warble
New member
Hey all- anyone know where I might find replacment tubes for an old Fender amp? It still fires up, but it's loosing its charge. Any ideas of online retailers, etc. would be great.....
warren
warren
C
charger
New member
www.tubestore.com
www.sovtek.com
The Fender Super Reverb uses standard tube types, you'll have no problem replacing them. Also, the filter capacitors on Supers (and other old Fenders) tend to dry out after 30-some years, they were made of paper, this can cause your sound to disappear... so you may need to have a tech look at it.
www.sovtek.com
The Fender Super Reverb uses standard tube types, you'll have no problem replacing them. Also, the filter capacitors on Supers (and other old Fenders) tend to dry out after 30-some years, they were made of paper, this can cause your sound to disappear... so you may need to have a tech look at it.
A
a_goodlett
New member
i dont have a tube amp right now but i will soon. will the type of tube you put in the amp give you a different tone?
C
charger
New member
Yes. All tubes have different sounds, based on their construction, materials, etc. In my experience, preamp tubes (12AX7, 12AT7, ECC83, etc.) have the most effect on sound, comparable to the way a pickup affects the sound of an electric guitar. Power amp tubes don't change your sound as radically, though they do affect the sound somewhat, more like the way different types (not sizes) of strings will affect a guitar's tone.
www.tubestore.com provides some tube reviews, but the best thing to do is try out different combinations... though this can get expensive.
www.tubestore.com provides some tube reviews, but the best thing to do is try out different combinations... though this can get expensive.
warble
New member
Thanks Charger....
Thanks for your reply - I'll check out the websites.
Thanks for your reply - I'll check out the websites.
bongolation
New member
I wrote a big, honking post about selection of amp tubes yesterday and as I was finishing it, the power transformer up on the pole in the back yard blew out, leaving me with neither lights nor the post.
Here's the abbreviated version:
Yes, tubes can make a big difference in how your amp sounds.
New power tubes usually require re-biasing the circuit on older amps, and the replacement of electrolytic capacitors, which can and do fail catastrophically after as little as ten years, also should be performed.
It is also very important to get your tubes from a source that gives them a thorough testing before selling them. A high percentage - up to 50% in the case of some brands of 12AX7* tubes - are defective out of the box. If you get your tubes from someplace that just resells the raw stock from the importer, say Musician's Friend, you are going to get poor tubes at least part of the time. They may test OK, but will be noisy, microphonic or have other audible flaws. This isn't right, but it's the way it is. You may expect to pay a slight premium for these better tubes.
My suggestion is to get your tubes from Lord Valve, who at least claims the highest rejection rate when testing new stock, and has pretty good prices. He's online and is something of a character: http://lord-valve.freeyellow.com/
Another option I was suggesting was to get a batch of lightly used US & Western European preamp tubes that have been tested by a reputable EBay tube reseller and swap them around to see which sounds best in your amp. You can get lots of ten or so for $20-$30, which makes this an inexpensive experiment. All new tubes are made in former or current communist countries on Stalin-era production lines with Stalin-era production methods. Some new versions are OK, but many aren't.
It is generally conceded that these tubes are inferior to many of the now-extinct western tubes, so there's a big demand for these old firebottles. NOS ("New Old Stock") brand new '60s-production European tubes can sometime command breathtaking prices, but most of these are bought by either collectors or audiophile HiFi tube people, not musicians. Lightly used older tubes that "test high" have an additional advantage in that they are "broken in," as new preamp tubes, especially, need up to twenty-five hours of use before they sound their best.
Find the exact Fender model number on the sticker inside the cabinet and then go to http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/ and download a schematic and wiring diagram for your amp. This will help you in servicing it.
I'll try to help with any other questions, or refer you to someone who can.
Here's the abbreviated version:
Yes, tubes can make a big difference in how your amp sounds.
New power tubes usually require re-biasing the circuit on older amps, and the replacement of electrolytic capacitors, which can and do fail catastrophically after as little as ten years, also should be performed.
It is also very important to get your tubes from a source that gives them a thorough testing before selling them. A high percentage - up to 50% in the case of some brands of 12AX7* tubes - are defective out of the box. If you get your tubes from someplace that just resells the raw stock from the importer, say Musician's Friend, you are going to get poor tubes at least part of the time. They may test OK, but will be noisy, microphonic or have other audible flaws. This isn't right, but it's the way it is. You may expect to pay a slight premium for these better tubes.
My suggestion is to get your tubes from Lord Valve, who at least claims the highest rejection rate when testing new stock, and has pretty good prices. He's online and is something of a character: http://lord-valve.freeyellow.com/
Another option I was suggesting was to get a batch of lightly used US & Western European preamp tubes that have been tested by a reputable EBay tube reseller and swap them around to see which sounds best in your amp. You can get lots of ten or so for $20-$30, which makes this an inexpensive experiment. All new tubes are made in former or current communist countries on Stalin-era production lines with Stalin-era production methods. Some new versions are OK, but many aren't.
It is generally conceded that these tubes are inferior to many of the now-extinct western tubes, so there's a big demand for these old firebottles. NOS ("New Old Stock") brand new '60s-production European tubes can sometime command breathtaking prices, but most of these are bought by either collectors or audiophile HiFi tube people, not musicians. Lightly used older tubes that "test high" have an additional advantage in that they are "broken in," as new preamp tubes, especially, need up to twenty-five hours of use before they sound their best.
Find the exact Fender model number on the sticker inside the cabinet and then go to http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/ and download a schematic and wiring diagram for your amp. This will help you in servicing it.
I'll try to help with any other questions, or refer you to someone who can.
D
Daddy-O
New member
Just beware of groove tubes if you want to keep the amp close to it's original tone----There has been much discussion here about tube choices. look back in the archived stuff for lots and lots of info.
M
Montra
New member
man u guys got some great info, also didn't sylvania tubes come in the old fenders or was it the old mesa boogies?, but they were nice tube, and yeah on the beware of paying for brand names, i think that there are amp dudes out there that will show you side by side say a groove tube, and then a no name from china.......the ones from china can sometimes be better, they all go in and out of the tube bundle right....first come first serve but, go to the electronic dudes with there scopes and you'll see and hear what yer getting, also your ears are no.1,,,,if it sounds microphonic, then it is!!!! slam another or 2 in, and listen again listen for a solid tone, tap on the top of yer amp, you'll know,,,,peace.
S
SBax
New member
Warble, Fender Super Reverbs are one of the most desired vintage amps now with the blackface being the most valued. I would post the question on the www.webervst.com amp message board for the most in-depth replys. The guys there adore and fully understand Super Reverbs. I will assume that most people will recommend the new old stock tubes from the 60's. This will cost some money. State your planned spending and you should be steered right. Also, replacement of the power tubes will need the bias to be checked and maybe adjusted. Buy the tubes and bring them and the amp to a good amp tech. Take very good care of that amp and don't muck with it unless you fully understand what you are doing.
warble
New member
Thanks SBax
Thanks for the website link.....I agree on letting a good tech take care of it. I really don't want to screw up the amp trying anything myself. Amazing thing is that even though I think the tubes need replacing, the thing still cranks out some good sound. I've been using it with my Fender Rhodes - and wow....
Thanks for the website link.....I agree on letting a good tech take care of it. I really don't want to screw up the amp trying anything myself. Amazing thing is that even though I think the tubes need replacing, the thing still cranks out some good sound. I've been using it with my Fender Rhodes - and wow....