Quick tube swapping question

[FretFire]

Just a question regarding the tube swapping process. I'm going to be swapping all the tubes in my Rectoverb, as they're all stock Mesa tubes (and are therefore 4-5 or more years old). I was just wondering if I need to pull the chassis out of the box to do this, or if it matters at all. Taking out the 4 screws that hold it in and one of the two reverb cables is no problem, but there is another wire (possibly grounding for the reverb??) that doesn't seem "disconnectable". I suppose I'm just looking for the simplest way to go about this, thanks guys.

 

[Curly]

Re: Quick tube swapping question

Just a question regarding the tube swapping process. I'm going to be swapping all the tubes in my Rectoverb, as they're all stock Mesa tubes (and are therefore 4-5 or more years old). I was just wondering if I need to pull the chassis out of the box to do this, or if it matters at all. Taking out the 4 screws that hold it in and one of the two reverb cables is no problem, but there is another wire (possibly grounding for the reverb??) that doesn't seem "disconnectable". I suppose I'm just looking for the simplest way to go about this, thanks guys.

I don't know about Mesas, but most good tube amps are made so you can switch tubes rather easily without removing the chassis

I'm sure Robert_S and some of the other Mesa owners can tell you specifically

on some amps, like Fenders, it's easier to place them upside down on a table or something, just so you can see what you're doing better

the main thing is to line up the pins correctly - this is kind of self explanatory if you take a good look at your tubes - the preamps have a pin missing that lines up with a space on the socket, the power tubes have a "key" that lines up in theirs. In any case, don't force them home, but rock them a little till they seat well.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Quick tube swapping question

Yeah, I've popped both a pre- and power tube out to look at the pins and how they're "pointed", so I'm not worried about putting the tubes in or anything. I'm just looking for personal tips/tricks I suppose, as it seems a bit hard to see into the preamp sockets inside the box. I hadn't thought of flipping it upside down .

 

[FretFire]

Re: Quick tube swapping question

I've been looking for a diagram online of how the two 6L6 tubes fit into their sockets, as there are more holes in the socket than they have pins. Do both tubes go in the sockets the same way?

 

[Curly]

Re: Quick tube swapping question

Do both tubes go in the sockets the same way?

well, on Fenders, the pins are oriented the same way, yes

 

[FretFire]

Re: Quick tube swapping question

Cool, I only pulled one of the power tubes so I was just curious. Thanks.

 

[hollywood]

Re: Quick tube swapping question

i am not an amp expert but my understanding is that 6l6 is a generic tube as well as 12ax7etc. now with power tubes there is a center pin with a ridge to ensure that the tube is inserted properly. and preamp tubes have tube specific pin configuration ensuring that they are not improperly inserted into the wrong type of tube socket or improperly in their own stly socket. It is my understanding that these sockets are almost always accessible from the exterior unless your amplifiers tubes are fan cooled. I only use fender amps and im not sure if this is helpful, but hey I could be right!!!....maybe!

 

[FretFire]

Re: Quick tube swapping question

Cool man, thanks. I didn't have any problems last night, so I obviously got everything back in right . J/k, I went back over the tubes I pulled and made sure they were in correctly, etc. Seems pretty foolproof to me.