mikek
Full Member
Posts: 144
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Post by mikek on Sept 15, 2006 8:40:23 GMT -7
Hey guys, I was hoping someone might be able to share some info. Anything will be greatly appreciated.
Last night I was playing through my RxES, and things were great. I decided to switch to my 4x12, and powered her down. After turning it back on and letting it warm up, when I switched the standby control I had nothing - no output. I looked at the tubes, and visually they seemed fine. I tried my usual 2x12, and still no output. After some experimenting, I found the 1/2w fuse had blown. I replaced it, and all was well....until I turned the amp off (to switch to the 4x12). When I turned it back on, again things seemed fine. However, when I switched off standby the JJ GZ34 momentarily became SUPER bright blue (almost like an LED) and the 1/2w fuse blew again. I went back to the 2x12, replaced the fuse and blew another. 3 fuses in total. I swapped the JJ GZ34 to the stock Sovtek 5AR4/GZ34 and things were fine. I did all the same things that made the fuse blow, but this time didn't have any problems. I went to my Mullard GZ34, and still things were well. By the way, turning the RxES up to about 12:00 or 1:00, Overdose on, in the Lo imput with a humbucker-equipped guitar through a 4x12 is a pretty insane tone! Just for the sake of being thorough - I know I had the cabs matched to the right impedance tap on the RxES. Also, I always switch to standby for at least half a minute before I completely power down the amplifier. When turning it on, I let things warm up for about a minute before I switch off standby. So what do you think...is my RxES sick, or does it sound like a bad rectifier tube?
Again, I really appreciate any insight you can share.
Thanks.
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Post by mikep47 on Sept 15, 2006 11:06:38 GMT -7
You may want to also post this ni Myles portion of the forum as he is a tubes wizard.
Mike...................
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Post by Danny on Sept 15, 2006 13:32:52 GMT -7
RxES users,
I've been having precisely the same fuse blowing problem with my RxES head (although I haven't been changing cabs, so I can rule that out).
I wrote to Dr Z directly and he told me just this morning that, as I had described it to him, it could only be one of two things: flaky EL-84s or flaky Recto tube. I haven't yet had the chance to look into which might be the culprit.
I'd be interested to know how many other RxES users have been having this problem and what you have done about it ... and what we all can do to prevent it happening with such regularity. I had my Maz 38 for 3 years and never blew a fuse.
So please weigh in on this issue with your experiences and suggestions.
Thanks,
DF
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Post by Curt on Sept 15, 2006 20:11:14 GMT -7
Guy's, those amps are too much for ya'll to worry about. Simply pack them and send them to me.
MikeK, sounds like you've proven the JJ rec is bad.
Ferg.-- EL84's and rec tubes are cheap, buy replacements and do the same tests as Mike, toss the proven bad tube(s) and stash the others for spares.
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mikek
Full Member
Posts: 144
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Post by mikek on Sept 18, 2006 4:56:46 GMT -7
Thanks for the responses guys. I've also called Grant @ Mass Street, and he's contacting Z for me. I'll post what I find out. Tele62 - Yeah, it does seem like a bad rectifier tube...but we'll see. I'd help you on your quest for an RxES if I could . I think you'd be impressed with one, its an incredible amp and my favorite of the Z's I've tried. As a matter of fact, the RxES is one of my favorite amps ever. Ferg - I'm curious, were you running JJ GZ34s? I ask because that was the type that was giving me grief. The stock Sovtek and my Mullard seem to be running like champs. Good luck with your RxES!
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Post by Danny on Sept 18, 2006 6:24:06 GMT -7
mikek,
Good morning. I still have the original stock Sovtek in the Rectifier slot. My schedule hasn't allowed me to get everything checked out yet, so, like you, I'll have to report back on what I find.
Cheers,
DF
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mikek
Full Member
Posts: 144
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Post by mikek on Sept 22, 2006 9:36:46 GMT -7
Thought I'd post an update.
With the help of the guys at Mass Street and Dr. Z, the problem has been pinpointed to a faulty rectifier tube.
Thanks for the help, guys.
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Post by dock66 on Sept 22, 2006 10:22:27 GMT -7
My rect. tube had gone out on me before ,new one in no problem since.
dock66
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jesse
New Member
Posts: 34
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Post by jesse on Sept 27, 2006 11:29:31 GMT -7
Had the same problem a few weeks ago (1/2 watt fuse blew). BUT, I don't think the recto tube was actually bad, as I'm still using it. Strange... I'm considering switching to a Weber copper cap for reliability reasons. I had heard somewhere that the current supply of 5AR4s is kinda crappy (scientific, eh?) Can anyone comment on this? Has anyone used a Weber GZ34/5AR4 in their RX/ES? Notable tone differences, or just better reliability? I'm going to try one myself, but thought I'd also ask for A/B comparisons from others. Jesse Kates * www.sexyaccident.com
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Post by rockstok on Dec 11, 2006 20:25:23 GMT -7
I just posted the same problem on a different thread, 1/2 amp fuse blowing repeatedly. I'll try a new recto tube. It has happened twice in two days and both times when the amp was off and being powered up. Neither time was the amp in use that is , while I was playing.
