Info on how to Change out Tubes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Junkie Joel
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Junkie Joel

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Hi. Does anyone know where I can find info on how to change out the power and preamp tubes in my popular name brand amp head, so that I can experiment with different tubes to see which I like the best? I have had some trouble finding links on Google.
 
As far as I understand it, you need to be very careful to ensure your tubes are correctly biased. Check out the Groove Tubes site www.groovetubes.com

They have a book with all that kinda of info in... I'm just about to order mine in
 
Biasing your power tube is important ..... especialy if you are going to use tubes of different ratings. Are you wanting a dirtier or cleaner sound from your amp? Are you power tubes shot or are you just looking for tone?
 
Basically,

I want to buy a butt load of tubes and just switch them around until I find the sound I like. I will be changing out 12ax7's as well as output tubes. Maybe I should find someone to do it for me.
 
There are other ways to get different tones from tube amps without changing out all the tubes. Are you aware of how expensive tubes are? $35 to $70 for a matched pair of power tubes. Power tubes should always be purchased and installed in matched sets and your amp would need to be biased to the new tubes. As far as the preamp tubes go; 12AX7's are fairly inexpensive compared to power tubes but most amps have at least three and some have up to eight. Multiply that by $12!!!!! And then you have a least $30 per hour for bench time. What amp do you have and what is it that you don't like about it? Have you considered a speaker change. There is a tread here about speaker/tube distortion that may be helpful to you. Also, the tone/sound you hear in you head but not thru your amp, you may not be able to get no matter what you do to your amp. So before you spend a buttload of bucks on 10 complete sets of tubes, think about what you wish to hear from you amp and research some other options. There are plenty of guys in this forum that can help you find your "sound"........just start asking questions and starting new topics. Switching out tubes and parts untill you hear something you like is not the best way. If you can describe what you hear in your mind, some here can steer you the right way.

[This message has been edited by Daddy-O (edited 06-21-2000).]
 
Thanks for the info Daddy-O.

I am at sort of a crossroad. I have the option to continue with the rack mount path, or move into all-tube land. I would like to go all-tube, but am worried that I will limit myself by buying expensive tube gear and ending up with an amp that, in essence, sounds the same no matter what I do. I ask about changing out tubes because I want to know if it has much effect on the way a tube amp sounds. My rackmount so far consists of an ADA MP-1 which has 2 12AX7's in it. I thought asking about changing them out would lead to the information I was looking for, and it has. Thanks a bunch.
 
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