How can you tell when tubes are shot???

emisilly · December 14th, 2004, 06:51 PM

New to tube amps. I Want to know when to replace tubes. What to look for? static/pops? hiss? funky sounding breakup when overdriven? I just dont want to spend a bunch for a tech to check something out one day when I could simply swap a few tubes.

e-merlin · December 14th, 2004, 11:50 PM

Kinda like when your strings are worn out. It will sound dull and lifeless.

Jammin'John · December 22nd, 2004, 12:16 PM

Preamp tubes last a very long time (years).
You only have to change them when they become microphonic and/or noisey.
You may change 'em just to look for new tones.
Power tube life varies a lot.
Power tubes are a lot like strings.
If you turn your amp up A LOT they will wear out more quickly.
They lose punch,trebles,& the bass craps out as they become worn out.
It happens VERY gradually........like strings.
If you play a lot (2 or 3 full blown gigs a week) they will have lost some punch in 6 months.
The only way to really tell though is to put new tubes in & see.

JJ

Daddy Elmis · December 22nd, 2004, 12:32 PM

If a preamp tube goes, you could experience an immediately and DRAMATIC loss of signal (i.e., you can hear the guitar but it's faint). Squeal is another sign of a possible preamp tube gone bad or microphonic.

If a power tube goes, I believe you generally lose all your signal (depending on the amp) -- if you've got a quartet of output tubes, you may continue to get signal even if you lose one, but the tone change would be dramatic.

My experience is that when either preamp tube or power tube goes, the results are dramatic and you immediately go "what he heck has happened to my amp." Fortunately, replacing tubes is easy and (except for certain rare NOS tubes) relatively inexpensive.

December 14th, 2004, 06:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
emisilly Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Virginia Beach Age: 40 Posts: 485	How can you tell when tubes are shot??? New to tube amps. I Want to know when to replace tubes. What to look for? static/pops? hiss? funky sounding breakup when overdriven? I just dont want to spend a bunch for a tech to check something out one day when I could simply swap a few tubes.

December 22nd, 2004, 12:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jammin'John Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tug Hill Plateau Posts: 312	tubes Preamp tubes last a very long time (years). You only have to change them when they become microphonic and/or noisey. You may change 'em just to look for new tones. Power tube life varies a lot. Power tubes are a lot like strings. If you turn your amp up A LOT they will wear out more quickly. They lose punch,trebles,& the bass craps out as they become worn out. It happens VERY gradually........like strings. If you play a lot (2 or 3 full blown gigs a week) they will have lost some punch in 6 months. The only way to really tell though is to put new tubes in & see. JJ __________________ Tele's and tubes....an accident?......I don't think so... http://www.tughillregion.com/

December 22nd, 2004, 12:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Daddy Elmis Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: USA Posts: 961	If a preamp tube goes, you could experience an immediately and DRAMATIC loss of signal (i.e., you can hear the guitar but it's faint). Squeal is another sign of a possible preamp tube gone bad or microphonic. If a power tube goes, I believe you generally lose all your signal (depending on the amp) -- if you've got a quartet of output tubes, you may continue to get signal even if you lose one, but the tone change would be dramatic. My experience is that when either preamp tube or power tube goes, the results are dramatic and you immediately go "what he heck has happened to my amp." Fortunately, replacing tubes is easy and (except for certain rare NOS tubes) relatively inexpensive.