Amp Problems

[ratspeak]

Hey everyone. I'm having some problems with my H&K Switchblade as of two days ago. I just got back from a rather long trip on which the amp came with me, because I didn't want to pay for a rental. Looks like I'm going to pay for that decision now. As soon as I got home the amp started acting up. It sounds weak, bassy and devoid of articulation. I cranked the gain on the Ultra channel and the sound is hardly passable for a rock tone. The drop in volume on the clean channel is crazy, and it sounds like I have the tone on the guitar rolled all the way back when it's on 10.

What does that sound like to you guys?

[Twinfan]

New valves required...

[ratspeak]

I just had them replaced a few months ago? Duds? Or could it be something else?

[Twinfan]

Try swapping the pre-amp valves around and see if that helps?

[ratspeak]

Will do in the morning (1:45 AM right now where I live). Is it definitely characteristic of preamp valves? If it was a power-section issue I'd be very surprised.

[Twinfan]

Could be a number of things - I'm just suggesting what you might want to look into  ;)

[Denim n Leather]

There are NO GUARANTEES when you own a valve amp.

You should always have spares. New valves may last a decade, a week, or an hour.

[ratspeak]

Thanks guys. Luckily for me it turned out to be a sketchy patch. No disassembly required.  :D

On the other hand I'm ordering enough tubes to redo the whole thing if/when necessary.