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Post by ampedup on Jul 23, 2018 17:34:05 GMT -7
Hi all, My Z-lux is just about 2 years old. I started getting a cracking noise at my last gig that I first thought was my guitar cable but seemed to go away after 10-15 seconds of playing at volume, made it through the gig fine but it would do it it briefly at the start of each set, i.e. first song after coming off standby. I was messing with it this morning and even with nothing plugged in (except the vib/rev foot switch) it would start crackling with light whistling between the crackles. I’ve never changed the power tubes so I tried that with a matched quad and it “seemed” to work. I need to do more testing but I guess my question is, can I assume if the crackling doesn’t immediately return that I’ve resolved the issue or should I take it to a tech to be safe? Is this a fairly common tube failure symptom? I have a fairly important (to me) blues fest gig coming up and don’t want to be stressed out :-). I could use the back line I guess but I’d rather play the Z-Lux.
Thanks!
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Jul 23, 2018 18:09:52 GMT -7
Sounds like a power tube issue to me. Probably an intermittent short in one of the tubes. I’d say you’re likely good till the next time it needs new tubes.
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Jul 23, 2018 20:13:26 GMT -7
I had a similar sound in my Antidote. It happened at turn on, and then intermittently when switching off standby. I was concerned but did nothing and have run the amp weekly for the past two months at church. All seems fine. I am ignorant in the ways of electronics and tubes etc., but I chalked it up to condensation or gremlins in one of the tubes and they just burned up. I would carry on, but have backup, with which I almost always travel.
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Post by ampedup on Jul 25, 2018 22:52:43 GMT -7
Yep, seems to have cleared up after the tube change. Haven’t been able to play it at gig volume yet, but soon, thanks for the quick replies.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jul 26, 2018 6:45:33 GMT -7
Definitely have a set of back-up tubes - new tubes are a crap-shoot these days.
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Post by thatstatuemoved on Aug 6, 2018 14:42:03 GMT -7
If it were me and I had important gig on the horizon. I would do a complete tube change. Keep the old tubes that are good as backups and carry on. Myself, I never went two years on a set of tubes when I was gigging. I always changed tubes every year, it is good insurance IMO. Make sure you work the new tubes in and out of the sockets a few times. Then stick a piece of tape on the back of your amp with the date you changed your tubes and you have that info at a glance.
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Post by ampedup on Aug 9, 2018 16:53:34 GMT -7
If it were me and I had important gig on the horizon. I would do a complete tube change. Keep the old tubes that are good as backups and carry on. Myself, I never went two years on a set of tubes when I was gigging. I always changed tubes every year, it is good insurance IMO. Make sure you work the new tubes in and out of the sockets a few times. Then stick a piece of tape on the back of your amp with the date you changed your tubes and you have that info at a glance. Thanks thatstatuemoved, thats good advice.
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