Low_fidelity2100
New member
So I've had this amp (83' fender concert II) for about 3 years now, And Never had it retubed. Never had any problems with it Till tonite.
Earlyer when I turned it on, I noticed a bit more hiss than usual from the reverb (These Rivera era fenders are notorious for hissing reverb from what I've read), So that kinda concerned me a bit. But it didn't seem like a big deal, I just turned the verb down and the hiss was gone.
A while later I had it cranked (sound proof basement), And Started getting some massive microphonics. After some inspection, and determineing it wasn't the guitar, cables, etc. I Narrowed it down to The First two tubes (v1 and v2 I think its called), on the right hand side (when looking at the amp from behind).
I remembered reading that Microphonics in the Reverb tubes wasn't an issue, cause reverb units are Microphonic by nature (This is just what I read, So I may be wrong and correct me if I am). So I swapped The microphonic Tubes in the first two slots for the tubes in Slots 4 an 5 (which I think are the Reverb tubes, Or the Fx loop tubes and being as I don't use the loop, I wasn't concerned with noise from it). And The microphonics were gone.
But while behind the amp To tap on the Tubes with a pencil (ta see if theres any noise or microphonics, Someone tell me if I shouldn't do this), I noticed that One power tube was Glowing Differently than the other. Not a Massive difference in color or Brightness, But just slightly different. And I dunno weather I should consider this an issue or not?
So heres My question. Should I get My amp retubed? Other than the Hissing, and microphonics, It doesn't sound weird in any other way. It sounds Pretty much the same as when I bought it, But I have No idea when the last time it was retubed Before I bought it. Not muffled or strange in anyway.
I've Never Gigged with the amp, being as before my band broke up, Me and the other guitarist always used his dads amps to gig with. And The amp Hasn't really Been turned Up Past 7 More than a dozen times since I've owned it, And the Volume Is Normally Below 4 (i.e. 90% of the time).
But since its My Only amp at the moment, I'de really hate to blow a power tube or something, and have something else get destroyed in the process.
Also Anyone have any idea how much it would cost? Its got 5 7025 (12ax7s), 2 12at7's, and 2 6L6GC's.
Should I just buy the tubes Myself? And Retube it myself? I'm fairly sure its a non-adjustable Bias, so would there really be any advantage To having the tubes professionally installed? Reason I ask this last question, is Cause Theres not really any guitar shoppes around here I Trust with my amp, being as most the sales guys are sleaze bags, I can't imagine what the people In the Back of the shop must be like, if these are the guys they let people see. So I'de probably have to travel somewhere to get it to someone I'de trust.
An I know from all these questions It probably seems like This is my first tube amp or something. But its not, This is just the first one I've owned that I liked enough to hang onto. All the others I've Gotten bored with, or hated, and sold after a year or less. But I absolutely Love this amp, and don't wanna risk messing it up.
So all you experts here (lew, scott_f, etc..) Gimme some advice please.
I'm sorry this is so long, But I wanna make sure I got everything covered.
thanks in advance everyone.
Earlyer when I turned it on, I noticed a bit more hiss than usual from the reverb (These Rivera era fenders are notorious for hissing reverb from what I've read), So that kinda concerned me a bit. But it didn't seem like a big deal, I just turned the verb down and the hiss was gone.
A while later I had it cranked (sound proof basement), And Started getting some massive microphonics. After some inspection, and determineing it wasn't the guitar, cables, etc. I Narrowed it down to The First two tubes (v1 and v2 I think its called), on the right hand side (when looking at the amp from behind).
I remembered reading that Microphonics in the Reverb tubes wasn't an issue, cause reverb units are Microphonic by nature (This is just what I read, So I may be wrong and correct me if I am). So I swapped The microphonic Tubes in the first two slots for the tubes in Slots 4 an 5 (which I think are the Reverb tubes, Or the Fx loop tubes and being as I don't use the loop, I wasn't concerned with noise from it). And The microphonics were gone.
But while behind the amp To tap on the Tubes with a pencil (ta see if theres any noise or microphonics, Someone tell me if I shouldn't do this), I noticed that One power tube was Glowing Differently than the other. Not a Massive difference in color or Brightness, But just slightly different. And I dunno weather I should consider this an issue or not?
So heres My question. Should I get My amp retubed? Other than the Hissing, and microphonics, It doesn't sound weird in any other way. It sounds Pretty much the same as when I bought it, But I have No idea when the last time it was retubed Before I bought it. Not muffled or strange in anyway.
I've Never Gigged with the amp, being as before my band broke up, Me and the other guitarist always used his dads amps to gig with. And The amp Hasn't really Been turned Up Past 7 More than a dozen times since I've owned it, And the Volume Is Normally Below 4 (i.e. 90% of the time).
But since its My Only amp at the moment, I'de really hate to blow a power tube or something, and have something else get destroyed in the process.
Also Anyone have any idea how much it would cost? Its got 5 7025 (12ax7s), 2 12at7's, and 2 6L6GC's.
Should I just buy the tubes Myself? And Retube it myself? I'm fairly sure its a non-adjustable Bias, so would there really be any advantage To having the tubes professionally installed? Reason I ask this last question, is Cause Theres not really any guitar shoppes around here I Trust with my amp, being as most the sales guys are sleaze bags, I can't imagine what the people In the Back of the shop must be like, if these are the guys they let people see. So I'de probably have to travel somewhere to get it to someone I'de trust.
An I know from all these questions It probably seems like This is my first tube amp or something. But its not, This is just the first one I've owned that I liked enough to hang onto. All the others I've Gotten bored with, or hated, and sold after a year or less. But I absolutely Love this amp, and don't wanna risk messing it up.
So all you experts here (lew, scott_f, etc..) Gimme some advice please.
I'm sorry this is so long, But I wanna make sure I got everything covered.
thanks in advance everyone.
