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Post by GuitarZ on Sept 8, 2021 11:37:08 GMT -7
Today I decided to finally pop in new PI & Rectifier tubes into the old Maz Jr after putting in new power tubes last month. - Lesson 1: When you pull the old tube out, make sure you place it somewhere where you'll know it's the old tube in case you get distracted.
I had to grab a flashlight to see the notch for the Rectifier. My wife started talking to me. I then realized I now had the old and new tubes sitting only inches apart. I'm pretty sure I put in the new tube. - Lesson 2: If you're not listening to the amp/speaker directly and maybe listening via a load box and PC, if sound cuts off abruptly, check to make sure your PC didn't go to sleep rather than assuming a new tube crapped out or the amp's fuse blew.
The amp sounded like it had it's old vibrant character back through my Ox, and then I heard a quick static noise and then nothing. I was about to swap the old tubes back to see what went wrong. Luckily as I reached for my amp, I realized my PC went to sleep.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Sept 8, 2021 13:09:35 GMT -7
Welcome to my world.
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on Sept 9, 2021 3:11:22 GMT -7
So easy to make a mistake when changing tubes. The first thing I do is turn the amp upside down. This way you can actually see what you’re doing. On Dr. Z amps, the preamp tube sockets all line up. You can see this upside down. You can also see the “key” for the rectifier tube. IMPORTANT! Change the tubes one at a time! As always YMMV. Good luck.
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Post by simpleton on Sept 10, 2021 0:05:31 GMT -7
Is the lesson “When women start talking everything goes to heck” ?
Jk ….. 😉
I thought rectifier tubes were a work or not work tube….do they need replaced before the actually cut out?
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Post by Don A on Sept 10, 2021 10:43:49 GMT -7
I thought rectifier tubes were a work or not work tube….do they need replaced before the actually cut out?
Rectifier tubes can be used until they fail. Changing a modern rectifier for an NOS rectifier has benefits, though- the old ones tend to last longer and the new ones are seldom created to the same specs as the old ones and the voltage drop can be different.
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Post by simpleton on Sept 10, 2021 11:16:25 GMT -7
I thought rectifier tubes were a work or not work tube….do they need replaced before the actually cut out?
Rectifier tubes can be used until they fail. Changing a modern rectifier for an NOS rectifier has benefits, though- the old ones tend to last longer and the new ones are seldom created to the same specs as the old ones and the voltage drop can be different.
Great info….thank you.
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Post by runninwiththerevil (Matthew) on Sept 14, 2021 19:00:00 GMT -7
I was going to try and say something smart like Don, but 1) he did it first and 2) I learned it from some guy on YouTube who claims he's a Dr.
If we are offering confessions and lessons learned from experience I would add always checking the cables going into and out of the pedal board. I've spent a lot of time checking patch cables and pedal power supplies and adjusting knobs, even removing pedals from the chain. All to try and figure out why my amp had no signal. At least one time it was the board to amp and the others the guitar to board. Hoping twice is enough on that one.
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Post by GuitarZ on Sept 15, 2021 9:24:12 GMT -7
Rectifier tubes can be used until they fail. Changing a modern rectifier for an NOS rectifier has benefits, though- the old ones tend to last longer and the new ones are seldom created to the same specs as the old ones and the voltage drop can be different.
That is good info. Based on reading here on Z-Talk and listening to Doc's Z-Tube, I knew it was time for the PI tube. And while I wanted to swap the tubes 1x1 to see if I could hear a difference, I figured I'd pop the new Rectifier in there because the old one was probably 10+ years or so. Here is something that I started doing a while back which might be a good tip to share. I inventoried all of my Z amp tubes, numbered each tube box, and then placed it all in a spreadsheet. (Yes. I did a lot of spreadsheet work in my old job. ) It definitely keeps me organized. I can see what I need, don't need, when things were purchased, and when they went into or out of the amp. It's not perfect as I can see I have Tubes #12 and #13 listed as original which is impossible. And, the Rectifier Tube that I just pulled is #44. So, if I want a spare that I know works, #44 might be it.
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Post by loucardguitar (Johnathan) on Sept 16, 2021 20:03:54 GMT -7
Rectifier tubes can be used until they fail. Changing a modern rectifier for an NOS rectifier has benefits, though- the old ones tend to last longer and the new ones are seldom created to the same specs as the old ones and the voltage drop can be different.
That is good info. Based on reading here on Z-Talk and listening to Doc's Z-Tube, I knew it was time for the PI tube. And while I wanted to swap the tubes 1x1 to see if I could hear a difference, I figured I'd pop the new Rectifier in there because the old one was probably 10+ years or so. Here is something that I started doing a while back which might be a good tip to share. I inventoried all of my Z amp tubes, numbered each tube box, and then placed it all in a spreadsheet. (Yes. I did a lot of spreadsheet work in my old job. ) It definitely keeps me organized. I can see what I need, don't need, when things were purchased, and when they went into or out of the amp. It's not perfect as I can see I have Tubes #12 and #13 listed as original which is impossible. And, the Rectifier Tube that I just pulled is #44. So, if I want a spare that I know works, #44 might be it. Impressive spreadsheet! With the NOS tubes I have accumulated over time, I might need to set up something similar! Ha!
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