Picked up a VB-2 the other day. Cosmetically it's in very good shape just extremely dirty and dusty. Turn it on the first time and it was running fine but I can hear crackling and all kinds of weird noise. The previous owner bought it from guitar center used. He never had anything done to the amplifier he just played it. Knowing that I wanted to check the bias and it was pretty close at 29 milliamps a tube. Leaving well enough alone I started to put it back together and turned it on again and then one of the power tubes arced, and another red plated. This only lasted about two seconds and I shut it down.
Ordered me up some big bottle Electro Harmonix matched 6CA7s, 2x12AX7, 1x12AT7.
In the meantime might as well do serious cleanup work, tolex repair, and replace the fuses soldered to the board. Going with some standard 5x20mm size and easier serviceable holders. F1 fuse is an F1A, and F2 is a T1.6A. It looks like it was changed out at one point but with a 1.5A. Finally, all the tube socket pins needed to be re-tensioned. This issue likely was what caused all my problems, but better to find out now and get this amplifier bulletproof.
Dialed in to 26mA per tube per John Fields. For my own peace of mind I double checked the OT flyback diodes to make sure they were good before firing it up. Deoxit Gold on all the jacks. All the tolex rips and peeling was glued/blended in with adhesive and a black paint pen. Further I added some black tire shine polish to really make the tolex a deep black again making it look brand new! You would have to be super up close to see where the flaws are.
I made a video of my work on this head. Really glad to have gotten it cleaned up and working properly again. Passing the knowledge along here for other Peavey users!!
https://youtu.be/WgyUNnHPOS
Peavey VB-2 Repair
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Peavey VB-2 Repair
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Last edited by Bassguitarist1985 on Mon Sep 12, 2022 6:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Pro Audio 16FX2, PV6USB, 2xQF131, QF215, 2x SP2, 2xSP118, 2xPV1600, PV3800, 4xKPC15MP
Bass - Grind 6 NTB 410TVX, 115BVX, MAX700, 210TVX, MiniMega, VB-2, VB-3, VB-MA
Bass - Grind 6 NTB 410TVX, 115BVX, MAX700, 210TVX, MiniMega, VB-2, VB-3, VB-MA
Re: Peavey VB-2 Repair
That will sound defeatist but I am somewhat glad that my amp workspace is essentially analog solid-state (mostly BJT). At least when I blow up those, the replacement parts are cheap. But certainly not half the looker of what you got there!
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Re: Peavey VB-2 Repair
Thank you! Yeah I do have a MiniMega and MAX700. The MM is one heck of a powerful head at 9lbs and has a powerful EQ "tweakability" to it
Pro Audio 16FX2, PV6USB, 2xQF131, QF215, 2x SP2, 2xSP118, 2xPV1600, PV3800, 4xKPC15MP
Bass - Grind 6 NTB 410TVX, 115BVX, MAX700, 210TVX, MiniMega, VB-2, VB-3, VB-MA
Bass - Grind 6 NTB 410TVX, 115BVX, MAX700, 210TVX, MiniMega, VB-2, VB-3, VB-MA
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Re: Peavey VB-2 Repair
Murphys Law.
Amp developed a 120hz buzz. Filter capacitors were starting to go. Should have replaced months ago when I had it apart. The video says it all.
https://youtu.be/pMWdCPoCJBk
Amp developed a 120hz buzz. Filter capacitors were starting to go. Should have replaced months ago when I had it apart. The video says it all.
https://youtu.be/pMWdCPoCJBk
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Pro Audio 16FX2, PV6USB, 2xQF131, QF215, 2x SP2, 2xSP118, 2xPV1600, PV3800, 4xKPC15MP
Bass - Grind 6 NTB 410TVX, 115BVX, MAX700, 210TVX, MiniMega, VB-2, VB-3, VB-MA
Bass - Grind 6 NTB 410TVX, 115BVX, MAX700, 210TVX, MiniMega, VB-2, VB-3, VB-MA
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Re: Peavey VB-2 Repair
Thanks for posting those repair videos, they're awesome! I'm in the middle of repairing a VB-2 and emailed Peavey customer service to get a schematic and more details on how to set bias. I haven't heard back so was wondering if you are able to share the schematic you had in the video?
Thanks
Thanks
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Re: Peavey VB-2 Repair
Sure. Send me a PM with your email and I can send
Pro Audio 16FX2, PV6USB, 2xQF131, QF215, 2x SP2, 2xSP118, 2xPV1600, PV3800, 4xKPC15MP
Bass - Grind 6 NTB 410TVX, 115BVX, MAX700, 210TVX, MiniMega, VB-2, VB-3, VB-MA
Bass - Grind 6 NTB 410TVX, 115BVX, MAX700, 210TVX, MiniMega, VB-2, VB-3, VB-MA