will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

[tone?]

So would you say they will last maybe 50% longer or not if you run it at lets say 1??

I have my VHT now for like 2 years and it still sounds killer. But i have been running it at around 1. Seriously.


I play on average around 10 hours a week.

I remember hearing they last for around 2000 hours. is that right?

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

Probably, but I don't really know.

All I know is that the original tubes in my Falcon (although they were replaced) worked fine after 43 years of use and abuse. Tubes seem to be durable. I think running at 10 and playing speed metal might lower the life, but again, I dunno.

 

[tone?]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

I think running at 10 and playing speed metal might lower the life, but again, I dunno.

or might lower the life of your neighbors ! lol

 

[jeremy]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

sure. if you run your tubes hot they will last a shorter time than if they have to work less hard

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

or might lower the life of your neighbors ! lol

:laughing:

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

What about the attanuator factor? does it effect the tubes in anyway?

 

[ES350]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

nope...and 2000 hours is pretty optimistic for modern production tubes.

 

[jeremy]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

running an attenuator doesnt effect the tube life. if you are running the volume at 8 the tubes are seeing 8 even if you are using an attenuator to knock the volume back down to 2

 

[Mr. B]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

Cars last a lot longer if you don't drive them too, but whats the point?

 

[louthunder]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

You talk about running the amp on 1 to save the tube life. To me the idea of getting a tube amp, is to push the tubes a little bit to get to the SWWWEEETT spot. Usually that doesn't happen at least till 3 or 4 on the vol. knob. Forget getting a little more tube life, get the proper wattage amp, so you can push it a little bit to your situation.

 

[sosomething]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

I have my VHT now for like 2 years and it still sounds killer. But i have been running it at around 1. Seriously.

This is purely my own opinion, but I see very little point to paying top-dollar for a VHT and then using it as a practice amp turned down to 1. At that volume you might as well be playing through a POD for all the tube tone you're getting out of it.

You can't worry about preserving tube life - that's like buying an Audi A4 and only driving at 10 mph because you want the tires to last a long time.

You've got to use the proper tool for the application and understand that there will be some regular maintenance involved.

 

[tone?]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

You talk about running the amp on 1 to save the tube life. To me the idea of getting a tube amp, is to push the tubes a little bit to get to the SWWWEEETT spot. Usually that doesn't happen at least till 3 or 4 on the vol. knob. Forget getting a little more tube life, get the proper wattage amp, so you can push it a little bit to your situation.

I DONT run it at 1 cause i want to save on tube life. You misunderstood me man. I run it at 1 cause i dont want to play it louder in the situation i am in, house wise.

The Pod sounds like a Pod at any volume and the VHT sounds like a VHT at any volume. Of course it is gonna sound better louder but even low it sounds killer. Dont believe me? i already tested it with a modeler and it didn't even come close to the VHT.

these amps have more complex preamps as Joneser once said and can be played low as well.


next.......

 

[louthunder]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

So would you say they will last maybe 50% longer or not if you run it at lets say 1??

I have my VHT now for like 2 years and it still sounds killer. But i have been running it at around 1. Seriously.


I play on average around 10 hours a week.

I remember hearing they last for around 2000 hours. is that right?

Maybe I misunderstood you, but the question was, "Will my tubes last longer if i run my amp on one?" If your amp sounds good enough on one w/ your Pod, use it that way. Part of my original answer also was, get the proper watt. amp so you can get to the sweet spot, at a volume you can live with. Hope this helps.

 

[tone?]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

Its cool man,

I am happy with the sound i get at lower volumes with my amp. Lower wattage amps sound different than higher wattage amps just by design and i dont dig that.
I was just curious that since i am already running my amp low will that save on tube life substantially? there, i think i stated it more clear now. lol

By the way i dont have a pod. I run the amp stock with a DD-3 in the loop with the volume at around 1. It blows away marshalls run in their sweet spot IMHO. Except maybe a nice old plexi of course.

I also have a JCM800 which i used to play at my other home which is in the country and i would play that loud. It doesn't come close to the tone of the VHT even at the low volume i run it on. The JCM is a nice amp as well though.

 

[Curly]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

you might save some tube life, however the more important question regarding tube life is, is the amp biased correctly?

since you're happy with your tone, I'll assume it is.

I couldn't tell you the last time I had a power tube die on me, but I have had preamp tubes go microphonic.

 

[tone?]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

yeah my amp was pro biased!

 

[louthunder]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

Tone?, Looks like your getting the tone you love, already. Your a lucky man. Some folks never find the sound they like. Keep doing what your doing. Some amps do sound pretty darn good, no matter where you set them.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

Yeah, tube life is totally dependent on hours and volume. I use my main amp at high volumes several times per week, so I've probably replaced them after a 1 1/2 years on average. With my little stable of tube amps that are turned on once in awhile, I just experiment till the tube compliment is perfecto, then never think about it again. They just get mild use, so they'll last for years and years.

However, my Matchless is quasi class A, and pounds the tubes with voltage at all times, so I change those yearly with JJ power tubes. That thing chews through them fast and the amp runs pretty hot. There's no bias pot on it either....it's just full blast current always.

 

[tone?]

Re: will tubes last alot more if the amp is run real low?

Tone?, Looks like your getting the tone you love, already. Your a lucky man. Some folks never find the sound they like. Keep doing what your doing. Some amps do sound pretty darn good, no matter where you set them

Dont worry just give it time and i will mess that up as well! lol!

Yeah Joneser, i have the class A switch on my amp and it makes that amp run on lava hot! so i dont touch that cause that sound really doesnt pump me that much. Havent really experimented with it much is the truth.
Its such a cool amp cause you can run it with the silicon rectifier class AB mode or run it with the tube rectifier class A mode.
the VHT is a real cool amp. Although i mainly keep it on one setting. Lol!