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peavey vb2 6550 swap question

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by pgk, Aug 2, 2009.

  1. Aug 2, 2009 #1
    pgk

    pgk

    Aug 19, 2007
    has anybody done it? i'd assume it would'nt be a problem being the heater voltages for an el34 and 6550 are the same. seems to me the only thing you'd have to do is rebias and rewire the output tube sockets for the metal ring. i am Seriously looking at one of these heads and would love to get that huge deep low end and clean punch that only a 6550 gives you. power gains don't concern me so much as 225 watts is palenty loud for me with the cabs i use. i'd be looking for the maximum clean headroom i can get with this head. i do dig el34's for bass and ran with them for many years, but all i'm asking is can it be done? any peavey experts out there, psycho bass guy, anybody?
     
  2. Aug 2, 2009 #2
    BassmanPaul

    BassmanPaul Inactive

    Aug 25, 2007
    Scarborough Ontario Canada
    If a 6550 would be a better tube for the VB2 don't you think Peavey would have used them in the first place? If you want "that huge deep low end and clean punch that only a 6550 gives you" why not buy an amp that comes with them?

    Just because the EL34 and 6550 have similar heater draw does not make them interchangeable. A simple bias change won't make them interchangeable either. Putting a tube with a higher plate dissipation into an amplifier not designed for them will not give you more power or headroom. More than likely less.

    Paul
     
  3. Aug 2, 2009 #3
    kissmybASS01

    kissmybASS01

    Mar 7, 2008
    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
    BbbyBld, our resident Peavey guy (who actually worked on the VB2) has already answered this a few times on TB:


    Search and this should have come up:
    http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466583
     
  4. Aug 3, 2009 #4
    BbbyBld

    BbbyBld

    Oct 13, 2005
    Meridian, MS
    Yes.

    It kept coming up and my curiosity got the better of me. It takes extensive mods to pull off. You have to use straight-bottle tubes so they will fit (the sockets are too close together for most 6550s/KT88s). I used a matched set (Ruby matched) of Winged C 6550s.

    I don't think it's worth it.
     
  5. Aug 3, 2009 #5
    pgk

    pgk

    Aug 19, 2007
    Yes.

    It kept coming up and my curiosity got the better of me. It takes extensive mods to pull off. You have to use straight-bottle tubes so they will fit (the sockets are too close together for most 6550s/KT88s). I used a matched set (Ruby matched) of Winged C 6550s.

    I don't think it's worth it.

    cool, that's the answer i was looking for, straight and to the point. thanks bobby. mine will stay with the stock output section.