looking after a tube amp

[hoops]

most of the problems you hear about them have to do with not rebiasing when you replace the output tubes and/or running it without a speaker (or equivelent load) on it...

one thing to watch also is dont buy more output than you need... part of the tube sound comes from running it full tilt... and if you have to turn down to balance with your bandmates it kinda defeats the purpose... most bar bands 50wts is more than enough... a buddy of mine recently got one of the 32 wt crate things... it's probably one of the most versatile amps out there right now... he's been able to dial it in reguardless of genre...(jaz/blues/rock/metal) i also recently played with a guy who just bout a small boogie it's only like 20 wts but it screams....

Cool to know. Thanks for the info.

 

[andydeedpoll]

most of the problems you hear about them have to do with not rebiasing when you replace the output tubes and/or running it without a speaker (or equivelent load) on it...

one thing to watch also is dont buy more output than you need... part of the tube sound comes from running it full tilt... and if you have to turn down to balance with your bandmates it kinda defeats the purpose... most bar bands 50wts is more than enough... a buddy of mine recently got one of the 32 wt crate things... it's probably one of the most versatile amps out there right now... he's been able to dial it in reguardless of genre...(jaz/blues/rock/metal) i also recently played with a guy who just bout a small boogie it's only like 20 wts but it screams....

yeah, i hear you - the peavey could be good for that? my band seem to get fully miced up at the gigs we play (a lot of the sound men we work with like it LOUD.) so actual volume isn't a problem, and 30watts will be more than enough at practise i think. my current amp is a Fender Princeton Chorus, but it's very unreliable and a fairly big point of stress at gigs for the whole band - hopefully a new amp should remove the only real 'weak link' in my chain (i don't really like the sound of the fender anyway, its very sterile sounding - in comparison to that peavey classic thingy anyway! haha)

ta

Andy.

 

[dragonworks]

if a tube amp has been in the cold make sure to let it warm up to room temp or close before turning it on. I have had tubes explode from going to below thirty to hot.
Other than that I have had way more problems that were more costly to fix with trannys then with tubes. I would never buy another transistor amp, they sound like shit for one.

 

[Track Rat]

if a tube amp has been in the cold make sure to let it warm up to room temp or close before turning it on. I have had tubes explode from going to below thirty to hot.
Other than that I have had way more problems that were more costly to fix with trannys then with tubes. I would never buy another transistor amp, they sound like shit for one.

True, true and true.

 

[andydeedpoll]

if a tube amp has been in the cold make sure to let it warm up to room temp or close before turning it on. I have had tubes explode from going to below thirty to hot.
Other than that I have had way more problems that were more costly to fix with trannys then with tubes. I would never buy another transistor amp, they sound like shit for one.

thanks for the advice - i'm in Britain. the saying goes that if you can see the hill, then it's about to rain, and if you can't see the hill, then it's raining already. but the temperature stays pretty much the same (dull dull dull )

just out of interest - can a tube amp be too hot before you turn it on? realistically?

Andy.

 

[dragonworks]

thanks for the advice - i'm in Britain. the saying goes that if you can see the hill, then it's about to rain, and if you can't see the hill, then it's raining already. but the temperature stays pretty much the same (dull dull dull )

just out of interest - can a tube amp be too hot before you turn it on? realistically?

Andy.

not that I know of, if its to hot it has probably already blown.

 

[Lt. Bob]

just out of interest - can a tube amp be too hot before you turn it on? realistically?

Andy.

You mean like if it's been sitting in a car in the sun?
Nah .... the tubes normally get at least that hot and really, hotter.
So the only time to worry about it is the cold ..... could crack a tube if it's been sitting in 20 degrees outside and you immediately crank it up.

 

[andydeedpoll]

if anyone cares ... i picked up a Peavey Classic 30 today.

sounds ace can't wait to get it to practise and our next gig, the overdrive is perfect, and it's loud, and fat sounding. it sounds silly, but it makes it feel like my tone controls on my guitar (Squire Telecaster, twin humbucker - i quite like it ) actually do something, rather than 1 being "mud", 10 being "clangy" and nothing else inbetween. basically, i feel like i've got loads more sonic options just using the knobs on my guitar, instead of the pedals (which i still love, and refuse to part with, and enjoy using.)

it feels Goood. i have a taste of what tone Really is !


thanks for the help everyone!

Andy.

 

[punkin]

And that's how it should work Congratulations...enjoy and rock-on!

 

[andydeedpoll]

And that's how it should work Congratulations...enjoy and rock-on!

ta! though i think i might hold the record for returning an item, potentially at least - the guy in the shop acknowledged there was a problem before i'd even got it out of the door! he said i could take the one that they had in now, he'd order another one in, and ring me when it arrived. a bit fustrating, but he seemed like he genuinely wanted to do a good job, so i think it should be alright. the amp makes a rattling noise on lower notes, especially open E, F and F# - mainly on the F. it also makes a higher pitched rattling noise Just on the top Eb - 2nd string 4th fret... the guy in the shop seemed fairly sure it was something to do with the speaker coil - if you can't already tell from this amp, i'm not all that up to speed on amp maintenance - what do you think?

ta!

Andy.