• Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Topic: Biasing your own amp

Hey all,
    Does anybody here bias there own amp?  I'm thinking about getting the TAD BiasMaster to do it myself.  Here is my deal,  my Fuchs according to the manual says that the bias resistor is installed for me.  If I use the biasmaster, will it throw off the reading?  I'm assuming that the biasmaster has the resistor intalled in the unit.  Also,  I've never done this before, so what does a bias pot look like (I'm guessing they look nothing like a tone pot) and where would they be located if I were to look for them in my Top Hat Emplexador and my Fuchs.  It doesn't seem like a hard thing to do, just need a little guidance smile.  Two Rock got it right and put everything on the outside of the chasis, test points, bias screws and all, so I think that will be cake (knocking on wood now lol).  I'd like to do it myself as it would pay off just by purchasing the unit after using it once.  Totally user friendly, just a few bumps along the way...

Sorry for the newb Q's,
Ben

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-23
  • Posts: 553

Re: Biasing your own amp

HA! This question could be from me. wink
I also bought the TAD Biasmaster for my 2550 and HRM recently.
More out of interest than immediately need. I know that you need a
Multimeter and the biasmaster for it. Also you need the correct value that
works best for your amp/tubes. Rest should be piece of cake.
Sorry this might not help now. roll Anybody?

Alex

...it's a musical journey
www.u2-experience.de

Stratovari's Website

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Biasing your own amp

I can bias my own amps for the most part.  I have a cheap mulitmeter from Radio Shack and a nice Weber Bias Rite.  The Weber has the ability to bias any amp really regardless of tubes.  You have to first find the testing points for the voltage and then the trim pot to increase or decrease the voltage being fed to the tubes.  Most Fender type amps need to be taken out of their cabinets to do this.  Same goes for Marshall plexis.  The newer Marshalls have them on the outside and are a breeze to bias.  Sounds like Two Rock has done the same.  I would check out the "How to bias your own amp" video from www.eurotubes.com to get the basics down.  If you still cannot find the bias points on your amplifier after taking it out of it's cabinet then I would contact the manufacturer and request that information.  You also need to know where the exceptable ranges are to bias the amp for your tastes.  If you run it colder it will have less gain and more headroom/dynamics.  But if you run it hot the tubes will burn up faster and provide more distortion.  For the Fuchs I'm sure shooting an email to Andy Fuchs will answer any questions you may have.  Good luck and be safe!!!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: Biasing your own amp

Cool thanks guys...  Just check out some pics of the guts of the Fuchs and its pretty much labeled and user friendly,  now just for the TH-Emplexador.  I'll shoot an email to them, the owner rights back instantly from the other time I asked him a quesiton about the amp.  This is making me happy that it seems to be turning out easier then I planed.

Thanks again,
Ben