[neon_black88]

Ok so im seriously considering replacing the tubes in my Valve king to JJ's, but just how much differnce would it make? And is it actually a difficult process or do you just simply swap them over or what?

Also, there is SO MANY godman tubes to choose from and I know jack about them, so what tubes do I buy?? ?

[darren]

I haven't changed tubes in a ValveKing myself, but generally it's a pretty easy process.

If you're looking at JJs, go to Eurotubes.com. The owner, Bob, is extremely knowledgeable and should be able to recommend exactly the right matched tubes to give you the kind of gain structure you're looking for.

[Elysian]

what tubes are in there now, and how old are they? i replaced some worn out sovtek's with jj's and the difference was night and day, but who knows if there would have been a difference if they were brand new sovteks i replaced...

[neon_black88]

the tubes in there now are Two 6L6GC and three 12AX7 tubes?, thats what is sais on the peavey website, all I know is my amp sounds pretty poor for tuned down rythm stuff, I mean I kinda wish I just bought a solid state marshall or Spider amp now, just to get that over the top metal sound that I miss, but if i can find a cheapish way to get a good tone out of this, and im sure all it will take is a distortion pedal or some new speakers/tubes, then ill be over the moon, cause theres lots of stuff about this amp i love.

also the tubes arent old at all, there practically brand new. I just got the idea because people were saying replacing the tubes then mabye the speaker really opens up the sound

[Elysian]

could get it rebiased real hot, but that'll effect tube life... but from the factory they always seem to come biased real low...

[darren]

Rebiasing won't necessarily help if they're crappy tubes to begin with, and might not be money well spent since it's not exactly a DIY job.

From what i've read, the VK112 is fixed-bias anyway. But differently graded power amp tubes can change the character of the amp. Bob at Eurotubes can help with that. If you want maximum headroom from the power section or you want a bit of power amp tube saturation, he can provide you with the right tubes.

[noodles]

Tell Bob that you really want to heat your amp up. He'll sell you hotter, matched power tube set, and a high gain preamp tube set. This should help you get the saturation you're looking for.

Keep in mind that solid state will always make more gain. It's so much easier to get diodes to clip. However, matching the correct tube to your band's sound will give you the perceived gain that you're looking for. In the end, that is where a tube amp really shines: holding your own against bass, drums, vocals, and possibly another guitar. Most people don't realize that more gain actually hurts your ability to stand out, because the attack and nuances of your guitar get completely lost in the saturation. Mike and I play Mesas (a Triple and Road King), and the gain doesn't go much above half, yet we sound huge when they bass and drums come in behind us. When I'm at home praticing, I appreciate the reliability, convenience, and excessive gain that solid state gives me.

Be prepared to tell Bob exactly what you're looking to accomplish. He has probably forgotten more about tone than most of us will ever know, so he'll help you nail your sound. The more you can tell him about what you're trying to accomplish musically, as well as the guys you're playing with, the better. With a guy like that, there is no such thing as too much information.

Originally Posted by Elysian

could get it rebiased real hot, but that'll effect tube life... but from the factory they always seem to come biased real low...

I think guys that worry about tube life over tone should just stick with solid state. To me, tubes are like strings: a wear item, albeit a more expensive one. I make those purchasing decisions based on tone, not longevity. Excepting cases where the longevity is non-existant (for example, I kill Ernie Balls in one practice). I would never chose tires for a Corvette based on cost, so there is no reason to buy economy tone.

[Popsyche]

Originally Posted by noodles

Tell Bob that you really want to heat your amp up. He'll sell you hotter, matched power tube set, and a high gain preamp tube set. This should help you get the saturation you're looking for.
Keep in mind that solid state will always make more gain. It's so much easier to get diodes to clip. However, matching the correct tube to your band's sound will give you the perceived gain that you're looking for. In the end, that is where a tube amp really shines: holding your own against bass, drums, vocals, and possibly another guitar. Most people don't realize that more gain actually hurts your ability to stand out, because the attack and nuances of your guitar get completely lost in the saturation. Mike and I play Mesas (a Triple and Road King), and the gain doesn't go much above half, yet we sound huge when they bass and drums come in behind us. When I'm at home praticing, I appreciate the reliability, convenience, and excessive gain that solid state gives me.
Be prepared to tell Bob exactly what you're looking to accomplish. He has probably forgotten more about tone than most of us will ever know, so he'll help you nail your sound. The more you can tell him about what you're trying to accomplish musically, as well as the guys you're playing with, the better. With a guy like that, there is no such thing as too much information.
I think guys that worry about tube life over tone should just stick with solid state. To me, tubes are like strings: a wear item, albeit a more expensive one. I make those purchasing decisions based on tone, not longevity. Excepting cases where the longevity is non-existant (for example, I kill Ernie Balls in one practice). I would never chose tires for a Corvette based on cost, so there is no reason to buy economy tone.

+1 Very well said!

[forelander]

Let me know how you go and I might have to consider a tube change myself.