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Post by cedarchoper58 on Aug 23, 2021 16:04:05 GMT -5
How often do you all change power tube. Thanks
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tube life
Aug 23, 2021 16:15:39 GMT -5
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Post by Leftee on Aug 23, 2021 16:15:39 GMT -5
Not often… but I don’t play out.
When I tech’d for gigging players, I would recommend every 6-9 months if there was a rehearsal and a gig a week on the amp.
Adding…
I’m speaking of modern production tubes.
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Post by reverendrob on Aug 24, 2021 20:09:47 GMT -5
When I need to, and I run them hard (attenuator + volume).
Usually get a few years a set or more, even with modern stuff.
The killer is moving them, and they're studio pieces that don't get moved (especially when hot).
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tube life
Aug 24, 2021 20:31:10 GMT -5
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Post by Leftee on Aug 24, 2021 20:31:10 GMT -5
When I need to, and I run them hard (attenuator + volume). Usually get a few years a set or more, even with modern stuff. The killer is moving them, and they're studio pieces that don't get moved (especially when hot). True! Moving… hot amp to cold car. All that adds up. I used to recommend the schedule I did so that their amps didn’t go down during a gig. And often the amps sounded better after a retube. That made it an easy sell. |
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Post by Riff Twang on Aug 24, 2021 20:52:06 GMT -5
I only ever changed mine on failure or noticeable degradation. Always carried spare tubes with me on gigs.
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Post by reverendrob on Aug 24, 2021 23:14:06 GMT -5
True! Moving… hot amp to cold car. All that adds up. I used to recommend the schedule I did so that their amps didn’t go down during a gig. And often the amps sounded better after a retube. That made it an easy sell. Yea, when I was in Chicago and the Midwest gigging, I'd leave the amp at the venue if it was a multi-night engagement (as it often was) to avoid that, and would take out the power tubes once they were cooled down for an hour or two and wrap them in a towel and put them in the case with the guitar if it was the dead of winter. Never lost any once I started doing that. |
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Post by cedarchoper58 on Aug 25, 2021 15:51:57 GMT -5
True! Moving… hot amp to cold car. All that adds up. I used to recommend the schedule I did so that their amps didn’t go down during a gig. And often the amps sounded better after a retube. That made it an easy sell. Yea, when I was in Chicago and the Midwest gigging, I'd leave the amp at the venue if it was a multi-night engagement (as it often was) to avoid that, and would take out the power tubes once they were cooled down for an hour or two and wrap them in a towel and put them in the case with the guitar if it was the dead of winter. Never lost any once I started doing that. what is the purpose for removing power tube. I have never had any stolen |
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Post by reverendrob on Aug 25, 2021 19:09:38 GMT -5
When I transported the amp it would be safe for the tubes since they weren't being exposed to temperature extremes. A lack of clarity in my phrasing, "if I could, I left the amp, if I had to take it out in the cold, I'd .." would be better.
Basic Bassman head even with the rear cover on doesn't prevent wind or air contact in large amounts, and temperature extreme might shatter glass or damage components.
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Post by cedarchoper58 on Aug 25, 2021 20:32:46 GMT -5
i have done many gigs for decades and never thought about taking my amp to the car when it was cold after a gig. I never had a failure because of that. Granted it would be a 30 min to a hour after the gig before all was packed, paid and loaded so the tubes were cool
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Post by jazzguy on Aug 26, 2021 1:31:59 GMT -5
I recently started aiming a small fan @ the power tubes in my '67 Twin and I've found that they stay pretty cool.
when I touch the top of the amp above the tubes it's cool where it used to be hot at the end of the gig.
only wish I started doing this years ago.
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pdf64
Wholenote
Posts: 556
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tube life
Aug 26, 2021 3:36:12 GMT -5
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Post by pdf64 on Aug 26, 2021 3:36:12 GMT -5
When I transported the amp it would be safe for the tubes since they weren't being exposed to temperature extremes. A lack of clarity in my phrasing, "if I could, I left the amp, if I had to take it out in the cold, I'd .." would be better. Basic Bassman head even with the rear cover on doesn't prevent wind or air contact in large amounts, and temperature extreme might shatter glass or damage components. I really can’t see such a temperature change putting anything under stress. The 5 or 10mins it will take to pack guitars, cables etc away seems plenty for the valves to cool down. By then I have no qualms about loading them into a cold vehicle. Whereas bringing a cold amp into a warm, humid building will cause condensation, which could be a big problem. If doing so, allow electronic equipment to acclimatise for at least half an hour. |
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Aug 26, 2021 8:06:33 GMT -5
Back in late 70's/early 80's I had a Twin that I abused with an Altair power attenuator, then stuffed the amp in the trunk of my Monte Carlo, where for the most part it lived through Michigan winters and summers. I am not proud of this and wish I had offered that silver face a better life, but it never failed me, tubes or otherwise.
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tube life
Aug 26, 2021 13:55:56 GMT -5
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Post by rickyguitar on Aug 26, 2021 13:55:56 GMT -5
A year...mebbe more depending on usage. At current rate they may outlive me though.
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DrKev
Wholenote
It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
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Post by DrKev on Aug 27, 2021 13:01:14 GMT -5
About every two years for me, back when I played a lot. right now, I have the same set in there for nearly ten.
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