need help with a Peavey 6534

[rabies]

volume is low. bought this used on eBay, no issues, pretty much minty. retubed all 4 EL34's. retubed V1-V3. noticed that the PCB board for the preamp tubes is flimsy, and stretches/moves b/c it doesn't have enough support (very crappy/cheap design!)

took it to a tech in Burbank after I smelled a burning smell. here's the estimate:

I took a quick look at this and I would like to replace the power tubes and the phase inverter tube.

Labor involved in checking and troubleshooting the volume drop out is $100.
Parts are $120 roughly.

So $220. is the estimate.

I'm guessing the PI tube is V6 and I didn't replace that one. Should I do a full tube replacement myself first and see what happens? Eurotubes has 6 month warranty on tubes. That would cost me $127 But the estimate itself would be $50. So maybe let him do it as he uses JJ's.

I bought the head for $700. Sounds badass with my 7 string actives but otherwise I'd rather use my Rivera.

BTW, estimate for full/half switch mod is $115. This amp is unusable in OD channel at home.

 

[rabies]

btw, what the hell is this 2+3 Peavey warranty policy (2 yr standard with 3 yr extension if you register product in 90 days?) Mesa is 5 yrs straight up transferrable (Peavey is not transferrable).

I would definitely not buy a Peavey amp again. They seem too cheap for Made in USA. My Rivera has not had one issue and it's from 1991.

 

[D-Rock]

I would pull two power tubes first, (drop the impedance one value). Also try a different tube in the PI spot yourself. (After pulling the tubes and testing that first)
Half power won't drop the volume at all, but you my get lucky and remove the the pair of offending tubes causing the volume loss.

 

[mightywarlock]

Ebay it.

F- Craigslist. You'll never sell that thing on there.
You've been posting this amp since you bought it with no real bites?
Ebay it already !

btw, here is the amp he is talking about...

Starring Mr. Rabies himself...

 

[Rushtallica]

btw, what the hell is this 2+3 Peavey warranty policy (2 yr standard with 3 yr extension if you register product in 90 days?) Mesa is 5 yrs straight up transferrable (Peavey is not transferrable).

I would definitely not buy a Peavey amp again. They seem too cheap for Made in USA. My Rivera has not had one issue and it's from 1991.

If tubes were the issue, that can happy with any tube amp and was possibly a problem before your amp shipped from the ebay seller, though if I was paying a tech to fix it I'd ask what the bias is for the tubes and if any seem far off from the others in bias.

I can't speak for the 6534+ and don't want to defend something if it's a bad design, but I've never had troubles with the pre or power tube sockets and haven't heard of problems with the series in that regard even though I think the preamp boards are likely built the same way as the 6534+ and have been around at least 20 years. But I can understand wanting the preamp board to feel more solid. Also, I'm sorry to hear the amp came with problems and hope that new tubes fixes it.

 

[rabies]

1) the amp may not have "come with problems"; it worked fine for weeks initially with the tubes it shipped with
2) I like the amp with my Schecter 7 string active, totally kicks ass for hard rock and metal, no question
3) I did check the bias and it seemed out of whack with the original tubes but I installed a used set of EL34's and it was in acceptable range in terms of mA and plate voltage (weber bias rite)
4) tech said most likely it's not a tranny that's damaged or the problem (as the fuse would have blown)
5) bought a full re-tube kit (E34L) from eurotubes and will try re-tube myself first to see if problem reproduces, then take back to tech as required

btw, Eurotubes makes their own bias rite equivalent but it only has one receptacle, not 2 or 4 like the weber (they're working on a newer version)

 

[rabies]

Main issues I have with the 6534 is that it's way too loud for home use (and it doesn't have a loop level like my Rivera to make it usable at home) and the inherent fizziness in the distortion sound. It's great for palm-muted chunking and fiercesome low-end. Good for single note lead passages as well. But metal and jazz chords lack tonal definition. Rivera is better for that. 6534 absolutely requires a noise gate IMO. ISP decimator seems pretty damn good on both amps (thx for the tips on ISP and OD808 mightywarlock!).

Yes, Marshall JCM 800 was easier to sell. But if you play a JCM 800, you will sound boring/cliche, no?

 

[rabies]

oh yeah, soundgarden is playing LA this week. try playing along with rusty cage cranked with a peavey 65xx amp and 7 string (the song is in B). That break down part is totally badass. I always thought badmotorfinger was a fantastic album. so much good music in the 90s.

@2:47: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNv_BbkHkJg

sick drum fills...