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Post by guitarlightning on Nov 11, 2005 14:44:20 GMT -7
Just wanting to know your experiences with the el-84 tube life. Someone told me to expect around 400 hours of life for the g.t. tubes in my maz jr. Is this true?? I have not owned it long enough to burn through a set, but if 400 is the lucky number then I am right on it and expect the tubes to fail at any moment.
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Post by myles on Nov 14, 2005 8:49:53 GMT -7
I notice a change after about 300 hours in the amps I support on tour in most amps. The Mazerati and RxES are actually a bit easier on tubes with their split bias than a MAZ 38. A Vox AC-30 or Matchless can be harder on tubes and this is where my 300 figure came from originally.
It is not matter of failing .... this can happen at any point and the tubes generally will "work" much longer in many cases. it is just they will not sound nearly as good.
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Post by guitarlightning on Nov 14, 2005 14:22:24 GMT -7
Thanks Myles sounds like it is time since the amp sounds great right now ( not that it ever sounded bad) but it does have a different quality about it, Then when it was new.
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Post by myles on Nov 15, 2005 10:16:50 GMT -7
Get those output tubes changed and listen to what happens.
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Post by guitarlightning on Nov 15, 2005 13:42:07 GMT -7
just finished placing the order with G.T. thanks for the help!!!
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Post by myles on Nov 17, 2005 13:57:43 GMT -7
just finished placing the order with G.T. thanks for the help!!! If you order in the future say something in the comment section of the order (which you may have) and then I sort of pick out stuff that I trace and have specific likes for many Z amps. GT normally charges $10 per tube when I do this but for folks here I will do it on my own time.
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Post by guitarlightning on Nov 17, 2005 21:26:16 GMT -7
I did by your comment, exactly as you instructed me to. you may have already picked them out for me as I placed the order on tuesday. thanks for the advice and help..... mrsax
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Post by myles on Nov 18, 2005 12:06:33 GMT -7
I did by your comment, exactly as you instructed me to. you may have already picked them out for me as I placed the order on tuesday. thanks for the advice and help..... mrsax The folks in the front brought me a few orders earlier this week with comments of "show this to Myles" and I hand traced a few duets and quads of 5's and 6's. Maybe yours was one of them. If you were order 15915 you WERE one of the sets I traced.
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Post by guitarlightning on Nov 18, 2005 14:53:23 GMT -7
yes it was thank you again Myles....
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Post by myles on Nov 21, 2005 11:17:03 GMT -7
yes it was thank you again Myles.... You are more than welcome.
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Post by guitarlightning on Nov 23, 2005 12:16:30 GMT -7
hey myles any thoughts on the burn in period...
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Post by myles on Nov 23, 2005 12:33:30 GMT -7
I just pop new tubes in and just start playing.
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Post by guitarlightning on Nov 28, 2005 21:02:49 GMT -7
HUGE difference I thought stock was good but your tubes are sooooo much better. thanks again.
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Post by myles on Nov 29, 2005 8:48:44 GMT -7
Fresh tubes that are matched make a nice upgrade in a manner of speaking.
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Mogens
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by Mogens on Dec 5, 2005 9:40:24 GMT -7
In another topic (Maz38 - too much midrange-tone) I asked, why my Maz 38 SR seems to be almost boosting the mid-range (making some kind of doooo - sound if you understand?), when playing on the deep E and A strings, like the good old Stones and Berry stuff. In some ways I find the amp has changed tone. I have adjusted along the way, guitar pick-ups on the deep side down, turned bass and middle down, but it does help enough. One guy told me, that was because of my Marshall Tall Vintage cabinet with greenbacks, but I have used that cab since january 2005. My question would be: could my EL84 tubes be loosing there touch - should I change them? I guess playing time is around 300 hours, maybe more??
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Post by guitarlightning on Dec 5, 2005 12:33:33 GMT -7
I'll chime in first go ahead and make the investment and change those tubes you wont regret it. second email myles and ask him what to do. J
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Post by myles on Dec 6, 2005 13:30:58 GMT -7
In another topic (Maz38 - too much midrange-tone) I asked, why my Maz 38 SR seems to be almost boosting the mid-range (making some kind of doooo - sound if you understand?), when playing on the deep E and A strings, like the good old Stones and Berry stuff. In some ways I find the amp has changed tone. I have adjusted along the way, guitar pick-ups on the deep side down, turned bass and middle down, but it does help enough. One guy told me, that was because of my Marshall Tall Vintage cabinet with greenbacks, but I have used that cab since january 2005. My question would be: could my EL84 tubes be loosing there touch - should I change them? I guess playing time is around 300 hours, maybe more?? If your tubes are more than 300 hours old or so with I'd change them. Also change the phase inverter every output tube change or every other change.
