modifying the Peavey Heritage VTX
So I have this interesting/strange Peavey amp, the Heritage VTX 130. It's a 2x12 combo, with 4x6L6 power tubes (in a very strange configuration), along with a typical-for-Peavey-at-the-time solid state preamp (lots of coloured plastic knobs). I got this thing for free, one of the 12" speakers has always been blown, but it still works pretty well, except of course funky, not-very-inspiring tone. But given the tube output section, I've held on to it, always figuring that I'd make something out of it someday without having much of a plan of exactly what, or how. Should I just replace the blown speaker? Or cannibalize it for parts? Or something in between?
But now that I'm starting to plan how to put electric bass, and electric cello, into the music, I'm thinking to use this as a bass amp. But with a little more effort than I was originally planning (had there been any plan), I think I can turn it into something pretty desirable and useful, for multiple purposes.
So my plan now is to keep the original case, but swap in a new baffle that simply centers the remaining 1x12 speaker. When I look up these Peavey "Scorpion" speakers, they claim to handle 200W each (continuous), although that is how they're rated today and I'm not sure the old ones were necessarily the same. We'll find out!
But I am going to re-work the power amp circuit. The existing VTX circuit is a really strange tube/solid-state hybrid, which I have no interest in preserving. I think I can use the same output transformer and the four 6L6s, along with a new 12AX7 phase-inverter, to create something quite similar to the Fender AB763 circuit.
And, by adding one more 12AX7, I can provide an optional AB763 preamp as well: there will be two preamp choices available, the original VTX or the AB763, selectable via a 3-way switch which includes a "both" setting.
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