Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Chris, are the newer SVT's like Charley's set up to bias the same as the old ones? I don't recall if they are offhand as I haven't seen one in awhile. My MTI era one biases just like the older ones, although I didn't use a spectrum aanlyzer as you did since I don't have access to one. Since you're using KT88's, you could adjust the screen voltage higher in your amps and sail up over 400 watts RMS.....

Also, when you tried the various tube types in your SVT's, which brands did you try besides the JJ? I'm using SED/Winged C/Svetlana 6550C's in my SVT as that was the only good ones around when I retubed it in the late 90's. They sound good and are very reliable in the SVT. I use JJ KT88's in my Sunns and love them in there. I was planning on using them in the SVT when I need to retube it next which may be awhile.

The SVT Classics I've seen are even easier to bias than the old SVT's, you don't need a multimeter, there are lights on the back like on a guitar tuner, you get the green one lit, don't know how accurate that is though, I'd still rather use a multimeter. I also don't know if they were all made that way or if it was a special anniversary head that I saw.
I've had good luck with Svetlana 6550's, I have them in three heads and they're all at least 3 or 4 years old, have had no problems. I'd like the GE's also, best sounding 6550's I have ever bought.

My SVT-Classic is a late 2004 or early 2005 and it has the red & green biasing lights on the back.

The Classic heads and the SVT-2 Pros also use the LEDs, There is a voltage comparator circuit that monitors the bias against a reference voltage and when you are set right the LED is green, when outside the small window it is red.