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Old December 1st, 2003, 10:20 AM   #2 (permalink)
JDO
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pittsboro, NC
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Re: Retubing Vibrochamp

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe M
I've heard conflicting stories...I'd like to retube my 65 Vibrochamp; can I just put new tubes in it or do I need to rebias it? (Can you adjust bias on a single power tube amp???) Also, I'm sure the rectifier tube is original; can I just leave that one alone or would replacing it make a noticable difference in sound?? Thanks in advance....
just retube it. it's cathode biased so you don't have to rebias it. and yes you can rebias a single tube. you have to go in and change a resistor. but for champs there's no need. the only thing you have to watch out for is red plating. if you start to see any red on the plates turn it off and change to another tube. or you could do as some of the guys on the fender forum do and change the bias resistor to a 1k5 and the bypass cap to a 50/50. i haven't tried that because i like my champ the way it is.

recto tube should be fine. as far as i know, they're either good or they're not. if yours is working i wouldn't worry about it. and the only way it will change the sound if you change it is if the newer one drops a different amount of voltage. recto tubes don't really add to tone.
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