Stupid question, how do you know when tubes go bad?

Kendall915 · Post by **Kendall915** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 7:09 pm

Our lead plays a vintage carvin with El84's/12Ax7A and when he plays for about 2 minutes on moderate volume, an ear peircing whine gradually builds out of it, until its gotta be shut of, is it a tube gone bad?

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 7:14 pm

Ewww.... totally gross.

I change my tubes when i feel that my amp is losing its "mojo" and isn't really pumping out the goodness that it did when it had fresh tubes in it. Since mine is always at 10, i usually replace the power tubes every 6-8 months.

Kendall915 · Post by **Kendall915** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 7:31 pm

Country Boy Shane wrote:Ewww.... totally gross. I change my tubes when i feel that my amp is losing its "mojo" and isn't really pumping out the goodness that it did when it had fresh tubes in it. Since mine is always at 10, i usually replace the power tubes every 6-8 months.

Your amp doesn't go to 11?

Now that you mention how often you change your tubes, i've noticed an overall "sucky" quality to our leads performance, tone, and clairty. I don't think he's changed the tubes, ever, but he is kind of technologically stupid.

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:10 pm

When is the last time he changed those tubes? I have no idea how those Carvin's are biased, but that would be some helpful info. I've heard of some Mesa Boogie tubes lasting over 3 years. But look at it like this. Some amp companies like Mesa Boogie bias super cold which allows for that longevity, however the tone on most of their amps is super fizzy, lifeless, and lacking soul all together. Carvin may do the same thing. Ha ha ha! Even if it isn't the tubes, at least you'll have the advantage of having some fresh JJ's in it!

Kendall915 · Post by **Kendall915** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:30 pm

Country Boy Shane wrote:When is the last time he changed those tubes? I have no idea how those Carvin's are biased, but that would be some helpful info. I've heard of some Mesa Boogie tubes lasting over 3 years. But look at it like this. Some amp companies like Mesa Boogie bias super cold which allows for that longevity, however the tone on most of their amps is super fizzy, lifeless, and lacking soul all together. Carvin may do the same thing. Ha ha ha! Even if it isn't the tubes, at least you'll have the advantage of having some fresh JJ's in it!

He's NEVER changed the tubes, he's not all that sharp. Its not Mesa cold, but its definately not warm.

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:55 pm

Cough.... nough said.

flemingmras · Post by **flemingmras** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:56 pm

Yeah, even if you aren't running your heads on "11" like I do(BTW JF and I are the only dudes on this board that have Marshalls that go to 11. JF received one of my ST panels from George by accident), ALWAYS change your tubes every 6 months to 1 year. Just because they're working and the amp is making sound doesn't mean the tubes are good. CBS is dead on on how to tell when to replace tubes. When the amp just doesn't seem to deliver no matter what you do.

However, I have yet to get more than 2 months out of my power tubes since I slam the shit out of my amp with my EMGs.

Jon

Kendall915 · Post by **Kendall915** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:58 pm

flemingmras wrote:Yeah, even if you aren't running your heads on "11" like I do(BTW JF and I are the only dudes on this board that have Marshalls that go to 11. JF received one of my ST panels from George by accident), ALWAYS change your tubes every 6 months to 1 year. Just because they're working and the amp is making sound doesn't mean the tubes are good. CBS is dead on on how to tell when to replace tubes. When the amp just doesn't seem to deliver no matter what you do.

However, I have yet to get more than 2 months out of my power tubes since I slam the shit out of my amp with my EMGs.

Jon

He changed the tubes for our gig this weekend, his amp sounded a ton better, but as a whole we sounded bad (it was our first time gigging together, singer wasn't on the same page)... but it was a hell of a time