Tube question

[Genius Gone Insane]

I'm playing out of a 5150. I got it in 96 I think. At the risk of sounding like a sophomoric fool, how often do you guys change tubes and what tubes sound best? My amp sounds good, but still I'd like it to sound a little more pissed off if possible.

 

[evildonkeymaster]

Go see Bob at www.eurotubes.com The man is a 5150 re-tube GOD! I was abput to give up on my 5150 (original head) because it was so hossy and buzzy and I hated the clean channel blah blah I am sure you have experinced this too. But I could not find an amp in my price range that I liked better so I posted in a forum like you asking the same question and eurotubes was recommened. I ordered a full re-tube kit talked with Bob via email about my personal tastes and I must say there is a dramtic change in the 5150 I have for the better. It is my fave amp head of all time now. Just look at his customer review page and ready his peavey page about why the 5150 needs to be retubed.
later

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

As far as I know 5150's are fixed bias... so actually changing them is piss easy.

Just get a matched pair of 6l6's and put em in the right sockets nice and tight.

Bear in mind that all brands of tubes are different so getting Bob in the above post to do it might be helpful in choosing the right set for the job.

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

Thanks for the input. What the hell is the difference? Do the tubes affect the distortion more or the tone more? I feel like such a virgin asking these questions. I am totally clueless.

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

Different valves are made out of different components and the wiring can vary etc... so even different sets of the same brand from the same factory can be different.

6l6's are El34's for example are basically the same type of tube... but 6l6s have a more tight "modern" gain breakup than El34's which are more rough and give that British "Marshall law" tone.

The preamp tubes make a difference as well, they're the smaller ones whereas the poweramp tubes which are the 6l6's or El34's are the larger poweramp tubes.

Distortion is part of the overall tone at the end of the day so it effects both, as outlined above and in other ways.

Some brands to check out:

Groove Tubes
Svetlana
Sovtek
Mullard (considered the holy grail by some)

reading up on these will give you an idea of how they vary and whatnot.

Oh and BTW, if you plan to change them yourself be very fucking careful... the kind of voltage that flows around the inside of the chassis can kill you easily... if you aren't good with electronics leave it to a pro!

Hope all this is helping...

Sam

 

[SickBoy]

Some brands to check out:

Groove Tubes
Svetlana
Sovtek
Mullard (considered the holy grail by some)

I'd add JJ/Tesla to the list as well, very nice tubes.

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

Keep them brands coming, the more you can check out the more you can learn about brand variation and such.

 

[Andy Sneap]

Yeah I actually electrocuted myself once doing this, christ did that hurt, it's when we were still 240v over here(I took the extra 10v!!), felt it go in one arm and out the other. Once I'd detached myself from the far wall it took me a good few hrs to feel right so be careful. Any commie tube, Svetlana or Sovtek = pretty rockin. There are fake Svetlanas knockin around at the moment in the UK but you'll be fine from any reputable valve dealer.

 

[Andy Sneap]

I forgot to mention its because I didn't unplug it haha duh!

 

[Frank'nfurter]

Carefull man!! Unpluging isn't enough. After unpluging also you have to wait. That's because the power supply condensers can store much dc energy during half an hour. A electric shock with dc can be verry harmfull. There are dc voltages up to 500Volts!!!!

 

[Andy Sneap]

cool, bit like licking a battery then!

 

[Frank'nfurter]

Ok, try it!!

 

[Andy Sneap]

will do

 

[Frank'nfurter]

If you wake up in a hospital tell me your 'near dead' experince. LOL

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

I forgot to mention its because I didn't unplug it haha duh!

It went down one arm and out the other? Shite, lucky you don't have a pacemaker or you'd be a goner!

Actually, what you should really do is turn off the plug but leave it plugged into the socket for half an hour... so the residual current can run off... then unplug it... earth the chassis to make doubly sure... preferably not with your own body then finally have a work on it.

I've always done this since i started playing around with old marshalls and i've never shocked myself... so I like to think it works haha

 

[Frank'nfurter]

You never get shocked by a tube amp? Oh oh.......according to 'murphys law' you will get somtimes....sooner or later......LOL

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

What's James gotto do with it?

 

[egan.]

Actually, what you should really do is turn off the plug but leave it plugged into the socket for half an hour... so the residual current can run off... then unplug it... earth the chassis to make doubly sure... preferably not with your own body then finally have a work on it.

Even better than unplugging it would be to keep it plugged into a surge protector switched off. This way the ground is intact and the actual power is turned off.

 

[Frank'nfurter]

Not our James.
Look @ this:

http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-true.html

 

[Kenny Lee]

Yeah I actually electrocuted myself once doing this, christ did that hurt, it's when we were still 240v over here(I took the extra 10v!!), felt it go in one arm and out the other. Once I'd detached myself from the far wall it took me a good few hrs to feel right so be careful. Any commie tube, Svetlana or Sovtek = pretty rockin. There are fake Svetlanas knockin around at the moment in the UK but you'll be fine from any reputable valve dealer.

he...he...he...I had the same thing happen, only with a T.V. and it was unplugged!
The volts don't kill you...the amperages' do!