|
Post by gheston on Apr 8, 2008 18:52:06 GMT -7
After almost 2 years - just changed the EL84s quad set in my son's Stingray, which sits atop a new Z-Best.
200% improvement.
I had been told that the bias circuitry/system would cause a fast and obvious/audible fall-off of tone, so no rush to swap out before we could hear it.
Road apples.
The new tubes rock! Don't wait until your tires are bald, and change your output tubes annually, at least.
|
|
|
Post by amakitalo on Apr 8, 2008 20:17:58 GMT -7
Same experience here. Bought Curt's Stangray a few weeks ago, thought it sounded great, just maybe a tad harsh with humbuckers. Got new tubes from Bob at Eurotubes today. What a difference! It's like a new amp.
|
|
|
Post by brad737 on Apr 8, 2008 20:43:26 GMT -7
Which tubes are you guys talking about? Preamp tubes, power tubes, rectifiers? Clearly the Eurotubes are JJ's, but do you have specific recommendations?
Thanks, Brad
|
|
|
Post by telejas on Apr 8, 2008 22:37:11 GMT -7
That would be Power tubes if I had to guess. usually preamp tubes last quite a while (excluding the EF86, which doesn't last too long). Some preamp tubes will last you a life time.... Most Rectifier tubes should be replaced about every 4 - 6 power tube changes (I though I read that somewhere?)..... Please correct me if I'm wrong on the rectifier tube thingy?
Power tubes start wearing down the minute you turn your amp on and it's a very slow de-grade in tone that you really don't notice it until you change tubes and go "WOW"!! You will start noticing things like, lack of all the volume you're used to, the top end sounds shrill, the bottom end get flabby, earlier breakup.... but it's not real obivious until it gets pretty bad.
|
|
|
Post by gheston on Apr 9, 2008 0:26:23 GMT -7
Just talking about power tubes only.
The "Red" EL84s in a quad pack.
I have a pair of the same for Carmen's Carmen, for when the time comes. Just put a new pair in our Pro Junior with similar effect, and had the same experience with a 2x12 Hot Rod DeVille - long since traded in on Dr. Z.
|
|
|
Post by funknbluezer on Apr 9, 2008 11:37:10 GMT -7
Does the Stang Ray require bias readjustment after a power tube change?
|
|
|
Post by amakitalo on Apr 9, 2008 12:38:10 GMT -7
No.
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Apr 10, 2008 18:24:50 GMT -7
That would be Power tubes if I had to guess. usually preamp tubes last quite a while (excluding the EF86, which doesn't last too long). Some preamp tubes will last you a life time.... Most Rectifier tubes should be replaced about every 4 - 6 power tube changes (I though I read that somewhere?)..... Please correct me if I'm wrong on the rectifier tube thingy? Myles was saying that the NOS '86s can last a long time-- they'll just get microphonic and eventually be useless from that, though they will otherwise be fine. NOS is the way to go for PREAMP and recto tubes. For output tubes, NOS isn't so important IMO only.
|
|