Steff Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 I recently bought a Bass 400+ which needs a revalving. The budget is really limited, so I found the cheapest offers, but the thing is, there's two options. 1. Set of 12 matched 5881's Harma valves from Watford Valves - £144.00 + p&p 2. Set of 12 matched 5881WXT Sovtek valves from Mike Hill Services - £144.00 + p&p What would you old valvers recommend? Cheers, Steff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Hi Steff, From my experience - Watford Valves all the way. On that note it's a lot quicker and easier to call him - The email/online side of the business is somewhat... eratic. Regards, Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 (edited) Thanks Jon, I was really hoping someone could say the difference between the two types of valves... I've purchased a pair of Mike Hill's sovteks, because I am gigging this weekend and I can't afford to buy the complete 12 set before Monday, and they have already sent them to me, so I am pleased with Mike's services so far... Probably will keep that pair as a spare from next week on. Edited August 18, 2010 by Steff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 I had Harma's in my 400+ and it sounded great when I retubed after 6+ years of use and heavy use at that to Groove Tubes I didn't notice a tonal difference. I swapped one of my Strategy 400's from Sovtek's to Groove Tubes recently and there was a huge change in output and clarity and just overall sounded better. So I would say go with the Harma's I never had an issue with them and even when worn they still sound awesome. Sovtek's meh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 Thanks dude... so that's +1 for Harma now ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Well Ped, BassBlueStew and Crazykiwi also owned my 400+ before me and they all swore by the Harma's in it, it wasn't retubed till recently having been owned by all those people and me gigging it about 150 times a year for 3 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 Hmm... as I have noticed, after reading reviews on the net for a few hours, there are some various types of Harma 5881's... Wondering which ones exactly are yours, because if they are the cheapest ones, the guys from Watford Valves recommend using the Sovteks instead... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyratm Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Not meaning to Highjack... But.. Will the 400+ still work with valves removed (at a lower volume or worse tone)? Is it easy enough to revalve yourself or better getting a tech to do it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 As far as I know - yes, if you pull out the bad tube and its opposite. As you see, there are two rows of six valves, so just pull out the opposite one as well and I guess it should be fine for a while. I wouldn't guarantee that though. As for revalving - I will be doing it myself, as for you - up to you . It's not really a big deal, just pull out the old ones and replace them with the new, unless I'm missing something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 [quote name='Steff' post='928587' date='Aug 18 2010, 01:14 PM']As far as I know - yes, if you pull out the bad tube and its opposite. As you see, there are two rows of six valves, so just pull out the opposite one as well and I guess it should be fine for a while. I wouldn't guarantee that though. As for revalving - I will be doing it myself, as for you - up to you . It's not really a big deal, just pull out the old ones and replace them with the new, unless I'm missing something.[/quote] Biasing but if you are buying a valve kit for a 400+ it shouldn't be too much of a problem as they should be within their requirements Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 It is said in the manual, that the bass 400+ has a fixed bias... Doesn't that means that you can't really make any biasing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Yes it does but means you have to buy tubes within that bias range Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyratm Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 I think I just got lost... Will the above tubes just be able to put in the head? I don't have a manual or owt. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 Well if you are doing a full revalve, you should buy a set of 12 matched valves for Mesa/Boogie Bass 400+ - Watford Valves sell a set like that. In that case it won't need biasing. If you are buying only one or a pair of valves, that should be a temporary solution, because they won't match the old ones and that might shorten the life of some of the valves, and there might be some other faults in time (not sure about that). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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