re-tube costs - m-pulse 360

HertzWhenIPlay · #1 01-21-2011, 01:23 PM

any idea about how much it cost to replace the tubes in a mesa m-pulse 360 with tubes and labor?

thanks in advance for the feedback.

danomite64 · #2 01-21-2011, 01:40 PM

Labor? For putting in 2 12AX7's? Tubes should cost about $12 each, and you should just put them in yourself. You wouldn't hire someone to replace your lightbulb, would you?

scotch · #3 01-21-2011, 01:46 PM

Preamp tubes are relatively inexpensive, require no biasing and are easily user-serviceable. Just make sure your amp is off & unplugged & take care not to touch anything inside the amp other than those glass tubes! There are capacitors in there that could hurt you even when unplugged.

If you on't feel confident opening up your amp without hurting yourself, take to a competent tech. New tubes + labor should be less than $50 unless you get ultra-premium tubes or vintage NOS.

Alex1984 · #4 01-21-2011, 01:57 PM

Yep, around $15 a pop for pre-amps tubes, and $0 for labour, since it's user-replaceable, and requires no biasing.

AwkwardLoudness · #5 01-21-2011, 02:59 PM

The cheapest new production 12ax7 tubes are in the $10 to $20 range depending on shipping and where they're bought from. Some dealers screen out the microphonic tubes better than others.

I prefer various vintage 12ax7 (or ECC83...same thing) tubes which range from roughly from $30 to $150 each, but my amps are very different from your Mesa. My favorite new production 12ax7 type pre-amp tube is the J/J ECC803S.

If you're a tone hound, then it may be worth the time and money to try various tubes and hear for which ones sound best for you style and amp.

georgestrings · #6 01-21-2011, 04:57 PM

I tried some new JJs in my Big Block 750 when I had it, and they didn't sound as good as the original Mesa tubes - which I *think* are rebranded Sovteks that are tested to tight tolerances... I traded that BB750 for a new M-pulse 600, and when it needs tubes, I'll probably just buy Mesa tubes again - they're not that much more money than any others, and they do sound good in Mesa's amps...

- georgestrings

RCCollins · #7 01-21-2011, 05:02 PM

with current production Tung-Sol 12AX7s at $15 apiece, I woudln't recommend spending anything more than that.

georgestrings · #8 01-21-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

with current production Tung-Sol 12AX7s at $15 apiece, I woudln't recommend spending anything more than that.

IIRC, Mesa's are $17 each, which isn't a huge difference...

- georgestrings

Caca de Kick · #9 01-22-2011, 01:56 AM

Why do you need to change your preamp tubes? It's not a "tube" amp like true tube amps. Those 12AX7's should last you well over 20+ years, unless you have a habbit of dropping your amp or banging it around hard.

Now if you're experimenting for tone difference, that's another subject....

fenderhutz · #10 01-22-2011, 04:25 AM

These here:

http://thetubestore.com/tesla12ax7.html

Made my Mpulse 600 sing. Very warm tube. If you can swap a stick of RAM in a pc, you can swap a preamp tube. Same principle. Remove metal jewelry (rings, watches, bracelets) Unplug it, pop the hood, don't touch ANYTHING other than the preamp tubes (pull straight up on tubes), and line up the prongs, insert. Repeat. Plug it in an make sure none of the new tubes have any noise issues.

As the others have said VERY important not touch anything else in there if you don't know what's up. If it were power tubes and you asked this same question I would say take it to a pro. Preamp tubes are cake.