so i ordered my tubes, now....???[views:6659][posts:35]______________________________ [Sep 14,2006 11:16am - cav ""] where should i get them installed? or should i just learn to do it myself? |
| _____________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 11:41am - anonymous ""] what there to install. take the old ones out and put the new ones in. |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:01pm - brian_dc ""] anonymous said:what there to install. take the old ones out and put the new ones in. um....you have to rebias...which while apparently simple, is not just like putting in a lightbulb. Unless you have a Mesa Rectifier....which I know for a fact he doesn't....because he's in the same band as me. Cav, I'd say go to Daddy's since they seem to be the only place carrying Peavy's these days. |
| _______________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:03pm - the_reverend ""] how many math majors does it take to screw in a lightbulb? er wait, they arent lightbulbs. |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:09pm - brian_dc ""] something I found...granted just a music board post, but this should back up the idea of taking it someone. "Unless you are experienced with electronics and high voltages, this is something you should not do yourself or you might die. Take the amp to a tech to have it done. Biasing is making sure the correct voltage is applied to the power tubes (preamp tubes don't require biasing). Different tubes have different bias points. Unless you are replacing tubes with the same tubes from a supplier who measures their tubes for consistency (like Groove Tubes), you need to rebias every time you put in new power tubes. An underbiased amp will sound thin and weak. An overbiased amp will sound muddy. If too much voltage is applied to the plates, the tubes will burn out (and quite possibly take parts of the amp with them). On most modern amps, theres a potentiometer somewhere in the circuit that regulates the bias voltage. Depending on the method used (in the amp geek world there's a lot of controversy surrounding the best way to bias an amp), the amp is hooked up to an oscilliscope and signal generator or a multimeter and the pot is turned until the desired bias point is reached. Some amps (Mesa/Boogies, a lot of Fenders) don't have a bias adjustment pot. They have a resistor that must be replaced with one of a different value. If you are good with electronics and have worked with high voltage, this is something you can do yourself as long as you are VERY, VERY CAREFUL. There are numerous resources on the net that describe the various methods. I prefer the transformer shunt method." |
| _______________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:10pm - Likety_Split ""] Sorry. I do have a mesa rectifier. What if he just got the same exact tubes that are in his amp now? would he still need biasing? |
| _______________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:12pm - blue ""] Likety_Split said:Sorry. I do have a mesa rectifier. What if he just got the same exact tubes that are in his amp now? would he still need biasing? yes. unless they are mesa tubes, they are not going to have the same draw. cav, go have someone retube/bias it. |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:12pm - brian_dc ""] If he did that I think he would be all set. But he went with JJ 6L6's...and now I'm jealous. |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:12pm - brian_dc ""] oh, word. |
| _______________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:13pm - blue ""] good choice. |
| _______________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:13pm - Likety_Split ""] they got reasonably priced tubes on mesa's website. |
| _______________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:14pm - blue ""] yes reasonably priced, but quality? |
| _______________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:17pm - Likety_Split ""] ive had my rectifier for 6 years, replacing the tubes every year or so with no problems. check it out. http://mesa.stores.yahoo.net/mesboogtub.html |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:23pm - niccolai ""] Normally, I don't help with retubing questions unless the person got JJ bottles. Anyone who buys groove tubes or sovtek deserves to pop their brand new bottles. What's the make and model of the amp? what tubes do you currently have in the power and pre amp sections? If you're willing to drive to me, I would be willing to retube it for free as long as it's not a euro amp. |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 12:24pm - niccolai ""] Likety_Split said:ive had my rectifier for 6 years, replacing the tubes every year or so with no problems. check it out. http://mesa.stores.yahoo.net/mesboogtub.html Mesa tubes = groovetubes with a new logo. |
