marksound Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 My year and a half old HRD has started making crackling/staticy noises. It started after our last gig when I couldn't seem to get any treble out of it. Treble/Mid cranked, Bass at zero and just barely acceptable. I figured it was the room. Last night the treble was better, but not nearly as bright as it used to be. Also, it doesn't seem to be as loud as it used to be. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marossy Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 Preamp tube and/or the power tubes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted September 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 I was thinking power tubes. Any way for the electronically-challenged to be sure before dropping some change? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marossy Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 If they are the original power tubes, it's time to change them out. The telltale sign is when "it doesn't sound as loud as it used to." If you lnow someone with a tube tester, you could see what kind of shape they are in. I'm about 90% sure on this one. The other 10% could be a problem in the amp, but that was more common in the first production runs of some of the Fender amps like the Hot Rod DeVille, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted September 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 Ok, the Fender GT6L6B comes in matched pairs, by color. Mine don't seem to have a color on them, but the owner's manual lists part# XXXXX-02 (white). Musician's Friend has blue and red, but no white until sometime next week. 1) Can I substitute a different color pair as long as they're matched without having to rebias? 2) What's the difference in them anyway? In other tubes GT lists the pairs by "hardness." Is this the same thing, only different? If so, how do I know which end of the spectrum is which? I have gigs booked all month and I really need to get this amp back up to snuff PDQ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marossy Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 Can I substitute a different color pair as long as they're matched without having to rebias? You should be able to. The amp's tone will change some - maybe to your liking, maybe not. What's the difference in them anyway? In other tubes GT lists the pairs by "hardness." Is this the same thing, only different? If so, how do I know which end of the spectrum is which? It appears to be a similar system to the Groove Tubes system. Not sure about the Fender color scheme, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovekraft Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 If you have the amp re-biased when you replace those tubes, the color codes won't make any difference - any decent matched set of tubes can be biased to sound pretty good, regardless of their "color". Just my $.02. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marossy Posted September 4, 2005 Report Share Posted September 4, 2005 If you have the amp re-biased when you replace those tubes, the color codes won't make any difference - any decent matched set of tubes can be biased to sound pretty good, regardless of their "color". Just my $.02. ← Yeah, I didn't mention that because it sounded like he didn't want to mess with the biasing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted September 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2005 I don't want to mess with biasing right now. I don't know how to do that myself (may be time to learn), and time and money are tight. I just need to get through this month. All my equipment is at the other guitar player's house where we rehearse. Yesterday I had him pull the tubes and reseat them. He said it was good for a few, then started again. He reseated the tubes again, and the same thing. After a couple times, it stopped making noise. Maybe there's a bit of corrosion in the connection? Anyway, to be safe I ordered the Fender GT6L6B blue duet from MF (I have a MF credit card, so no immediate out-of-pocket). They didn't have the red or white in stock, so we'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marossy Posted September 4, 2005 Report Share Posted September 4, 2005 I don't want to mess with biasing right now. I don't know how to do that myself (may be time to learn), and time and money are tight. I just need to get through this month. All my equipment is at the other guitar player's house where we rehearse. Yesterday I had him pull the tubes and reseat them. He said it was good for a few, then started again. He reseated the tubes again, and the same thing. After a couple times, it stopped making noise. Maybe there's a bit of corrosion in the connection? Anyway, to be safe I ordered the Fender GT6L6B blue duet from MF (I have a MF credit card, so no immediate out-of-pocket). They didn't have the red or white in stock, so we'll see. ← Actually, on the new Fenders, biasing is a snap. All you have to do is get the schematic for your amp and adjust the trimpot while measuring the current across one specific resistor. I can bias my Hot Rod DeVille in about 5 minutes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ansil Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 somethign to be mentioned here. I dont' know any pro player [my clients in nashville] who would use the fender replacement tubes just my .02 but i have seen too many of these tubes [they are in my catalog too] that just have been plain ol bad. if you tkae the amp to be serviced ask what they use personally and not just what they recomened. guess that makes my .04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marossy Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 somethign to be mentioned here. I dont' know any pro player [my