Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

[Gearjoneser]

I'm wondering if any of you have owned or tried out a THD Bi-Valve?

Over ten years ago, I tried out a Uni-Valve and was pretty impressed with it's features, although I thought it could use more headroom to be a real gig-worthy amp. This was really one of the first lunchbox amps, before it was actually a term.

A few years later, THD introduced the Bi-Valve, which has two power tube sockets, 30W, FX loop, and like the Uni-Valve is able to accommodate any octal pin configuration....meaning almost every power tube. Also every pre tube.
The amp is self biasing and runs all the tubes in Class A parallel, so you can mix and match any way you like.

Even with all it's features, I wasn't sure how good the amp actually sounded, and it was expensive.

Well, just recently I came across a Bi-Valve being sold for the price of a cheap Chinese lunchbox amp, only this is a REAL quality handmade amp.....PCB done as good as it can, much like Bogner. Andy Marshall is basically on the same level as Reinhold Bogner when it comes to amp innovation.

I tried it out on a 412 cab, and ran it through it's paces. The amp sounds GREAT! The best part is that I can practically use it as a test bed for tubes, and create the exact tone I'm looking for. No biasing.....just pop tubes in and out till I like what I hear.

I'm REALLY contemplating grabbing this amp before someone else who knows what's up grabs it first.

http://www.guitarnova.com/THD_BiValve_30_30W_Class_A_Guitar_Amplifier_Head_p/2102.htm

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

here comes Orpheo!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

I thought about that, but they'll have to get up pretty early in the morning to out-bargain ole Gearjoneser! LOL

Lemme see.....a Vox Night Train or an $1800 high end THD amp....hmmm.

 

[JCM900MkIII]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

"6550, 6L6, 6CA7, 5881, EL43, KT90, KT88, KT77, KT66 In any combination" <----winning factor(more dynamics), although not worth $1800

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

"6550, 6L6, 6CA7, 5881, EL43, KT90, KT88, KT77, KT66 In any combination" <----winning factor(more dynamics), although not worth $1800

Yeah, $1825 plus tax is what they sell for normally. Because of the high price tag on a lunch-boxey looking head, you don't see them everywhere.

I tried it out with a tube compliment that looked thought out a bit, and it sounded like Angus Young's Marshall....a nice fat tight gainy vintage Marshall. And I've heard it's great with one EL-34 and a 6550. Two 6L6's will totally change it, and it can even accommodate 6V6's and EL-84 Yellowjackets....another THD invention. All I know is that I've got a drawer full of killer tubes, and I kind of want a new amp in the stable. This one may teach me a lot about tubes.

And it's not just a novelty amp....it's a great sounding amp at any volume level. The THD Hot Plate built in, as well as the noise reduction bulb, are nice additions.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

Go for it Joe if it's a killer deal 'coz they are serious amps at pretty much any price... I'd love one! As you say, you have loads of nice tubes, you have loads of nice guitars, loads of nice cabs (and amps) so being able to mix and match will blow your mind. Hope you get it. What sort of price are they asking just out of curiosity? They don't come up over here very often and when they do they are still over £1000!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

Sounds like you have already convinced yourself. Do it!

I never liked the amp, myself, but horses for courses...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

Sounds like you have already convinced yourself. Do it!

I never liked the amp, myself, but horses for courses...

Nah, I'm still thinking it through.

Is this an amp that you were able to rehearse with at that NYC studio that has tons of amps?
I'm curious to know what bothered you about it.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

I never cared for any of the THD amps myself but like TO said if you dig it go for it.

My issue is that I was never able to dial in any sounds that weren't on a bit on the thin and buzzy side of things...maybe there are fat meaty tones in them but as many amps as there are out there these days I'd just as soon keep looking than I would spend a lot of time trying to find something in a specific amp.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

Nah, I'm still thinking it through.

Is this an amp that you were able to rehearse with at that NYC studio that has tons of amps?
I'm curious to know what bothered you about it.

Nah, I did not play this at Ultrasound. It was at Matt Uminov Guitars in the Village.

There was this ... grit to all the notes that gave me a headache. It's actually the same headache I have gotten from playing Dumble amps and couple of Dumble clones. It's like there is a harmonic present that just goes straight to my cerebral cortex and stabs it with an ice pick.

I also found the tone to be, overall, a bit veiled and 2 dimensional.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

Interesting. I'll need to make sure I plug it into Vintage 30 cabs and listen to it, since my ears know those speakers well.

It's possible that the prior owner left the best tube combination in it, which is why I thought it sounded really good. That would mean most other tube combos wouldn't be as good.....maybe.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

I've got a Univalve and it basically ended my amp search for me. I'd love a Bivalve, though, as the Univalve can sometimes lack volume if it's not mic'd up.

I use mine with either four v30s, closed back, or a single cannabis rex, open back.

I don't hear anything thin, buzzy or negatively gritty in it. I find the gain range and dynamics exceptional and the voicing very pleasant. All the guitars I've tried through it sound special in their own way.

I wonder if the Bivalve is exactly the same as the Univalve except the addition of the extra power tube, or if there's something else going on as well.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

My issue is that I was never able to dial in any sounds that weren't on a bit on the thin and buzzy side of things...maybe there are fat meaty tones in them but as many amps as there are out there these days I'd just as soon keep looking than I would spend a lot of time trying to find something in a specific amp.

There was this ... grit to all the notes that gave me a headache. It's actually the same headache I have gotten from playing Dumble amps and couple of Dumble clones. It's like there is a harmonic present that just goes straight to my cerebral cortex and stabs it with an ice pick.

I also found the tone to be, overall, a bit veiled and 2 dimensional.

I tried this amp years ago, around the time I bought my Rivera..2005ish. . It was set up with 6l6's and I got these exact impressions too. Bad fizz, and 2 dimensional. I figured it was just the 6l6s or the MESA cab not getting along with my ears, but it soured me enough to never try it at the store again. Seems like I am not the only one. My Rivera blew it out of the water with stock speaker and tubes.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Thinking of buying a THD Bi-Valve

id give it another listen joe. they are cool but side by side with another great amp they have a fizzy thing going on thats hard to dial out.

i havent spent a ton of time with them or used one on stage but id a/b it with something you know and like