Tubes for Peavey amp

Hi,

I have a 1984 Peavey Classic 2x12 amp (VTX series). I bought it new in '84 and have NEVER changed the tubes. They still work, but I want to see if new tubes will clean up the sound.

I'm striving for "creamy-smooth" distortion - I hate the high-freq. buzz distortion that I can't seem to escape. If possible, I'd like something quiet, unless "quiet" and "distortion" are oxymorons...

Can I put any 6L6 tube in my amp? Is it worth picking up a couple MESA/Boogie tubes? I saw at the M.Boogie site that their 6L6-STR-430 ship in MESA/Boogie production amps - anyone know anything about that model?

Thanks,
John

You should get a cap job done, as well as changing the tubes. The cap job alone will probably eliminate most if not all the "buzz" you're hearing. Take it to a tech, get a cap job, new tubes & re-bias, clean the pots, in other words an amp checkup.

John O'C,

I called the shop that the local Guitar Center uses for their repairs. The guy seemed confident that he could get my Peavey where it needs to be, but wasn't familiar with the term "cap job". Now I'm curious... Does it have another name, or did I just unwittingly ask the guy to pleasure me orally? (I sure hope someone got that joke.) Should I look for another shop?

John

An "amp tech" who doesn't know what a cap job is NOT AN AMP TECH (IMHO)! Find someone else. Or, if you want to tweak the guy a bit, tell him you need your filter capacitors (caps) changed. If he still doesn't have a clue, chuckle as you hang up the phone. A cap job should be done every 10-15 years on all tube amps; it can be neglected longer than that, but come on, some amp maintenance ( other than retubing) every 10-15 years is not onerous. Good luck.