Tubes or Fret Dress?

mindbender · January 20th, 2008, 10:54 AM

Hello,

While having my Nashville Tele in for a fret dress my HDRx powertubes went out. I replaced the powertubes with JJ6L6's. Once I got my Nashville back, I plugged her in. Right away I found I have these sparkling tones coming out of open chords with more definition than I remember before having either the fret dress or the powertubes. Which would contribute more to having the new chime in my sound? Do powertubes slowly go out and you gradually lose clarity?

Thanks,
Kyle

Axis29 · January 20th, 2008, 11:37 AM

AS I understand it... yeah, the tubes wear down.

Of course, I'm working on really old tubes in my amp and everything I read says I'm way past due for a retube. The tech at the local GC said every six months... so does my amp manufacturer. I think I'll just buy another set of tubes and see what happens. But I doubt I'll be replacing them every six months from now on... that's for sure! Probably start changing them out more often than the fifteen years, the current tubes have been in it.

mitchelguitar · January 20th, 2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axis29

AS I understand it... yeah, the tubes wear down.
The tech at the local GC said every six months... so does my amp manufacturer.

Power Tubes are good for about 600 hours of uses, 12AX7 tubes are good for about 1200, hours of use.
This was the rule of that was taught me when I was in school learning about tubes in the 70th.

loudguitars · January 21st, 2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitchelguitar

Power Tubes are good for about 600 hours of uses, 12AX7 tubes are good for about 1200, hours of use.
This was the rule of that was taught me when I was in school learning about tubes in the 70th.

+1 That is what I was taught too! It does depend on how hot the power tubes are biased. Anything over 35mv (70 combined on a Fender) will greatly reduce lifespan.

mindbender · January 21st, 2008, 08:54 PM

Thanks guys.

Flannel Pat · January 21st, 2008, 09:03 PM

Six months? Jesus. I use my amp almost every day, and usually all night on weekends and I only have it gone over about once a year.

Axis29 · January 22nd, 2008, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flannel Pat

Six months? Jesus. I use my amp almost every day, and usually all night on weekends and I only have it gone over about once a year.

Yeah? I've had the same tubes in my Mesa for fifteen years! LOL I literally just replaced a single preamp tube last week.

But then I don't gig with it much and even when I do, I rarely push it much. It's friggin loud!

But I've got a jones to lay now, so I'm thinking of swapping out some different tubes just to see if I like the sounds better.

rdchapman · January 22nd, 2008, 07:55 AM

I'm using NOS Jan Phillips in my amp. It is my understanding that NOS and even more so JAN tubes have a much longer life span as compared to current production tubes. Opinions?

January 20th, 2008, 10:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
mindbender TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: madison wi Age: 51 Posts: 39	Tubes or Fret Dress? Hello, While having my Nashville Tele in for a fret dress my HDRx powertubes went out. I replaced the powertubes with JJ6L6's. Once I got my Nashville back, I plugged her in. Right away I found I have these sparkling tones coming out of open chords with more definition than I remember before having either the fret dress or the powertubes. Which would contribute more to having the new chime in my sound? Do powertubes slowly go out and you gradually lose clarity? Thanks, Kyle

January 20th, 2008, 11:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Axis29 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 40 Posts: 1,052 1 Photos	AS I understand it... yeah, the tubes wear down. Of course, I'm working on really old tubes in my amp and everything I read says I'm way past due for a retube. The tech at the local GC said every six months... so does my amp manufacturer. I think I'll just buy another set of tubes and see what happens. But I doubt I'll be replacing them every six months from now on... that's for sure! Probably start changing them out more often than the fifteen years, the current tubes have been in it. __________________ John F. TDPRI # 1764

January 21st, 2008, 08:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
mindbender TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: madison wi Age: 51 Posts: 39	Thanks guys.

January 21st, 2008, 09:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
Flannel Pat Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Age: 20 Posts: 467	Six months? Jesus. I use my amp almost every day, and usually all night on weekends and I only have it gone over about once a year.

January 22nd, 2008, 07:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
rdchapman Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Saratoga, NY Age: 54 Posts: 412	I'm using NOS Jan Phillips in my amp. It is my understanding that NOS and even more so JAN tubes have a much longer life span as compared to current production tubes. Opinions?