Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

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Chumbo
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Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by Chumbo » Thu Jun 01, 2023 4:12 pm

Hi,
I know very little about the tech side of amps but I do remember having to take my amp to the technician when it needed a tube change because of...adjusting the bias?
I don't really know what that means but just know it's a thing that needs to be done in tube amps However, I've read something that seemed to indicate it might not be necessary with this amp...is that the case?

This is what happened...
I've had it sitting in a corner for close to a decade and decide to pull it out for a try. The clean channel was fine but the drive channel was messed up. It sounded like a fuzz pedal with a lot of break up where sound would almost disappear for an instant.
I then checked the power tubes in the back and one looks clearly to be dark so dead I presume...could this explain that?

Would I need to replace both tubes (I've read something about changing them in pairs)?
What do I replace them with (6L6 I presume but anything more specific than that), what are the options?
Thanks in advance!
Chumbo

Chumbo
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by Chumbo » Mon Jun 12, 2023 6:11 am

Bump! (I'd grateful for some help here. Thx!)

WrldEatr9
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by WrldEatr9 » Mon Jun 12, 2023 9:23 pm

Sounds more like an issue with one or more of the pre-amp tubes responsible for the drive channel. If the issue were with the power tubes then both channels would be affected.

Chumbo
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by Chumbo » Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:31 am

Thanks for your reply!
As I stated, I'm no expert but I did notice that the power tube on the left (photo below) was not glowing AND has an odd white deposit at the bottom of it. Certainly that must mean something...not good, right?
I don't exclude that maybe some of preamp tubes are defective but since I've already bought a pair of new 6L6, can you please tell me if this amp needs biasing or if I can just swap the new (JJ 6L6GC) for the old tubes (SOVTEK WXT+)?
thx,

Image

WrldEatr9
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by WrldEatr9 » Tue Jun 13, 2023 3:14 pm

Yeah, that doesn't look good.

In terms of rebiasing, I'm not familiar with that amp, so I'm not sure. You can try emailing Peavey customer service. Or post the question on Reddit/Guitar or The Gear Page. Those have more traffic.

Chumbo
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by Chumbo » Tue Jun 13, 2023 3:38 pm

I already emailed Peavey 2 days ago :roll:
Ok, I'll try those other sources then, thx!

twangboy
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by twangboy » Wed Jun 14, 2023 8:56 am

the white tube lost vacuum. its done. Youll need a new pair and id have the amp biased and looked at so see if something caused the failure of that tube or did it just fail. They do and newer tubes seem to be more fragile glass wise
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Chumbo
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by Chumbo » Wed Jun 14, 2023 9:19 am

twangboy, I'm guessing you don't actually own or have experience with the Valveking itself or know for a fact that it would need bias adjustment?
Because from I've read here and there, it seems the Valve King uses a fixed bias. However, it also seems that certain differences in bias can exist between certain types of tubes, even if 6L6 (which is what the Valve King uses).

Anyway, still waiting for a definitive answer before I risk wasting the 60€ I just spent on the new pair.

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CharlieP
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by CharlieP » Sat Jun 17, 2023 3:36 pm

Get a pair of 6L6GC's and bias isn't necessary with this Amp! It doesn't have a bias pot! I added a Bias Pot to mine years ago! Tube failed due to leakage and not because of anything electrical!
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Chumbo
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by Chumbo » Sat Jun 17, 2023 6:15 pm

Ok, that's great news! As I said, I already bought a pair of 6L6GC.
Cheers,
PS Peavey's customer support is shit btw. I emailed them twice in almost a week...no response.

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dak
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by dak » Sat Jun 17, 2023 6:49 pm

Chumbo wrote:
Sat Jun 17, 2023 6:15 pm
Peavey's customer support is shit btw. I emailed them twice in almost a week...no response.
The correct term is "understaffed". Try phoning during business hours, that supposedly improves your chances.

On the plus side, other companies hire friendly support centers that will do their best to make you feel better about not getting any information that could be used to service an amp.

Also, compared to other companies their legal department also appears focused on essentials rather than distractions, so it happens comparatively frequently that a web search will turn up the schematics that you were interested in.

I share your wish for more responsiveness here, but one should not overlook that for things like schematics, with many companies you can expect to get nowhere at all, even though you'll get a friendly voice on the phone and canned non-answers in the mail.

Chumbo
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by Chumbo » Sun Jun 18, 2023 5:30 am

I'm in Europe so calling is not an option.
Obviously there are probably companies that fare even worse in the support department but there are plenty more that perform a lot better as well. Those are ones I was comparing Peavey to.

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studiodtk5
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by studiodtk5 » Sun Jun 18, 2023 6:48 am

CharlieP wrote:
Sat Jun 17, 2023 3:36 pm
… It doesn't have a bias pot! I added a Bias Pot to mine years ago!
Was that hard to add?

I looked at modding mine, but the circuit board and surface mounted components discouraged me.
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dak
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by dak » Sun Jun 18, 2023 7:42 am

Chumbo wrote:
Sun Jun 18, 2023 5:30 am
I'm in Europe so calling is not an option.
Frankly, that should make it easier to call at business hours for private matters, not harder. They are running 7 hours behind Berlin, so instead of 9am to 3pm you get to call between 4pm and 10pm.
Obviously there are probably companies that fare even worse in the support department but there are plenty more that perform a lot better as well. Those are ones I was comparing Peavey to.
List the companies sending you schematics for their products on request for free.

Chumbo
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Re: Valve King 112: I think I need a new tube?

Post by Chumbo » Sun Jun 18, 2023 7:58 am

dak wrote:
Sun Jun 18, 2023 7:42 am
Frankly, that should make it easier to call at business hours for private matters, not harder. They are running 7 hours behind Berlin, so instead of 9am to 3pm you get to call between 4pm and 10pm.
It's not a question of time of the day, but cost. Considering the potential waiting time, transferring to right person on top of the conversation...it's going to be expensive.
They should just answer their damn emails every few days at least.
dak wrote:
Sun Jun 18, 2023 7:42 am
List the companies sending you schematics for their products on request for free.
Why should I? That's not the standard by which I measure good customer service. Simply answering an email is.

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