Peavey Transtube in a pedal.

[brad]

I remember playing a 100w Peavey amp in the mid-90's that had one of the beefiest, chugging, distorted tones I've ever heard.  It was "Transtube Technology", and I think this must be the schematic over at AMZ:

http://www.muzique.com/schem/pv1.gif

Looks interesting with that dual gang pot!  Now, obviously -it's patented- but does that mean it can't be made as a DIY project for personal use?  Is redrawing the schematic legal either?

[JimRayden]

Hmm, I believe I remember Transtube being hybrid technology, that means it had an actual vacuum triode in the preamp, along with lots of solid state devices and power amp. Don't take my word for it though.

Although I might breadboard that interesting schem, thanks for posting it.

---------
Jimbo

[cd]

Hmm, I believe I remember Transtube being hybrid technology, that means it had an actual vacuum triode in the preamp, along with lots of solid state devices and power amp. Don't take my word for it though.

Although I might breadboard that interesting schem, thanks for posting it.

Peavey's Transtube was/is 100% solid state.  You're probably thinking of Marshall's Valvestate technology.

[RDV]

No tubes in a Transtube and the schematic at AMZ is for the 80's Saturation circuit, not the Transtube.

RDV

[brad]

Doh!  Thanks.  Has anyone got an amp schematic that has Transtube?  It'd would be interesting to see what it is exactly.

[JimRayden]

My bad. I was not certainly confusing it with Marshall Valvestate. Perhaps with some Laney hybrids I saw at the store...

---------
Jimbo

[brad]

Well I'll be darned, I just found this:

http://i7.ebayimg.com/02/i/06/ag/12/16_1_b.JPG

The Peavey Dirty Dog is Transtube in a box and has the same channels and buttons as the amp I was talking about.  I guess it would be a long shot to ask if anyone has a schematic! 

[brad]

Here's the schemo for the Peavey Rage, with "Transtube Technology":

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schemview.php?id=643

The dirty channel looks like a fleshed out Distortion+ type schematic...but cloners beware -Transtube Technology is "patent applied for" according to the manual! 

Which brings me to my next question: is it still legal to use a redrawn portion of the schematic for DIY use? 

[RDV]

I may be wrong but it seems like I remember reading an interview with Hartley Peavey where he says the transtube part lives in the poweramp section and affects sort of a simulated tube rectifer feel with the accompanying sag that depended how far you turned up the control for it. I used to think the transtube Bandit was one of the best SS amps on the market. Loud and giggable for under $400.00 USD.

RDV

[JimRayden]

Which brings me to my next question: is it still legal to use a redrawn portion of the schematic for DIY use? 

It is legal to use *any* schematic for DIY purposes. Though you'll have to make sure the source of the schematic is legitimate too.

-----------
Jimbo

[brad]

I may be wrong but it seems like I remember reading an interview with Hartley Peavey where he says the transtube part lives in the poweramp section and affects sort of a simulated tube rectifer feel with the accompanying sag that depended how far you turned up the control for it. I used to think the transtube Bandit was one of the best SS amps on the market. Loud and giggable for under $400.00 USD.

The Peavey Bandit is the amp I was talking about at the start of the thread!  Palm muted power-chords sounded great on it   As for the "power amp sag" thing, I actually found a patent made by Peavey for a "Smart Voltage Rail Reduction Audio Amplifier" that looks like it does what you're describing:
http://www.pat2pdf.org/patents/pat6975172b2.pdf

...although I don't see it used in the Peavey Rage schematic.  Perhaps Transtube isn't really necessary to get the big chugging tones I heard from the Bandit amp.  I just assumed that was their secret way of creating overdrive.  Either way, the dirty preamp channel from the Rage still looks like an interesting build!

It is legal to use *any* schematic for DIY purposes. Though you'll have to make sure the source of the schematic is legitimate too.

Great!  I like that...because it means we can talk about them without fear of someone running off to sell it! 

Speaking of Valvestates:  there were two methods used depending on the wattage of the amp.  The practice type amps didn't use a tube, whereas the 60w+ amps did.  The preamp of the 10w amp would probably make a nice two channel pedal:
http://www.drtube.com/schematics/marshall/8010.pdf

[RDV]

That Rage158 schem is pre-Transtube era though it may be the same as now.

rdv

[kusi]

Transtube_patent
NR.2
NR.3


click on "images" for more informations.


greeting, khe

[brad]

Ahhh...so it's bascially a Jfet tube emulator!   I'll have to get my hands on a Dirty Dog pedal 

[Yun]

i have a Peavy transtube Bandit, it's GREAT. 

It sounds like a VERY early 60's surf amp.  I can nail the "rin and stimpy theme tone". 

My faveorite thing about this amp is that it has a "T. Dynamics" control.  The more you turn it up (the touch dynamics control) The more touch sensative your Fuzz/OD/Distortion boxes will become.  VERY far out amplifier. 

i still like my '62 Vox royal guardsman amp better    Obviously....

[trevize]

I had a bandit a lot of years ago and it was great! wonderful amp.

Anyone understood how does the diode in every stage work?
Does it clip like a normal soft clipper?

[brad]

Looks like quite a few people like this amp! 

Does anyone have a schematic?  This may be a worthwhile project after all.

[Yun]

Looks like quite a few people like this amp! 

Does anyone have a schematic?  This may be a worthwhile project after all.

Yeah, it's a GREAT amp!

I don't know where you'd get the schematic; i wouldn't mind "taking a peek" myself.  I really want to trace the Touch dynamics control.  Anyone have a clue of what exactly it is eh? 

Is it like the saturation control by AMZ?

[Yun]

I may be wrong but it seems like I remember reading an interview with Hartley Peavey where he says the transtube part lives in the poweramp section and affects sort of a simulated tube rectifer feel with the accompanying sag that depended how far you turned up the control for it. I used to think the transtube Bandit was one of the best SS amps on the market. Loud and giggable for under $400.00 USD.

RDV

Hey, RDV; How much exactly did you pay for yours eh?  I bought mines for $195.00.  As a matter o' fact; i traded in my Marshall valvestate stack, i was going to get a Fender combo; but the peavey killed the black face that they had.  Which is REALLY suprising to me    . 

What did you find that was better than the peavey?

[nelson]

One of the guitarists in my old band had a peavey trantube amp.

It sounded terribly harsh and was nasty on break up. Didnt take too kindly to alot of pedals either.