Peavey VB-2 in trouble?

[Ajak]

Today at rehearsal I heard a scratchy noise from my VB-2 rig like when a cable is badly connected to a pedal or something, only that all my connections were good. It stopped after a couple of seconds of playing and then came back again. Then I saw one of the power tubes flashing up. I've never seen that before so I stopped playing and put the amp in standby. All the tubes were glowing as usual and the tube that flashed up looked okay as well. The amp still sounded good but I shut the amp off anyways and played the rehearsal with my Ashdown just to be on the safe side.

Has this happened to anybody? Do I need a new set of power tubes or does that just happen sometimes? I'd like to avoid going to a tech because they can't guarantee that they can fix it and it will cost me quite some money anyway...

Help is appreciated.

 

[hdracer]

Sounds like a tube. I had the same thing happen to mine.
I had my tech install new tubes and bias. I used all Electro-Harmonix tubes.
Kicked butt after that.

 

[JimmyM]

You might need a new power tube. Sounds like it to me, anyway. I don't know how many you'd have to replace in one to get the matching correct, but I don't believe you have to replace them all at once. However, Peavey's amp designer BbbyBld is a regular on here, so he should be chiming in next time he logs on...he's good like that.

 

[Ajak]

Ok thanks. So I'll have to get it to a tech. If it's just the tubes he should be able to change the bad one (or if needed all of them) and do the bias-thing even if he's not an authorized Peavey-tech, right?
And biasing is a pro-only thing right? I'm actually pretty interested in fixing stuff myself but I've never done that. Opinions?

thanks

 

[hdracer]

You can replace the tube yourself but it still needs to be biased properly.
I like to fix and tinker with things myself but I keep my hands out of a tube amp.
Have a good tech give the head a good check up and you should be good to go for a long time.

 

[beans-on-toast]

The tube stopped flashing when you put the amp in standby because this turns off the high voltage (what is called B+). When the amp is in standby, only the tube heaters are turned on, so you are seeing the glow of the heater. This is expected.

When you see a flashing like this, don't use the amp, take it to a tech. Prolonged use with a tube problem like this can cause other things to go.