Spare power tunes for a 5150 II

[BlackOut8910]

This is going to sound stupid, but ....

I have recently bought a Peavey 5150 II head and cab. It currently has Svetlana "Winged C" power tubes, and what I presume are the factory Sovtek 12AX7s. I hope to get back to gigging out sometime in the future, and would like to find a lower-noise preamp tube for at least V1. My main concern though, is the power tubes. The sound FANTASTIC! But alas, aren't made any more. If you are going to gig a tube amp, you need spare power tubes. So I get that I will need a matched quad, but - if you have to swap tubes at a gig, there is no way to re-bias the amp. So, I how do I get, and use, spare tubes without harming the amp or the tubes, in the event I have to swap them in at a gig? Or, should I just replace the failed tube to minimize any change in bias requirements? For what it worth, these amps are biased relatively "cold" from the factory.

Anybody having any good luck with any current production tubes in the 5150 II/6550+ amps?

What should I expect to pay for a matched quad?

Any current production 12AX7s that work good in this amp?

 

[ZEN Amps]

Swapping tubes at a gig is not a great idea. No time and you need tools, a rebias etc. If you're worried a backup amp is the best bet.

Lots of current production tubes available, just pick some and get to playing. The tonal differences in an amp like that (or any amp really) is pretty minimal. Pricing you can find out for yourself

 

[kmanick]

I totally agree with Zen, I run my Splawn with all vintage 12Ax7's so who know if they will Sh*t the bed during a gig, so I bought a peavey 6505MH as a back up/noodling amp when I'm at home, you can get them dirt cheap and I've used mine at rehearsal several times , with no problem volume wise. At least with your rig that would keep your overall tone very similar in case the big head goes down.
I've owned several 5150II's /6505+'s over the years and running JJ EL34L's always worked great, I'm running JJ EL-34II's in my splawn and I even like those better.

 

[BlackOut8910]

Swapping tubes at a gig is not a great idea. No time and you need tools, a rebias etc. If you're worried a backup amp is the best bet.

Lots of current production tubes available, just pick some and get to playing. The tonal differences in an amp like that (or any amp really) is pretty minimal. Pricing you can find out for yourself

Like the original 5150, these beasts are biased very cold from the factory. I do have a Fender M-80 Stereo Chorus solid state head I could use to get through a gig. Would have to modify the cab so that it is capable of stereo operation if I go that route, or use my Peavey 412MS cab instead.

 

[BlackOut8910]

I totally agree with Zen, I run my Splawn with all vintage 12Ax7's so who know if they will Sh*t the bed during a gig, so I bought a peavey 6505MH as a back up/noodling amp when I'm at home, you can get them dirt cheap and I've used mine at rehearsal several times , with no problem volume wise. At least with your rig that would keep your overall tone very similar in case the big head goes down.
I've owned several 5150II's /6505+'s over the years and running JJ EL34L's always worked great, I'm running JJ EL-34II's in my splawn and I even like those better.

Thanks - I will look at the JJs.

 

[Chubbs]

I'd still rock those tubes. Considering how cold the amp is biased you could probably get away with just swapping tubes during a gig if they failed, however is test them in the amp first just to make sure they are operating in a safe range.
P.S.- I have a peavy from 1985 with the original tubes and it still sounds great.

 

[BlackOut8910]

I'd still rock those tubes. Considering how cold the amp is biased you could probably get away with just swapping tubes during a gig if they failed, however is test them in the amp first just to make sure they are operating in a safe range.
P.S.- I have a peavy from 1985 with the original tubes and it still sounds great.

I do have a Peavey Classic 120 power amp with 4 6L6GCs in it - I have never even opened it up to see what brand. I suppose I could rob those in a pinch ...