Best tubes for my Peavey Classic 50

Toast · 2011-06-13T09:08:00+00:00

Hi Guys I have to replace the original tubes on my Peavey Classic 50 after 5 years ? of faithfull service. Which are the best ones (in terms of tone) avail...

Best tubes for my Peavey Classic 50

Gearhead

Toast wrote: OK, let me just get this straight:

I know I need a matched triode of 12AX7's as my Classic 50 takes 3 of those. But it takes 4 x EL84's, so I need a matched quad of those? I can't use 2 x matched pairs?

You do not need to match the 12AX7s but the EL84s all work together so you need a quad.

bottledtone wrote: @gearhead. But the classic 50 is running the el84's at close to 400v which is much higher than they like anyway? And was stating the 7189's because they should withstand the hardy envirnment of the peavey. Then if getting "local" why get mrvalve to order in anyway?

I did not check the voltage but that is high indeed. You mentioned the higher power as an argument, but if you had explained the better resilience in harsh Peavey environment us mortals might have understood. A good suggestion the way I look at it now...

bottledtone

Toast wrote: But it takes 4 x EL84's, so I need a matched quad of those? I can't use 2 x matched pairs?

If you use two matched pairs then its the inner two and outer two eg. a-b-b-a order.

The funny thing is matching is not really that important for guitar amps, but more for hi-fi. Us guitarists like the tones and distortions that mismatched values create. ?

Alot of brands eg grove tubes, are just relabeled sovteks. I believe TAD are relabeled china stuff but could be mistaken. I don't mean anything bad by chinese valves..... As long as the is a quality control which comes with certain brands. The JJ EL84's are a bit glassy but very good. Tone is subjective. The sovteks are nice and hardy. Valves die mechanically in combo's with all that vibration way before the die normal death. Sometimes a tap on the glass of a valve before it is put in really shows you the strength of it. Had some EL34EH that sounded like a reverb spring was inside ?

Oh and when i get a good 12AX7EH it is really good but had too many crap ones out the box. Really like the JJ's.

AlanRatcliffe

bottledtone wrote: I believe TAD are relabeled china stuff but could be mistaken.

No they are made in China (Shuguagang factory), but to TAD's own specs.

I've always found the JJ EL84's to have too much mid push for Voxy flavoured amps - they end up being quite muddy with the extra brightness on top translating to harsher highs at drive. I'd rather have the EH than the JJ if I couldn't get the TADs.

I do think the idea of looking at 7189 valves - my first thought when I saw Peavey were getting 50W out of a quad of El84s was that they must be pushing them damn hard, and 7189's can take a lot of punishment compared to an EL84.

FenderBender

nick wrote: If you phsyically compare the tubes its partly because the JJ is slightly smaller in size

Ah ok so more than likely the tube retainers were too big and rattled on the outside of the tubes.

FenderBender

bottledtone wrote: The sovteks are nice and hardy.

I've got a quad of sovtek el84s here that came out of a Classic 30 and they ring beautifully when tapped with an orange stick ?

bottledtone wrote: Had some EL34EH that sounded like a reverb spring was inside ?

I have never had a problem with EH. Just goes to show, sometimes it's the luck of the draw ?

AlanRatcliffe

Graeme Parfett wrote: Just goes to show, sometimes it's the luck of the draw ?

Yup - I just had a Telefunken go microphonic on me.

bottledtone

with an orange stick ?

I also import orange sticks! where you get yours from ?

AlanRatcliffe

...more importantly are they NOS orange sticks? ?

Averatu

Would the same apply for my Peavey Classic 130 VT(I think)? Think it has input valves. I'd like a crisper sound, I'm rather clueless about valves.

FenderBender

bottledtone wrote: I also import orange sticks! where you get yours from ?

I import them from my girlfriends make up bag ?

FenderBender

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: ...more importantly are they NOS orange sticks? ?

These are NUS, New Ursh Stock ?

FenderBender

Averatu wrote: Would the same apply for my Peavey Classic 130?

Can't seem to find any info on this amp. If it's a valvetronic amp, it will usually have only one preamp valve.

AlanRatcliffe

Averatu wrote: Would the same apply for my Peavey Classic 130 VT(I think)? Think it has input valves. I'd like a crisper sound, I'm rather clueless about valves.

A friend just sold one of those - they have a solid state preamp and a valve power amp (four 6L6s IINM). The best new production 6L6s are the SED (Winged C).

Averatu

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Averatu wrote: Would the same apply for my Peavey Classic 130 VT(I think)? Think it has input valves. I'd like a crisper sound, I'm rather clueless about valves.

A friend just sold one of those - they have a solid state preamp and a valve power amp (four 6L6s IINM). The best new production 6L6s are the SED (Winged C).

Great, thanx.

Averatu

Its time I replace my valves. Where is the best place in JHB to acquire the demons. "6L6s SED (Winged C)".

Garren

...more importantly are they NOS orange sticks?

:roflmao:

AlanRatcliffe

Averatu wrote: Its time I replace my valves. Where is the best place in JHB to acquire the demons. "6L6s SED (Winged C)".

You'll have to import yourself. KCA NOS had a good special on them last I looked.

Averatu

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Averatu wrote: Its time I replace my valves. Where is the best place in JHB to acquire the demons. "6L6s SED (Winged C)".
You'll have to import yourself. KCA NOS had a good special on them last I looked.

FANTASTIC!!! Anyone else in JHB need to import some valvular action???!!!!