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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 12:18 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
bluesky636 wrote:
This is what a REAL tube expert looks like. :lol:


Aw shucks, fellas......

:oops:

Arjay

It is praise worthy my friend!...you deserve it. :D


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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 12:52 pm
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I always enjoy that photo!

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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 3:06 pm
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From Bluesky636:So you figured we were all clueless newbies when it comes to tube amps and how to get the best out of them? :|

Certaintly not. I'm the newbie, here looking for answers. There are all levels of knowledge here, so share yours. If you surpass my level of knowledge, i'm not writing for you, I'm waiting to read from your book of knowledge.

I do not have a group photo, but sometimes reading spurs the imagination...so here

mid sixties blackface champ
mid sixties blackface bassman
mid sixties ampeg b12 portaflex
'59 bassman ltd reissue
'57 deluxe reissue
blues junior NOS with creme circuit board
Mesa boogie nomad 55 1x12
Mesa boggie Mark IV, version A

Now teach us...


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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 3:21 pm
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strumsalot wrote:
From Bluesky636:So you figured we were all clueless newbies when it comes to tube amps and how to get the best out of them? :|

Certaintly not. I'm the newbie, here looking for answers. There are all levels of knowledge here, so share yours. If you surpass my level of knowledge, i'm not writing for you, I'm waiting to read from your book of knowledge.

I do not have a group photo, but sometimes reading spurs the imagination...so here

mid sixties blackface champ
mid sixties blackface bassman
mid sixties ampeg b12 portaflex
'59 bassman ltd reissue
'57 deluxe reissue
blues junior NOS with creme circuit board
Mesa boogie nomad 55 1x12
Mesa boggie Mark IV, version A

Now teach us...


We'll be happy to give you answers ..... when you ask some questions. Instead, your first post in this forum was a lecture. Like walking into Wall Street and telling them how to trade stocks. Not a very polite method of introduction. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 1:48 am
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I've always liked this old Mullard film on tube (valve) production. The rest of the Parts to the documentary are in "related videos" on the right side. Parts and start of assembly is at around 3:00.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HveUY7eivfI&NR=1


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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 6:07 am
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strumsalot wrote:
From Bluesky636:So you figured we were all clueless newbies when it comes to tube amps and how to get the best out of them? :|

Certaintly not. I'm the newbie, here looking for answers. There are all levels of knowledge here, so share yours. If you surpass my level of knowledge, i'm not writing for you, I'm waiting to read from your book of knowledge.

I do not have a group photo, but sometimes reading spurs the imagination...so here

mid sixties blackface champ
mid sixties blackface bassman
mid sixties ampeg b12 portaflex
'59 bassman ltd reissue
'57 deluxe reissue
blues junior NOS with creme circuit board
Mesa boogie nomad 55 1x12
Mesa boggie Mark IV, version A

Now teach us...


For a newbie, you have a nice collection!
I'm not familiar with the Mesa Boogie line of products other than advertisements. But lots of folks own them and like them.

The BJr with "creme circuit board". What does that imply? Not familiar with that either.

You'll have to post a pic of these ya know!! :)

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"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield


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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:27 am
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Fender originally used a printed circuit board (PCB) that was green on both sides, on the BJr made in US. About 2001 they changed the PCB at the same time production moved to Mexico, to one that was creme colored on top, green on the bottom (also has circuit revisions, reverb circuit in particular). There are a very few creme board BJrs that are made in US, but usually a creme board indicates made in Mexico. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:40 pm
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So Arjay, which is your favorite and why?


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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:52 pm
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That's like asking a mother of ten which is her favorite child.

:mrgreen:

Empirically, my blonde Spankmaster Reverb probably gets the most play.

Reason?

All-tube platform, vintage circuitry, fifteen-inch alnico JBL, easy portage, and loud enough for the lion's share of my various venue requirements. It's probably the most useful custom amp I've ever built.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:21 am
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Extra guitar on a stand within 10 feet of me while playing? Check.
Ebtech Hum X power isolation transformer for bad power in clubs/bars? Check x 2
Sennheiser e906 mic in case PA has crappy amp mics? Check x 2
Spare fuses? Check.
Spare 12AX7? Check.
Spare power tubes? Nope.
Spare amp? sort of...

http://www.smokeyamps.com/
Have the plastic one in my guitar case at all times. The internal speaker is ratty, but you can drive a 4x12 cab with it in a pinch. Perfect for those gigs when your amp goes down. For $25, it's great insurance. Not a Fender, but I can only get so many amps in the car when I'm also carrying the PA...

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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:24 pm
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OK,

Since we are talking about tubes and experts. I have a question that is relevant. There are to my understanding several wife's tales about NOS tubes and proper pre-play conditioning. (The same goes for Speakers as I understand).

I have heard load the JAR-NOS tubes and play. I have also heard heat those old 60's, 70's, 80's tubes up real hot and cycle a couple of times before playing. And I am sure there are more tales as to the proper methods.

So given a tube based amp. (Pre-Amp and Amp section) What is the best way to replace new tubes with NOS tube, other than plugging them in. (You can also ignore bias as I have that process figured out and I am still alive -LOL ) and is there really anything one has to do to get a 30 year old tube to perform other than turning on the amp?


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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:47 pm
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In the case of a rectifier tube or pre-amp bottle, I plug them in and play. When replacing power tubes (as matched pairs or quartets) I check and if necessary adjust the idle bias then play. The output glass in a SE class A amp receives the plug-and-play treatment. No JAN vacuum tube ever required any "babying" save for a few ultra high-power microwave transmitter tubes (thyratrons, magnetrons, klystrons, and the like).

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:40 pm
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Arjay,

Thanks. I just dropped $300 on a complete set of tubes (Might be overkill) for my SS22. It's so much better now with matched power tubes, correct bias and nice 12's.

Thanks for quieting my OCD on this.

Frank


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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:14 pm
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Three bills does seem to be "gilding the lily" a bit (at least to me) but if the amp is happy and you're happy, then that's really the sum total of all concerned.

Rawk on, Frank!

8)

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: All About Tubes
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 5:37 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
I've always liked this old Mullard film on tube (valve) production. The rest of the Parts to the documentary are in "related videos" on the right side. Parts and start of assembly is at around 3:00.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HveUY7eivfI&NR=1


That looks cool. I gotta watch all five parts. Thanks. :D

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