Tubes....

[peterd79]

Ok... so i've been diving into everything as of later just making sure i know as much as possible about gear and I ran across this infomation this evening...

The discussion was about TUBE amps and being able to read your amp based upon the glow of your tubes... a Bluish/Purple Glow is Underdriven, and an Amber/Orange Glow is Perfect and an overdrivemm tube will glow White/Yellow...

Obviously overdriving will cause issues...
if it's underdriven should it be rebiased? retubed to take better advantage of the tube amp?

 

[slukather]

Ok... so i've been diving into everything as of later just making sure i know as much as possible about gear and I ran across this infomation this evening...

The discussion was about TUBE amps and being able to read your amp based upon the glow of your tubes... a Bluish/Purple Glow is Underdriven, and an Amber/Orange Glow is Perfect and an overdrivemm tube will glow White/Yellow...

Obviously overdriving will cause issues...
if it's underdriven should it be rebiased? retubed to take better advantage of the tube amp?

I've heard that the blueish/purple glow means the tube is worn out, and it's time to replace them, when l was using my 5150ii, the Power Amp tubes started glowing blue after about 3 years of use, so l replaced them, but normally l just replace my tubes about 1 - 1 1/2 years. And l always take backups.

I don't know if what l said was true or not though.

Scott.

 

[candid_x]

Peter,

Are you referring to output or preamp tubes? I’m no expert on this subject, just a bit of an enthusiast. Some preamp tubes glow brightly and some hardly glow at all. Tubes are like guitars and amps, each has it’s own flavor and mojo. I think many players would be surprised how much they can shape their tone with a little tubular experimentation. I wouldn’t go by what color the tubes were at various output levels. Better to have a qualified tech go through the amp, imo. I’d likely also want to start from scratch if the amp was previously owned/used, with an all new set. But then I’m pretty anal about stuff like that. Even if the amp is new, there’s probably better tubes to use than what comes from the factory, if it’s a mass production amp.

Perhaps if you tell us more about your amp we can offer some suggestions.

 

[robelinda2]

my tubes in my Fender 4x10 hot rod deville combo are just about dead, any recommendations guys? I know nothing at all about tubes.

 

[candid_x]

my tubes in my Fender 4x210 deville combo are just about dead, any recommendations guys? I know nothing at all about tubes.

How would you describe your ideal tone? Or, what would you like to pull more of from your Deville? Sweet, compressed, hi-fi, crunch, attack, gain, harmonics, clarity, etc?

 

[Bierschinken]

Tubes don´t change their color by being played overdriven etc...

Usually they glow orange, but sometimes they have a blue glow. thats because of electrons hitting the glass, just normal.
If the tube glows purple it is possible that the vacuum inside is damaged and oxygen is getting inside. Then you have to change tubes (the text referrs to poweramp-tubes, preamp tubes always glow orange.)

 

[candid_x]

Tubes don´t change their color by being played overdriven etc...

Usually they glow orange, but sometimes they have a blue glow. thats because of electrons hitting the glass, just normal.
If the tube glows purple it is possible that the vacuum inside is damaged and oxygen is getting inside. Then you have to change tubes (the text referrs to poweramp-tubes, preamp tubes always glow orange.)

Thanks for clarifying that.

 

[robelinda2]

crap i dont know, sounds fine as it is! i guess i like a vintagy single coil sound, but i like the deville because it can handle higher gain stuff, when i use my Axis. thats why i didnt buy a fender twin, or a roland JC120, the amp has to sound good distorted but be a great clean amp first and foremost. so i settled on the deville as it does all that.

 

[58super]

Tubes glow in different colours depending on the type and construction (metal oxide filaments will glow orange and tungsten will glow yellow IIRC). Some will increase in intensity as the signal increases. Look at the power tubes in your amp in a dark room and hit a power chord.

But if the plates in the power tube are glowing cherry red you have a big problem.
Its like driving a car with no oil in the engine.

 

[jamminjim]

my tubes in my Fender 4x210 deville combo are just about dead, any recommendations guys? I know nothing at all about tubes.

Is it a Hot Rod Deville? BLues Deville? what is 4x210? did you mean 4x10?

I'd recommend going to Eurotubes
http://www.eurotubes.com/index.htm

and pick up a full JJ re-tube kit for it and some extras. It would include 2 6L6GC power and 3 ECC83 preamp tubes (12AX7). It's nice to have a spare set of power tubes around as someone mentioned. When you look at the all the options he has for re-tubing a Deville you can select the tubes for the type of output or sound you want to get out of it
https://ssl.eurotubes.com/cart/index.php?page=view_products&category_id=7&sub_category_id=32

Then when you get the new tubes, unless you can DIY and have the skill and tools to set bias, you should take it to your amp tech and have it done. There's some lethal voltages/currents in there and folks without electronics background and experience shoud be very very careful, it's best to have someone with experience demonstrate how to do it first.

