Author Topic: Is this the sound of power tubes dying/going bad? (Read 7457 times)

_tom_ · « **on:** May 26, 2008, 04:33:12 PM »

The past few days I've noticed my amp (Laney GH50L) hasnt been as thick sounding or quite as loud as usual - I had it on 3 earlier in the week and it didnt seem quite as big or loud as usual (I only usually have it on 1-2 and that seems excessive). Reckon its the power tubes going bad? It's got the stock TAD EL34s and I got it in Nov 2006 I think so about 1.5 years old.

If you reckon its bad tubes, what should I replace em with? I like the classic british kinda tone but I dont want anything that sounds thin. Heard JJs are good in Laney but then other people say they get muddy.

Cheers :)

hamfist · « **Reply #1 on:** May 26, 2008, 04:37:06 PM »

Does sound like it might well be power tubes.

For replacements get these - http://www.watfordvalves.com/product_detail.asp?id=851.

Theye are very highly rated in all the right places, and also have a reputation for reliability.

gwEm · « **Reply #2 on:** May 26, 2008, 04:41:00 PM »

it would be about the right time scale for the power tubes to need changing.

i use these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280228411392

nicer than the electro harmonics that I used before

_tom_ · « **Reply #3 on:** May 26, 2008, 04:42:58 PM »

Quote from: hamfist

Does sound like it might well be power tubes.

For replacements get these - http://www.watfordvalves.com/product_detail.asp?id=851.

Theye are very highly rated in all the right places, and also have a reputation for reliability.

I forgot about those, yeah I was looking into them a while ago. Will they sound much different to the TAD valves? I would say if theres anything I'd change about this amp itd be for it to be a bit warmer/less fizzy when using more gain.

gwEm · « **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2008, 04:45:16 PM »

Quote from: _tom_

I would say if theres anything I'd change about this amp itd be for it to be a bit warmer/less fizzy when using more gain.

that might possibly be improved with different preamp valves - what do you use now?

_tom_ · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2008, 04:55:45 PM »

Whatever is stock. I heard TungSol are great for V1 to smoothen things out but from what a number of people on HC say they arent too reliable :(

gwEm · « **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2008, 05:01:44 PM »

tom, maybe you saw this thread?

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12791

I have 3 JJ ECC83 I'm not using by the way, if you'd like to experiment

_tom_ · « **Reply #7 on:** May 26, 2008, 05:09:42 PM »

hmm those mullards seem good, I assume they're quite expensive though because from what I can remember they're regarded as legendary tubes or something?

What kind of sound do those JJs have?

gwEm · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2008, 05:16:20 PM »

the mullards we tried were reissues, and not as expensive as you might think:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280230443524

they are certinally warmer and less fizzy than JJ... the JJs can definately sound fizzy under high gain, and also the bass end is abit undefined at times... but its all relative, they might well be an improvement over laney stock tubes, i don't know.

_tom_ · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2008, 05:24:07 PM »

I didnt really want to order from the USA, if they get damaged in transit you're a bit buggered really arent you? Price is definitely good though.

I think all the ones in my Laney are TAD as stock. How much should a shop usually charge to fit new valves and bias?

edit - just ordered a matched pair of winged C's from watford valves, wont be shipped until at least monday tho :(

hunter · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2008, 07:53:35 PM »

Could as well be the preamp tubes. I had an 12AX7LPS go bad on me today, the amp just lost its punch and oomph in the drive channel - was easily noticeable as it's been V2 which is not used on the clean channel, so the difference was obvious.

Elliot · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2008, 08:12:01 PM »

I just replaced my output tubes (after 1 1/2 years) - the amp went bassy in a dull way, and I had to use thin picks, the treble control at max and turn the mid and bass to 0 to get any decent sound. The amp had lost all sparkle and its a Fender!. The final straw came with an output wobble with temporary loses of volume.

If you suffer from the above its the output tubes - my advice buy some new ones - those Winged C's are good. I do not recommend tubes made in China like the TADS.

_tom_ · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2008, 09:09:12 PM »

hm mines not like that its just a little thinner than before and not as powerful. I have some preamp valves I can try out so I might give that a go tomorrow.

edit - hmm just cranked it, it made the whole room shake and sounded really thick :) However its still got that fizzy high end, so I reckon some new tubes will probably help anyway :)

_tom_ · « **Reply #13 on:** June 04, 2008, 08:19:48 PM »

Winged Cs arrived today, put them in just to check they're working and they are :) However I think the amps biased too hot for them as after about 10 minutes of playing with em it smelled a bit like burning so I quickly turned it off and took em out, hope I havent damaged anything :o I have the number of someone the guitar shop recommended me to try for amp stuff so I'll keep trying until he picks up his bloody phone!

Elliot · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2008, 08:25:38 PM »

Tube burn smell is quite common with new output tubes - but re-biasing is always sensible!