Messing around with different tubes. Is it okay to swap them randomly?

[rockguitar41]

My Peavey ValveKing II 20watt combo is new and the tubes have not been used much. I want to experiment with using different 12AX7's in the different preamp positions to see how it changes the tone. Someone at a music store told me I had to change all the preamp tubes at once, but I thought as long as they are still good I don't need to? It currently has Ruby 12ax7ac5's and I just ordered a single Sovtek 12ax7 LPS to see how it will sound in place of one of the Ruby's. Is this okay to do? Just want to make sure I'm doing it right, I'm fairly inexperienced when it comes to messing around with tubes. Thanks guys

 

[SWeAT hOg]

My Peavey ValveKing II 20watt combo is new and the tubes have not been used much. I want to experiment with using different 12AX7's in the different preamp positions to see how it changes the tone. Someone at a music store told me I had to change all the preamp tubes at once, but I thought as long as they are still good I don't need to? It currently has Ruby 12ax7ac5's and I just ordered a single Sovtek 12ax7 LPS to see how it will sound in place of one of the Ruby's. Is this okay to do? Just want to make sure I'm doing it right, I'm fairly inexperienced when it comes to messing around with tubes. Thanks guys

Keep the output tubes matched and swap away those preamp tubes to your heart's content.

 

[Marshall & Moonshine]

With the preamp tubes, yeah. Pretty much anything works there. Anything in the 12--7 family works, as well as the ecc83 stuff, which is the Brit version of the 12ax7.
It definitely makes a difference, particularly in V1.

 

[frankv]

If you have a bunch of tubes pay attention to the ones you try. Play them for a little while.. After a while of rolling tubes if you don't play em for a while they all begin to sound the same.

 

[rockguitar41]

Awesome thank you guys so much for the advice! I can't find anywhere online a definitive answer to which position is the V1 position in my amp though. Does anyone have an idea?

 

[frankv]

Awesome thank you guys so much for the advice! I can't find anywhere online a definitive answer to which position is the V1 position in my amp though. Does anyone have an idea?

V1 is usually closest to the input jack...

 

[LeftyF2003]

Here's a thread that confirms the tube layout for that amp:

How to change tube on a ValveKing 20MH (micro head) - Peavey Forum

 

[bulletproof]

Awesome thank you guys so much for the advice! I can't find anywhere online a definitive answer to which position is the V1 position in my amp though. Does anyone have an idea?

+1 to what everybody said. And theres this,brother

http://assets.peavey.com/literature/manuals/118341_26183.pdf

 

[EndGame00]

Tube rolling can become quite addicting.... You've been warned

 

[rockguitar41]

Dang I spent a while trying to find a definitive answer on the tube layout... and somehow I missed the one on the peavey forum. I'm disappointed in myself! But thank you everyone for your help

 

[goldtop0]

For example putting a 12AY7 in V1 is a good change from a 12AX7 in that position.......it allows more headroom.

 

[ScottMarlowe]

For example putting a 12AY7 in V1 is a good change from a 12AX7 in that position.......it allows more headroom.

Or a 5751. Gain is between that of a 12AY7 and A 12AX7. I really like them in the V1 position on my Peavey Classics.

 

[rockguitar41]

Okay so is the V3 position the Phase Inverter? I just stuck the Sovtek 12ax7LPS in V1 and I actually do like it there, just want to try it in PI since apparently it is popular for that spot

 

[Bill Hicklin]

Phase inverter is actually the spot you can get away with your "worst" noval tube, since it really doesn't matter too much sonically. Get the tube you like best in V1, then V2 chosen from the remainder and so on down the line, and use the one you have left over for the PI

 

[SWeAT hOg]

Phase inverter is actually the spot you can get away with your "worst" noval tube, since it really doesn't matter too much sonically. Get the tube you like best in V1, then V2 chosen from the remainder and so on down the line, and use the one you have left over for the PI

PI does the most work of the preamp tubes, no?

 

[rockguitar41]

Yeah I'm a little unclear still on this specific tube stuff. I'm going to move the sovtek back to the V1 position and then probably get some tung sols for the other two. I don't really like the ruby tubes in it

 

[SWeAT hOg]

I was in an antique store today. They had a pile of NOS tubes, all $2 each. RCA, GE, Silvertone, others. All USA stuff.

I know nothing about tubes. Can I just throw in whatever fits in the slots?

Peavey Valveking 100 head.

With the preamp tubes, yeah. Pretty much anything works there. Anything in the 12--7 family works, as well as the ecc83 stuff, which is the Brit version of the 12ax7.
It definitely makes a difference, particularly in V1.

 

[SWeAT hOg]

Yeah I'm a little unclear still on this specific tube stuff. I'm going to move the sovtek back to the V1 position and then probably get some tung sols for the other two. I don't really like the ruby tubes in it

Ruby Tubes are rebrands. They could be Sovtek or EH or JJ, etc.

 

[ScottMarlowe]

I was in an antique store today. They had a pile of NOS tubes, all $2 each. RCA, GE, Silvertone, others. All USA stuff.

I know nothing about tubes. Can I just throw in whatever fits in the slots?

Peavey Valveking 100 head.

As long as they're 12A(Something)7s or 5751 or 6681s yes. There's lots of tubes that will fit but should not be put in there. If you're not sure, don't put it in. Generally stick to these:

12AX7
7025
6681
CV4004
5751
12AY7
12AV7
12AU7

And you'll be safe.

 

[scrumm21]

my .02 I like the Sovtek 12ax7LPS in my PI slot
(I have a TungSol 12ax7 in v1)