| ____________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 1:11pm - anonymous ""] i dont think thats correct but ok. |
| __________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 1:13pm - niccolai ""] Alright, alright, mesa tubes aren't quite as bad. |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 2:22pm - blue nli ""] anonymous said:i dont think thats correct but ok. yeah, theyre usually relabled russian tubes. |
| ___________________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 2:50pm - likety_split_nli ""] what's wrong with russian tubes? |
| __________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 3:19pm - powerkok ""] Theyre Communist's, duh. |
| __________________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 3:32pm - ct b0rderpatrol ""] if you think re-biasing an audio amp is a pain in the ass, try tuning up an RF transmitter/amp thats tube based. its a real pain in the ass |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 4:35pm - blue nli ""] likety_split_nli said:what's wrong with russian tubes? waaaaaaaay too raspy in the mid range for me. cheaply made, too. |
| _______________________________ [Sep 14,2006 4:37pm - Hoser ""] I hate the new Mesa tubes. I play a Triple Rec and the old Svet 454's were awesome tubes, but they dont make the fucking things anymore. It's all chinese made garbage now. |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 4:41pm - blue nli ""] thats why i go for JJs. thick and clear. |
| __________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 4:50pm - niccolai ""] Hoser said:I hate the new Mesa tubes. I play a Triple Rec and the old Svet 454's were awesome tubes, but they dont make the fucking things anymore. It's all chinese made garbage now. China > Russia |
| __________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 4:52pm - niccolai ""] blue nli said:thats why i go for JJs. thick and clear. +800 around the 40s, the USSR made some of the best vacuum bottles in existance (better than most today). Now any russian bottles are usually not even made in russia and are crap. |
| __________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 5:04pm - powerkok ""] So then what tubes are 'the best' for a Mesa SimulClass 2:95? 12ax7's and 6l6's |
| _______________________________ [Sep 14,2006 5:22pm - Troll ""] this brings me to a joke. How many fags does it take to screw in a light bulb? Give up? Two. One to hold the light bulb while the other fag sits on it. I know I know, I got to work on my delivery. Good joke though, right? :duffbeer: |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 6:26pm - blue nli ""] powerkok said:So then what tubes are 'the best' for a Mesa SimulClass 2:95? 12ax7's and 6l6's well, its more or less opinion based. a lot of people i talk to usually prefer JJs for their power amp tubes (as do i), but i always get different preferences for pre amps. a lot of people dig the tung sol 12ax7s. |
| _____________________________ [Sep 14,2006 6:37pm - cav ""] any idea how much it costs to get it done? |
| _____________________________ [Sep 14,2006 6:40pm - cav ""] oh yea, im putting them in my triple x |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 6:49pm - allahthat ""] i saw the tubes in the 70s. |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 7:31pm - blue nli ""] cav said:any idea how much it costs to get it done? to just do a rebias, it shouldnt be more than like 40 bucks. although, there is a possiblity that your xxx has a bias knob in there, near the tubes. take a look in there, because if there is a knob, youll be golden. my 5150 II has a bias knob (as do some newer peaveys) that allows you to bias your tubes to a certain degree. it might not bias the tubes to their optimal performance, but itll definetly do the job and save you some cash. |
| __________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 9:57pm - niccolai ""] XXXs are actually known for their ease of biasing. if you end up taking it to a shop, there's no harm in asking if you can watch them do it because you want to see what it involves. |
| ___________________________________ [Sep 14,2006 10:00pm - niccolai ""] the XXX does have a bias switch, but, it's not a replacement for having a tech install your bottles, as they will run a diagnostic on your amp first to determine optimal bottle performance and if your amp has any electrical imbalances. with biasing switch, typically the hotter you bias, the more crunch and volume you get, but the shorter the tube life. The colder you bias, less gain but longer life. also, Don't touch the new tubes with your hands. your hands have oils on them that if they get on the bottles, they can draw current to the outside of the tube and so all sorts of bad things. |
| ______________________________ [Sep 14,2006 11:31pm - cav ""] cool. thanks doods! |