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Post by rcrecelius on Apr 15, 2006 11:40:25 GMT -7
While playing my Z28 at home the other day, I looked at the back of the amp and noticed that the Rectifier tube was really bright and I could see little particles of something in the bottom of the tube...I hit a few notes and could see these particles vibrating in the bottom of the tube...looks kinda like sand or dust. What is this in the bottom of my tube? Should I be concerned about this? BTW...this is an NOS Mullard I bought from KCA last year.
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Post by mikekca on Apr 18, 2006 6:09:23 GMT -7
Interesting, I've never noticed anything like this. Ocassionally, you'll get some glass chips/dust inside tubes. As long as they're non conductive (ie, not metal) it shouldn't be a problem.
How does the amp sound?
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Post by rcrecelius on Apr 18, 2006 8:43:32 GMT -7
The amp sounds fine...probably the only reason I ever looked is because I had just swapped speakers and was making sure I had the connections right. I'll try to take a picture of it and see if it turns out
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Post by prowler on Apr 21, 2006 3:19:33 GMT -7
Never seen that in any of my amps. Weird. If it were me I'd replace the tube just to be safe.
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Post by nitehawk55 on Jul 1, 2006 20:40:35 GMT -7
I've noticed some of the NOS Sylvania GZ34's have MICA flake off the internals but it does not cause a problem because it is non conductive so I wouldn't let it worry you . It's possable this happens on other makes as well I'll have to have a closer look at some Mullards I have . Best to ask KCA about it and see what he says .
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Post by myles on Jul 3, 2006 9:38:46 GMT -7
This is common and not an issue unless the flakes are so big that they rattle and that is a bother.
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Jul 9, 2006 17:39:40 GMT -7
Myles, you are the man! :-) pg
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Post by rcrecelius on Jul 10, 2006 7:18:29 GMT -7
Hadnt checked this thread in a while...thanks for the input...its good to know I can still use that tube because since starting this thread I had taken it out.
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Post by myles on Jul 10, 2006 9:26:42 GMT -7
What you generally see is some of the mica material that has flaked off. Once too much of this is gone there is no support for the plates etc. But .... if the tube or rectifier has not become physically microphonic that all is fine and dandy. Look at some old Fender tweed era amps with the original rectifiers and old output tubes. There is a lot of trash in the lower side (the top of the tubes in these amps) that has collected.
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Post by guitarman1 on Jul 14, 2006 11:14:38 GMT -7
I always thought it was the magic dust they sprinkled on NOS tubes.
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Post by myles on Jul 14, 2006 16:21:23 GMT -7
I always thought it was the magic dust they sprinkled on NOS tubes. Actually ... you may be onto something! I do not find this trait in new manufacture tubes! The mica is different these days and it's probably a lot cheaper or environment friendly or something and does not have an expansion contraction rate as close to that of the other components and the glass bottle so that is one reason we see today's tube go physically microphonic faster and more easily. This is one of the great aspects of this forum ... we all learn things from each other and you little statement made me think ... come to think of it .... I do not see this in new 6L6's in a tweed deluxe or the rectifier yet see it all the time on old tubes that still work great and test fine and dandy very often. Thanks for the education! Really!
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Post by dock66 on Jul 14, 2006 20:01:37 GMT -7
This is a great forum.We all learn from each other.I must confess that I have learned so much from this forum since I jioned.Everyone here are so helpfull and eager to share their experience and experties .Myles,your website is a wealth of info. and I thank you for sharing . Keep up the good work that you do for us here.
dock66
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Post by myles on Jul 16, 2006 9:19:55 GMT -7
This is a great forum.We all learn from each other.I must confess that I have learned so much from this forum since I jioned.Everyone here are so helpfull and eager to share their experience and experties .Myles,your website is a wealth of info. and I thank you for sharing . Keep up the good work that you do for us here. dock66 Thanks for the thanks. I learn a lot on this forum from the other members. Sometimes viewpoints, settings, ideas, or questions are rasied that send me down a new path which is great. It is darn easy to get set in one viewpoint or perspective. Heck ... my boss is that sort of personality ... sort of his way or no other way in many instances. I suppose that is one of the reasons that I love younger musicians. I learned from listening to the typical Beatles, Hendrix, Beach Boys, and blues greats. I listened to the fifities big backing bands and picked out their guitar parts. I had almost two full decades of cool stuff to listen to when I started playing guitar for the most part. The younger folks today have what I had and MUCH more. They put their own twists and ideas on the older generations material but then also have the cool influence of the punk era, grunge era, and the stuff of today. There is always a lot to learn and there are always great differing viewpoints and there is a great mix of ideas and talent in this forum. 10 years ago if somebody would have ever told me I would be listening to country music I would have laughed. I was a sixties rock and blues guy. Period. Now I listen to the great country players, teenage rockers, great vocalists and crafters of great songs, and heck ... I have even been forced into jazz composition for film scoring. Yup .... keep an open mind and remember that there are a lot of people in all age groups from all music styles that have a heck of a lot to offer. So ... thanks to all of the folks here!
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Post by dock66 on Jul 17, 2006 11:03:56 GMT -7
Myles,you have good point of veiw.
dock66
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