Community : Discussion List - Spider Valve

I Returned My New Spider Valve

support@line6.com — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:53:16 GMT

So I bought a SV 112 Mark 1 when they first hit the stores back in about 2007. I still have it and I do like it. I love its flexibility, built in effects, awesome Mark 1 Shortboard, and the tone which I consider good enough for live gigging with my cover band. After all these years with trouble-free service from my Mark 1, I decided to buy a 112 Mark 2 and the Mark 2 Shortboard so I could try out the most updated advancements to the SV. I got the first one and it was buzzing up a storm. Returned it for a second one and all seemed good. The tone is different than the Mark 1. Its not bad, but the Mark 1 sounda bigger and the Mark 2 sounded like it had a blanket covering the speaker. But I kept on working with it. I found that I really like the new "high gain" models. I could get a mild cruchy tone all the way to a fully distorted tone using this amp model. So then I started experimenting with the effects. I gotta tell you, I like the effects better in my Mark 1. I know people have complained about the limited tweakability of the Mark 1, but there are some sweet spots in the dial for each effect. The Chorus in the Mark 2 seemed less lush, and I could not get a pleasing phaser sound. Some of the other effects are nice, and I did like some of the reverb options as well. But I'm not a huge tweaker... meaning I don't like to spend hours having to dial in every specific aspect of every amp model, every effect, every patch for each of my guitars. Yes, I do have to tweak the Mark 1, but I find less options to be a good thing. Anyway, I finally dialed in some good patches then I hooked up the Mark 2 Shortboard. What a major downgrade this thing is versus the Mark 1, especially the LED read out. But I forged on anyway, only to find that every time I switched patches mid-song the amp would make very loud pops. Long story short is that I now know by reading forums that this is a known problem by Line 6 and their stupid solution is to crank up your patch volumes which means my master volume goes from silent to ear-bleeding volume. Well, I decided to try this anyway, then I overcame this ridiculous master volume issue by setting my minimum and maximum volume pedal levels to 10 and 15 respectively. This way my master volume allowed me to not go from silent to ear bleeding volume. So I tried this for a while only find that I still occasionally had pops when changing channels. After all this nonsense I said the hell with it. I packed it up and sent it back. While I don't love my Mark 1 version, at least it is reliable, without design and/or quality defects. The Mark 2 may have alot more features, but the two Mark 2 amps that I tried were junk.

weird sound from 412vs speakers

support@line6.com — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:31:13 GMT

I've owned the spider valve hd100 mk1 head with 412 vs speakers since 2008. Just recently i noticed a weird sound coming from the speakers when i play through the clean channels. When i play through the distortion channels i cant really hear it. But i first noticed the sound when i was doing a bit of recording back in early february. It is kind of like a very gentle crackle in a way i guess is how you could describe it. Or,i dont know how to describe it actually. What do speakers start to sound like if they're damaged. Could it be that the tubes in my head are finally starting to go bad and need changed ?? Could this be causing the noise ?? I need some help badly as playing through this amp is my life and i'm totally in love with this amp.

loserface

Spider Valve power valves

support@line6.com — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:40:57 GMT

Hi guys

Looking at replacing my power valves. The site says the power valves are 6L6 and mine is fitted with 5881s.

Now I understand that 6L6s and 5881s are of the same family, but is it ok to have 5881s in a UK spec Spider Valve? I know 5881s are listed in the US spec ones but is it ok having 5881s in mine?

Sorry if there's an obvious anwser that I've overlooked, but somebody clear things up for me please.

Cheers

Mark

Does the Spider Valve MKII HD100 Have an Effects Loop?

support@line6.com — Sat, 01 May 2010 05:05:24 GMT

I have stompboxes that i would like to run through a tube amps effects loop. I am thinking about buying this amp head but I need an effects loop.

Does this amp head have an effects loop for my stompboxes?

Thank you

Adjusting Volume Between Clean & Insane Channels

support@line6.com — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:53:00 GMT

Hi - I play mostly through the insane channel but also use the clean channel for ballads, etc. My clean channel is generally much lower in volume - so when I switch from a clean setting to an insane setting, the volume is MUCH louder.

Is the best way to solve this to reduce the volume of the insane settings in the actual preset? I would like to stay away from using the volume pedal on the shortboard if possible.

Thanks,

Scott

Replacing preamp tubes in my spider valve mkii hd100

support@line6.com — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:38:17 GMT

First, forgive my ignorance as I have never messed with tubes before and haven't even had a tube amp in 15 years so I am just learning about tubes. I do know a little about them from power amps and preamps I had owned but never changed them before. Anyway, I am thinking of changing the preamp tubes from the sovteks to electro harmonix tubes. My question is that I see inside my am head where the tubes are it has printed 12AX7B. Now I was looking at some online stores and don't see any 12AXBs. I did see some Sovtek 12AXWA & WCs also some other tube brands with -R, -R2, -R3, A,-C, etc. My question is do I need to find a replacement that ends with "B"? After reading some reviews I really want to try the The electro harmonix which is a 12AX7EH tube. Thanks for any input - Dann

Switching Between a Spider Valve MkII HD100 an MkII 112 ?

support@line6.com — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:48:04 GMT

I currently play a Spider Valve MkII 112 with Spider 412 cab, I also use an FBV shortboard.

