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Post subject: Re-tube 68 Custom Vibrolux
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 5:43 pm
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Purchased amp in December. We were practicing and the volume went lower and lower until nothing. About a minute later it came back. It seemed strong and then sometimes weak. Figured tubes and had jam next night at bar so purchased Sovtek 5881's and put them in. Sounded good again and I had a re-bias done the following weekend. Hoping to get a tube tester. The stock ones went fast if that's what caused the issue. Purchased matched quad set of tubes so I can skip the next re-bias!


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Post subject: Re: Re-tube 68 Custom Vibrolux
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 6:16 pm
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How convenient that they lasted just beyond Fender's 90-day warranty for tubes before they decided to take a dump on you.

:roll:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Re-tube 68 Custom Vibrolux
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:10 pm
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I wouldn't be surprised if the problem was not tubes at all, but a poor connection, lurking and waiting for the worst possible time to reoccur. It's not likely that bad tubes will start operating again intermittently, nor that both went at the same time. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Re-tube 68 Custom Vibrolux
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:16 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
I wouldn't be surprised if the problem was not tubes at all, but a poor connection, lurking and waiting for the worst possible time to reoccur. It's not likely that bad tubes will start operating again intermittently, nor that both went at the same time. :wink:


As Mr. Spock would say, "A distinct possibility".

However, neither scenario bodes well for the OP specifically or modern Fender amps in general.

:(

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: Re-tube 68 Custom Vibrolux
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 1:03 am
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Yep, a new amp... :(

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Post subject: Re: Re-tube 68 Custom Vibrolux
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 5:39 am
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I gotta SS22, same symptoms & I changed all tubes, & that fixed it. If i remember correctly back when I was going thru all this, it turned out to be a 12AT7. good luck!

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Post subject: Re: Re-tube 68 Custom Vibrolux
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:08 am
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Have no fear. I will torture test it to make sure nothing is loose. I'd rather the problem, if there is one, to be there for a tech not to have to wait until it happens. I plan on testing the tubes and if bad that would point me there

Don't care about warranty rather trust a tech I know. So far amp has behaved. And it is a great amp

Agree to disagree but the modern design pcb isn't the worst thing. It's all repairable and reliable. I have access to purchase vintage but I took a chance with new and I'm okay with it. Plus my speaker cloth has no nicotine stains!


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Post subject: Re: Re-tube 68 Custom Vibrolux
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 8:06 am
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Had a couple of updates. A coworker has a tube tester. Nothing sophisticated. A light glows dim or bright. Both tubes from Fender (GT not 5881 but not sure what they are) were weak he said.
Jammed last night for hours very loud and it sounded great. Feeling confident my issue was resolved.
Will always have a backup plan though but you would have thought new tubes new amp would last longer than two months. We did play two guitars through it at one point in a pinch. Maybe we stressed the tubes


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