Well that was fun (first redplate tube experience)

[DankStar]

So I thought I was doing my mesa subway rocket a favor by buying a brand new matched set of EL84s. Popped them in and it sounded weird. Looked at the tubes and one was glowing red like a baboon’s arse and smelled like burnt pubes. Turned it off and now it’s gotta go to my tech.

My guess is the previous owner (of course the guy I bought it from only obtained it in a trade or something) changed the factory bias to some other thing to meet his needs and of course didn’t tell anyone or put a note inside the amp. Either that or one of the brand new tubes was bad.

I’ll find out and report back but I swear if I buy another amp it’s going to be a Quilter. Eff tubes! Nothing but headaches and trips to a tech. For dang sure not buying someone else’s used tube POS. I should have just bought the stupid Bugera 22 watt head when it was on sale for $325. I’d be playing it now (and it had the infinium feature, literally would take any set of tubes).

[Phantasmagoria]

Sorry to hear. Hope tings get sorted out soon (& cheaply). The Quilter is probably a good idea though

[El Dunco]

The description of the sight and smell made me chuckle so hard I woke up my partner

[DankStar]

Sorry to hear. Hope tings get sorted out soon (& cheaply). The Quilter is probably a good idea though

That 202 is looking nice

[DankStar]

The description of the sight and smell made me chuckle so hard I woke up my partner

glad I could be of service

[jeremy]

did you buy the mesa spec set? which brand?

quilter is fine, but ill stick with my current hoard of tone

[DankStar]

did you buy the mesa spec set? which brand?

quilter is fine, but ill stick with my current hoard of tone

I got a matched set of Mesa EL84s from sweet water. I think the rocket was listed in the list of amps but hopefully I didn’t buy the wrong ones.

[El Dunco]

How do you know what burnt pubes smell like?

[JMP/HBE]

JJ pubes ?

[Securb]

I’ll find out and report back but I swear if I buy another amp it’s going to be a Quilter. Eff tubes! Nothing but headaches and trips to a tech.

My JC120 and M80 Pro are very familiar with the inside of my amp tech's shop.

[DankStar]

My JC120 and M80 Pro are very familiar with the inside of my amp tech's shop.

Good point, gear don’t last forever

[jeremy]

it can last a very long time, but itll need some love from time to time

[Securb]

it can last a very long time, but itll need some love from time to time

Yep. My '72 Quad Reverb, on the other hand, was gigged very hard and abused. That amp has been in the shop once in all of its years and still sounds great. I don't think it is tubes vs. solid state; I think a lot of it is the luck of the draw combined with dumb luck. My guess is my Fender was not built on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon and has never seen a power surge. Dumb luck.

[jeremy]

old handwired amps tend to be a bit more resilient due to the build, but a pc board (tube or ss) can be very reliable too.

[DankStar]

Yeah, there’s a reason bands have entire backup rigs, be them kempers or boogies