Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

[NoOnesFang13]

So I have a Tweaker 40 and I love it, I can get a ton of tones from it that I can make my own with all the options. About a month ago it started making an intermittent noise that is crazy loud even with the master on 0. If I move my amp or tap the cab I noticed that it stops the noise. In addition I noticed a significant reduction in low end. I hope its just tubes, as I bought it used at Guitar Center for a good price and I was planning on re-tubing anyway.

I have been doing a bit of searching online for what brand to go with. I haven't taken it apart yet to see what is in it (I assume the stock ruby tubes) but id like to try something else since apparently according to the internet the ruby tubes aren't great. I have read a lot of good things about JJ and Tung-Sol. But I trust people here more than the rest of the internet and I know a few of you have the same amp. BTW the Tubes are 3 12ax7 and 2 6L6.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

If you like how it sounds now I’d suggest putting the same in.
As you probably know, many brands of tubes are simply relabeled. Ruby is an example of this. I believe they are Chinese made Sino tubes. TBH, I have some in 2 of my amps. I like them. I think they sound great. I’ve also used JJ. I like them a lot too.
If I were you, since you don’t know what is causing the issues you described, I would change the power tubes only.
Preamp tubes can and often do last for years. And I mean decades.
Leave those alone for now. Swap AND BIAS (if your amp requires it) a set of power tubes and see if that fixes your issue.

 

[devastone]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

Change the PI (phase inverter) tube when you change the power tubes, it's the closest 12AX7 to the power tubes. They work a lot harder than the other preamp tubes and most techs recommend changing them with the big bottles.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

Change the PI (phase inverter) tube when you change the power tubes, it's the closest 12AX7 to the power tubes. They work a lot harder than the other preamp tubes and most techs recommend changing them with the big bottles.

I’d wait on that...if he doesn’t yet know what is causing his issues, I’d recommend changing one item at a time. If after he changes power tubes he still is having an issue, then sure the PI is the next step.
JMO

 

[devastone]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

I agree, it's probably doesn't make a huge amount of difference either way, if it was mine I'd probably just do them all. The PI is probably not what's making the noise, it's just a good idea to change them with the power tubes.

But, WDIK, I'm digital these days. :laugh:

 

[BenPerkins]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

Tweaker 40’s (early model) had issues with their power transformer - not sure if this pertains to your particular issue.

Example:
https://musicvillageusa.com/blogs/e...egnater-tweaker-40-power-transformer-problems



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

I’d wait on that...if he doesn’t yet know what is causing his issues, I’d recommend changing one item at a time. If after he changes power tubes he still is having an issue, then sure the PI is the next step.
JMO

ECC83 are so cheap I don't see much point trying to save there. Probably no need to change two preamp tubes, but that's a good chance to try improve

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

ECC83 are so cheap I don't see much point trying to save there. Probably no need to change two preamp tubes, but that's a good chance to try improve

It’s not about saving money. It’s about diagnosing what is causing the problem. If you change more than one factor at the same time, you can’t narrow it down to find the root cause.

 

[chadd]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

I've tried a lot of different tubes in my amps and my favorite combo is EH 12AX7s and Svetlana 6L6s

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

It’s not about saving money. It’s about diagnosing what is causing the problem. If you change more than one factor at the same time, you can’t narrow it down to find the root cause.

If you get it right by changing tubes. Do you need to k ow what was the culprit?

 

[Gtrjunior]

Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

If you get it right by changing tubes. Do you need to k ow what was the culprit?

I would want to know...
You wouldn’t?
But hey, you’re free to do whatever you want with your gear.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

I would want to know...
You wouldn’t?
But hey, you’re free to do whatever you want with your gear.

Not really. Tubes are consumables. Why would I need to know, if I'm ditching the old tubes anyway.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

Not really. Tubes are consumables. Why would I need to know, if I'm ditching the old tubes anyway.

Ok.
So let’s say you’re having an issue with your amp and you aren’t sure what’s happening....
You would go ahead and change multiple things all at once to try to fix it?
The smart thing to do is fix one thing at a time until you narrow down the issue.
Power tubes and preamp tubes are essentially separate entities in the amplifier.
But like I said, you are free to do whatever you want with your amp(s).
I prefer to take the intelligent approach as well as the economical approach.

With your approach the op may as well change the output transformer, power transformer input jack and the capacitors while he is at it. After all they all “could” be the problem.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

I don't see worn out tubes as a "problem" you need to fix, it's just regular maintenance. Like changing tires for a car.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

You’re clearly not understanding the original post.
He does not yet know if tubes are causing the issue.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

You’re clearly not understanding the original post.
He does not yet know if tubes are causing the issue.

...hope its just tubes, as I bought it used at Guitar Center for a good price and I was planning on re-tubing anyway.

That's obvious place to start.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

BTW: I don't have Tweaker, but switched tubes to my Rebel 20 a while ago. Tried Tung Sol in V2 (which is first preamp tube in Egnater) with JJ for else. I found that a bit harsh for overdrive. Switched that to JJ as well which sounds really good. Less mushy than original Sovteks but smoother than Tung Sol was.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

That's obvious place to start.

Yes, we already established that tubes are a good place to start. But as I stated, power and preamp tubes are essentially a different entity in an amplifier.
The logical thing to do is change power tubes first. Then if the problem persists we need to look elsewhere.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

Yes, we already established that tubes are a good place to start. But as I stated, power and preamp tubes are essentially a different entity in an amplifier.
The logical thing to do is change power tubes first. Then if the problem persists we need to look elsewhere.

But if he was going to do full re-tube anyway... :dunno:

 

[devastone]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

Don't want to argue here, but I agree with Jacew, tubes, while not cheap, are disposables. If he changes all of them and the problem goes away, there isn't a problem, it was just a bad tube. If he still has a the problem with new tubes, time for a trip to the tech. Or, maybe a trip to a tech ain't a bad idea anyway, they could probably hear the noise and diagnose it immediately.

Part of the problem is that he probably picked up the amp used at GC for around $400 (he didn't say, I"m just guessing) so it's hard to end up spending another $200 - $300 on tubes and tech bills.