So my amp died on me tonight..

[Clockwork_Orange]

I had a gig at a local club tonight. Crapped out on me before we even started (I guess that's a good thing in way). I've never replaced the tubes and I got the amp used so I'm not sure how much life they had in them so I'm assuming that's them but I don't get to mess with it untill later this weekend (where it is and such) so I figured I'd ask you guys off the bat. The clean channel was fine and loud but the dirty channel was very very quiet and not broken up at all (clean). Does this sound like a blown tube?

 

[Clockwork_Orange]

Re: So my amp died on me tonight..

By the way, sorry if I sound like an idiot but this has been my first tube amp so I've never had to replace them nor do I know crap about them. Thanks for any info/help.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: So my amp died on me tonight..

It's either a dirty channel gainstage preamp tube or the relay that switches between the channels.

 

[Clockwork_Orange]

Re: So my amp died on me tonight..

The other thing i'm worried about is the gain pot, it seemed a lot looser/easier to turn than the others.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: So my amp died on me tonight..

I had a bad pre tube in my JCM 800 and it sounded too clean.....

WhoFan

 

[SingleCutDude]

Re: So my amp died on me tonight..

Could be a tube that's assigned to only the distortion channel. Any other problems? Noise? Pops? High pitch ringing noise? Those cue dead preamp tubes as well.

It also could be one of many bad components in between. If it was me I'd email the amp's manufacturer to ask about the preamp tube assignments. 'Cuz if they are all on whether your set clean or distorted (more amps than many think), it doesn't sound like a tube.

Either way, changing tubes might not be a bad idea. You could retube your amp, and if the problem isn't fixed, send it to a tech, and you've still done yourself a favour.