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Post subject: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:50 pm
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Hey all I'm new here...hi. Just picked up a Excelsior last week and love it. Ordered new JJ vacuum tubes the 6v6 tubes worked great but when i swapped the 12ax7s the amp starts popping and cracking after it warms up. I tried switching them out with other ones and switching positions but to no avail. One of the 12ax7 actually burst. I put the stock tubes back in (only the 12ax7, 6v6 works great) and the amp works fine. They are JJ12ax7 ecc83s. What should I do I want to swap the tubes but want to get ones that will work. Thanks again!!!!!


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 6:33 am
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Hi fondu3,

You can't fix tubes. If the tubes are bad, and it seems that they are, return for replacements or refund. I would get something besides JJs for the preamp. JJ output tubes are OK, but the preamp not so much.

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 6:50 am
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Thanks shimmilou, They did send a replacement one yesterday and It had the same results. In addition I used one of my 12ax7s from my Marshall, so i was swapping a total of 4 preamp tubes and no combination of any worked. I should have been more specific in the first post. I'll just go ahead and get some better ones I guess. Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 6:56 am
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fondu3 wrote:
...I put the stock tubes back in (only the 12ax7, 6v6 works great) and the amp works fine...


Did you not like the sound of the GT's, or are you just swapping because Joe Blow said get rid of the GT's?

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 8:31 am
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Not sure what that has to do with brand new tubes not working in the amp and the original question. Ill just eat the cost of the tubes and try a higher quality. Thaks for the feedback.


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:46 pm
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It has to do with why you decided to change tubes. Considering that you said; "Just picked up a Excelsior last week and love it." Usually, if someone loves the amp, why change tubes?

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:56 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
It has to do with why you decided to change tubes. Considering that you said; "Just picked up a Excelsior last week and love it." Usually, if someone loves the amp, why change tubes?


I was sorta wondering that myself.

But I didn't want to mention it and be thought of as too inquisitive......

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:02 pm
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I understand what your question is but it still has nothing to do with the original topic and subject of my post. I was looking for technical feedback on why my new amp was not working with new tubes not looking to explain to a stranger why I decided to switch tubes, but I guess I could answer your question anyways. While I really love the Excelsior amp and think its a great value, Upon reading many posts and hearing my friends Excelsior with new tubes I decided that the stock tubes were crap. Like all of my other amps that Ive played over the 15years of my musical life I customarily switch out vacuum tubes to explore the different tonal qualities I can find while appreciating the fact that I can simply put the old ones right back in. I do understand that a vacuum tube can not be repaired, and no I did not get this Idea from Joe schmo. I decided to get new tubes because there a relatively cheap way to explore all of what my amp has to offer. So if anyone has any Idea why my amp is experiencing cracking and popping with the JJ12ax7s opposed to the stock tubes please let me know. Thanks again!!!


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:39 pm
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There is nothing wrong with JJ 12AX7 tubes. I use them in all three of my tube amps and they perform and sound great.

You said you used a 12AX7 from your Marshall. Was it also a JJ? I find it rather unbelievable that every tube from one manufacturer that you have used in your amp has caused problems with the amp. In my opinion, the problem is with your amp, not the tubes. I suggest you take the amp to a good amp tech and get it checked out or take it back to where you bought it and have it repaired/replaced under warranty.

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 9:49 am
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Bluesky636

Thanks for the feedback. They sent me another 12ax7 and between the four i got two working. I thought the one that blew was the bad one but turns out another one I isolated between the four was the bad one. Not sure what was going on but got it figured out and the amp sounds better then ever. Thanks again

Jesse


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 10:05 am
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It could be that JJ just got a bad lot of 12AX7's from the manufacturer and you happened to get two of them. I've seen that happen before but thankfully it's usually a rare occurence.

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 4:22 pm
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Arjay, one thing I've read about some new tubes, esp JJ's, is they tend to be a bit "gassy" at first (due to metal contamination during manufacturing). So, it's been recommended to run them in at idle for a bit, before you start wailing away.

if you are going to have issues with JJ's (or other new tubes), it tends to happen early in the tube's life. Once you burn off the contaminates, the tubes seem to last pretty long.


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 4:34 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Arjay, one thing I've read about some new tubes, esp JJ's, is they tend to be a bit "gassy" at first (due to metal contamination during manufacturing). So, it's been recommended to run them in at idle for a bit, before you start wailing away.

if you are going to have issues with JJ's (or other new tubes), it tends to happen early in the tube's life. Once you burn off the contaminates, the tubes seem to last pretty long.


Except for one freak 6L6GC failure, I've been quite satisfied with the JJs in my 5F6A clone, BDRI, and Champion 600. :D

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 5:50 pm
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I put all JJ's in my Blues Jr not long after I purchased it new, not only did they improve the tonal characteristics of an otherwise boxy sounding amp, they have lasted for 6+ years....

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior tube problems
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:28 pm
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There were two other guys on another forum I am on that had issues with Jeff 12ax7 s doing the same thing on their Excelsior. I am not a fan of JJ 12ax7 in general. I like Tungsols or EHX gold and Genelex when I have the money, especially for inverters. I actually like the Groove Tubes in my Pro. He didn't say he had a Pro. In the original brown I tried it just had generic tubes, though since Fender owns Groove Tubes they were probably still theirs. Try Tungsols. They should give you more of a Tweed feel.


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