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Post by myles on Dec 6, 2005 13:32:32 GMT -7
I'll chime in first go ahead and make the investment and change those tubes you wont regret it. second email myles and ask him what to do. J Thanks for the compliment. For the folks in this forum I will sort of "cherry pick" to the specs I prefer tubes for any Z amp at no charge. If folks are in So Cal and want to drop by on a weekend or weeknight I will also be happy to test people's tubes for them at no charge.
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Dec 16, 2005 21:40:59 GMT -7
I'm bumping this post cause the topic is appropriate and I didn't want to start a new thread.
Hey Myles, Hope you got my email giving you thanks and praise for all the time you spent with me on the phone on Thursday (12/14). Yeah, it did't turn out to be a tube issue.. despite me running out and buying new ones anyway. Hey, more revenue for GT :-)
Anyway, I trouble shot the issue down to a bad cable in the effects chain. It had a ton of issues, all scratcy and staticy... I swapped it out and all is well. Now I have a bunch of new spare EL84's, 12AX7's and a rectifier! I guess I'm all set for the next gig!
I don't know why I have these darn pedals. Dr.Z is right... just plug the guitar right into the amp and play.. More things to go wrong between the guitar and amp. Having me as the guitar player between the guitar and amp is bad enough!
Thanks again for your time. Paul G.
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Post by myles on Dec 20, 2005 10:24:45 GMT -7
I'm bumping this post cause the topic is appropriate and I didn't want to start a new thread. Hey Myles, Hope you got my email giving you thanks and praise for all the time you spent with me on the phone on Thursday (12/14). Yeah, it did't turn out to be a tube issue.. despite me running out and buying new ones anyway. Hey, more revenue for GT :-) Anyway, I trouble shot the issue down to a bad cable in the effects chain. It had a ton of issues, all scratcy and staticy... I swapped it out and all is well. Now I have a bunch of new spare EL84's, 12AX7's and a rectifier! I guess I'm all set for the next gig! I don't know why I have these darn pedals. Dr.Z is right... just plug the guitar right into the amp and play.. More things to go wrong between the guitar and amp. Having me as the guitar player between the guitar and amp is bad enough! Thanks again for your time. Paul G. Paul, Before trouble shooting any amp unplug everything and use nothing at all in the amp to start other than the speaker. Look for noise or whatever. The plug in the guitar with no effects or pedals. In any case, hang onto the EL84s... you can never have enough spares and I replace these in most EL84 amps in any event every 300 hours or so. Happy playing and yes .... I also prefer nothing between the guitar and amp but if it is this guy ( www.carlverheyen.com ) then a player there is a good thing
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Dec 22, 2005 10:14:01 GMT -7
Paul G. - Glad you got it figured out! Pedals? You don't need no stinking pedals! ;D
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Post by joekondziella on Dec 24, 2005 14:01:07 GMT -7
Myles, Thanks so much for the special treatment of my tube order 72174. My Maz18 really opened up with the new el84's and the matched pi. Used on the gig last night and even though it's a ;ow volume gig, my amp was more articulate in the full range of frequencies.
The absolute very best to you and yours in this holiday season and thankyou again.
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Post by myles on Dec 26, 2005 10:12:39 GMT -7
Myles, Thanks so much for the special treatment of my tube order 72174. My Maz18 really opened up with the new el84's and the matched pi. Used on the gig last night and even though it's a ;ow volume gig, my amp was more articulate in the full range of frequencies. The absolute very best to you and yours in this holiday season and thankyou again. You are quite welcome and I am glad your gig went well. Have a great New Years.
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Post by ajlove on Nov 25, 2006 17:25:05 GMT -7
I appreciate Myles' 300 hours estimate. Does that apply for NOS tubes, as well? I've always had the understanding that NOS tubes last longer than New Production tubes...
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