Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

I do plan on replacing the tubes regardless, as I don't currently have any 6L6 on hand atm, and I would prefer to keep my 12ax7s in my other amps (though I could just check the 12ax7s when I get the chance (I was busy this weekend), but if the problem is something worse than just a tube swap believe it or not I actually bought an extended protection plan on it from GC, since I didn't know for sure what the condition was as I bought it online. But I will try to trouble shoot if it is the tubes to see if anything is microphonic, since I do suspect its a power tube problem

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

I do plan on replacing the tubes regardless, as I don't currently have any 6L6 on hand atm, and I would prefer to keep my 12ax7s in my other amps (though I could just check the 12ax7s when I get the chance (I was busy this weekend), but if the problem is something worse than just a tube swap believe it or not I actually bought an extended protection plan on it from GC, since I didn't know for sure what the condition was as I bought it online. But I will try to trouble shoot if it is the tubes to see if anything is microphonic, since I do suspect its a power tube problem

That protection plan is pretty neat. Are you sure doesn't cover tubes?

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

That protection plan is pretty neat. Are you sure doesn't cover tubes?

TBH I don't know, but something tells me it doesn't since its not a "defect" since tubes are basically expendable parts but I will look into it.

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

So after looking up what the plan actually covers, it includes normal wear and tear (not sure if tubes would be included in that) and shockingly accidental damage from handling among other thing, so it looks like I will be giving them a call to see what's up.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

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

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.

Preamp tubes do not need to be changed nearly as often as power tubes.
My Marshall has preamp tubes from the 60’s and it sounds killer.
Power tubes need to be replaced yearly or thereabout.
When you perform a retube it’s the power tubes that “need” to be replaced.
The only time a preamp tube “needs” to be replaced is when they
1)stop working
2) you are looking for a tonal change.

 

[devastone]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

Preamp tubes do not need to be changed nearly as often as power tubes.
My Marshall has preamp tubes from the 60’s and it sounds killer.
Power tubes need to be replaced yearly or thereabout.
When you perform a retube it’s the power tubes that “need” to be replaced.
The only time a preamp tube “needs” to be replaced is when they
1)stop working
2) you are looking for a tonal change.

Except for the PI tube, at least according to pretty much every tech I've known, it works a lot harder than the other preamp tubes (technically is in the power section) and does wear out.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

Except for the PI tube, at least according to pretty much every tech I've known, it works a lot harder than the other preamp tubes (technically is in the power section) and does wear out.

That’s correct. But still, it’s either working or it’s not. You’ll never figure out what the issue is by changing multiple variables all at once.

In any case, it’s not my amp and I don’t have a dog in this show so....the op can do whatever he feels is the best thing for his amp.

 

[devastone]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

I guess the only point is that new power tubes will make the PI work harder so I would replace the old PI with power tubes so as not to potentially introduce a new problem (but that is just me, and again, most techs I've known). The other preamp tubes are no big deal unless there is still a problem. Based on the original description, the problem is most likely tubes or a bad capacitor, probably not a transformer, but again, diagnosing noises based on descriptions on the interwebs is tough at best.

This has gotten a little derailed, so hopefully the OP will let us know how it works out.

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

So I should be getting my amp back today from GC. I'm not sure what exactly they did to it, so I hope they have something in the box that tells me what exactly was fixed. I sent it off on Saturday after they gave me prepaid shipping labels. I had to play a dollar because it was 1lb overweight lol. I got an email on Monday saying they received it, by wed they said they had to order parts, on Thursday they fixed it, and it arriving at my house today Friday. So less than a week turn around and all I paid was a dollar in shipping, other than the $70 I spent on the protection plan in the first place. Even if all they did was re-tube and re-bias the amp I would say it was worth it. I still have a little over 2 years left on the plan as well. Ill post later when I get home if they actually said what was wrong with it, if not I will give them a call.

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Tubes for my Egnater Tweaker 40

So I got the amp in on Friday evening and they replaced the power tubes and re-biased it. I didn't look to see what tubes they but in there, though I assume they would do Ruby since that's what the amp comes with though I will still check when I have the time. The problem is gone. I do need to redo all my pedals and set up all the tones again since the amp is much brighter now. Not necessarily in a bad way its just much glassier than it was before, so maybe i'll find some tones that inspire me to play.