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Post subject: Phase inverter for a Blues JR.
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:54 pm
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Hey Guys,
I got a new Blues Jr. a couple of week ago. I was researching mods / tubes and stuff and Bill M states " Your cooking your output tubes ". I have decided to not do any mods that will viod my warranty ( bias pot / tone stack stuff and the like ). I didn't need all the volume that it pumps out so I tried an 12AU7 in the phase inverter, hoping by reducing the signal at that point it'll help keep the temperature in the output tube down. extending the life of the tube and reduce the overall brightness of the tone. Is this gonna help? I found the total volume output didn't seem to change enough to notice. and it is a little darker now. I haven't finished burning in the tubes yet though so it might be to early to tell what it gonna sound like. Any input or advice is appreciated.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:03 pm
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Cooking your tubes? Tubes get hot. The best thing to do is if you like the amp, don't mod it. If your tubes aren't red plating, they're okay. If it worries you, just be sure the bias is set correctly.

The amp has a 5 year warranty unless you mod it. I don't understand why people buy these amps, then take other peoples word for what will make them sound better. Instead of modding my HRDlx, I just changed the tubes to JJ's and tamed the drive channels. The amp still didn't make me happy and was unreliable, so I sold it and bought an Egnater Rebel. Now my tone is custom tailored to what I want without one single mod or tube change. Modding your amp can lift traces if you/re not careful or experienced with a soldering iron creating a whole other set of problems. You can also get yourself electrocuted.


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Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:17 pm
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I guess i am old school.I buy an amp because i like it just the way it is.Otherwise i would have bought something different.I would be more inclined to try and build an amp than to mod one.Maybe thats why i have 4 amps now.I like the way all of them sound , and they all sound different.The only thing ever modded was turn my Texas Special Fat strat into a S S S configuration because i hated the humbucker in the bridge and at the time GCwas blowing the TS out for 500 bucks.It was the only one left.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:24 pm
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Well I don't know what too hot is. I would trade volume for reliability and lower matainance. I play 30 hrs. a month in the studio and at clubs. I love the amp I think it sounds great, I'm not running straight into it though I use a processer to attain several flavor for the covers I'm playing. I like the weight also. I've already played one gig with it and I can see why its so popular. So a high priced boutique aint for me. Fender amps are by far my favorite. this being my fourth. I just want to improve the deepth alitte and increase output tube life. I am gonna try and use this amp at every gig and every practice because it wasn't expensive.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:08 am
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You won't get total reliability out of any Hot Rod series amp if you gig with it in any serious way. When Fender says manufactured to be affordable look out. I found this out first hand on stage on three different occasions.

If your amp is biased too cold, it will sound brittle and sterile but your tubes will last forever. Most tubes are made to be run at 70% dissipation. Usually Fender biases on the cold side out the door so you won't have problems. I don't care what Billm or his oscilloscopes say. Oscilloscopes don't have ears or taste LOL. The sound clips didn't impress me either, They sounded like a cheap fuzz box. But that's all a matter of taste. Billm modifies and sells mod kits for these amps. I don't know Bilml but I get suspicious of anyone telling you your amp needs to be modified when you were probably perfectly happy when you bought it.

If the tubes are biased too hot, your cleans will suffer and your tubes will fail quicker. There is a happy medium. www.eurotubes.com has videos and info on biasing.

You bought the amp because you liked it right? If you don't sell it and look for something else. You'll have peace of mind with something like a DRRI.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:01 pm
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EL-84s are cheap, $20 for a matched pair. So what if they are cooking? I dont really worry about it.

Try putting a lower gain tube in V1 instead, I think that makes the most difference in volume. I like a 12AY7 myself.

Your mileage may vary..


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Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 4:10 pm
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Thanks dude, I'll give it a try. since I posted this the stock tube finally burned in and they sound great. I'd did leave the lower phase inverter (au7) in. I figure it'll prolong the life of the output tubes and transformer. there are alotta times I run that baby wide open and its good to have a govener, I guess.


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Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 9:25 pm
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At least in our blues deluxe's we are using the following after getting rid of the Groove Tubes they came with.
5751 in v1 (jan Philips),
12ax7 in v2 (JJ), and
12at7 in v3 (JJ)

Not sure if the BJ has the same preamp tube pattern as the BD.

V3 socket is the one that sent both amps in for repairs within a week of each other because it apparently desoldered itself.

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm
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Thats scary that they both went in the shop within a week of each other. Thats what I'm trying to aviod. I heard of these rumors about heat and the like, mine actually smelled hot for the first day or two. Like glue and electrical parts. It went away after alittle while. I love that new amp smell! I'm using a british made GE ( I guess its a mullard?) More grind less chime. I've only had the amp 3 week but I still loving it. I chased everybody outta the room on 4 (master vol.) last night, cool huh.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:36 pm
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I think it may have been a bad karma thing.
We had one of the amps half a year and the other was a month old when they decided to go bad together.

It was only after the fact we started to read the stores of all the others with similar problems.

Good thing is the warranty repair was fast and hassle free,
it just left us with a small vox and roland cube 20 practice amps for a couple of weeks.

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