stupid amp

[hmbman]

I've been using the same solid state amp for years, but finally bought a tube amp. It's ooooold. Its preamp is solid state and it has a quad of output tubes. Now, bare with me here, I don't know a crapload about tube stuff yet

But what happends, is I turn it on, let it warm up in standby like I'm supposed to do. Then I turn it on, and play through my les paul and it sounds ok for like 30 seconds. Then it starts a. getting softer and softer and b. getting more distorted and more distorted, both at the same time, until it finally stops working. The ON light is still on, so it's not a fuse or anything. I know that this could be a trillion things, but there must be some common things that can cause this problem, right? Oh, and a friend took a look at the tubes and thought they looked "pretty old." And I've noticed one of the tubes makes a clinking sound even when nothing is plugged in. I can hear something inside a particular tube clicking or shaking or something.

 

[antispatula]

hey, at least yours works for a few seconds!

 

[flamin-gitaur]

Tubes would be a good place to start, considering you got the amp second hand (you don't know how it's been handled), and since they may be quite old. But.....on the other hand, I had a solid state amp (crate) that did the same thing (twice), and it turned out to be a bad transformer (twice).

 

[antispatula]

aw crap, I think that may be my problem too. How do you know what the transformer ratings are if it doesn't say?

 

[flamin-gitaur]

Dunno........I just took mine to the shop and let them f*^k with it.

 

[antispatula]

how much did it cost you?

 

[flamin-gitaur]

I can't remember for sure ( that was about 15 yrs ago) but I think it was in the range of about $200.00 give or take. but don't quote me on that.

 

[Anfontan]

Another electronics tech at work who know quite a bit about tube amps said he thought the amp has a shorted tube that is causing the problem. He said try to replace the tube and see, but it would be best to replace all tubes in the long run.

 

[TelePaul]

it sounds like your tubes...worn tubes cause break up ('distortion') at lower levels. I'd take it to your local repair shop and see what they say. Replacing tubes is one of the mandatory downsides not present in solid states.

 

[slidey]

out of curiosity, what make of amp is it??

my musicman 112RD is solid state pre & tube power amp

 

[32-20-Blues]

it sounds like your tubes...worn tubes cause break up ('distortion') at lower levels. I'd take it to your local repair shop and see what they say. Replacing tubes is one of the mandatory downsides not present in solid states.

Don't listen to him, he knows nothing.

 

[nevome]

Man... thats exactly what my tube Fender tube amps [blues deluxe and blues junior] sound like when I keep playing after Ive thrown the 'off' switch. Sounds like the amp is shutting itself down or at least to standby. Id just ge it to a shop.

 

[TelePaul]

Don't listen to him, he knows nothing.

You don't even HAVE an amp. Fact. Why would you buy a strat and not an amp?

 

[slidey]

You don't even HAVE an amp. Fact. Why would you buy a strat and not an amp?

lets see

cos' he's an acoustic electric player right................

 

[rory]

That could be a plethora of things, man.

My questions would be:

What kind of amp is it?

How old is it?

How much did you pay?

To get it fixed, you're probably looking at a minimum $200.00 for tubes, bias job, and cleaning. Depending on the age of the amp, you may consider a recap. Pray that its not the tranny, those are the most expensive things in an amp. My educated guess would be the tubes too, but improper maintenance always leads to more maintenance down the road. Meaning, if you don't take care of your shit, much more is going to be needed to fix it than if you had taken proper care of it to begin with.

Rory

 

[TelePaul]

lets see

cos' he's an acoustic electric player right................

Actually its coz hes a bi-lateral amputee. Nor does he have arms. He lost them in a bizarre gardening accident. You cant play blues with stumps; he just doesn't have the dexterity, not even for power chords. Its...sad.