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How often should you replace the tubes in your guitar amplifier?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
The previous response to this question "It really depends on how often you use your amp, so its hard to say" isn't terribly helpful.
However, it is true that many variables affect how long your tubes will last. The first of these is how much you play and how hard you push the amp. Also, it is VERY important that when you start up a tube amp, you leave it on standby until the power tubes are warm-- usually about a minute or two-- before you start playing. This is probably the key practice in making your tubes last!
Not to be too obvious, but if a tube dies completely, you gotta replace it. And, If you are not sure how old the other tubes are, for instance if you bought the amp used, replace the others of the same type as well, meaning the other power tubes or the other preamp tubes, so you have a clean baseline for future maintenance. When one goes, the others are usually not that far behind anyway.
If you don't want to replace all of the tubes: If you look at your manual, the manufacturer will generally tell you what the tubes in different positions do; if you are having trouble only in the clean channel but not in the overdrive channel, for instance, you may be able to figure out which tubes need to be replaced from that.
Signs your tubes may be going bad include:
1.) Less output than you are used to, or output that fluctuates without you touching the controls.
2.) High pitched squealing, especially in the gain channel. This usually indicates a tube that's become microphonic and needs replacement.
3.) An unusually high level of hiss or hum, more than typical.
4.) Tone pitch oscillates up and down
5.) Amp blows the power fuse frequently. This usually indicates a hard short in a tube.
6.) The color of the light from the tubes should be a dim orange and the output of all tubes should be even. If you have one tube that is brighter than the others, or tubes whose output is very low and blue-colored, you need to change those tubes.
7.) The glass bottle on a healthy tube is clear. If the tube has a whitish color to the glass, or if you see granular particles inside the tube, it is time to replace the tube.
Warnings:
Unplug the amp before doing ANY maintenance. Your amp has large capacitors in it, and it can give you a serious or fatal shock even when it isn't plugged in. Leave the power switch OFF and the standby switch to ON to dispel some of the cap voltage. This will not fully discharge the caps, so be careful. When inserting tubes, only one hand should ever be touching the amp at any one time. If it helps, put the other hand in your pocket! If you need to do anything more than change the tubes, the amp needs to go in the shop. Your life is worth more than the bench fee.
When changing tubes, never touch the glass with your bare hands. The oil from your hands will damage the glass when the tube heats up, and shorten the life of the tube drastically. Use rubber/ latex gloves or a small piece of newspaper to hold the tubes while you plug them into their sockets. If you do touch the tube with your bare hands, wipe it down with alcohol and let it dry before turning the amp on.
Wail On!
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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