Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: MrBump on November 15, 2008, 06:52:01 PM

Title: Wire Valve Retainer
Post by: MrBump on November 15, 2008, 06:52:01 PM

A quick amp question, if I may.

My Blackheart/RAT amp and an octal valve (6V6) and an EL84.  THe EL84 has a wire retainer that loops over the top of it.

Any idea why?

The other valve doesn't have this.  And without the retainer, the valve still sits snuggly in the housing.

My Orange doesn't have any wire retainers on its EL34s.  Do they do something magical that I can't work out, or is it just to keep them in?

Mark.

Title: Re: Wire Valve Retainer
Post by: Lazy_McDoesnothing on November 15, 2008, 07:41:21 PM

On my Peavey they create a pretty realistic sounding tambourine effect! :lol:

But I believe they're just there to hold the tubes in.

Title: Re: Wire Valve Retainer
Post by: Adam.M on November 15, 2008, 08:09:38 PM

I've seen those on all EL84 amps i've had, so yeah, its just normal. keeps it in place.

Makes more sense when the tubes are upside down...

Title: Re: Wire Valve Retainer
Post by: Oli on November 16, 2008, 01:29:18 AM

Quote from: Adam.M on November 15, 2008, 08:09:38 PM

I've seen those on all EL84 amps i've had, so yeah, its just normal. keeps it in place.

Makes more sense when the tubes are upside down...

Quite often, the same chassis is used for both the head, and the combo versions (the controls are mirrored, however), so it's likely that tube retainers are installed regardless of what form the final amp will be.

Title: Re: Wire Valve Retainer
Post by: hamfist on November 16, 2008, 08:34:22 AM

Yeah, I generally get rid of them in heads which see the valves upright. They have no function in such an amp, except to get in the way, and maybe to rattle.

Title: Re: Wire Valve Retainer
Post by: d1dsj on November 27, 2008, 06:56:52 AM

I had a classic 30 combo and without the valve retainers the valves would literally fall out as soon as I turned the volume up.