clients in nashville] who would use the fender replacement tubes just my .02 but i have seen too many of these tubes [they are in my catalog too] that just have been plain ol bad. if you tkae the amp to be serviced ask what they use personally and not just what they recomened. guess that makes my .04 ← That's because they are Sovtek tubes, and in my experience, it sure seems like one in four are bad/faulty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ansil Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 haaaaaaaaaaa yeah i tell ya what paul dont' order the "chinese"tubes from ce dist. man oh man oh man. are they cheap [nothing against china] but they are labeled in the catalog just as chinese tubes and they SUUUUUCKK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted September 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 Here's an update fer ya ... I ordered those tubes from MF the Saturday before Labor Day and they were at my door Tueday afternoon. Had to wait til Thursday rehearsal before I could install them. Got to rehearsal, pulled the old tubes. When I started working a new one into the socket, it popped in my hand. Blew the end right out. So, in went the old tubes and on with rehearsal. Crackle, crackle, crackle. Called MF early the next morning (Friday), explained what happened. The guy said no problem, he'd send out another set. Offered a prepaid FedEx label for the return trip. Unfortunately, Saturday night was a first gig at a new place. It should have been called Murphy's, because not only did my amp make noise and threaten to quit a couple times, the PA (a barely 3 year old Carvin unit) kept shutting down, the bass player's new Peavey preamp made all kinds of weird sounds and my voice wasn't for crap because of a sinus infection just starting up. On the bright side, the beer was cold, the crowd was good, and the club owner threw in a bonus and invited us back. Anyway, the new tubes arrived yesterday. I installed them without a hitch, fired the thing up, and it sounds at least as good as new. Moral of the story: It's a long way to Tiperary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marossy Posted September 14, 2005 Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 It popped right in your hand, as in breaking?! Wow. That really scares me about the quality of these tubes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted September 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 Yeah, a circle the size of a quarter broke out of the end. I don't think I was putting any undue pressure on that spot, but it scared the batcrap out of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marossy Posted September 14, 2005 Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 (edited) Man, after hearing these things, I am never going to handle a power tube that is in operation with my bare hands ever again! Unbelievable. Edited September 14, 2005 by Paul Marossy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ansil Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 so what tubes did you order from MF.. i agree paul i have a heavy duty rubber Glove that i used. [sint' it nice to get free stuff from the electric power board] the glove i have the power board used to take out meters live .. although usually no shock is present since its glass if it cracks you get full house power. hoorahhhhhhh.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted September 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 I got the "blue" GT6L6 set, which translates to the 1-3 "hardness" on the GT scale (white is 4-6, red is 7-10 -- something like that). The new tubes went right in without a hitch and I've played 2 gigs with them now. There's no noticeable difference in sound (but my head's been plugged up for a week and a half now), the noise is gone and the volume's back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marossy Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 Yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovekraft Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 Just for reference, hot-swapping power tubes is never a good idea! I'm glad that everything worked out OK, but even disregarding the danger of electrocution, I shudder at all the other very bad things that could result! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenderSurrender Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 I know i havent posted, but ive been following this therad n jsut thought id say im glad you got it all sorted marksound And im with the others here... your story of the tube going in your hand has really put me of handling those things with just my hands... ~~ Slain Angel ~~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted September 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 Just to be clear, I replaced the tubes with the power off and the amp unplugged. I may be an Okie, but I ain't stupid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovekraft Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 (edited) ...I may be an Okie, but I ain't stupid. Hey, don't feel bad - I'm from Alabama! Actually, that comment was aimed more at Ansil's "rubber gloves" post and Paul's "...I am never going to handle a power tube that is in operation with my bare hands ever again! " than at you, and there was certainly no offense intended towards anyone. I just didn't want anyone else finding out the hard way just how expensive Silvadene® ointment and replacement transformers can be. My apologies if I came off sounding like a know-it-all. Edited September 21, 2005 by lovekraft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted September 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 Nope, I was just clarifying for the same reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.