Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

[The Dali]

Ok... so I’m trying to learn to love this little tweaker head. There is something wrong with it, however. I originally thought I just didn’t know how to use it but the volume just doesn’t work unless it is at 2pm. And the distortion is not sounding right. It cracked and wavers. Eventually it gets right and works for a while but if the amp sits it kinda goes back to not sounding right. It doesn’t always sound off but it does enough to make me think it isn’t me but something being wrong.

I’m wondering if the tubes have issues. I took them all out and cleaned with deoxit and cleaned the chassis. I took out the two power tubes and both had this silver blemish. Does this look right??




When I first got this I was immediately underwhelmed... and it wasn't loud at all. And then after a few days it seemed to start to play ok and sound normal, but it still didn't get really loud... and now it doesn't appear to be working right.

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[The Dali]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

In addition, the preamp tubes do not glow at all. From what I can tell. They have metal covers which are spring loaded. I took them off to see if they glowed but they didn’t show any color. Of course, maybe they need the covers on to work...?


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[Demanic]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

How do they look when they're running? Usually a bad tube will have white oxidation when it's cold and a purpleish glow throughout the tube when it's running.

[The Dali]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

The two power tubes have an orange light on the tips/top. No purple


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[The Dali]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

Ok. So you know I’m not crazy. A quick vid. Does this sound like tube issues??

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[BenPerkins]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

Do you have an extra set of power tubes you can try?

Tweaker 15 is a good amp. I run KT66’s in mine (had to remove the top cover).

[BenPerkins]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

In addition, the preamp tubes do not glow at all. From what I can tell. They have metal covers which are spring loaded. I took them off to see if they glowed but they didn’t show any color. Of course, maybe they need the covers on to work...?


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I don’t think they necessarily need the bear traps to work. You can also try reseating all of the tubes.


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[Demanic]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

The two power tubes have an orange light on the tips/top. No purple


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That seems normal. Purple means air is starting to leak in. Not much. Much means that the filiments will oxidize. Thus the white powder.

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[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

The "silver blemish" is normal. It's the getter flash.

On your vid, it definitely sounds like a tube issue. Honestly, it wouldn't hurt to grab an extra set of tubes just to have spares.

What kind of tubes are in the preamp? Are they Ruby as well? Preamp tubes don't glow as much as power tubes because they don't get as hot.

The preamp tubes don't need the tube shields to work. The shields are just to reject electrical interferance.

[Jacew]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

Those sound like classic symptoms of tube failure. I would simply replace them.

If that doesn't fix the issue, pots would be next possible culprit. Egnater uses really cheap miniature ones...

[The Dali]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

The "silver blemish" is normal. It's the getter flash.

On your vid, it definitely sounds like a tube issue. Honestly, it wouldn't hurt to grab an extra set of tubes just to have spares.

What kind of tubes are in the preamp? Are they Ruby as well? Preamp tubes don't glow as much as power tubes because they don't get as hot.

The preamp tubes don't need the tube shields to work. The shields are just to reject electrical interferance.

I think the preamp tubes is are sovtek but I’ll check in the morning.


EDIT - yes, confirmed Sovtek

[The Dali]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

Those sound like classic symptoms of tube failure. I would simply replace them.

If that doesn't fix the issue, pots would be next possible culprit. Egnater uses really cheap miniature ones...

I was thinking my next step would be to replace all 5 tubes.


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[The Dali]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

Just ordered some JJs 6v6S and JJs ECC83s for the preamp. Let's hope that is the issue!

[Diego]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

Replace them. Mine's never done that, and in fact I've never had tube failure.
I'm running EHX 6CA7 in the power section, they heat up like crazy but they give some extra oomph. Let's hope that tube swap fixes it.

[Mincer]

Re: Egnater tweaker - this tube look ok?

That doesn't sound right...

I hope it is just the tubes, although when tubes fail for me, it isn't just a loss of power like that- I usually get the high whine.