Jump to content
aberdeen-music

Valve head issues... HELP!?


Bonesaw Bazz

Recommended Posts

Yeah so i have a Peavey 5150 imported head, running through a tranny. When i got it, i had it checked over by a tech who replaced 2 valves which had been broken in transit. Otherwise, was informed by him amp was in tip top.

So recently i noticed that after say, an hour of use. The volume dramatically drops. This is obviously easy to live with for gigs etc but... i'd kinda like to get that sorted out. Anyone advise what the problem might be? I'll still call the guy i used previously but he lives in Edinburgh practically!!!!

Cheers the Noo

Bazz Ooka

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's bunches of things that could cause that, might be best to get a pro to look it over. Might be a cold solder joint, so you could try opening it up and re-soldering all the connections, but the caps in a tub amp carry LETHAL voltages, so if you're not sure, spend the cash to have it done by someone else.

That said, it could be a short, it could be a bad valve or a cap problem. I'd start with the resistors attached to the valves themselves. Check the values of them and the connections, testing the connenctions by bumping it with a pencil.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's bunches of things that could cause that, might be best to get a pro to look it over. Might be a cold solder joint, so you could try opening it up and re-soldering all the connections, but the caps in a tub amp carry LETHAL voltages, so if you're not sure, spend the cash to have it done by someone else.

That said, it could be a short, it could be a bad valve or a cap problem. I'd start with the resistors attached to the valves themselves. Check the values of them and the connections, testing the connenctions by bumping it with a pencil.

Ah cheers dude. I forgot i posted this! haha Sounds a bit too technical for me. I'll either break it or die. Will it be okay to keep using or should i avoid this till i get it looked at?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

change your 6L6 power amp valves, one of the main causes of faults in 5150's and specially a drop in volume.

and check the solder connections on your speaker cab jacks as well.

I had a guy come to me saying his amp kept losing volume and cutting out as well. Checked the head and it was fine so i asked to see his cab. He had a dodgy solder connection on his marshall 4x12 that was causing it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah most feedback seems to suggest a change in valves. I use different cabs all the time and different outputs from the back of the amp just to check that. So defo seems a issue with the head. Now the fun begins. where the fuck do i get valves from? Being a complete novice here.. but ain't they kinda specific to each head?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah most feedback seems to suggest a change in valves. I use different cabs all the time and different outputs from the back of the amp just to check that. So defo seems a issue with the head. Now the fun begins. where the fuck do i get valves from? Being a complete novice here.. but ain't they kinda specific to each head?

watford valves! dont order from peavey as your getting their name brand which is actually usually sovtek for double the price!!!

speak to derek at watford and tell him what amp you have and he will keep you right. it should be 6L6 valves you have in there but its down to what kind of sound your looking for when it comes to the brand.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

watford valves! dont order from peavey as your getting their name brand which is actually usually sovtek for double the price!!!

speak to derek at watford and tell him what amp you have and he will keep you right. it should be 6L6 valves you have in there but its down to what kind of sound your looking for when it comes to the brand.

Agreed, Watford were very helpful when i replaced the valves in my DSL100. Couldn't recommend them more. Very quick delivery too. :up:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

sorta price we looking at?

all depends on the quality of valves you decide on, i would say average since its 4 6L6's about 60 notes. by the way change your fuses as well inside the amp. dont be worried about shock as the 5150 discharges itself after its turned off pretty well.

theres small glass fuses in there around the circuit board. its usually best to replace them to new ones after a tube change. you can pick up the same ones from places like maplin electronics and they only cost about a couple o quid for a packet

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had the same problem.

Is the head second hand? I replaced the PCB beneath the valves with a handwired Point to point circuitry. Contemporary valve heads tend to be really cheaply put together when it comes to the transistors and the cheap, shitty chinese PCB's they use. Handwiring it yourself will cost you nothing more than 30 and a Sunday afternoon. It will make it much more resilliant and give it a boost of clarity in your tone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
i can have a look at it for you if youwant. have you tried new valves in it?

I haven't touched it dude. Still as & where it was when i started this thread. Dinna want to make it worse. It's at Captain Toms just now, but i can meet you there or take it to you whenever suits bud. Be much cheaper than taking it to Fife!

I spoke to the Valve company that was recommended earlier.. the just said to get a Tech to have a look at it. So i guess once i get it checked over and confirm it's defo the Valves. I'll talk to them again and sort out some nasty sounding yins.

Cheers

Bazz

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...