Tube Dampers/Dampeners?

[Axeman16]

Hi guys, i recently grabbed an 18w marshall combo and its fantastically unreal but does suffer from some tube rattle.

the place i plan to order from has 2 types. just curious if anyone has experience with the 2 as a comparison?

i dont plan to spend too much and was wondering if the more expensive square edged ones are worth the extra cost.

Tube Amp Preamp Dampers for 12AX7 12AU7 12AT7 ECC83 EL84 6922 EL84 5751 5687 | eBay

4 Sonikleer Tube Amp Dampers for 12AX7 12AU7 12AT7 12BH7 EL84 6922 5687 EL84 | eBay

thanks in advance.

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Tube Dampers/Dampeners?

I've seen those on eBay, but I've bought the less expensive ones on Amazon. They worked just fine. Its significantly reduced the noise from the older tubes I'm using


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[Axeman16]

Re: Tube Dampers/Dampeners?

here are links not sure what happened there

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-SoniKLEER-TUBE-AMP-DAMPERS-FOR-12AX7-12AU7-12AT7-12BH7-EL84-6922-5687-EL84-/371568410935?hash=item5683340137:g:U1AAAOSwrklU62nx

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TUBE-AMP-PREAMP-DAMPERS-FOR-12AX7-12AU7-12AT7-ECC83-EL84-6922-EL84-5751-5687-/351670608622?hash=item51e133a2ee:g:m9UAAOSwm8VUrLeA

[Chickenwings]

Re: Tube Dampers/Dampeners?

ive got some. they dont do anything.
What you need is nice tight tube sockets. The next step is to have the preamp sockets with the metal cover, and some proper tube retainers for your power tubes if you really want to keep them secure.
The issue of vibration is caused by the cabinet and therefore the amp chassis vibrating, causing the contact points to vibrate. Simply sticking on a rubber ring to the glass does diddly. If the socket is loose, you need a tighter socket and perhaps a method of keeping the tube still inside the socket.

[ken361]

Re: Tube Dampers/Dampeners?

I read good things about these

http://herbiesaudiolab.net/tube.htm

[Darg1911]

Re: Tube Dampers/Dampeners?

Those in the ebay links look like hi-temp silicone O-rings and Bands. Sellers making a nice profit if that's what they are. I'd be concerned with the tubes running hotter because of how much glass surface they cover ... especially the larger band like ones.

Whether they work? I've made dampers more similar to the Herbies (linked in the post above) with a spring type wire and silicone or Teflon "absorbers" and they worked well on slightly microphonic NOS tubes in a phono stage and home audio amp. In a guitar amp, especially a combo, I doubt that they would have worked. But those are the ones I made. Maybe Herbies would work, I really don't know. I'm sure that success rate varies based on a lot of factors. Personally, I save my nicer tubes for home audio gear and use current production tubes in my guitar amps. If I have a microphonic tube, it get's yanked and replaced. Worth a try though if the tubes are expensive vintage tubes and worth the investment in the cost of the dampers.

[Axeman16]

Re: Tube Dampers/Dampeners?

yes the el84s and the ez81 dont have tube retainers. i found some wire type on the tube stores site. are they difficult to install? my el34 amp with spring type retainers appear they are mounted with the tube socket on the internal side of the housing.

would i need to open it off and remove the tube socket to install it between the socket and housing or can it be mounted on the tube side of the chassis?

[Darg1911]

Re: Tube Dampers/Dampeners?

yes the el84s and the ez81 dont have tube retainers. i found some wire type on the tube stores site. are they difficult to install? my el34 amp with spring type retainers appear they are mounted with the tube socket on the internal side of the housing.

would i need to open it off and remove the tube socket to install it between the socket and housing or can it be mounted on the tube side of the chassis?

If they are what I'm thinking about, there is a base that retains the tube clip. It's mounts on the outside. But, you have to remove the screws that retain the socket and reinstall them through the holes in the tube retainers base. I'm not sure if the hole pattern is exactly universal but I would think that it should work with the most common sockets.

One other thing. The retainers aren't made to serve the same purpose as dampers.

[Axeman16]

Re: Tube Dampers/Dampeners?

i understand that. just wondering which would be ideal for my situation.

these are the retainers in question. http://www.thetubestore.com/Wire-Ret...L84-6BQ5-Types

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Tube Dampers/Dampeners?

Mesa simply uses a piece of heat shrink on their special 12AX7, and it works.

Bill

[Darg1911]

Re: Tube Dampers/Dampeners?

i understand that. just wondering which would be ideal for my situation.

these are the retainers in question. http://www.thetubestore.com/Wire-Ret...L84-6BQ5-Types

I don't think those will stop the rattle, but it cant hurt to try, they are cheap enough. Worst case, you have tube retainers and they are easy enough to install or uninstall. You just have to pull the chassis.