Biasing a VHT power amp (can't use a tube socket-type biasing tool?)
Red
with VHT's tech dept. to trouble-shoot the brand new amp's power tubes
glowing red (very faint) when the amp's 'Class A' feature is engaged
(in 'normal' mode the tubes, Svetlana EL34s, do not glow), it was
determined by VHT that either a few of the tubes are bad or the bias
was not properly set at VHT...
Not ever having biased a tube amp before (only have read extensively
about it - in this forum & other places), certain biasing tools caught
my attention such as 'The Bias King,' GT's bias probe, & Alessandro's
bias meter (i.e., ones that plug into the amp's tube sockets; you
don't have to poke around w/ the lovely high voltages inside the amp).
What surprised me is that VHT said that these kind of biasing tools
*could not* be used w/ the amp and that the amp would have to be sent
back to them.
Is this correct? I keep in mind that the tech that I spoke to was not
familiar with these types of tools, which is why I question his
statement. Additionally, perhaps the amp's high voltage (approx.
500v) is a bit too high for these types of tools?
Regarding sending the amp back - logically, the reason being that VHT
has no authorized service centers in my state (NJ) and they would not
recommend the "transformer shunt" biasing method to a beginner
(completely understandable :-)). But sending the amp back via UPS for
a 4,000 mile round-trip doesn't sound so great to me. VHT agreed to
send a new set of tubes to me; but I now must either pay to have the
amp biased (even though it's under warranty) or do it myself.
As for not being able to use a socket-type biasing tool, any
comments/opinions on whether or not this is true are welcomed...
Thanks V. much,
R
RoccaforteAmps
to find a tech in
your area who
can help you.
Us tube guys
are everywhere!
Doug
PS (check your phone book)
Scott Colborn
Rich Koerner is in NJ. www.timeelect.com . Great guy and a new friend
for you to make. Take care.
Walk in Beauty, Peace. Scott
Red
thx
Scott Colborn
OK, great. Rich is an interesting person and having somebody like that
nearby is going to be worth a lot to you. Amp tech, guitar luthier,
producer, engineer, FOH sound, musician - he's done a lot of work. Take
care. Post what your amp sounds like after Rich is done (grin).
S Fryette
yesterday and then getting hung up on after patiently enduring your
misstatements, I was thinking it would be a waste of time to respond
to this post.
Most of those out there who are familiar with VHT likely already
suspect that there's more to your post than meets the eye. But I've
reconsidered to the point of responding at least for the sake of those
who may wonder what's up.
>it was
> determined by VHT that either a few of the tubes are bad or the bias
> was not properly set at VHT...
Incorrect. It was determined by VHT that either an EL34 in one channel
got damaged in shipping or there was the remote possibility of a leaky
cathode capacitor, or possibly you were running an impedance mismatch.
And, that if it was something unusual that we had not experienced
before, we wanted to see it in action and document it for future
consideration.
> What surprised me is that VHT said that these kind of biasing tools
> *could not* be used w/ the amp and that the amp would have to be sent
> back to them.
> Is this correct? I keep in mind that the tech that I spoke to was not
> familiar with these types of tools, which is why I question his
> statement. Additionally, perhaps the amp's high voltage (approx.
> 500v) is a bit too high for these types of tools?
This is a gross simplification of the facts. What we said was that due
to the internal layout of the amp, you may not be able to use a bias
probe or similar device because there might not be enough physical
clearance to install it. Only unfamiliar with them in the sense of
their physical size since we do not use these devices or have one on
hand.
> Regarding sending the amp back - logically, the reason being that VHT
> has no authorized service centers in my state (NJ) and they would not
> recommend the "transformer shunt" biasing method to a beginner
> (completely understandable :-)).
As explained, we do not have officially authorized service centers in
ANY state. We work with individual shops on a case by case basis as
necessary. This is to assure that we have a good working relationship
with each shop and that we will have an opportunity to give the shop a
bit of a heads up in advance on a service issue that we would like to
have addressed in a particuar way.
In your case it was quite obvious to us that you were in no way
qualified to to be attempting to service the unit yourself and
considering the circumstances, we wanted to opportunity to see the
symptom in our own test environment because of the unusual nature of
the complaint. You refused to take us up on our offer even though it
was in the interest of your personal safety and it would have cost you
nothing but a few days without the amp.
> As for not being able to use a socket-type biasing tool, any
> comments/opinions on whether or not this is true are welcomed...
