Do Tube Amps sound change

[mikey5]

Hey maybe my eardrums are just not what they used to be, but it seems like sometimes My Orange TT which I love sounds better sometimes than it does other times. It seems like sometimes I turn it on and it just rocks, and its loud and then other times I am like what that sounds different?? Does this happen if so what can I do to make sure that my amp stays in tune or at least have the same sound that I can expect out of it every time

[hamfist]

Amps can, and do sound different in different rooms, due to the acoustics being different.

However, if your amp is sounding different on different days in the SAME room and being played in the same way then I would suspect varying wall voltage on different days.

If I remember rightly, Mike, you are in the USA. I have heard a lot of complaints from your compatriots about this. We don't seem to have anywhere near such a problem with this in the UK.

Tube amps can sound very different when they are using different base voltages.

The only way around this is to buy a voltage regulator - Furman make some good ones.

[Ratrod]

Amp sounds can also change because of atmospheric changes like temperature, pressure, humidity etc.

It can also be caused by a 'faulty' tube.

Having multiple amps or other high voltage/wattage stuff on one outlet can suck all the tone out of a tube amp.

[MrBump]

Personally, I think that it's us.

I think that "tone" is very subjective, and that we have a different psychological approach to the same sound on different days.

Or, yes.  Tube amps could sound different on different days...

[kellar]

Do you mean that the sound varies when you turn it on, or after you have been playing it for a few minutes?
I mean, if you have been playing it for a half an hour and say to yourself; "Why does it sound better now than it did last time I turned it on?", that would obviously be because the tubes have been given time to warm up. Maybe last time you only had it on for a few minutes. Know what I mean?

Otherwise, I think it is one of those weird cases of your ears playing tricks on you. I have moved my amps all over my apartment trying to get the best acoustics. I always think it sounds better in a different corner for a few weeks and than find myself switching it to a different corner. It 's just one of those weird things. My wife will come in and say "Did you move your amp again?" My response will be of course, "It sounds better in that corner." She will say, "Uhh, no it doesn't, it sounds exactly the same."

Bless her heart. :D

[HTH AMPS]

Amps can, and do sound different in different rooms, due to the acoustics being different.

However, if your amp is sounding different on different days in the SAME room and being played in the same way then I would suspect varying wall voltage on different days.

If I remember rightly, Mike, you are in the USA. I have heard a lot of complaints from your compatriots about this. We don't seem to have anywhere near such a problem with this in the UK.

Tube amps can sound very different went they are using different base voltages.

The only way around this is to buy a voltage regulator - Furman make some good ones.

^ +1 on everything above.  I've never noticed much of a difference in the wall voltage here in the UK, but like Hamfist says, many of the US guys complain about their tone changing alot due to quite large wall voltage variances.  

Here in the UK the wall voltage needs to be 230V (+10% or -6%)... http://coffeetime.wikidot.com/uk-eu-mains-voltage-harmonisation -  I'm sure I've read somewhere that you can claim compensation if your wall voltage is constantly outside the legally stated limits of +10% and -6%.

[mikey5]

Actually I live in Mexico, and I do think that It could be a voltage problem. Thanks you guys. Its not even different on different days it can happen the same day right before I posted I turned my amp on and it sounded nice and punchy and delivered this nice growl, and I put it on standby for like 3 minutes and I flipped it back on and it seemed quieter. I turned up the volume and I had the same tone back but I had to dial the volume up from 9-11 oclock to get the same sound. I heard that Mesa Boogies have Fragile tones like you turn it on one day and it kicks a$$ then the next day its a little weak. Mine is an Orange TT and I never move it. I hope it isnt Fragile. Anyway last question
In my tube amp I let it warm up for 2 minutes and cool down two minutes when I turn it on and off any other Tube amp care advice

[kellar]

Spraying a little contact cleaner on your valves pins every now and then (or when changing them out) can keep your amp sounding nice and help to avoid problems later on.

[jpfamps]

Well the "effects" could well be psychosomatic, however I would suspect that wall voltage may be an issue.

UK voltage used to 240V ± 6%. The new EU standard as stated above is 230V +10% -6%. Those competent in maths will see that the new EU range covers the old UK standard, so actually nothing has really changed in the UK!

Regardless, my experience, as HTH's, is that the UK voltage doesn't vary much.

The US line voltage does vary a lot though. A mate of mine was touring the US and found that a lot of there digital equipment was crashing, which they eventually traced to variation in wall voltage. Another mate swears that Marshall amps sound better when run off regulated 240 VAC rather than on the 120 V wall voltage using the 120 V voltage selector.

[HTH AMPS]

Another mate swears that Marshall amps sound better when run off regulated 240 VAC rather than on the 120 V wall voltage using the 120 V voltage selector.

I've done some work for an Aussie band that said the same thing - their old Laney Supergroup sounded different on the 120v tap, and also seemed prone to blowing fuses as the B+ voltage increased on the 120v tap.  Apparently the 120v winding on the old Partridge mains tx's wasn't very accurate and ended up raising the already very high (600v on the plate) voltages, and consequently messing with the bias too.  I advised them to use Furman power conditioners/regulators and run the amps on the 240v tap.

[gwEm]

i do hear a day-to-day difference, but it seems certain this is down to personal reasons. may its easier to 'blame' on a valve guitar amp than anything else.

[mikey5]

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Furman-M8X-Power-Conditioner?sku=181045
This is by Furman as you know I play a Orange TT is this good enough or should I get a higher end Voltage control

[hamfist]

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Furman-M8X-Power-Conditioner?sku=181045
This is by Furman as you know I play a Orange TT is this good enough or should I get a higher end Voltage control

Unfortunately, all that really does in terms of voltage control is to control high spikes of voltage. You would need a much more expensive voltage regulator, something like this - http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Furman-Power-Factor-Pro-Power-Conditioner-?sku=181309

[Spitfire]

i was told in my school physics lessons that in the USA their is/was a thing called brown outs where the power would dip causing the lights to dim.. for extended periods of time.. hense brown out.  this was to do with the choice of 110v mains over 230/240.. could explain the higher risk of voltage fluctuataions.

[AndyG]

There was a venue in my town which was notorious for having a bad sound; not the acoustics but the mains voltage. The result was a thin, weedy tone with no guts.
I'm no electronics expert so I'm guessing but would a solid-state amp avoid this?