ValveKing Tube Question

[txpo1]

I have a 112 ValveKing that sounds fizzy/muddy when distorted and it's driving me crazy! (So much so that I now use my Marshall 20watt AVT 110 combo for dirty stuff.!)
I have fiddled with every dial and connection this amp has to try and fix it. I contemplating a tube change. Is it necessary to bias these ValveKings (I'm only cocerned with the 112 combo) when changing? Or can I just make sure the power tubes are identical and the preamp tubes are identical? I've looked through the manual and there is no mention of this.

Thanks again all.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: ValveKing Tube Question

I almost sold my valveking for the same reason you stated BEFORE I retubed it with a comlpete set of JJ tubes. Its fixed bias as far as I know. The JJ tubes tightened it up considerably and got rid of the fizzy buzzy distortion. Improved the clean by a mile too, although its a lot punchier now. By the way, the best overdrive sounds I have coaxed out of it came about by doing the following: Set contour to class A (on back). Plug a moderate output humbucker equipped guitar into the LOW input jack (my screamin demon works best). Then, on channel 2, turn the gain boost on and leave it on, even if you want very little distortion. Then use the gain knob to dial in however much gain you need. Works great even at low volume.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: ValveKing Tube Question

By the way, I also tried changing the speaker to a celestion vintage 30, but it didn't make enough difference for me to want to leave it in. I kept the stock speaker in. You definately need to get the JJ-tesla tubes though. If peavey would ship them with JJ's in em, they would sell five for every one selling now. Drastically improved tone.

 

[txpo1]

Re: ValveKing Tube Question

Thanks man!....Just what I was hoping to hear!!!

I also thought of changing the speaker but was waiting until I could borrow a buddy's 212 cab to trouble shoot it to see if it was a speaker problem.

What tubes did you put in yours???

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: ValveKing Tube Question

When I had one as a temp while I built my 18 watt, I thought that it sounded best with TAD Longbottle 6l6's, 12AT7's in all positions to warm up the gain making it less buzzy, and a Vintage 30. But even with all of those changes it wasn't the tone for me.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: ValveKing Tube Question

What tubes did you put in yours???

Normal 12ax7 and 6L6 combination, all made by JJ. I also tried a (JJ brand) 12at7 and 12au7, but they did not produce quite as good distorted sounds, although I liked the clean better with one of them (can't remember which).