Peavey 6534+ retube and fixes

[Dave Sloven]

Just a quick note to tell you guys that I have made some changes to my Peavey 6534+ that I am pretty happy with.  As there is not much information on this amp out there from users I figure it might be useful for someone.

The power tubes were replaced like-for-like, as I did some reading online and it seemed as though people who had used these were pretty happy, and those who swapped them out weren't so happy.  So I had a new matched quad of Ruby EL34BHT tubes fitted, and the tech changed the screen resistors to a higher value (sorry I didn't write down the number but apparently it is more typical of what you would use with EL34 tubes generally) and biased warmer, although the 6505+ style bias mod was not necessary to get the tubes into the correct range.

The lead-free solder on the board was cracking and poorly done so the tech removed it all and replaced it with new 60/40 leaded solder as used on the old 'block letter' 5150 amps.

The amp seemed to be a 'Friday afternoon special' as the chassis was aligned so poorly that the front grill and corner cap were not fitted properly and the knobs were sticking out past the wood.  Frank fixed that for me.  See photos below.

BEFORE:



AFTER:



The preamp tubes have been changed and after a little fiddling about I have settled on the following (in order looking at the preamp from the back, ordered right to left):

V6: Tung Sol 12AX7 (RHYTHM)
V1: Tung Sol 12AX7 (INPUT)
V2: Ruby 12AX7 AC5 HG (LEAD #1)
V5: Ruby 12AX7 AC5 HG (LEAD #2)
V3: Tung Sol 12AX7 (EFFECTS LOOP)
V4: Sovtek 12AX7 LPS (PHASE INVERTER)



It's all sounding very nasty and chewy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG5PqZovgQs

In the video when I fiddle with the amp that's me turning the lead channel post-gain up from 2 to 3.

[CommonCourtesy]

Sounds gnarly and angry! I wonder if I should have a fiddle with my 6505+ tubes lol. What pickup is in that guitar?

How you manage to play in a house with the post-gain on 3 though is beyond me!

[Dave Sloven]

alnico Nailbomb

We live in the countryside and I was the only person home

definitely look into the combination of preamp valves I used.

A matched quad of Ruby 6L6GC-MSTR would be the closest equivalent in 6L6 tubes to my EL34BHTs.

Tech said preamp valves should be replaced every 4 years, power valves every two years (replaced and biased).  He also recommends changing the phase inverter every time you change power valves.

Hopefully your 6505+ does not have cracking solder in it but worth checking out.  Not sure if you would find someone in the UK who would use leaded solder now though with it being very difficult to source due to regulations.

On a 6505+ you might want to consider a bias mod.  On the 6534+ this is not necessary as the amp can be biased hotter without the mod.

It is pretty gnarly.  Here are my settings.  That was the red/lead channel.  I don't use the rhythm channel for gain.

Here are my settings.



I do have some EQ on the board and a clean boost (settings below, I did not use the overdrive for that video)

[Dave Sloven]

What pickup is in that guitar?

Sorry I forgot to answer this part of your question.  I have mentioned it other places, it is an alnico Nailbomb.

Here's a better video, in a band setting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei6h9T3iJF4