So, fans of the ESP Musicord thread, how about tube dampers?

bongomania · #1 07-20-2011, 01:13 AM

There is a seller on Ebay selling silicone rings that fit snugly around vacuum tubes, with the premise that reducing physical vibration of the glass will somehow improve the tube's performance.

Naturally my first instinct is to laugh, but I thought--maybe I'm wrong? Maybe there's some value to minimizing tube vibration (aside from the obvious extreme case of breakage)? What say ye, my fellow skeptics?

GrowlerBox · #2 07-20-2011, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

There is a seller on Ebay selling silicone rings that fit snugly around vacuum tubes, with the premise that reducing physical vibration of the glass will somehow improve the tube's performance.

Naturally my first instinct is to laugh, but I thought--maybe I'm wrong? Maybe there's some value to minimizing tube vibration (aside from the obvious extreme case of breakage)? What say ye, my fellow skeptics?

Even assuming there's some value in it (which I don't), how would a simple silicon ring achieve it? Surely the tube is still attached to a heavy vibrating box?

billfitzmaurice · #3 07-20-2011, 06:21 AM

They may help with microphonic tubes, but a microphonic tube should be replaced anyway.

Epidrake · #4 07-20-2011, 06:29 AM

Audiophiles have been doing this for years. Vibration of tubes and components is something that audiophiles don't want. Obviously with turntables vibration travels up the cartridge and affects the sound. I don't know if it helps tubes but isolation and taming of vibrations certainly can't hurt.

thumpbass1 · #5 07-20-2011, 08:13 AM

Dampeners and similar tricks can help, up to a point. I make my own with Permatex high temp gasket silicone, and use them if I need them.

nashvillebill · #6 07-20-2011, 08:18 AM

Some guitar combos are especially prone to having their preamp tubes vibrate to the point that they rattle. This is a jingly noise heard when the amp is turned moderately low enough that you can hear it over the amp's sound. It doesn't carry through the signal chain, in other words, it's not coming out of the speaker. It's the tube guts vibrating, purely a mechanically-induced noise. Silicon rings or other dampers can alter the tube's (mechanical) resonant frequency and help this a little bit, I've had mixed success. (This is one reason Ampeg mounted their V4 with internal isolation mounts.)

Microphonic tubes are different, they are defective and they should be replaced as pointed out earlier. Tube dampeners cannot fix those.

There's certain spots where mechanical vibrations can be translated into electrical signals, like the turntable cartridge example, or say a microphone on a stand on a wooden stage. For the rest of the electronics, though, my personal belief is that vibration, or vibration -preventives don't affect the sound one bit. Vibrate a regular transistor or resistor or capacitor, it's performance doesn't change. Otherwise, car stereos would have a heckuva hard time functioning.

Special vibration putties, varnishes, and such gizmos for audiophiles however do work as intended...they separate the money from the gullible who will pay for such nonsense.

greenboy · #7 07-20-2011, 08:29 AM

I never liked the damper pedal on pianos. So I invented the dampener pedal. It's basically a really big squeeze bulb. It has a long stem that goes up into the piano body. It'll work with spinets, uprights, baby grands, grands. When stepped on it squirts water all over the strings. It's really good for those Pink Floyd "underwater piano" sounds.

I wonder if this would be adaptable to tube heads? Stay tuned on eBay.

cybersnyder · #8 07-20-2011, 08:40 AM

I know nothing about tubes. I was considering trying the vibration dampeners used for archery on speaker grilles.

Mr. Foxen · #9 07-20-2011, 08:42 AM

Pretty sure all tubes/valves are microphonic to an extent, but the tolerance is usually good enough that it doesn't show up in use, hence special designations are 'low microphonics' in theory for use where they might be subjected to more vigorous or sensitive stuff. Some are very microphonic and dead, but ones in the first gain stage of a high gain amp can ring when tapped, but are fine when moved further along, it is just a bit of flex in the components inside.

bongomania · #10 07-20-2011, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenboy

I wonder if this would be adaptable to tube heads? Stay tuned on eBay.

Add some dish soap and you'll get clean headroom for days!

**mikeddd** · #11 07-20-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Add some dish soap and you'll get clean headroom for days!

LOL! Nice one.

scotch · #12 07-20-2011, 09:05 AM

I could possibly see it slightly reducing microphonics (particularly in a tube combo), but as Bill already said- those tubes really should be replaced anyway.

Honestly,there would be more value to them if they made the outside circumference square, octagonal, etc... - that way my tubes wont roll around the bench-top when I'm working with them. Of course, a wadded up t-shirt works too,...

jnewmark · #13 07-20-2011, 09:07 AM

You could buy those Beach Boy tubes, you know, the ones with Good Vibrations ?

greenboy · #14 07-20-2011, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

Of course, a wadded up t-shirt works too,...

Rather than misusing a T-shirt, which I feel puts a damper on the whole thing, let's use t-shirts as they were intended - put a dampener on it:

{image chosen for TB prurient standards}

scotch · #15 07-20-2011, 09:16 AM

That IS a better idea altogether, Greenboy!

chadds · #16 07-20-2011, 09:28 AM

I soak my tubes in a solution of salt water and spin dry them with a tennis shoe. If they are microphonic after that I don't use them.

chadds · #17 07-20-2011, 09:40 AM

What are the spring loaded metal tubes that go over Fender pre tubes for? What is the purpose of those spring held shower cap looking things on power tubes of older Marshalls?
Does any of you actually have a tube stereo or know what to expect in the daily use of a hi-end Stereo with turntable?

With all respect.
I support exposing snake oil claims.

lug · #18 07-20-2011, 09:59 AM

Amateurs.

I connect up 5 blowers and use the to actually float my amplifier in mid air so that no unwanted vibrations can even get to it. If you really want pristine sound, you go the extra mile!

R. Laevinus · #19 07-20-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lug

Amateurs.

I connect up 5 blowers and use the to actually float my amplifier in mid air so that no unwanted vibrations can even get to it. If you really want pristine sound, you go the extra mile!

Pfft. You got NUTHIN' on me, man; I secretly financed the ISS for my amps. Also, remember Skylab? Yeah, it didn't actually deorbit. I bought it on the sly. I keep my Peavey up there and beam the signal down to my cab via Tesla Coil.

BassmanPaul · #20 07-20-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadds

What are the spring loaded metal tubes that go over Fender pre tubes for? What is the purpose of those spring held shower cap looking things on power tubes of older Marshalls?

They are screening cans and retainer for small nine pin tubes. The spring and hat thingies are for keeping the power tubes firmly in their sockets. Same idea as the clips used in Fender amps.