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Post subject: Dull sounding Hot Rod Deville
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:07 pm
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About 6 months ago I heard that the amp sound had changed and was kind of dull. Then I noticed that one of the 6L6 tube was on the side and broken, probably happened while driving with my amp in the car. I let my amp cool down before I took the tube out and took my amp to a tech. He replaced both the 6L6 tubes (the white ones) with another pair of 6L6's (the blue). Since then it hasn't sounded the same. I have replaced the 12AX7's and nothing changed. I guess the tech didn't notice any difference after changing the tubes, or maybe he didn't even check. The amp doesn't have that good crispy-clear clean sound that it had, now it's a little muddy and almost sounds like there's a blanket over the speakers. I have to play the guitar kind of aggressively or hard so the sound won't be dull. I have tried other amps and I hear a difference. Yesterday there was a little rattling noise in the drive channel (dirt/dust?)

Does anybody have a clue what has happened? is there a difference between blue 6L6 and the white tubes? Could it be a bias problem or something with the circuit board? Is this just a typical dust in the channels problem?


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Post subject: Re: Dull sounding Hot Rod Deville
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:58 pm
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I would have the bias checked. When I replaced the tubes in my blues deluxe, they were WAY too hot and had to lower the bias. could be the other way around for you.


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Post subject: Re: Dull sounding Hot Rod Deville
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 3:20 pm
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BOBROX24 wrote:
I would have the bias checked. When I replaced the tubes in my blues deluxe, they were WAY too hot and had to lower the bias. could be the other way around for you.


Ok, thanks, I'll do that. I haven't heard any bias difference demo or comparisons so I have no idea how high bias vs. low sounds - so maybe that could be it! But I would find it weird if the tech would lower the bias because he put in the same tubes? Does the bias need adjustment every few years? because my amp is around 5 years old and I've never had it checked...


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Post subject: Re: Dull sounding Hot Rod Deville
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 3:23 pm
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The bias shall be adjusted (cold-normal-hot as you prefer) after each power valve change or valve ageing. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Dull sounding Hot Rod Deville
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 4:40 pm
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Tis-san wrote:
The bias shall be adjusted (cold-normal-hot as you prefer) after each power valve change or valve ageing. 8)


+1

Basic "tube amp maintenance 101".

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Post subject: Re: Dull sounding Hot Rod Deville
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 4:41 pm
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RAX.MJ wrote:
..... He replaced both the 6L6 tubes (the white ones) with another pair of 6L6's (the blue). Since then it hasn't sounded the same. .....

I have no idea what the "white" and the "blue" means but if it's a Groove Tubes model designation or something similar that then that's prolly a good indicator right there why it doesn't sound the same. You are using a different model. Just because a pair of tubes is the same general type (ie: 6L6) doesn't mean they all sound the same. Quite the opposite. There is an entire industry built around the selling of custom tubes for the purpose of changing the tone of your amp. I suggest if you want your amp to sound the same as it did before then you should buy a set of the "whites".

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Post subject: Re: Dull sounding Hot Rod Deville
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:45 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
RAX.MJ wrote:
..... He replaced both the 6L6 tubes (the white ones) with another pair of 6L6's (the blue). Since then it hasn't sounded the same. .....

I have no idea what the "white" and the "blue" means but if it's a Groove Tubes model designation or something similar that then that's prolly a good indicator right there why it doesn't sound the same. You are using a different model. Just because a pair of tubes is the same general type (ie: 6L6) doesn't mean they all sound the same. Quite the opposite. There is an entire industry built around the selling of custom tubes for the purpose of changing the tone of your amp. I suggest if you want your amp to sound the same as it did before then you should buy a set of the "whites".


That's what I thought, except when I asked the tech he said the color doesn't matter, they sound the same he said.

White: http://www.theguitarfiles.com/files/ima ... -202_0.jpg

Blue: http://www.firstqualitymusic.com/images ... 33_S00.jpg

But because my knowledge of the difference between these two is none, I thought some of you might know (if there is any difference that is).

After retubing, There wasn't any difference and I expect that the guitar tech would bias accordingly so I am a little confused about this.

Well, I think I'll just take the amp to another tech and explain the situation :)


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Post subject: Re: Dull sounding Hot Rod Deville
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:53 pm
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+1 BMW-KTM

For GTs, the "Blue 1 to 3" are for early breakup, the "White 4 to 7" are mid range, and the "Red 8 to 10" are for clean headroom. Changing from white to blue could result in a very different sound.

And, definitely check the bias at the test point, especially whenever tubes are changed to a different type, such as from white to blue. The tech that changed the tubes should have checked the bias, but who knows if it was checked or not? This video shows how to check the setting with a DC volt meter, just read the info first and then click the "#1. Fender Hot Rod Deville / Deluxe Bias" link.

http://www.eurotubes.com/euro-video.htm

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Post subject: Re: Dull sounding Hot Rod Deville
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:32 am
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Yes ; BIAS


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Post subject: Re: Dull sounding Hot Rod Deville
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:06 pm
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Thank you all for your answers. Much appreciated!


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