Author Topic: Could new valves be the answer? (Read 18775 times)

chrisola · « **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2005, 09:15:50 PM »

i like the Mass.. i've got the bigger 100w one with tone controls on, i use it to tame my JCM800, sounds awesome, if i bypass it then the amps too trebly imo (but VERY VERY LOUD lol )

HJM · « **Reply #16 on:** October 07, 2005, 09:30:49 PM »

I used to use the 100w MASS, I prefer the Hotplates, the bass is tighter to my ears. But the treble boost on the MASS 100 is useful to get ris of the dead sound!

_tom_ · « **Reply #17 on:** October 07, 2005, 09:38:34 PM »

hmm I dunno if I wanna buy another Weber product, to be honest I'm not that thrilled with the mini mass. Guess for xmas or for my bday I'll have to see if I can get a Hotplate and a new set of valves :lol:

big steve · « **Reply #18 on:** October 08, 2005, 11:41:40 AM »

just get the hotplate, a new set of valves probably isn't necessary.

of course, you can test if the valves are dead by cranking it when nobody's in the house and seeing if it sounds good :D

_tom_ · « **Reply #19 on:** October 08, 2005, 02:25:51 PM »

Quote from: big steve

just get the hotplate, a new set of valves probably isn't necessary.

of course, you can test if the valves are dead by cranking it when nobody's in the house and seeing if it sounds good :D

Good idea, I'll do that sometime next week as theres a point when I get home from school where I have the house to myself for about half an hour :twisted:

Would you recommend getting a Hotplate off ebay, or going all out and getting a brand new one?

big steve · « **Reply #20 on:** October 08, 2005, 11:14:03 PM »

if the amp is 8 ohms, you'll have a good chance getting one off ebay. i havent seen any other values of hotplate popping up on ebay, 8 seems to be the most common. IMO THD stuff has a reputation for reliability, secondhand should be fine.

_tom_ · « **Reply #21 on:** October 09, 2005, 12:23:43 AM »

Yeah its 8ohms. I'll try and get a cheapish ebay one around my birthday/xmas time then!

HJM · « **Reply #22 on:** October 09, 2005, 09:51:26 AM »

I have one I bought new, and two off ebay. Had to get new bulbs for one, but Andy Marshall emailed me personally and arranged some for me.....that was unexpected!

Gary · « **Reply #23 on:** October 09, 2005, 08:41:02 PM »

To answer the original thread:

Got the HRD back today with a new set of Svetlana power valves. Definately worth doing, the sound is warmer and fuller without the brittleness I was getting when overdriving it. It's not as massive a difference as changing the stock fender pickups for apaches but I had a chance to A/B my usual lead with George L as well and it made me realise that if you pay attention to all the things in your signal chain that only make a small difference on their own, they add up to a big improvement overall. Whether it's the answer to the original question I don't know.

BTW my usual lead is a 5m monster cable. I think the monster sounds smoother, the amp tech thought it was muddy. I thought the George L was harsher, he thought it was brighter so, as with many of these things, it's a matter of opinion. The George L is definately slightly louder.

So far as hot plates go:

We tried the amp with and without at various levels. When the amp is cranked up without the hot plate it sounds fantastic. As you introduce more attenuation you keep the same amount of distortion but you lose more of the natural guitar tone. It's not noticeable around -8dB which is normal gig volume but more apparent once you go down to -16dB. Even then it's only a slight difference and still better than any O/D pedal I've used. You do lose a bit of brightness as well but you can compensate for this with the treble control. I would recommend it unreservedly.

I ought to give a name check to the amp tech, Jesse Hoff. He was recommended by Jonathan at Feline and he was very friendly and helpful. I took my guitar with me when I went to pick up the amp and we spent over an hour playing and comparing my US Strat with apaches to his stock 80s strat. He was very impressed with the Bare Knuckles and even though his playing put me to shame he was nice enough to spend the time with me.

_tom_ · « **Reply #24 on:** October 10, 2005, 07:53:26 PM »

So, I got to play the amp cranked tonight :twisted: It sounds amazing right up, being boosted a bit with the keeley RAT! However, I still get harmonic overtone things, but it cant be my pickups as they are really low.. Is THIS the valves' fault? If a Hotplate can almost get me this sound at normal volumes then I'm definately gonna get one coz the MiniMass really sucks the highs.

big steve · « **Reply #25 on:** October 10, 2005, 08:17:37 PM »

harmonic overtones eh? sounds like valves going microphonic to me, but i could be wrong.

_tom_ · « **Reply #26 on:** October 10, 2005, 08:27:08 PM »

Quote from: big steve

harmonic overtones eh? sounds like valves going microphonic to me, but i could be wrong.

hmm well I think its harmonic overtones. When I play single notes, theres this other, quieter and lower note I can hear sometimes.

PhilKing · « **Reply #27 on:** October 11, 2005, 01:04:32 AM »

Have you tried more than one guitar into the amp?

Also, are the valves all in the sockets properly?

If it doesn't do it with other guitars, then check if you hear it accoustically on yours.

One last thing, are the speakers in there tightly? Check the bolts to make sure that they are not loose.

Bob Johnson · « **Reply #28 on:** October 11, 2005, 09:16:02 AM »

You could also try palming or in some way muting the strings you're not picking to rule out the second note coming from another string resonating (feedback).

_tom_ · « **Reply #29 on:** October 11, 2005, 05:13:11 PM »

I havent tried any other guitars thru it yet, will do later quickly. The valves all seem to be snug in their sockets. From what I can tell, my guitar doesnt do it acoustically. I'll tighten all the bolts on everything on the amp tonight :lol: And Bob, I allready tried that, the sound is still present

Its mostly noticeable when I bend a note around the 12th fret on the G string...