Would you still use these tubes, or are they cooked?

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I'd like your input guys, y'all have an extraordinary amount of tube knowledge that I don't have.




I pulled these from my second DSL when I bought it used. I always put new tubes in any amp I buy and then just keep the old ones as backups.

I was looking through my drawer full of tubes and found these and looked them over some.

They look toasted to me. But I'm no guru.

I would guess there may be 2 trains of thought:

1. Tubes either work or they don't, run em till they stop.

2. Don't run worn out tubes because they'll pop and ruin your amp eventually.




How to these look to your eyes? (They were working, and the DSL sounded great)

 

[beaubrummels]

Those don't look toasted, they just look used. They need to be tested, however, because they probably don't match anymore. But they could still be used if a pair of them are a close enough match. For example, to this day I still use what's left of the Marshall-branded Tesla EL34Ms that came in my SL-X in 1994. They sound awesome. It's just one of them burnt up in the 90's so I only have 3. I typically use 1 in my Emery SuperBaby, the other two are in my Traynor YBA-1, which happens to be the loudest amp I own (huge PTs in that thing)

 

[trevorus]

Yeah, it's hard to tell without a tester. Thankfully I was able to procure one years ago... But they do look like they have some hours on them.

 

[Securb]

Steve, try my move. Call an old-school TV repair shop and ask if you can use their tube tester. It takes 30 seconds to learn how to use the machine.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I'll ask around, we don't have much out here in this wild west 2 horse town.... Might be easier to mail them to somebody.

The only guy I've used as an amp tech (who may or may not have a tester?) is down in PHX which is only an hour and a half away, but I'd have trouble finding the time to take them I bet.

 

[Demanic]

Those don't look bad at all. Unless the glass is fogged, I wouldn't worry about it.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[Securb]

I'll ask around, we don't have much out here in this wild west 2 horse town.... Might be easier to mail them to somebody.

If you mail them to me I can run them down the street and test them. The TV repair guy gave me an open invite to use his tester.

 

[NegativeEase]

The base pins look like more of an issue than the actual glass/heater etc etc.

How many times were those tubes pulled and reset into the an amp by the previous owners to get those extreme wear and cuts on the pins? Way too many!

Yeah, I say getting tested and enjoy!

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

If you mail them to me I can run them down the street and test them. The TV repair guy gave me an open invite to use his tester.

Deal buddy!
pm your addy to me please and thank you.

 

[JMP/HBE]

yep fried PM me for my addy so i can do a proper hazmat disposal. :wall:

 

[NegativeEase]

yep fried PM me for my addy so i can do a proper hazmat disposal. :wall:

Ill test them for twice as free as Securb,

But 80s has to send it to a PO BOX addy :18::sword:

 

[beaubrummels]

yep fried PM me for my addy so i can do a proper hazmat disposal. :wall:

Yeah yeah. Dispose of them in your Marshall, sure.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Yeah yeah. Dispose of them in your Marshall, sure.

.

 

[GuitarStv]

The base pins look like more of an issue than the actual glass/heater etc etc.

How many times were those tubes pulled and reset into the an amp by the previous owners to get those extreme wear and cuts on the pins? Way too many!

Yeah, I say getting tested and enjoy!

+1

The base pins make me more concerned than the glass.

 

[DASchell]

I'll ask around, we don't have much out here in this wild west 2 horse town.... Might be easier to mail them to somebody.

The only guy I've used as an amp tech (who may or may not have a tester?) is down in PHX which is only an hour and a half away, but I'd have trouble finding the time to take them I bet.

There is a Tube shop in Scottsdale on Hayden by the Costco. I'll bet he can test them for you.

 

[DASchell]

USA Tube Audio

 

[DCikes88]

The cat smells the RAT.

 

[Securb]

Sadly, all four are dead. Two wouldn't even light up.

 

[JMP/HBE]

looks like the mica is burnt not good.
Yeah trying to diagnose & fix peoples vacuum tubes on the internet might as well be trying to heal their cancer too just doesn't really work.