Pulled the trigger on a THD Bi-Valve!

[Nigel]

The KT-77's were red plating in the M60 something fierce.

Going to put them in the Bi-Valve with a couple of NOS Mullard 17mm 12AX7's.

Anyone use this amp? Tips?

 

[TeleBlaster]

mmmmmmmmmmm clams.

 

[stephen sawall]

O'clock...
Volume ~10/4 range
Treble ~ 9
Bass ~ 3
Attitude ~ 1
More input & Use little or no attenuation if you can.

I very much like mine. One great way to use it is use the whole amp as a distortion unit. Use no speaker & take the line out and feed it into the front of a other amp or into a poweramp.

I use KT88 & KT66 most with this amp but the KT77 sound great. 6V6 also a favorite. 6K6 can be a lot of fun and very very cheap.

http://fothda.yuku.com/directory#.TxIehKVSSHg

 

[Ventura]

mollusks...

 

[Nigel]

O'clock...
Volume ~10/4 range
Treble ~ 9
Bass ~ 3
Attitude ~ 1
More input & Use little or no attenuation if you can.

I very much like mine. One great way to use it is use the whole amp as a distortion unit. Use no speaker & take the line out and feed it into the front of a other amp or into a poweramp.

I use KT88 & KT66 most with this amp but the KT77 sound great. 6V6 also a favorite. 6K6 can be a lot of fun and very very cheap.

http://fothda.yuku.com/directory#.TxIehKVSSHg

SWEEEEET! My enthusiasm for this mAp is so high I'm like a kid in the Playboy mansion (that's a real candy store!).

Dad's got NOS Brimar 6V6-GTA's, RCA's, and the like. I shall roll with him this weekend.

I'm hoping I can use the guitar volume for clean/dirty and run the direct out into my effects > SS 1x12 for wet toanz.

That KT-77 needs to be 100% to open up properly IMHO. So long as it's pleasant, I like high volume.

BTW I got it for $650 shipped.

 

[Robotechnology]

Love my Flexi-50. I'm sure you'll love your Bi-Valve! Congrats!

 

[Nigel]

I can't stand crossover distortion. Seems like I have to bias tubes so hot they explode, ala EVH in the old school. Tom Keckler did say I reminded him of this youngster that was always swapping out his pickups...lol.

 

[stephen sawall]

All the THD amps very much react to dynamics and clean up good with the guitar volume. The amount of harmonics is amazing. Bass is very tight. Cuts in a mix better than any other guitar amp I know. Nothing highgain ....but there is a fair amount of gain so do not be afraid to back it off. Great crunch can be found with the VOLUME in the 10 o'clock range & above.
There is not a lot of discussion around the net these days other than that forum. Mostly because THD has not released a new amp in several years I figure.
I have a THD ~ Series One Plexi, Bivalve & Flexi.

 

[Digital Jams]

VERY cool amp and SCORE for what you paid!

 

[Nigel]

Today, as I stood in the shower, thinking (thanks Jane's) I realized the name of the company was THD.

I have a class A THD sitting at UPS.

Tonight, I will experience TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION! hehe

 

[stephen sawall]

..... And the cleans & point of break-up from this amp are great....

 

[Nigel]

Anyone know what the OT's primary Z is?

 

[stephen sawall]

Anyone know what the OT's primary Z is?

Might be in here ...
http://www.thdelectronics.com/BiValve_Manual_080105.pdf

 

[Nigel]

I got it...one tube sounds good on 8 ohms. Need two for 16.

Cooler grades of KT-77's don't get it. Hot ones do. Thin balance between cold and too hot.

BUT MY GOD THE TOANZ!!!

WHY is there no channel switch? Mods please!

 

[Deaj]

I used to own a BiValve and a Shawnee oversized 1x12cab loaded w/ an Eminence Red Fang alnico speaker. This was an amazing sounding rig! If you can find a pair of RCA coke-bottle 6K6's grab 'em. They're worth a little work looking for them!

 

[stephen sawall]

I got it...one tube sounds good on 8 ohms. Need to for 16.

Cooler grades of KT-77's don't get it. Hot ones do. Thin balance between cold and too hot.

BUT MY GOD THE TOANZ!!!

WHY is there no channel switch? Mods please!

Tone is the reason I use THD .... very few amps produce this amount of harmonics.
No channel switch because there is too much a volume jump between inputs.
If you want to check out a real monster use the line out into a large amp or power amp with say 4 or more KT88.

 

[Nigel]

Tone is the reason I use THD .... very few amps produce this amount of harmonics.
No channel switch because there is too much a volume jump between inputs.
If you want to check out a real monster use the line out into a large amp or power amp with say 4 or more KT88.

Lol Dad's got a Marshall Major sitting in the carriage house...

So what do you do to get good cleans and dirty from this amp? Looks like I'm going to have to have a clean amp. Fortunately, the Rivera M60 has that in spades.

 

[stephen sawall]

Do you have a volume on your guitar ? That is how you get cleans with distortion. This is the same way you get clean & distortion with all single channel amps. Notice how it stays clear sounding when you roll down your guitar volume. .... THD has never made anything but single channel amps.
I use a phaser (vibe) that has a volume control on it. I can footswitch clean/ dirt this way. Just turn the intensity off on the vibe. Many pedals with a volume would do similar. Just back off the volume for the clean sound.
I recommend looking at the forum to see what others are doing ... it is a common subject with single channel amps.


The Major will be perfect. I was using a vintage SUNN Model T for a bit. I need to plug it into the front of my Deliverance 120.

 

[Nigel]

Sounds good with two tubes into 16 ohms AND does clean. Wasn't getting clean mojo with the 8 ohm/one tube.

Also, the 3/9/3/1 setting does work great. Once it's dialed in, the BiValve is just amazing. I can't believe it sounds that good for what I paid for it.

I'd like to know more about the exact function of the Attitude control, as well as the OT circuit. Proper impedance is key for tube life and tone. I notice at 8 ohms it redplates, 16 it doesn't. Plus I hear there's this series/parallel business so you always have full OT winding in use. Going to put some Zinky Eminence 12's in an Earcandy Buzzbomb cab this weekend at 16/4 and see what happens. Right now, one V30 in a Rivera TAC gets serious mojo.

Thusfar I'm so impressed with the amp that I want a Flexi. Andy Marshall is the man.

 

[stephen sawall]

That is how I use the settings 98% of the time or more ...
I feel the sound is among the very best of amps ... sounds much better to me than most amps that cost a lot more.

This being a Class A amp tubes do burn up a bit faster. My opinion is I do not care if I get the sound I want. Burn up a few tubes .... they are pretty cheap compared with the whole rig.

To be honest I always felt the amp sounds best with a 4 ohm load. It has a thicker voice like this. Never liked a single tube much ... but great to know it can be done with out problems. I prefer the Flexi just a little bit over the Bivalve.