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Post subject: DRRI Tube Replacement
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:25 pm
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Just got a new DRRI. Couple of questions:

How often do you typically replace the preamp tubes? My understanding is they can go for years and years without replacing vs. power tubes that need more frequent change outs.

When replacing tubes - do you only take the top back panel off or do you break it down further to allow for easy access to the tube slots. Which is the best method?

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: DRRI Tube Replacement
Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:43 am
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Just got a new one too!
My first DRRI...no idea on how long the tubes will last and I suppose it all depends on many factors like hours of use and how you take care of the amp but to answer your 2nd question...I took the chassis out of the cabinet and it's fairly easy.

I will probably take the chassis out when I do it just so I don't destroy the pins on the tube while looking/feeling for the key in the socket.

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Post subject: Re: DRRI Tube Replacement
Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:35 am
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I have noticed that the small tube sockets are a bit tight on some of the 12AX7's I use and so i remove the top back panel so I can get a good straight shot.
I have not found that I needed to remove the chassis yet.

Do yourself the biggest favor ever and experiment with both pre-amp and especially power tubes !!!
The Gt's are somewhat sterile when compared to others, you can read about everyone's favorites up and down the posts here.

Mine ? Tung-Sol Reissue 6v6GT's and i put some nice GE NOS 5751's in v-1 and v-2 pre-amp.

As far as life span of tubes, i have yet to replace a power tube due to failure, pre amp tubes in combos can last ten years or two, they do take a beating.

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Post subject: Re: DRRI Tube Replacement
Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 10:33 am
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Thanks for the suggestions. I put a gold tipped Tung Sol preamp tube in my VOX AC4TV - nice improvement in overall tone.


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Post subject: Re: DRRI Tube Replacement
Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:49 pm
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Unadan wrote:
How often do you typically replace the preamp tubes? My understanding is they can go for years and years without replacing vs. power tubes that need more frequent change outs.


The service life of a vacuum tube depends upon certain factors; how robustly constructed it is, how often the tube is switched on and off, how hard it's pushed, and -- in the case of output bottles -- how appropriately the bias was set.

Pre-amp tubes can typically last for decades under careful use -- especially so with US- or western European-made NOS types. Power tubes should be checked at five-year intervals at a minimum, more often under severe use conditions. If and when power tubes are replaced, the bias should be checked and, if necessary, adjusted to the design parameters of the particular tubes. Whenever power tubes are replaced, the pre-amp's phase inverter should always be checked for balanced transconductance prior to a re-bias. This tube should be replaced if variances between the sides exceed 10%. Vacuum rectifiers are the hardest-working tubes in the amp and are given to failure without warning. These should be checked yearly and replaced regardless of test results every five years, somewhat less often if the tube is a vintage NOS type.

For sonic satisfaction and the sake of an amp's health, the very best tubes one can afford will yield the best results.

HTH

Arjay

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