It isn't important to us whether you believe it or not, or if anyone
elses opinion differs from ours. What is important to VHT is that our
products perform properly according to our specifications, that the
customer recieves the level of service we think anyone who pays the
price of admission duly deserves, and that the product AND THE
CONSUMER come to no physical harm in the process.
You chose not to accept our offer to demonstrate the pride we take in
our product and our committment to our valued customers. You went even
further in attempting to discredit our efforts in a public forum in
the belief that we would not challenge your misrepresentation of the
facts.
S Fryette
JTM50
Lloyd Gillis
North Vancouver, BC
Canada
Red
>After listening to your pointless and aimless rant on the phone
>yesterday and then getting hung up on after patiently enduring your
>misstatements, I was thinking it would be a waste of time to respond
>to this post.
Two questions:
Who, exactly, would this be that wrote this message? Is this the
owner, Steve? (it says your name at the bottom of your message)
Or is this *the person* I spoke with in the tech. dept? (trying to
respect your privacy) If so, you were defensive enough the other
night on the phone when you jumped all over me for my original post -
that's when the conversation took a down-turn...)
Red
>On 21 Jun 2001 07:32:08 -0700, in...@vhtamp.com (S Fryette) wrote:
>
>>After listening to your pointless and aimless rant on the phone
>>yesterday and then getting hung up on after patiently enduring your
>>misstatements, I was thinking it would be a waste of time to respond
>>to this post.
>
>Two questions:
>
>Who, exactly, would this be that wrote this message? Is this the
>owner, Steve? (it says your name at the bottom of your message)
>
>Or is this *the person* I spoke with in the tech. dept? (trying to
>respect your privacy) If so, you were defensive enough the other
>night on the phone when you jumped all over me for my original post -
>that's when the conversation took a down-turn...)
I still don't see a response to my questions above...
I'll wait a little longer to see if you answer... and whether or not
you do answer, I will then post my response, dissecting your message
piece by piece, in such detail that will expose your incompetence (and
arrogance) for all to see.
S Fryette
It's pretty much common knowledge that we are not a huge operation
with unlimited personnel and resources. I think the lack of negative
responses to this thread is a pretty good evidence of our past
performance.
Sure, there have been instances where we may have not done everything
that the customer thinks we should have. Nobody's perfect. But for the
most part we always make the best effort possible and accept that
there are times when one can't always come to terms with an occasional
uptight blowhard that just wants to compensate for his/her
unwillingness to listen to reason.
We have experienced a lot of growing pains in the past several years,
thanks in no small part to those of you who have become our customers,
friends, allies and supporters. In an effort to improve our customer
service, we have just installed an automated voicemail system to help
us handle the increased phone traffic. We understand that this may be
seen as an inconvenience to some,and we apologize if you feel that
way. As much as I would love to answer every phone call, fax and email
personally, I think any reasonable person knows that this is just not
practical. Please be assured that every call will get answered and we
will continue to try to live up to your expectations.
This will be my last contribution to this thread.
Steven M Fryette
President
VHT Amplification
Red
...and still, there is no clarification as to who, from your company,
wrote the previous post - YOU, Steve, or your belligerent/half
incompetent technician? (once again, we both know his name, but I'll
respect his privacy - you're the public figure in your company, not
him)
You see, I spoke to BOTH of you that night a few weeks ago, but the
6/21/01 reply to my original post reeks of your employee posting under
your name/account.
(and depending on which one of you wrote that follow-up will have a
lot to do with how I respond, context-wise)
If it was YOU:
(then I change my opinion of you from my handful of past conversations
w/you: you always presented yourself as professional and objective)
You're flat out wrong (in numerous ways) from square one:
For one thing, I never hung up on you, I hung up on *him* and then
called you back a few minutes later (livid, I might add) and told you
what I thought of him jumping down my throat the way hid did.
In addition, you weren't part of any of the previous trouble-shooting
conversations I had with him (i.e., didn't participate in the calls)
and in your post, you stated things that were based on "second hand
information" (almost all of what was posted was WRONG, but coming from
your belligerent/half incompetent technician, I can see the
confusion...)
What you wrote above may be "your last contribution to this thread,"
but you *will* see my **detailed** response soon (those here know you
follow these groups)
Like ripping a weed out of the ground & holding it up in the air for
all to see, I will expose the incompetence and arrogance that I
experienced in dealing w/ your technical support in this particular
matter.
Stay tuned-