Ampeg classic tube question

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Frank the Hammer
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Ampeg classic tube question

Post by Frank the Hammer »

So I noticed on my Ampeg Classic, the 3 smaller tubes in the back don't all light up.

While looking in the back, the left and center tube glow. The tube on the right dosn't.

Anyone else see this in there amp?
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Bloodiah
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Post by Bloodiah »

When was the last time you replaced em?
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PnDsCm
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Post by PnDsCm »

If your pre tubes weren't working you wouldn't be using it. The glow is different with every brand of tube. Some are pretty bright, some ain't. I think the pre tubes in those are 12AT7s or maybe AUs... They're lower gain than the AXs in guitar amps and may just not light up like you expect.

Nonetheless, if it's been a while think about re-tubing. Although those amps are expensive bitches.
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Six6VI
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Post by Six6VI »

I've had the SVT Pro 4 since 2001 and I've never changed the preamp tubes in it. I haven't heard anything wrong with my sound so I figure why fix what isn't broke?
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Post by PnDsCm »

Yeah... Pres are usually fine until they die unless they start sounding soft, but the power tubes do start to lose punch with time. Unfortunately those amps have a LOT of them.. (the classics, not the 4s)
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Six6VI
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Post by Six6VI »

The Pro 4 has a solidstate power amp. Sure you miss out on a bit of that tube tone but being the poor musician I am I'll make the sacrifice for reliability. I don't even want to know what it costs to replace six 6550's at a crack.
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Frank the Hammer
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Post by Frank the Hammer »

Bloodiah wrote:When was the last time you replaced em?
Less than a year ago.

PnDsCm wrote:Yeah... Pres are usually fine until they die unless they start sounding soft,..

Soft is a good way to decribe it.
I used to have killer tone, but durring the last couple years it's not what it once was.

By myself, it soulds fine. Side by side with Drews full stack and Stumps drums I get lost. I never had that problem before.
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Bloodiah
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Post by Bloodiah »

Pre amp tubes are a dime a dozen man, replace 'em with some decent (not chinese) tubes n you'll be happier.
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soundguy
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Post by soundguy »

Age doesn't make much difference. There are new-old-stock tubes around that work as good as the day they were manufactured, and there are brand new tubes that die in a few days. It's all about whether the tube leaks. Once air gets inside, they're fucked. Electrons don't move in air.
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Post by Adremelech »

Six6VI wrote:The Pro 4 has a solidstate power amp. Sure you miss out on a bit of that tube tone but being the poor musician I am I'll make the sacrifice for reliability. I don't even want to know what it costs to replace six 6550's at a crack.
The solid state power amp is a good thing. You'd need a forklift to carry a Pro 4 with that much power if it weren't solid state. :-)
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PnDsCm
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Post by PnDsCm »

Some a 'dem chinese tubes rock Bloody! Depending on the batch and the date of manufacture... on of my favorite 12AX7s is an old OEM chinese tube that came as the #1 in Clay's Marshall DSL...

I agree their QC is crap, but they have a cool midrange bite if you can find good ones.

Take a peek here though, these guys are very cool and JJs generally kick ass. Ask Gaydrian...

http://www.eurotubes.com

Those Classics are easy to bias too... They expose the pot on the back and give you LEDs to set it. No probe needed although it might not hurt.
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Bloodiah
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Post by Bloodiah »

Truth be told, I've only really had issues with chinese 6550's and 6L6's, but I'll take a NOS GE any day of the week.
The only "investment" with a guaranteed high rate of return is EDUCATION. Go rent a cheap shack and get your asses back to college or trade school. Don't come out until you're not stupid anymore~ Pat the Wise!
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Bloodiah
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Post by Bloodiah »

OOOOOOhhhhhh, nice site, GREAT freakin prices, $216 for a matched sexted of KT-88's? Unheard of, hell, I can afford to get my ol 400PS back up n runnin.
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Oof
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Post by Oof »

I picked up a set of tubes last week for my guitar amp from them. Decent price and the shipping was hecka fast.
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PnDsCm
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Post by PnDsCm »

JJs are great sounding too... I've done a couple of 5150s with the bias mod and new JJs and they F'n rocked.
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