment and is "only" 30 watts (plenty loud still, BTW)...

Oh, no... you've got me in tweak mode now... an upgrade to a 50w output Classic 30 is probably very easy, with very few parts swap-outs (except of course the PT/OTs would be a little bit of a co$t bump in the upgrade)...

Too bad I sold all three of my Classics :(

Tremo · June 7th, 2006, 03:25 PM

Converting a C30 to 50 Watts? You'd need the C50 OT, and you'd definitely have to convert to fixed bias. I don't know if the C30 PT would work, reliably.

Way too much hassle in a cramped PCB amp. IMO.

hellacaster · June 7th, 2006, 11:03 PM

Biased? help me out here...

tazzboy · June 7th, 2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellacaster

Biased? help me out here...

Doesn't need to be. Just pop out the old and put in the new and you are off and running.

Tremo · June 8th, 2006, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazzboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellacaster

Biased? help me out here...

Doesn't need to be. Just pop out the old and put in the new and you are off and running.

Not very good advice, my man. The C50 is fixed bias, not cathode bias. It should be checked, otherwise it's a total crapshoot.

tazzboy · June 8th, 2006, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tremo

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazzboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellacaster

Biased? help me out here...

Doesn't need to be. Just pop out the old and put in the new and you are off and running.

Not very good advice, my man. The C50 is fixed bias, not cathode bias. It should be checked, otherwise it's a total crapshoot.

Ah that is correct advice my man, Cause it has been ask on the Peavey Amp forum and confirm by Roger Crimm who works for Peavey that all you have to do is that. Cause he post a long time back (I doubt you find cause it back 6 years ago) and he talk to one of the engineers who build it.

I won't give out bad advice if it weren't true.

Tremo · June 8th, 2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazzboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tremo

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazzboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellacaster

Biased? help me out here...

Doesn't need to be. Just pop out the old and put in the new and you are off and running.

Not very good advice, my man. The C50 is fixed bias, not cathode bias. It should be checked, otherwise it's a total crapshoot.

Ah that is correct advice my man, Cause it has been ask on the Peavey Amp forum and confirm by Roger Crimm who works for Peavey that all you have to do is that. Cause he post a long time back (I doubt you find cause it back 6 years ago) and he talk to one of the engineers who build it.

I won't give out bad advice if it weren't true.

Sounds like the same"biased for life" crap that Smith and Pittman spew. Sorry, but I don't buy it. Neither do most knowledgable amp guys.

ruger9 · June 8th, 2006, 07:16 PM

The Classic 30's & 50's are indeed "non-adjustable fixed bias", and Peavey does indeed recommend that no biasing should ever be neccesary unless something malfunctions- like a part burns up or something.

I don't know if that is "crap that is spewed" or not, but I have had 3 sets of power tubes in my C50 so far and not problem one.

FYI, the Classic 20/Delta Blues is cathode biased- no bias adjustment needed.

hellacaster · June 8th, 2006, 09:03 PM

Yeah, thats all well and good, but what the Hell is "biased"? haha.

June 6th, 2006, 11:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
hellacaster Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 125	peavy classic RE-tube Hi gang, I had a regarding tube replacement on my classic 50. I don't need new tubes yet, but I am going to school very soon and want to get extras now before I don't have the $$$. Of course the manual say only to replace them with peavy brand tubes. I bought some el84's I needed, now I found three JJ's 12ax7 that I need for $25. Is this a good idea, or is peavy just blowing smoke up our asses? This amp is my baby, and I'd hate to do it harm, but I don't want to pass on a deal either. Also does anybody know anything about those volume boxes that are for sale on ebay? thanks guys.

June 7th, 2006, 12:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
trdlasvegas Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Lost Wages, Nevada Posts: 205	No real need for Peavey Tubes. Peavey just rebrands other people's tubes anyway. By the way $25 for 3 JJ 12AX7's is no real deal. -Tony __________________ www.trdpartsonline.com www.thermalrelief.com

June 7th, 2006, 12:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
tazzboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2005 Location: Eugene, Oregon Age: 31 Posts: 3,293	Don't bother with the volumes boxes those are B.S. just get the tube recommend and pop out the old put in the new and you are off and running. __________________ tazzboy

June 8th, 2006, 07:16 PM	#15 (permalink)
ruger9 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hackettstown, NJ Posts: 1,726	The Classic 30's & 50's are indeed "non-adjustable fixed bias", and Peavey does indeed recommend that no biasing should ever be neccesary unless something malfunctions- like a part burns up or something. I don't know if that is "crap that is spewed" or not, but I have had 3 sets of power tubes in my C50 so far and not problem one. FYI, the Classic 20/Delta Blues is cathode biased- no bias adjustment needed. __________________ "I've got callouses, from all those nights, spent playin' a Telecaster, 'till my fingers bled Bud Light" - Travis Tritt

June 7th, 2006, 01:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
Nub Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: SoCal Posts: 920	Call Bob @ EuroTubes; good prices, great service, and he knows Peavey amps: http://eurotubes.com/index.htm

June 7th, 2006, 03:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,128	Brands don't matter for working conditions... but they do for sound. Peavey's don't need to be re-biased, they're cathode biased which simply means for the end user... you can plug in new tubes and turn it on and play it :) I wasn't too keen on JJ's EL84 tubes (the power tubes), the 12AX7s (PreAmp tubes) were OK, but I prefer other brands there. JJ's 6V6s and 6L6s I really like, as well as the Sovtek 6L6WXT+ tubes... of course your Peavey doesn't use these, but I'm illustrating how some brands make tubes different than others - SO - try out stuff till you find what you like. Objective tube reviews are great because they use very descriptive language that can help you "narrow down" your search without blowing a wad of dough... all to your tastes. Still, nothing beats trying a ton out yourself :)

June 7th, 2006, 03:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	'Scuze me Crash, but the gent said he had a C50. Those are fixed bias amps. So yeah, it would be a good idea to have it rebiased for the new EL84s. PV doesn't make tubes, they just relabel the same tubes everyone else sells. They're probably Sovteks.

June 7th, 2006, 03:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,128	Makes since though now... Four EL84s cathode biased couldn't pump out 50w, now could it? Now the 30 has the exact same tube compliment and is "only" 30 watts (plenty loud still, BTW)... Oh, no... you've got me in tweak mode now... an upgrade to a 50w output Classic 30 is probably very easy, with very few parts swap-outs (except of course the PT/OTs would be a little bit of a co$t bump in the upgrade)... Too bad I sold all three of my Classics :(

June 7th, 2006, 03:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	Converting a C30 to 50 Watts? You'd need the C50 OT, and you'd definitely have to convert to fixed bias. I don't know if the C30 PT would work, reliably. Way too much hassle in a cramped PCB amp. IMO.

June 7th, 2006, 11:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
hellacaster Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 125	Biased? help me out here...

June 8th, 2006, 09:03 PM	#16 (permalink)
hellacaster Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 125	Yeah, thats all well and good, but what the Hell is "biased"? haha.