I'd like to buy an HD100 head and use it with the cab, leaving the combo at home. My question is this:

If I make changes to my settings, tones, etc. on the combo, will those changes carry over when I plug my shortboard into the HD100? I'd like to use the combo for modelling and not have to duplicate effort to get the same settings on the HD 100. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Scott

Need advice from some Tone pros regarding tone adjustment in a band setting

support@line6.com — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:07:14 GMT

Hi,

I'm sorry if I come off as a noob here, but I am at a loss and don't really know how to fix this on my own.

Here's the rundown: I'm in a local band in my area and we have a pretty good following. I've been using the Spider Valve 212 Mk1 for about a year, love it. Had the tubes replaced when I first purchased it with JJs. Great sound.

Recently, I just bought a mesa rectifier 2x12 floor cab to go along with my rig, basically turning it into a halfstack. Now it sounds huge, but since the speakers are now more close to ear level, I noticed that the sound is just extremely bright after a while, so much so that it's annoying. When I'm playing by myself, it sounds AMAZING...but I walked out to the middle of our practice room while the whole band was playing, and the sound from my amp sounding very tinny and bright, I could only hear my high frequencies. Although the rest of my bandmates said it sounds great. I think they are just used to it.

My settings right now are:

Model - Metal Amber

Gain - 7.5

Bass - 7

Mids - 2

Treble - 7

Chan Volume - 6.5

Reverb - 2

Master Volume - 4

Presence - Slightly past 4

The type of music we play is kinda post hardcore, with some energetic punk rock mixed in. So i'm trying to get my guitar to have that "Rise Against" tone. My guitar is a PRS Santana SE with JB SH-4 loaded in the bridge position. The sound I am primarily going for can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhldbymXK-8

Like I said, when I play by myself, I have this tone achieved...but with the full band...I just sound too bright. So I'm trying to find the settings to achieve that tone with the full band.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Max

Spider Valve MkII 212 volume drop when changing channel

support@line6.com — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:43:10 GMT

Hi Guys

Just got a secondhand Spider Valve MKII 212 and have noticed a problem. When I change channel, the new sound comes in slightly quieter. After a few seconds, it sudddenly becomes louder. It pretty much stays there but with occasional volume fluctuations.

Anyone else have this issue? Could it be valve related?

HELP!

Thanks

Mark

MKII212 LED Screen?

support@line6.com — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:51:44 GMT

Sorry to vent a bit with this post but I'm frustrated after much searching and no answers...Aside from the obnoxious differences between volumes on presets, aside from the channel volume knob seeming to be loose ( for no reason I know of) and not functioning properly/consistently, now I have to deal with the LED screen constantly showing me the little picture of the knob settings which in turn disrupts whatever else I am doing at the time.. If I am trying to use the shortboard to set up a loop, I can't do that when every time I look at the screen, it pops up a stupid image of the knobs and goes into whatever that mode is...That's a TERRIBLE feature. If I turn the knob to a setting, wouldn't you think I'd SEE THE KNOB AND KNOW WHAT IT IS SET TO??? I would love to know why this is happening ( it didn't do that when I first got the amp) and how to stop it because this thing is becoming more trouble than it was worth...anyone have any ideas? I am guessing after much frustration that it might have something to do with the channel volume knob being all weird. It doesn't seem as solidly connected as the others and it doesn't just raise or lower the volume as it should - the volume clips in and out when I raise or lower it, and it hasn't left the room or been bumped so who knows...I got several good months out of this amp, and now it's acting up even though I've never moved it or bumped it - it is in the exact same spot it was when I got it and set it up...I had decent luck with my HD100 Half Stack, played big shows with it for several years without a hitch...I loved the sounds and control conveniences, but this time, this MKII 212 is turning out to be annoying as hell...and no, the shortboard isn't the issue - neither is the brand new cable it attatches with...this happens whether or not they are attached...Hmmph. Again, sorry for the angry post. I'm sure anyone who has been through these issues understands it can get frustrating...

HD110 Mkii stopped working!!

support@line6.com — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:20:25 GMT

Well this seems to be a common issue but I have no volume out of my head. Playing last night at a lower volume and i heard a loud POP and now i have no volume whatsoever out of my amp. This is now the third time this has happened and each time I've had to turn the volume knob more each time to even get sound. I bought this amp NEW about a year ago and have been having issues like this and loud screeching since I bought it. I don't know what to do now. Please Help!