Understanding fixed bias in valve guitar amplifiers.
Fixed Bias is a term which guitarists often mention. But what on earth is it?
Do you have a valve guitar amplifier?
In that case, you have probably heard of ‘biasing’. It can be a very confusing term. It’s even more confusing as you have probably also heard terms like “variable bias”, “fixed bias” and “cathode bias”.
What on earth are you to make of it all?
The forums are less than helpful as the people writing the posts are often more confused than you!
Let’s see if we can unravel the mystery.
There are two sorts of bias. There is Fixed Bias (FB) and Cathode Biased. This short article aims to demystify this highly confusing topic.
Let’s make a start. You’re going to like this first nugget. Fixed Bias actually means adjustable bias! I know – don’t blame the messenger.
Unfortunately, you will read many times on the internet that “fixed bias” means you do not need to bias your amp, or that you cannot bias your amp because it is fixed. Unfortunately, this is the exact opposite of the truth.
So a fixed bias amplifier means that it is one on which you can actually adjust the bias to get the ‘tick-over’ current through the output valves to be the correct level. The term ‘fixed bias’ comes from the fact that once you have adjusted it (set it) then it stays the same (fixed) until adjusted again.
Yes, I agree, ‘fixed bias’ is not the greatest name, but that’s what we call it.
Take home: if you have a FB circuit in your amp, it’s one on which you can adjust the bias voltage. Either you or your tech can make adjustments to the bias on this amp if you want to.
Fixed Bias -v- Cathode Biased
In contrast to FB, we have Cathode Biased. We could also call this ‘variable bias’ but we don’t.
Now because it’s ‘variable’ don’t get the idea that you or a techy can vary it – you can’t. We reserve that for fixed bias amps as you learned above.
In a cathode-biased amp, the bias voltage varies up and down automatically to keep the bias correct. In fixed bias amplifiers, once set, the bias does NOT move up and down automatically. And that’s where the ‘fixed’ bit comes in.
For your interest, all preamp valves (like ECC83s) are cathode biased. This is why you never have to bias them. Cathode bias is a kind of self-bias circuit.
Quite a few amps (e.g. Vox AC15) have cathode-biased output tubes (EL84) and these amps don’t need biasing. In fact, we CAN’T bias them even if we wanted to.
We have a blog on Cathode Bias plus a list of the amps that are cathode biased in a different blog which you can access here.
The vast majority of guitar amplifiers are fixed bias tube amp though. This means that you can adjust them to raise or lower the bias current. This is usually done with a pot or swapping out a fixed resistor.
Summary of Fixed Bias and Cathode Biased Amps
So now you know.
Fixed bias = adjustable (!) but it stays the same (fixed) once adjusted.
Cathode biased means we cannot adjust the bias. It varies up and down with conditions. So it’s ‘not fixed’.
I hope that has clarified the situation.
If you would like to learn how to bias your amplifier we have the best bias manuals on the market. You can see which amps we have bias manuals for here.
If you need a new set of tubes for your amp please go here: https://www.ampvalves.co.uk