Replacing Tubes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brian_Buresh
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Brian_Buresh

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I've had my tube amp for about 4 months. How will I know when I should replace the tubes? Do they wear out? or blow out? Will I notice a gradual decline in performance or will the amp just stop working?

-Brian
 
You will hear it and it wont sound good :D

That when you replace it.
 
usually you will start to hear static, or your signal will start to get lower and more quiet.


its a gradual process, so it won't be all of a sudden.
 
I could always tell when it was time to change the tubes this way: When the tubes were new, my presence control was around 5 or 6. When I found myself setting it to 10 to get my sound, it was time to change the tubes.
Obviously, if you are getting more hiss than normal or a whining that sounds like feedback, you should change the tubes. (at least the noisey ones)
 
A persistant hummmmm is a signal to listen for, as well as crackles, power that rises and falls, weak signal on either the top or bottom. In general, when it sounds bad it's time to replace. Take the tubes to a trusted electronics repair shop and have them tested, testing shouldnt cost you anything and is a fast sure way to find out if you need to replace tubes. By the way sometimes viberations will cause tubes to loosen in the sockets so a periodic push might solve the problem.
 
For the power tubes, the bias point makes a big difference on how long they last. If you haven't changed the factory bias then they should last years because the factory will generally bias them low for long life. Preamp tubes will also last years.
 
Thanks to all for the input. It's a 15W Blues Jr. and I've been playing around for a replacement because It's kind of sloppy on the bottom end and I'm not getting as much gain as I'd like. Maybe that's just how this amp is supposed to sound. Does anyone else have a similar opinion on the Blues Jr? (I realize this is subjective.) Could be a good excuse to buy more gear:)

thanks again.

-Brian
 
Brian_Buresh said:
Could be a good excuse to buy more gear:)
Click to expand...

In that case.........noooooo, its just a crappy amp
:D :D

but seriously, I dont know how much gain you are trying to put on it, but I can get plenty. At least, I can get everything I expected
 
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