"Texture" Control on Peavey Valveking

[beasleybodyshop]

Anyone ever seen these? It was my first tube amp. Not a bad sound really. I was always a bit confused by the texture control though.

Could someone explain to me whats actually going on under the hood with the texture function?

[cbass]

Schematic?

[Reeltarded]

The tales of what it does sounds like a direct attack on Randall's IP. Simul-class on a knob..

[tubeswell]

Its a post-PI volume control on one of the output tube grids. It loads the cathodyne unevenly and reduces the cathodyne output impedance

[Leo_Gnardo]

Its a post-PI volume control on one of the output tube grids. It loads the cathodyne unevenly and reduces the cathodyne output impedance

kee-rect. So - at one end of the pot's travel, you have normal drive to the output tubes, at the other end, signal to one output tube is cut to nothing so effectively you have a single-ended amp. And you can dial between here & there, see if you can find a tone you like.

[gingertube]

Most othet times I've seen it it has been called the "BODY" control. That is what KOC calls it and that is from where it is most often ripped off.
Cheers,
Ian

[martin manning]

So - at one end of the pot's travel, you have normal drive to the output tubes, at the other end, signal to one output tube is cut to nothing so effectively you have a single-ended amp. And you can dial between here & there, see if you can find a tone you like.

... a single-ended amp with an off-center operating point. So, it makes it sound like a PP amp with a bad output tube?

[beasleybodyshop]

Wouldnt that severely stress the output tubes? If one wasnt running, it would put the load on the other one?

[Leo_Gnardo]

So - at one end of the pot's travel, you have normal drive to the output tubes, at the other end, signal to one output tube is cut to nothing so effectively you have a single-ended amp. And you can dial between here & there, see if you can find a tone you like.

... a single-ended amp with an off-center operating point. So, it makes it sound like a PP amp with a bad output tube?

eggs ackly. Hey all the kids are doing it now!

Another way of "laming" an amp for a tone variation. For those that like it, here's your amp, or (shudder) install it in your own.

Once again I'm imagining that design staff meeting where they say "those guitarists all want distortion, we'll give it to 'em."

edit: for beasley, the bias voltage (& therefore current) are maintained at the output tube that has its AUDIO feed cut off by the "texture" pot. So that tube just sits there & slowly wears out without the extra stress of having to amplify a signal, if "texture" is dialed that way. At least, that's the theory.

[beasleybodyshop]

So - at one end of the pot's travel, you have normal drive to the output tubes, at the other end, signal to one output tube is cut to nothing so effectively you have a single-ended amp. And you can dial between here & there, see if you can find a tone you like.

... a single-ended amp with an off-center operating point. So, it makes it sound like a PP amp with a bad output tube?

eggs ackly. Hey all the kids are doing it now!

Another way of "laming" an amp for a tone variation. For those that like it, here's your amp, or (shudder) install it in your own.

Once again I'm imagining that design staff meeting where they say "those guitarists all want distortion, we'll give it to 'em."

edit: for beasley, the bias voltage (& therefore current) are maintained at the output tube that has its AUDIO feed cut off by the "texture" pot. So that tube just sits there & slowly wears out without the extra stress of having to amplify a signal, if "texture" is dialed that way. At least, that's the theory.

Ah, I see. Makes sense now. In theory this sounds like a cool idea, but i'm getting the impression that you think its a gimmick or novel? Do tell.

[tubeswell]

I bought my son one of these amps a couple of years ago for a birthday present (he didn't want me to make him an amp). I've tried the texture control a few times - it isn't bad, its a bit of fun. Actually, besides the volume control, its probably the most exciting control on this amp. (The reverb sure sucks)

[surfsup]

I'd be curious to know if you feel there is a useful "range" on that pot?