busted power tubes...

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blackmusic

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how do i know my power tubes are busted? All the 6L6's I've seen light up blue (including mine), but some of them in my amp look brownish... Is that bad? How would I know my tubes have blown, or are on theyre way out?
 
How do they sound?One sure sign of a tube going bad is when they go microphonic,you tap on the glowing tube and you hear it amplified through the speaker.
Tom
 
well, they sound fine. And I havent heard an echo when I tap on the tubes. So what your saying is that the color or the ligtened tube is not a good indicator or wether or not the tube is busted?
 
I think the color is an indicator.The blue glow is normal.Brown isn't.But its hard to say how much time you have left on them if the sound is still ok.The microphonic symptom would indicate imminent demise.Wouldn't hurt you to retube.Be sure to change out power tubes in pairs and re-bias.
Tom
 
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