Question about tube amp maintainance

[kev]

hi guys, qucik question for you all! Im just wondering how much money has to be pumped into re-tubing something like a 5150 or mesa in terms of both the tubes and re-biasing or whatever?

I dont really know much about this subject and would like to know a little more. Im not even sure what biasing actually is, its just a term ive heard that has to be done when putting in new tubes. I guess if it was simply swapping tubes over in a plug and play manner there would be no problems for me to do a re-tube. Im guessing there is more to chew than that though!

Kev

 

[Fragle]

5150s and mesas both are fixed bias, so technically you don't have to pay for rebiasing
a full tube set (5 preamp and 4 poweramp tubes) should be around 100 euro shipped. biasing should be around 20 euro MAX. if you know how to do it it's a matter of minutes really.

 

[SickBoy]

hi guys, qucik question for you all! Im just wondering how much money has to be pumped into re-tubing something like a 5150 or mesa in terms of both the tubes and re-biasing or whatever?

Check at www.eurotubes.com

 

[kev]

So whats biasing? And you say i'll never have to get a 5150 or mesa biased? How about marshalls???

Cheers!

 

[TheRiverFlowsFrozen]

Check at www.eurotubes.com

+1

Bob is a great guy and will answer any questions you have. I bought the full retube kit high gain option for my 5150 and it made a huge difference in my tone compared to my old tubes. If you get the high gain option, make sure to note that Bob marks the box (not the tube itself) for the balanced ECC83S for the phase inverter in V5.
I failed to notice this and just popped the tubes in without checking the box. I had to rotate the tubes around until I noticed a difference in tone.

 

[TheRiverFlowsFrozen]

So whats biasing? And you say i'll never have to get a 5150 or mesa biased? How about marshalls???

Cheers!

The 5150 is fixed bias, meaning that you can't adjust the bias settings. Some amps can be adjusted. If you want to do some research on converting your 5150 to adjustable bias, go to http://www.fjamods.com/

 

[Razorjack]

For the UK you want to talk to watford valves (google it for a link), they're great and have a gain testing system to ensure top performance from all their tubes.

 

[kev]

The 5150 is fixed bias, meaning that you can't adjust the bias settings. Some amps can be adjusted. If you want to do some research on converting your 5150 to adjustable bias, go to http://www.fjamods.com/

No i really dont lol. I just want the amp to work if i slot new tubes in oneday dude xd

aha, cheers for link!

 

[Wolfeman]

In your case just buy a matched set of tubes and throw em in.... 5 min job. Just remember different brands have a different sound, so get ones that you'll be happy with....

 

[kev]

For the UK you want to talk to watford valves (google it for a link), they're great and have a gain testing system to ensure top performance from all their tubes.

Great site! Not only do they stock valves, they do speakers too! Hoorah!

In your case just buy a matched set of tubes and throw em in.... 5 min job. Just remember different brands have a different sound, so get ones that you'll be happy with....

Thats what i needed to know Cheers dude!