Do those of you who are tube experts recommend a certain power up or down sequence as mikek described above?
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Post by rockstok on Dec 12, 2006 7:29:01 GMT -7
I pulled the Recto tube and there's no visable problem. I'd hate to wait a week or two for shipment (during Xmas no less) and find out there's a different problem. Any other ideas?
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Post by Curt on Dec 12, 2006 17:35:53 GMT -7
Bill I'd order a new quad of power tubes and a new rec tube, a gigging player should have them on hand anyway. EL84's don't have the life of those old 6l6's in the Fenders...
Better yet , when Bolling ain't lookin' jerk the tubes outa his 'Ray !! LOL
Curt
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Post by rockstok on Dec 12, 2006 19:10:49 GMT -7
LOL! You must have Peach's Green Ghia, head to my Blond (formerly Greenie) Too Funny! I'd bet ya Bill would pull 'em out of his if I needed them. Just the kind of guy he is. You're right though, I have never replaced a tube in decades of owning Fenders. You don't even think about it after a while. So, what kind of tubes are you using in your RxES, and why?
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Post by Curt on Dec 12, 2006 20:02:17 GMT -7
It has JJ's and sounds killer, they came in it and I have little time on them. Yep..I wish I'd a kept that Green cab now !!! Who'd a known I would own the head a year later.........
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Post by drew on Dec 13, 2006 0:38:07 GMT -7
Hey Fellow RXES Dudes, not to mention we all have owned some piece of Chad's gear! ;D I'm so impressed with my RXES. It is too much power for my playing situations. I'm using an airbrake on 4 and it's still a bit loud. I do plug into the hi input and have the overdose on with the volume at '4'. Man that's killer tone and touch response. Even with the guitar volume down all the spank is there. I max my strats volume and it's like an overdose orgasm... stand back she's gonna blow! Unfortunately it's too loud for some. I think the world is too old if I'm too loud!!! I'm thinking about GT EL84 #3. Any thoughts or experience with the lower rated GT EL84s? I'm already using a single 1x12 closed back speaker w/low sensitivity. Thanks, Drew
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Post by rockstok on Dec 18, 2006 7:48:51 GMT -7
For anyone having volume problems try an open back cab with a Weber Blue Dog. It'll give you all kinds of satisfaction but is so much less harsh on the ears. I play this place a couple times per month and it's tiny, the stage is right in front of some tables and the crowd is a little older (leading edge boomers). I have never gotten a "turn down" (you know that face) with the Weber. Just easier on the ears.
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Post by drew on Dec 18, 2006 11:11:24 GMT -7
For anyone having volume problems try an open back cab with a Weber Blue Dog. It'll give you all kinds of satisfaction but is so much less harsh on the ears. I play this place a couple times per month and it's tiny, the stage is right in front of some tables and the crowd is a little older (leading edge boomers). I have never gotten a "turn down" (you know that face) with the Weber. Just easier on the ears. LOL, yes I know that face. Bill, which blue dog do you use? The ceramic or alnico and was it the 30 or 50 watter. I'm thinking of going down that same path. I'd be a bit concerned about the 30 watter with the RXES but I do attenuate the beegeezus (airbrake on 4) out of mine so it would probably be safe.
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Post by Tom the Guitar Guy on Dec 18, 2006 16:57:45 GMT -7
Drew,
Sorry to chime in, but I have a Ceramic Blue dog 50 watt in my RxEs and it sounds great. I have it paired with a greenback right now, but a Silver Bell is going into it as soon as Ted and crew get one to me.
Hope this helps.
tomtheguitarguy
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Post by Curt on Dec 18, 2006 17:04:07 GMT -7
Drew, I have both Blue Dogs in 30 watt versions and they both sound so good I could not choose. The RXES smokes with every speaker I have tried, about 7 or so.
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Post by drew on Dec 19, 2006 22:53:45 GMT -7
Thanks TomTGG & Curt. Good input guys. Tom you'll have to let us know how the silver bell sounds. Curt you are right, any speaker I run with the RXES sounds great. I'm currently using my old V30, which I've not been too fond of in other amps, and it sounds great in my closed back 1x12 cab. I'll have to try out a blue dog in an open back soon. Curt are ya interested in selling off one of your blue dogs? Woof!
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Post by rockstok on Dec 29, 2006 7:44:45 GMT -7
Drew, Sorry I'm so late getting back to you but my Weber Blue Dog is an Alnico 50. I use a V30 in my other cab for slightly louder and more rockin' situations and for the first time this week I used both in a stack Y jacked from the Stang Ray's 4 ohm out. Ooohhh yeah. I told the guys in the band "ah, it's nice to let it breathe and get all 30 watts out of her" (wink wink). Our sound guy had to pull me out of the mix because my stage volume was loud enough...That's not a goal but it's nice to know the headroom is there. Oh yeah, my Volume pot was never over 10 o'clock.
The Rx would be the perfect next step if in need of more headroom. It's thinner than the SR but with more volume, amps seem to need as much top boost as you can give them.
Getting back to the original thread. I'd bet the problem on the the Rectifier tube and I'd love to know what causes them to go bad so often. It seems to be a consistent theme around here.
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