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Post subject: when to change tubes???
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:36 pm
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hi,

well ive had my blues junior now for a year nearly.

starting to wonder when to change tubes? ive heard 3 years, is that a realistic life expentancy for a healthy well looked after tube?
worried about them blowing or cracking or whatever happens to them.

the amp is hardly ever played above 3 on volume as its just in my spare bedroom. does how loud you play effect the life of the tube?

is it easy to do? can i touch them? heard you cant.

and do they affect the sound drastically???


thanks alot. sorry for the 20 questions


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Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:20 pm
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Usually you buy a spare set and when they go you replacement them. I wouldn't loose any sleep over it. I've had some tubes for 30 years before I changed them and had the GT's in my HRDlx only last weeks. It's a crap shoot. Playing at bedroom levels really makes no difference. They can go when you push them and go when you don't. They usually last longer when you don't.

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Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:56 pm
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63supro wrote:
Usually you buy a spare set and when they go you replacement them. I wouldn't loose any sleep over it. I've had some tubes for 30 years before I changed them and had the GT's in my HRDlx only last weeks. It's a crap shoot. Playing at bedroom levels really makes no difference. They can go when you push them and go when you don't. They usually last longer when you don't.


+1 63 is very knowledgeable on tube amps!! He will never steer you wrong.
ABS :D


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Post subject: Tube life
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 7:32 pm
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Agree with 63! Hey, that rimes! :lol:

To get a rough idea of expected life of the tubes, check the manufacturers list for life expectancy of the tube that you have, in hours. If the list says 5,000 hours, and you play for 4 hours a day, everyday, that's about 3-1/2 years at least. 2 hours a day every day = about 7 years. They can even last much longer.
.


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Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:15 pm
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airbornestrat wrote:
+1 63 is very knowledgeable on tube amps!! He will never steer you wrong.
ABS :D


That's the fact, Jack!

Hey ABS, I heard you came down on levy for Ft. Drum......is that true?

Arjay

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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:30 am
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Another thumbs up for 63Supro and Arjay both,I'm an experienced tone hound and wannabe amp tech and I learn something from them everyday...seriously.
When you have the money go ahead and buy a spare set after you read about the types that are in your amp,then when something goes you'll have the spare,usually it's going to be a preamp tube first....it's not that critical when you're not gigging but still a good practice,and keeps you from hunting around to find a tube to get going again.
I always have spares,and have accumulated boxes of them over the years...I'll bet 63Supro and Arjay have done the same.


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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:34 am
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Rebelsoul wrote:
I always have spares,and have accumulated boxes of them over the years...I'll bet 63Supro and Arjay have done the same.


From your lips to God's ear!

I got five Xerox boxes full of NOS glass.

They're like rabbits or coat hangers (they seem to progenitate on their own).

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:05 am
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Spare tubes and spare fuses :!:
A power tube cooking off can take them out with it.

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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:11 am
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Get a spare set of JJ's to keep them handy for when the day comes. You will like the JJ's better than the GrooveTubes. That being said maybe you could just go ahead and install the JJ's and keep the GT's for emergeny spares.

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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:20 am
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Groove tubes for the BJr ARE JJ's that are labeled Fender. Same tubes. Fender has some relationship with JJ for the Groove Tubes at least for the BJr, suspect that there are others. Many of the brand names are relabeled, or made by one company to be labeled by another company. :)

Edit: Here is a list of some Groove Tubes and who makes them.

http://thetubestore.com/groovetubes.html

.[/url]


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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:40 am
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Huh....
Looks like they could also be Sovteks

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Post subject: Tubes
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:47 am
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:lol: I know, it can be confusing about who makes tubes these days. :? It was the same in the old days, RCA, for one, was a company that made their own tubes and made tubes that others put their own label on. I have a "Silvertone" labeled tube in my Sivertone amp. I don't know that Silvertone actually made tubes, it looks like an RCA to me.

:)


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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:36 pm
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i had an early 60's brown princeton amp- 62 0r 63- can't remember the exact year. i sold it 2 years ago, and had all the original tubes in it- about 45 years worth of use.

the gent i sold it to says it's still going strong.


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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:46 pm
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In my experience, tubes last a long time. My mesa starting blowing fuses after about 5 years. I retubed it in 2000 and it still has the same tubes and sounds great, no more fuse blowing.

I have never blown a preamp tube....some of mine are 16 years old and get used daily, have accidently been left on overnight and still going.

I would say power tubes generally go first.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 1:44 pm
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firstrat wrote:
I would say power tubes generally go first.


Power tubes and/or rectifiers.

Arjay

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