i think it's time for new tubes!

Hoss · Jan 18, 2007

so i was practicing last night before church and i noticed my Jr. not sounding very clean at all...so i first turned down the bass and a bit of treble and rolled down my guitar volume...no dice. i then switched pickups, turned the master down, turned the fat switch off, turned the volume up....no dice. i then turned my gain on my CM pedal way down unplugged my tsunami and fiddled with all my controls again....no dice! it just didn't sound like itself! it was "farting" out and all volumes with any pick attack and the harmonic complexity was totally lost!

am i right...sounds like some dying tubes don't it?!?!?

PUCKBOY99 · Jan 18, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

You're getting something, just not what it should be?

Hoss · Jan 18, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

yeah...i'm still getting sound it's just terrible sound though! i could not clean it up at all with any kind of decent volume?!

PUCKBOY99 · Jan 18, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

Yeah, sounds like the cheapest place to start....EL84s have a semi-short lifespan; maybe a set of JJs will bring it back to life

Gunny47 · Jan 18, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

Yes +1 on JJs. If you want headroom and harmonic content and a really fat overdrive tone, theyre definitely the way to go. Ive had JJs, Groove and I dropped big bucks for some blackplate RCAs in my Gibson GA5 (EL84/12AX7, 5 watts, 1 knob (volume), 1x8 combo) and the JJs sounded best. The RCAs have too low headroom and the distortion is on the thin side. Ive been having problems with the amp about a month after I put in the RCAs. Sometimes I turned the amp on and it is all distorted, even at very low volume. Sometimes I turn the amp on and the volume is fixed on one set loudness and the knob doesnt work. Sometimes it just sounds very cruddy and farty and thin. The last few times its been alright, I think the tube was loose. I gotta pop them back in. Ooo crap, kinda ranted on. But the JJs are amazing tubes that can be had for cheap. Very thick tones, great cleans.

Gearjoneser · Jan 18, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

Change ALL the tubes. It's possible that one of the pre tubes is dying.

revolutionguitar.com

Hoss · Jan 19, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

i have JJ's in it now...i've heard that Blues Jr's eat tubes pretty consistently due to them running pretty hot! i push this sucka pretty hard at least once or twice a week and play it 4 or 5 days a week...so a guess i've had my current set of JJ's in there for little over a year! sound about right to you guys?!

i just need to pony up and order a set now!

StrangeSound · Jan 19, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

mmmhmmm..tubes.

I still have to check out JJs. I ordered JJs but got a set of =C= :smack: :laugh2:
Which are still ok!

kevlar3000 · Jan 19, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

terry_kilgore2003@yahoo.com

Send Tube Tramp a note. El84s come in all colors of tones and all levels of reliability. He has tubes that sound much better than JJs. I like JJ pres in the right amp, but the EL84 does not do it for me. The Tramp has better options as well as sturdier makes. I had JJ in my Traynor Bassmate, they were decent,but do not compare to the goods he is pushing. Terry is a great guy and has the best set of tone ears that I have ever come across.

Hoss · Jan 19, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

thanks...i shot him an e-mail...we'll see what's up!?

mike

kevlar3000 · Jan 19, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

Very cool!!

Terry's got the goods!

I_M_Ken · Jan 19, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

sorry to sorta hijack this thread. but how do u really tell if the tubes are dying?
i've had tubes put into my crate BV60 about a year ago. sound wise it's still ok, does my cleans just as well. but i know tubes usually get swapped about 3-5 months after daily usage?

kevlar3000 · Jan 19, 2007

Re: i think it's time for new tubes!

Your tone will suffer, assuming filter caps and other components are up to speed, you might hear more bass, more highs, less sustain, lower volume ect...

bigbob · Jan 19, 2007