Rectifier Tubes, How long do they Last?

[Low_fidelity2100]

Like the title says, how long do Rectifiers Normally last? Obviously I'm not looking for an exact amount of time, just a rough estimate. 6 months? a Year? less? More?

I'm askin cause, I bought a silverface vibrochamp a while back, an Its my first amp with a rectifier tube. And being as the rectifier blew the other day, I'm gonna be ordering a replacement. So I'de like ta know whether they blow out fairly quickly? or if they normally last awhile. Just so I know how many replacements to order, haha.

(BTW the rectifier that blew out was a Sovtek, so I'm planning on ordering NOS.)

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Rectifier Tubes, How long do they Last?

It should last a l-o-n-g time if not physically abused....like a decade or more.

 

[baritone]

Re: Rectifier Tubes, How long do they Last?

I've heard people say that you can expect rectifier toobs to last at least twice as long as output toobs.

 

[ksmith63]

Re: Rectifier Tubes, How long do they Last?

(BTW the rectifier that blew out was a Sovtek, so I'm planning on ordering NOS.)

glad to hear that was only the problem with your amp. rec tubes should last quite a while (i've heard of people replacing them when they replace the preamp tubes)

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Rectifier Tubes, How long do they Last?

NOS is a good idea,But don't pay a ridiculous amount of $$ for it. Rec. tubes don't affect tone directly.Or you could say one tube doesn't sounds better than another. but you DO want the most robust tube you can get.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Rectifier Tubes, How long do they Last?

NOS is a good idea,But don't pay a ridiculous amount of $$ for it. Rec. tubes don't affect tone directly.Or you could say one tube doesn't sounds better than another. but you DO want the most robust tube you can get.

I think they do....I tend to use NOS RCA and Mullard in my favorite amps.

Lew

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Rectifier Tubes, How long do they Last?

NOS is a good idea,But don't pay a ridiculous amount of $$ for it. Rec. tubes don't affect tone directly.Or you could say one tube doesn't sounds better than another. but you DO want the most robust tube you can get.

Oh I'm not gonna pay a rediculous amount of money, haha. I couldn't even if I wanted to. I'm thinking one of these two...

JAN http://www.tubedepot.com/nos-5y3wgta.html
or
Sylvania http://www.tubedepot.com/nos-5y3wgta-old.html

I figure being as they're Not That expensive, and considering I've heard nothing but bad things about Sovteks rectifiers. It seems like paying $20 for a NOS tube that'll last longer and work correctly, instead of $8 for a Sovtek tube thats gonna burn out quickly (and from what I've heard not even actually a real 5Y3). Seems worth the extra money, to me at least.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Rectifier Tubes, How long do they Last?

Oh I'm not gonna pay a rediculous amount of money, haha. I couldn't even if I wanted to. I'm thinking one of these two...

JAN http://www.tubedepot.com/nos-5y3wgta.html
or
Sylvania http://www.tubedepot.com/nos-5y3wgta-old.html

I figure being as they're Not That expensive, and considering I've heard nothing but bad things about Sovteks rectifiers. It seems like paying $20 for a NOS tube that'll last longer and work correctly, instead of $8 for a Sovtek tube thats gonna burn out quickly (and from what I've heard not even actually a real 5Y3). Seems worth the extra money, to me at least.

Yeah, I've heard bad things about the sovtek 5y3's. Doug at http://www.dougstubes.com/
has the JAN 5Y3WGTA for $15. That's the tube I use in my 5F2-A Clone.