|
Post by chrismichael on Sept 2, 2014 15:38:16 GMT -7
Howdy everybody - I'm having an issue with my Maz 18 NR. Very soon after I plug in and start playing my Maz, I hear a click and all of a sudden I experience a loss in volume/low end. I know that this is not a pedal/cable issue as I have experimented with plugging directly into the amp with a few different cables. I do have a Brake Lite installed - it came installed...bought this amp from Humbucker Music back in 2012. Could it be the brake lite? I turned the brake lite all the way off and I still have the issue. Could it be the tubes? I've never replaced tubes before, but after searching online a little bit I tried tapping the tubes and didn't hear the sounds typical of a bad tube.
Just looking for some advice on what to try as far as troubleshooting. The amp still sounds "good" even with the loss of volume/low end, but I'm really missing that big full tone that I used to get.
Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by guttapercha on Sept 2, 2014 15:42:43 GMT -7
Sounds like you might have lost one of your power tubes. They don't always develop microphonics - sometimes they just go.
JD
|
|
|
Post by chrismichael on Sept 2, 2014 15:51:43 GMT -7
Sounds like you might have lost one of your power tubes. They don't always develop microphonics - sometimes they just go. JD I've looked around online a little more and apparently sometimes there can be a squelching feedback type sound with a bad power tube. A few weeks ago I was experiencing a screech every time I switched my Maz into standby mode, so I think you may be right.
|
|
|
Post by guttapercha on Sept 2, 2014 16:28:10 GMT -7
New tubes fix >50% of problems that you might encounter with these amps.
|
|
|
Post by chrismichael on Sept 2, 2014 16:54:54 GMT -7
So I flipped the amp around and tried seeing what I could figure out... It looks like one of the tubes has a bluish light to it when the amp is fully on and out of standby mode. I hear the blue light is bad...right? It's one of the tubes that has what looks like a reddish/copper colored tubing coiled around it...if that makes sense? Sorry, I'm a noob as far as tubes and amp tech is concerned. It's position is just about under the "4 ohm" input. It's hard to read the tubes...would that be a power tube or preamp tube?
|
|
|
Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Sept 2, 2014 17:04:55 GMT -7
Welcome to the Forum! A lot of good people and information here. Here is a link to tube info for Z amps - there should also be a tube chart inside the amp which tells you what tubes are in which locations. drzamps.com/tube_info.html. Good luck!
|
|
|
Post by chrismichael on Sept 2, 2014 17:34:34 GMT -7
Well it looks like it was one of the power tubes then...if I'm reading my tube diagram correctly! I just ordered a pair of EHX EL84s, so hopefully that takes care of it. Now I just have to not mess up changing these things!
|
|
|
Post by digs57 on Sept 3, 2014 19:37:11 GMT -7
Youll be ok...just line up pins carefully...its a good practice to have spares..went to tool supply place got box w/large and small drawers and spent some extra $ on spares and filled that sucker...too frustrating not to be up and running...
|
|
|
Post by guttapercha on Sept 4, 2014 9:15:43 GMT -7
Well it looks like it was one of the power tubes then...if I'm reading my tube diagram correctly! I just ordered a pair of EHX EL84s, so hopefully that takes care of it. Now I just have to not mess up changing these things! I use the EHX, which is what the amps come with standard now. Cheap, solid tube. I've had mixed (but mostly good) results with JJs. The EHXs are certainly louder than the JJs.
|
|