Change Guitar Amp Tubes Peavey 5150 212 Combo
Edited by Alexander Avdeev, Eng, VC, josh
Method 1: Peavey 5150 212 Combo
If your amplifier or combo started to produce extra noise or lost its original clarity or distortion, then I would suggest that you replace the whole tube set inside the amplifier or combo. You also have to do it approximately every five years of use. Please note that there are dangerous currents inside the unit, so if you have not dealt with electricity before, then I suggest that you relegate the duty to an experienced electrician who will do it for you as shown in the video.
Steps
- 1Disconnect your Peavey 5150 2x12 combo from any sources and let it stay for an hour to cool down and discharge.
- 2Discharge yourself by touching any metal part on it.
- 3To gain access to the tube section, turn the whole amplifier around.
- 4I did not know that there was the fifth screw. I pulled the backplate, saw where it would not move, and found the last screw to remove.Remove five screws on the backplate of the combo by using a cross-point screwdriver.
- 5Remove the backplate.
- 6Hold the can vertically at all times.Take a can of compressed air and clean the inside thoroughly from dust.
- 7Those are located on the right side of the amplifier and are hidden under caps.Start by replacing the five gain-stage tubes (or valves).
- 8This amplifier allows you to experiment with 12AX7, ECC83, 7025, ECC803, E83CC, 6681 (gain factor: 100); 12AU7, ECC82, 5963, 5814, 6189 (gain factor: 19); 12AV7, 5965 (gain factor: 41); 12AT7, ECC81, 6201, 6679 (gain factor: 60); 5751 (gain factor: 70); and 12AY7, 6072 (gain factor: 45) tubes. One of those tubes goes for the reverb section, one for the effects loop, and three for the gain stage itself. I picked five similar Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 tubes.For the gain stage, pick any unmatched tubes that you like.
- 9To unlock the cap, push it slightly up and turn it counterclockwise a bit (if you look at it from below). Then, just pull it down.Remove all of the caps first.
- 10I suggest using a piece of cloth to avoid leaving oil or fat from your fingers on it. Pull the tube down to remove it.Remove the first tube.
- 11If you do not remember how the lugs were oriented, use a mirror to find the socket layout.
- 12Unpack a new tube and push it up into the socket, but be wary of the lugs for they have to be oriented correctly.
- 13Repeat the same for the next tubes.
- 14Wipe the tubes or valves with a dry cloth if you touched them during the installation.
- 15As you can see, they have holes and grooves for the lock.To lock the caps back, push them up, turn them clockwise a bit, and release them.
- 16We have two big tubes here that we have to take out. Just pull them down. You may do it without a piece of cloth.Replace the two tubes in the power stage.
- 17Do not attempt to put any other tubes such as EL34 or 6550. I ordered a pair of matched Electro-Harmonix 6L6WXT+ tubes.For the power stage, order a matched couple of any 6L6-series tubes (GC, WXT+, etc).
- 18The 6L6 tube has a specific lug layout and a small plastic pin in the middle to prevent any wrong positioning.
- 19Use a mirror If you do not know how you have to position the tube to match the pin and lugs of the socket and the tube itself.
- 20The black pin has to be placed away from you.Position the tube correctly and push it up.
- 21Notice the small hole for the pin.This is how the power tube slot looks.
- 22This is the gain stage tube slot.
- 23Push a tube up if you see a gap with lugs. As you can see, there are no gap here.Please ascertain the absence of a gap between the power-tube plate and the socket.
- 24Place the backplate and screws back.
- 25Tighten the five screws holding it.
- 26First, both "Power" and "Standby" on the top of the amplifier must be turned off. Connect the power plug to the socket.Test if the combo works.
- 27Also, plug the guitar into one of the inputs (high or low gain).Push the "Power" button and let the amplifier heat up for five minutes.
- 28All potentiometers must be set to 0.
- 29Push the "Standby" button now.
- 30The amplifier should work.Test the sound.Enjoy your new set of tubes (or valves)! Thank you for watching VisiHow!
Video: Change Guitar Amp Tubes Peavey 5150 212 Combo
Questions and Answers
Just purchased peavey 5150 2x12 combo used and no sound?
I let the amp warm up for over five minutes before switch standby switch. When I switched it, I heard a pop right under the switch and smoke started coming out of the corners of the amp for almost 5 minutes. I unplugged and let it sit for a while and tried again and no sound plus the light for standy does not illuminate when switched. Please, any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I have no sound but amp powers on. No standby light though. I have tried: Switching two tubes that might have gotten mixed up from the order. Fuse appeared good after smoke came out. I think it was caused by: Possibly something inside amplifier electronics was Jared lose during shipment that may have crossed circuits?
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Categories : Instruments
Recent edits by: VC, Eng, Alexander Avdeev
