Author Topic: Watford Valves (Read 5586 times)

simonp · « **on:** October 21, 2006, 05:46:14 PM »

Anyone know what (if anything) has happened to Watford Valves? Their website no longer works, unless I have the wrong one: www.watfordvalves.com

My damn amp (Trace Elliot Speed Twin C100) has gone on me. I replaced my power valves with a new (had for a few years but never used) set as one had gone microphonic, and when I turned it on I got a short rumble and then nothing and there was no longer any bias current. The fuse has gone in the bias circuit so I can only assume one of my "new" valves is faulty. I need some new ones quick as we are in the studio next Sunday :roll: and I need some more fuses!

_tom_ · « **Reply #1 on:** October 21, 2006, 05:49:58 PM »

www.hotroxuk.com have always been good for me.. or www.tube-shop.com I think is the other one that was pretty good.

Elliot · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2006, 10:40:24 PM »

WV's site still works for me!

Brow · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2006, 11:20:12 PM »

I've just been on their site (http://www.watfordvalves.com) and it worked fine for me! :lol:

simonp · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2006, 11:56:22 PM »

Yeah, it seems to work now, must have been a temporary glitch.

Bad news though, thy are not despatching ay orders till 30th, too late!!

Hotrox seem about 10-15% more expensive, but I guess they are the best option in my time frame.

fps_dean · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2006, 09:02:23 AM »

Quote from: Brow

I've just been on their site (http://www.watfordvalves.com) and it worked fine for me! :lol:

The site does, but he needs new tubes fast....

On the main page of watfordvalves.com...

Please note orders placed after midnight on Thursday 12th October will not be dispatched until week commencing Monday 30th October

simonp · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2006, 09:15:30 AM »

Hmm, it is actually the main HT fuse that has gone which is worrying. It is very odd, I replace the valves as one has gone microphonic with an unused, matched set, the amp rumbles for about 5 seconds and then blows the HT fuse. I have to admit my valve knowledge is limited, but I would assume it would need to be a fairly major valve fault to take out the 2A HT fuse? The valves are Ruby ones (not a name I know) which were supplied by Trace Elliot some years ago, they ar only marked with a "2" rather tan the usual bias current number like 36 on the Harma STR valves I had in before.

everton_fc · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2006, 04:40:16 PM »

purchased tubes two weeks ago from watford valves - excellent advice, excellent speedy service.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2006, 09:23:27 PM »

Take the output valves out of the amp then switch the amp on (with a cab connected of course). If the HT fuse still blows then your problem is not the output valves.

:twisted:

simonp · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2006, 10:19:42 PM »

I have some fuses coming on Tuesday, so I can try that then. Hopefully if I need to I will still have time to get some valves if need be before the weekend.

simonp · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2006, 12:03:28 AM »

OK, managed to scrounge some fuses from stores at work. I put one in and took all the power valves out, and powered up. The fuse was fine. I put the valves back in and turned on, when I turned on the standy swith I got a loud pop from the speakers (even though the volume was at 0) and then crackling and rustling. The fuse did noy blow this time, but the bias voltage measured off the scale on a 200mV range, even with the pot fully down. I swapped back to the older microphonic valves and now the amp is fine, apart from the slight rumble from the dodgy valve(s).

So, it seems that my unused power valves are buggered (what are the chances of that?!), which is rather annoying having kept them specifically for this eventuality, so it is a call to Hotrox tomorrow to get some winged Svetlana EL34s.

Bob Johnson · « **Reply #11 on:** October 27, 2006, 04:59:27 PM »

There's been a lot of stuff about valves, amps and mysterious failures on the forum lately. If any of you guys are within easy reach of Southend on Sea I'd recommend EMS, www.electronicmusicservices.co.uk these guys grew up with valve amps and there's nothing they don't know about them.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #12 on:** October 28, 2006, 12:18:39 AM »

Quote from: simonp

OK, managed to scrounge some fuses from stores at work. I put one in and took all the power valves out, and powered up. The fuse was fine. I put the valves back in and turned on, when I turned on the standy swith I got a loud pop from the speakers (even though the volume was at 0) and then crackling and rustling. The fuse did noy blow this time, but the bias voltage measured off the scale on a 200mV range, even with the pot fully down. I swapped back to the older microphonic valves and now the amp is fine, apart from the slight rumble from the dodgy valve(s).

So, it seems that my unused power valves are buggered (what are the chances of that?!), which is rather annoying having kept them specifically for this eventuality, so it is a call to Hotrox tomorrow to get some winged Svetlana EL34s.

yep, sounds like your spare set (or certainly one of them) is bad right out of the box - it does happen.