 

[candid_x]

Rob,

Yes, then I'd go with Jim's recomendation. I'd make sure the kit includes one balanced triode 12AX7 (ECC83) for your phase inverter spot. Makes a big difference in opening the amp up. His kit may already include that, dunno. Definately have your amp rebiased with the new output tubes.

If it were mine, I'd also drop a JAN Phillips (NOS) into the V1 spot. But from the sounds of it, you'd be happy with the full JJ set and call it done.

 

[peterd79]

WOW... Super Helpful...

Here is my set up...
My amp is a Peavey Valve King 100HD with a 4x12 CAB
I run everything super clean to accomodate my style of playing. (Which is contemporay Christian Worship) I run a pedal board to add coloring to my tone such as chorus and delay, I also from time to time will use my Wah (VOX) and Distortion (Boss Blues Driver)... I'm usually never up over 4 on my Volume because of stage volume issues...

My amp did take a spill not that long ago but everthing appeared to be functioning properly...

I've thought about swapping my tubes but don't have the time to do so... I'm going to have a break in my schedule in about a week or so... I'll re tube then...
I want to go with a clean tube that will deliver a rich creamy vintage tone... I mostly play The 3 single coiled guitars... but own the Other "G" brand as well... and an EBMM "OLP" so... i'm fairly diverse with my gear but run just about everything clean.

I'm inspired by the tone of such players: Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Lincoln Brewster...

What do you suggest? GROOVE... RUBY...

 

[sgill72]

By far...the best new production tubes I have ever heard in a Fender product were the TAD 6L6's. Check them out at thetubestore.com. You'll be very happy.

Be carefull with new JJ's 6L6's...the tube socket pins are smaller than they used to be. I've had numerous new quads "wiggle" in my amps which is no good. JJ's USED to be great...not so much anymore.

 

[jamminjim]

well...

I'm not well versed on the PV Valve King series of amps. As I recall they also have 6L6GC power tubes. I think what I'd do is give Bob at Eurotubes a shout (email) and ask him for his advice on a tube set, as I don't see one listed for that amp. Personally I use alot of vintage RCA 12AX7 preamp tubes in my F___er amps and some Philiips. Wish I had the money for some better old preamp tubes like Mullards or Tung-Sols, but I am very happy with the JJ/Tesla and old RCA preamp tubes. I think the JJ/Tesla would be a good choice for the Valve King. Also, does this 100w version have a half power switch to turn off two of the output tubes? If not, it is farily probable that you could run in 50w mode buy removing a pair of the 6L6's. I had a Carvin Bel Air once upon a time (a super nice little combo amp) and I ran it with a pair of the EL84's out in the bedroom at half power. Sounded great. Alot of amps have a half power switch. Not old Fenders though.

 

[candid_x]

By far...the best new production tubes I have ever heard in a Fender product were the TAD 6L6's. Check them out at thetubestore.com. You'll be very happy.

Be carefull with new JJ's 6L6's...the tube socket pins are smaller than they used to be. I've had numerous new quads "wiggle" in my amps which is no good. JJ's USED to be great...not so much anymore.

I've also heard very good things about the TAD. Also heard about the smaller pins in JJ 6L6, though I bought a new from Euro about 4 months ago and they're tight in my Laney sockets. Doug http://www.dougstubes.com/ has quite a few of the originals, before they went to smaller pins.

 

[jamminjim]

By far...the best new production tubes I have ever heard in a Fender product were the TAD 6L6's.

Hey, I wouldn't mind trying out a set of the TAD 6V6's some time. When I get my deluxe reverb buit I AM going to try soem Shuguang 6V6's that I read alot of positive reviews on. I see the TAD's are built in China. I wonder where, and if they are being built at the Shuguang factory. I like the beefy plates in these tubes.

 

[58super]

I'd like to try a set of the new Tungsol 5881's. Any one have experience with those?

 

[peterd79]

Tungsol 5881's? I just talked to Doug and I'm going to be dropping these in my amp here shortly...
I'm wanting to go with a rich creamy vintage Fender tone... and he said this will accomodate my needs perfectly...

I've got so many projects going on right now its disgusting. I'm building a custom shop S7r47 and i'm going to re-tube my amp and re-wire my pedal board with George L's... someone tell me it's worth it...

 

[pauldogx]

Tubes......GREAT BAND!!!!!! oh ,sorry!

 

[SteveB]

Tubes......GREAT BAND!!!!!! oh ,sorry!

great.. now Dude will post that Fee Waybill photo and we'll all be in trouble [again]