Wire Valve Retainer

[MrBump]

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.

[Lazy_McDoesnothing]

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

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

[Adam.M]

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...

[Oli]

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.

[hamfist]

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.

[d1dsj]

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.