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Post subject: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 5:46 pm
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I have only had my Deluxe reverb for a couple of weeks and just love it, but at a rehearsal tonight the amp let me down. I have been using both a BJ and a Super Sonic tube amps regularly on gigs for several years and have never encountered a single problem. Tonight the volume became very quiet and distorted as soon as the amp was switched on. I had left it on standby for some time to warm up before using it. Looking at the rear of the amp the tube on the extreme left seemed to glow very brightly and this I think must be the culprit. It has not been used for more than a handfull of hours so I would not have expected this to happen so early in the amp's life. Has anyone else suffered what I presume to be early tube failure similar to this ? What would be the likely cause of such an early failure ? Comments would be appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:24 pm
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Hi restyles,

There is no tube amp made, ever, that can prevent it's tubes from going bad. Tubes fail, no matter how magical an amp's reputation. It was likely just a tube that failed, nothing more. I would say that it is not uncommon to have tubes fail when the amp is new. I blame it on rough handling during shipping. :idea:

Of course, the DRRI is forgiven all faults (by some). Now, had this been a HRDlx, look out, it's the amp's fault. :roll: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:48 pm
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Thanks for response Shimmilou. I guess I will just have to put this one down to bad luck. As you say the amp had possibly had a rough ride getting from your side of the pond to our side. I will get it fixed and continue to drool over the tone. I had to use a borrowed (non Fender) SS amp to get me out of a muddle tonight ... I had forgotten just how thin and lifeless they can sound compared to a tube amp. Anyway thanks again for comments.


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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:50 pm
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" Looking at the rear of the amp the tube on the extreme left seemed to glow very brightly and this I think must be the culprit. "

I believe that this is the 5AR4 rectifier. I've had my share of premee failures with this tube, esp modern issued models. The only one that seems to hold it water, in a consistent fashion, these days, is the TAD 5AR4.

One thing... Chinese made tubes tend to be gassy, at first. (maybe too much Bok Choy... J/K :lol: ). If you do get a TAD... let it idle in the circuit until most of the blue/violet haze has burned off. It's a sign of impurities that the heat and the getter will eliminate.

If I were you... I'd look for a GOOD NOS 5AR4. And the best for the price are those 5V4GA labeled 5AR4 mil spec Philips. Just my 2¢ worth. These tube are a lot tougher and built to mil spec standards. Tougher than any "5AR4" labeled tube made today (again IMHO).


Not related to my brother… err Seller :mrgreen:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/5AR4-Rectifier- ... 5889ea818b


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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:05 am
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If you bought the amp new tubes are covered under the warranty for a period of time. Save money, good.


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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:12 am
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Yes it was new and a fix is in hand. Thanks for responses.


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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:25 pm
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As BMW mentioned, if this is the last tube on the left then it's the rectifier. Was it a Ruby tube by chance? You're not alone, many DRRI owners went thru that, myself included...

Whenever I see a DRRI in a store I always check the back to see what tubes are there. Lately I noticed that a lot of the rectifiers were replaced with JJ GZ34 (5AR4). I'm not sure if that's being done at the store or Fender. The JJ GZ34 has been a solid tube in my DRRI, but you can't go wrong the TAD or the ones BMW recommended. Whatever you do DO NOT get another one of those Ruby or GT rectifier tubes!


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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:47 pm
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cedarblues wrote:
Whatever you do DO NOT get another one of those Ruby or GT rectifier tubes!


(ahem......)

I've got a GT rectifier in my '93 DRRI. It's been in there ever since I bought the amp in 2004. It may well be original to the amp when it was built.

:shock:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:58 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
cedarblues wrote:
Whatever you do DO NOT get another one of those Ruby or GT rectifier tubes!


(ahem......)

I've got a GT rectifier in my '93 DRRI. It's been in there ever since I bought the amp in 2004. It may well be original to the amp when it was built.

:shock:

Arjay

2004, that was a good year :mrgreen: try one from 2011, I have one, I'll send it to you :lol:


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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:10 pm
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If that GT is a Sovtek, they don't come much more rugged than that. One bad tube does not a reputation make. Same goes for the amp. :wink:

My Goodyear tire went flat.....my spare Michelin was not flat, so I guess that Goodyear tires suck? :roll:

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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:26 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
so I guess that Goodyear tires suck? :roll:

Agree, they sucked on my Vette, so it's gotta be true! :lol: I never bought another set and probably never will, not for what they're selling for...

Sorry, back to GT... it wasn't only one tube, I've had a few suck from day one or a week later, no thanks, no GT for me!


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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:06 pm
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I'm not disputing anybody's factual observation.

And no one is more surprised than me at that GT 5AR4 still hanging in there. In fact, I've had a nice NOS Telefunken ready to install in the amp ever since I bought it. Not to worry though......unused vacuum tubes aren't like bananas that turn brown if you leave them on the window sill too long.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: early valve (tube) failure in new DRRI
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:16 pm
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I have had three ruby's (GT's) that rattled like mad

I traded up for a JJ the last time and have yet to replace the Ruby/GT in my latest DRRI

I only owned it for a few months after the JJ si Have no idea how long they last.

I keep thinking about going the cheap way out and trying the Sovtek GZ34, So far everyone says they are pretty good.

Hard times being what they are, I am hopeful that it won't BUZZ !!!!

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