N(P)AD - Peavey TB Raxx

[vbchaos]

OK, not new but nearly as old as I am. A peavey TB Raxx from 1989

complete rack

• vbchaos
• Feb 12, 2015

I have been on the lookout for another tube preamp for quite a while but did not have much cash on hand. This unit popped up on the local market some time ago and just didn't sell. So after a month of watching I contacted the seller and we made a good deal.

The unit is quite unique in my eyes. There cannot be alot of them because they have been built only in 1989-1990. There is another user around here who wrote a very detailed review (in german), so with this review and a good price I thought this cannot go wrong.

Got the unit, took it to rehearsal and just used the suggested EQ settings from the manual. And that was all it needed! Instantly good tone, only a bit clanky but the EQ lets me get that fixed easily.
I like the tube sound of it. Nice warm and fat, and it gets a fine overdriven sound when the strings are plugged harder. Exactly what I was looking for. My fEARful stack does the rest

Speaking of EQ, this unit has 2! One passive fender tone stack with the tube input gain stage and one active behind the master volume. While I hate passive tone stacks (they sound good but I never got the hang of it), the active EQ is awesome. Very sensitive, so even smallest knob turns have audible effect (even in a complete band setting).

I bought this thing not knowing what I would get but it turned out to be my new favorite pre-amp. It needs love and cleaning but that's no problem after all.

Some inside images:

V1

• vbchaos
• Feb 12, 2015

V2

• vbchaos
• Feb 12, 2015

inside

• vbchaos
• Feb 12, 2015

 

[BassikLee]

Congrats. Great preamp.

 

[BrentSimons]

OK, not new but nearly as old as I am. A peavey TB Raxx from 1989

complete rack

• vbchaos
• Feb 12, 2015

I have been on the lookout for another tube preamp for quite a while but did not have much cash on hand. This unit popped up on the local market some time ago and just didn't sell. So after a month of watching I contacted the seller and we made a good deal.

The unit is quite unique in my eyes. There cannot be alot of them because they have been built only in 1989-1990. There is another user around here who wrote a very detailed review (in german), so with this review and a good price I thought this cannot go wrong.

Got the unit, took it to rehearsal and just used the suggested EQ settings from the manual. And that was all it needed! Instantly good tone, only a bit clanky but the EQ lets me get that fixed easily.
I like the tube sound of it. Nice warm and fat, and it gets a fine overdriven sound when the strings are plugged harder. Exactly what I was looking for. My fEARful stack does the rest

Speaking of EQ, this unit has 2! One passive fender tone stack with the tube input gain stage and one active behind the master volume. While I hate passive tone stacks (they sound good but I never got the hang of it), the active EQ is awesome. Very sensitive, so even smallest knob turns have audible effect (even in a complete band setting).

I bought this thing not knowing what I would get but it turned out to be my new favorite pre-amp. It needs love and cleaning but that's no problem after all.

Some inside images:

V1

• vbchaos
• Feb 12, 2015

V2

• vbchaos
• Feb 12, 2015

inside

• vbchaos
• Feb 12, 2015

That's a nice setup! That preamp was a favorite of Billy Gould's from Faith No More. He used it for quite a few years I believe.
Take care,
Brent

 

[spankdaplank]

I know you didn't ask for it, but this schematic might come in handy given the age of it.

 

[Justice]

I have one of these that I purchased brand new. I'm still using it now and it still has the original tubes in it. Would love to find another. Rumor has it, that the guitar version (TG Raxx) is actually the same preamp only with a different silkscreen on the face plate.

 

[vbchaos]

I know you didn't ask for it, but this schematic might come in handy given the age of it.

that does indeed come in handy. I have to clean the inside a bit and replace the jacks (scratchy thingies). Thanks for that!

I have one of these that I purchased brand new. I'm still using it now and it still has the original tubes in it. Would love to find another. Rumor has it, that the guitar version (TG Raxx) is actually the same preamp only with a different silkscreen on the face plate.

Yes I heard that, too. But in a version where one capacitor was slightly different. I have no idea what tubes where used originally. I still wonder how a Mesa tube has found its way into mine, but so far it sounds good, so I won't touch it.

 

[spankdaplank]

While I'm in my schematic file, here's T.G. Raxx:

 

[vbchaos]

Still happy with the pre-amp, but one of the tubes seems to have reached the end of life. So I think about some tube-rolling.

Any suggestions? I have very limited (as in zero) experience with tube rolling and am open to any suggestions and tips. I have a feeling that JJs get much love around here. I bought TADs for my previous amp but haven't been very impressed. Still got them, though. A TAD008 and a TAD030.

 

[Rick M]

I recently got a TG Raxx from my drummer. I had to replace almost all of the enclosure's screws, one resistor, and the tubes. This is my first tube device ever so I am not a great source, but I bought JJ Tube ECC803's and I think they sound great. I chose the 'long plate' style tubes in the hopes of getting even more gain, so can go over the top with crunch when I use it with guitar. It sounds great clean, as well.

Big thank you to user spankdaplank for the TG file, I'd only found the TB until now and I wanted to see for myself if they are identical.

Edit: By the way, I spot TWO differences in the schematics; value of C103 differs, and the TB version does not have C132.

Edit2: use a semicolon

 

[timrichter9]

Not exactly but close. There are 4 components that separate the TB from the TG and one additional bypass cap in the TG, not present in the TB.
Part TB TG
C103 .0068 .0047
C106 820pF 270pF
R109 33k 100k
C115 .047/400v .001/600v

The TG also has one additional bypass cap (C132) which is a .0047 cap in parallel with R135 (220k).

Other than those changes, they are identical, with same power transformer and schematics.

I just found a TB for $27 and am going to the change....

Good luck folks

I have one of these that I purchased brand new. I'm still using it now and it still has the original tubes in it. Would love to find another. Rumor has it, that the guitar version (TG Raxx) is actually the same preamp only with a different silkscreen on the face plate.

 

[newfuture]

Zombie thread bump.

I've owned 2 over the years (one new, one used like 20 years ago). Last one was stolen/lost on a move a few years ago (along with a fun carver pm900) Can't seem to find any on the used market these days, so am considering rolling my own as a pedal. Am familiar with tube builds and it's relatively straightforward with a mostly good schematic.

Question -
C111 in the schematics above list the value as .1p10 which makes no sense to me as it's clearly not a 10th of a picofarad. Guessing it's .1uF? It's a fenderish passive tone stack and that cap is headed to the bass/mid pots. Can anyone confirm what it is?
Both tg and tb raxx schemes have the same value.

Thanks