Tube questions

Sleeping Martyr

New member
So I just retubed my mesa with a set of JJs. I was recording on Saturday and the amp was on for a few hours (admittedly in a warm room) and afterwards I noticed that the paint on one of the power tubes looks faded or kind of worn off. Does this mean anything?? Is my amp running too hot?? Can you really burn the paint/logo off of a tube especially after only a week or so?? Thanks guys
 
Re: Tube questions

I think my Mesa has a fixed bias

Which they are, but fixed bias means they are set to a particular bias point. A fixed bias amp can have an adjustable bias if it has a bias pot. Without a bias pot a fixed bias amp's bias will fall where it may unless a bias pot is there or added to adjust the bias. Fixed bias doesn't mean "self-adjusting". Cathode biased amps are much more "self-adjusting", but even those should be checked as I have seen a few that ran too hot. Most Mesa's and Peavey's are fix bias, non-adjustable, but not all.

When purchasing tubes for these fix biased, non-adjustable amps it is recommended to tell the tube reseller what amp the tubes are going in so they can make sure you get cooler tubes. I have had really hot tubes come from tube resellers and these tubes would have run really hot in a fixed biased, non-adjustable amp. Fortunately, most of these type of amps (Peavey/Mesa) have been setup with their bias pretty cold to compensate for hotter tubes, but it doesn't always work out this way. My Valveking head runs pretty hot as an example. Hotter than I think Peavey intended.
 
Re: Tube questions

sounded great tho dint it
running all hot like that
sounded great I bet ya
I just bet ya
 
Re: Tube questions

Which they are, but fixed bias means they are set to a particular bias point. A fixed bias amp can have an adjustable bias if it has a bias pot. Without a bias pot a fixed bias amp's bias will fall where it may unless a bias pot is there or added to adjust the bias. Fixed bias doesn't mean "self-adjusting". Cathode biased amps are much more "self-adjusting", but even those should be checked as I have seen a few that ran too hot. Most Mesa's and Peavey's are fix bias, non-adjustable, but not all.

When purchasing tubes for these fix biased, non-adjustable amps it is recommended to tell the tube reseller what amp the tubes are going in so they can make sure you get cooler tubes. I have had really hot tubes come from tube resellers and these tubes would have run really hot in a fixed biased, non-adjustable amp. Fortunately, most of these type of amps (Peavey/Mesa) have been setup with their bias pretty cold to compensate for hotter tubes, but it doesn't always work out this way. My Valveking head runs pretty hot as an example. Hotter than I think Peavey intended.

This is why I run Mesa tubes in Mesa amps. No worries.
 
Re: Tube questions

This is why I run Mesa tubes in Mesa amps. No worries.

The only problem I have with this is that most Mesa tubes aren't all that great sounding. At least to my ears. Most tube vendors have a Mesa cross-reference chart.
 
Re: Tube questions

It DID sound great haha. I've had JJs in there for 4 or 5 years now (three sets including this one) and this is the first time I've seen this happen, should I take the amp in to get looked at or does this not sound like a big problem?
 
Re: Tube questions

A tube is a thermal device. In order for it to work, it has to get hot. The glowy parts are called heaters for a reason. My Nomad came with JJ EL34s in the power section. Over time, the paint has darkened and faded, so I don't think that you need to worry about the paint on your JJs doing the same.
 
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