Members Acid Test Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Besides spending money to list it, sell it or get rid of it (or similar), is there a singles ~$100 or less change to the Peavey XXX to improve its sound? Change the V1? Currently using stock preamp tubes and Ruby 6L6s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pioneerprogress Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 What don't you like about it? For me, the best change I could make to mine WAS to sell it. Just the wrong amp for me. I tried changing preamp tubes, but the difference was negligible, to my ears anyway. Tried some 12AT7's but still just too fizzy, too much gain. Completely off topic, you converted your Bravo to a head? Did you custom build the shell, or did you use another existing one? I've always wanted to take a Bravo to make into a head, mine sounds amazing through my 1960, but I like the convenience of having it as a combo too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MLattack Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Switch to EL34's. Run lower gain preamp tubes. Slam the front with a tubescreamer or clone. Turn the master all the way up and manage volume with the channel volumes. Throw an MXR 10 band eq in the loop to tame the fizz and bump in some low mids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ej Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 EL34s in the power section and a low gain preamp tube in V1 (like a 5751 or a 12AT7). I like the flavor of the EL34s better and they help tame fizz, and the low gain preamp tube REALLY helps tame the amp. Mine is way better now. Just make sure you bias it right for the EL34s. If you bias to hot it might burn through some SGRs, mine did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NixerX Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 KT77's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dolf Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Sell Triple XXX. Buy Different Amp ... Profit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HumanFuseBen Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 always use the "loose" speaker dampening to get the full spectrum of sound from the amp! it'll still sound tight, don't worry.the xxx is terribly picky about cabs. it sounds a LOT different through different speakers, so keep that in mind.i love using my {censored}ty little Danelectro Fish and Chips EQ pedal in the loop! that is the secret weapon. click on my band's link and listen to "Autoscopy" or "Azimuth" to get a listen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Acid Test Posted October 19, 2010 Author Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 EL34s in the power section and a low gain preamp tube in V1 (like a 5751 or a 12AT7).I like the flavor of the EL34s better and they help tame fizz, and the low gain preamp tube REALLY helps tame the amp. Mine is way better now.Just make sure you bias it right for the EL34s. If you bias to hot it might burn through some SGRs, mine did. Tell me more about biasing with EL34s - I put in a set last night and turned back the bias control to read 43.5 or so, as prescribed. 30 seconds into playing there was a small pop and I shut down immediately. The EL34s were red hot. Put back the 6L6s and everything was fine. Yes I did flip the one switch to the right setting - EL34 with EL34s and 6L6 with 6L6s. The tubes were JJs EL34Ls with a "46" written on a sticker on their bases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ComOp Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Turn it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ej Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Tell me more about biasing with EL34s - I put in a set last night and turned back the bias control to read 43.5 or so, as prescribed. 30 seconds into playing there was a small pop and I shut down immediately. The EL34s were red hot. Put back the 6L6s and everything was fine. Yes I did flip the one switch to the right setting - EL34 with EL34s and 6L6 with 6L6s. The tubes were JJs EL34Ls with a "46" written on a sticker on their bases. alright, the bias points on the XXX are garbage. Trying to bias an amp with voltage reading is silly. Buy a bias probe from Eurotubes. Its 20 bucks, plugs right into a tube slot and into you multimeter. read the current flow to the tube, that is the bias. Adjust it accordingly. I think its 35mA for EL34s. You probably blew a tube, sounds like the 34s were red plating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zozobra Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Probably blew a screen due to over dissipation if the bias was well out of whack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Acid Test Posted October 19, 2010 Author Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Probably blew a screen due to over dissipation if the bias was well out of whack. Is a tube at 46 versus an amp bias setting of 42.5 far out of whack? Not sure how sensitive the number is. FROM ANOTHER FORUM: To lay my question to rest, a service rep from Peavey emailed this information to me: "Hello Dan, The bias test jacks are used read the Bias Voltage, which can betweaked using the Bias Adjust control located next to the power tubes.It is recommended that this adjustment be done by a technician, but ifyou are handy with a Volt Meter you can check the voltage yourself. Your meter should be set to read DC Volts. For 6L6 tubes, the factory setting is ~55 vdc at the test jack. For EL 34, the reading would vary depending upon the tubes you have.The factory setting is ~42.5 vdc. Be sure and switch the Bias Select switch to the proper position. Regards,Roger CrimmRegional Service ManagerPeavey Electronicsrcrimm@peavey.com" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zozobra Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Without knowing what those number mean I cant really comment. Some amps have bias test ports which tell you pretty much {censored} all about whats going on. Someone else will do better to chime in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sbrett Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Practice more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mustaine-who? Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 1) KT77s...2) JJ 12 DW7 in V2... Huuuge improvement... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ej Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Is a tube at 46 versus an amp bias setting of 42.5 far out of whack? Not sure how sensitive the number is.FROM ANOTHER FORUM:To lay my question to rest, a service rep from Peavey emailed this information to me:"Hello Dan,The bias test jacks are used read the Bias Voltage, which can betweaked using the Bias Adjust control located next to the power tubes.It is recommended that this adjustment be done by a technician, but ifyou are handy with a Volt Meter you can check the voltage yourself.Your meter should be set to read DC Volts.For 6L6 tubes, the factory setting is ~55 vdc at the test jack.For EL 34, the reading would vary depending upon the tubes you have.The factory setting is ~42.5 vdc.Be sure and switch the Bias Select switch to the proper position.Regards,Roger CrimmRegional Service ManagerPeavey Electronicsrcrimm@peavey.com" I know they saw that, but doing by the voltage is a super innaccurate way to do it. I biased my XXX with the test points on the ampo, then checked the bias with my bias probe and it was WAY off. You probably blew a SGR or 2 when those tubes when, btw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eudaimonia02912 Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Assuming you're playing through a decent cab: 1. KT77s or a good, rounded EL34 (not EHX, but Mullard or SED) instead of 6L6s. 2. Better preamp tubes. Best combo I tried was a Tung Sol RI in V1 and an NOS EI in V2. Not sure what I had in V3. Sovtek LPS in V4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jessexxx Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 as a former xxx owner,...heres the list (in order of difference) i did to make it a very good amp..-good speakers-i went with scumback (2) M75's & (2) H75'S...OR any greenback or quality greenback clone. -biased it,..when i put my bias rite on it,..the little bias knob wouldnt take it out of range or either too hot...or too cold,..so i dimed mine to the hottest setting,..this alone was a huge difference -JJ 6L6's- some swear at them,..some swear by them,..i am a self admitted tube junky,..i tried every tube made in the xxx el34's/kt77's differemt manufacturers etc,...the JJ 6L6's,..fit the bill for me. -preamp tubes-..V-1 is the magic tube,..but the others also have an effect on the tone,...go nos,..with lower gain. -master volume @ 100%,..dial in volume for your loudness i traded my xxx to someone on this board,..maybe he can chime in with more specifics on the amp,..the xxx is a very under estimated amp,..with tons of potential Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jesse G Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 5150 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NinjaRaf Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Whatever peavey is telling you about the test points, ignore them. The test points are MASSIVELY inaccurate. Like ejendres said...get yourself a bias probe from eurotubes. They also have voltage ranges for most common amps, including the XXX on their site. When you get the bias probe, try it out, then compare with what you get from the test points in the back of the amp...you will notice a big difference. The test points should not be used, for the safety of your amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DrakkarTyrannis Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Single best change is tube swaps. Low gain preamp tubes to tame the gain, and some KT77s. If you can, get the screen grid resistors changed so you can get 6550s, KT88s, and KT90s in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Acid Test Posted October 19, 2010 Author Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Thanks all for the input. I went ahead and ordered a bias tester from Eurotubes. Probably the best advice yet. thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mustaine-who? Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Thanks all for the input. I went ahead and ordered a bias tester from Eurotubes. Probably the best advice yet. thanks again I also ordered one from Eurotubes. Use it with my DMM... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NinjaRaf Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 Its the single most valueable tool for biasing tube amps that Ive ever bought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GibsonVMan Posted October 19, 2010 Members Share Posted October 19, 2010 I had a Peavey XXX and it was VERY picky about cabs. I had the XXX cab and sold it really quick because it sounded so horrible, non exsistant low end and just weak sounding. A V30 Randall cab made it rock. I think it still had a bit to much fizz in it for me though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.