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Post subject: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 8:02 am
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Howdy, my tubes are starting to get microphonic, what are you using in your Excelsior?
PS: where are you getting your tubes from?
Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 8:26 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
I bought tubes there ;

www.tubedepot.com Or tubesandmore.com


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 11:57 am
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The JJ 6v6s sounds great in this amp.


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:02 pm
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Ginoames wrote:
Howdy, my tubes are starting to get microphonic, what are you using in your Excelsior?
PS: where are you getting your tubes from?
Thanks!


A near-new amp and the bottles are already headed south?

:shock:

Unless you relish the idea of repeating this kabuki dance soon and often, I'd recommend you buy some premium glass that will deliver more than a few pitiful months of service.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:22 pm
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What does it sound like when tubes are starting to get microphonic? I've heard tubes that are either microphonic or not. And all of them at once?

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 10:17 pm
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well I call it microphonc....when I have the amp set at lower volume I get this "chimey" sound. I assume it's cause by the cheaper tubes.


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 10:34 pm
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The symptoms of a microphonic tube usually manifest themselves in one of two ways: as the volume of a single plucked note or single strummed chord begins to decay, odd overtones become audible -- sounding much like vibrational noise emanating from the speaker or cabinet. Or periodically a loud musical passage produces unexplainable "growling" as the notes or chords are struck.

Your "chimey" description sounds like a speaker that is not yet broken in.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 10:48 pm
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The first part of your reply really kinda nails it... the odd overtones etc...I'm calling them "chimes" but the way you word the whole first part is what I'm getting.


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 11:38 pm
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It's possible you do in fact have a bad tube. The next step would be to identify and isolate it for replacement.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 8:51 pm
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Speaking of identifying bad tubes - anyone have any experience with the Orange tube tester?
I love their amps, and the tester looks like it could save a lot of work in identifying and matching?


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:13 pm
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arth1 wrote:
Speaking of identifying bad tubes - anyone have any experience with the Orange tube tester?
I love their amps, and the tester looks like it could save a lot of work in identifying and matching?


$500 would buy a lot of tubes.


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:14 pm
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You can get them for less if you shop around, but yes, still buys a lot of tubes. It is a somewhat limited tester, go/no go, limited number of tubes that can be tested, and the numbers generated aren't really translatable. I thought that it was a cool tester when it first came out, but it's limitations still leave me jonesing for an Amplitrex. For an easy, simple tester, The VT-1000 might be great for some people.

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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:00 am
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410DeVilleIII wrote:
arth1 wrote:
Speaking of identifying bad tubes - anyone have any experience with the Orange tube tester?
I love their amps, and the tester looks like it could save a lot of work in identifying and matching?


$500 would buy a lot of tubes.



+100 that's the best way to test ; new tubes , and I own 3 tubes tester.


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:27 am
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Not real sure about that Orange Tube Tester. Haven't heard of anyone that has it. But, I find you need specific readings to compare various tubes of the same type. Check for balance across the duo-triodes. And check for tired tubes in units. It seems the old-timer TT's are the best for that.

Problem is, they often need new caps and calibration. And I only know of Chris Haedt. And he died. :(

Well anyhow, I have a redone Hickok 539C (R&R by Chris) and I keep a known good 12AX7, 12AT7, etc for reference. I use an amp test bed to measure idle bias current of output tubes and B+ strength of rectifiers. Those tests being done close-to amp conditions.

Edit: Wow! Just looked at some Hickoks re-done by Chris, that are for sale. Prices sure have gone up. I'd forget this option, unless you are going to fix a LOT of tube amps.

http://vacuumtubes.com/


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Post subject: Re: Excelsior Tubes
Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 2:24 pm
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eddie_bowers wrote:
The JJ 6v6s sounds great in this amp.


I have read a TON of good press on the JJ 6V6s... I have a small batch of NOS RCA GTAs. Fortunately, older 6V6s can still be found at reasonable prices (unlike 6L6s or 12AX7s). I also play with 5751s on the pre side. I always retube my amps and play with the sound when I get them new.


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