What are symptoms of tube failure in Benz Shuttle 6.0?

[Lee Barker]

I'm chasing a signal chain problem and one of the unknowns is the condition of the tube. I look forward to the value of your experience!

Kindly,

Lee

[jlepre]

There are a few different symptoms.

I would just call Genz. They have top notch support. They will troubleshoot over the phone.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by jlepre

There are a few different symptoms.

I would just call Genz. They have top notch support. They will troubleshoot over the phone.

+1

also pre amp tubes are fairly cheap and can easily be replaced with any technical knowledge.

[agedhorse]

Lee, what are the symptoms you are experiencing?

[jlepre]

I knew I forgot to ask something

[will33]

Originally Posted by agedhorse

Lee, what are the symptoms you are experiencing?

Here's your help, straight from the source.^^

Tube can make a few different sounds depending on how it's failing. No sound, very quiet sound, hit and miss sound, staticy crackly sound, microphonic (ringing).

Eliminate bad cables first. Patch through the effects loop jacks. Try plugging bass in effects return. Make sure tube is seated tight in it's socket. Change battery in active bass. Change tube.

If you're using any pedals, take them out of the chain and plug straight in the amp for troubleshooting.

[Lee Barker]

Originally Posted by agedhorse

Lee, what are the symptoms you are experiencing?

After an hour to an hour and a half of playing, the volume decreases slightly (and then appears to stay constant) and the tone becomes muddier--less clarity.

I have changed the battery in my active instrument. Cable is unlikely candidate for failure.

Jazz duo, wining and dining = quite low volumes in controlled environments.

Kindly,

Lee

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by Lee Barker

After an hour to an hour and a half of playing, the volume decreases slightly (and then appears to stay constant) and the tone becomes muddier--less clarity.

I have changed the battery in my active instrument. Cable is unlikely candidate for failure.

Jazz duo, wining and dining = quite low volumes in controlled environments.

Kindly,

Lee

What cab are you using for this low volume gig?

[jlepre]

Why not just cut to the chase, and call Genz. Is it still in warranty? If not they can still give you some sound advise as to how to rectify this problem.

Listen to Agedhorse as he is a very good source from Genz. He has helped MANY on this forum.

[will33]

Originally Posted by jlepre

Why not just cut to the chase, and call Genz. Is it still in warranty? If not they can still give you some sound advise as to how to rectify this problem.

Listen to Agedhorse as he is a very good source from Genz. He has helped MANY on this forum.

+1

Some of the best CS in the business.

Are you able to replicate your problem in different situations, volumes, etc. or is it specific to this gig/venue?.

[jlepre]

Originally Posted by will33

+1

Some of the best CS in the business.

Are you able to replicate your problem in different situations, volumes, etc. or is it specific to this gig/venue?.

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe bad/inconsistent power?

[agedhorse]

Originally Posted by Lee Barker

After an hour to an hour and a half of playing, the volume decreases slightly (and then appears to stay constant) and the tone becomes muddier--less clarity.

I have changed the battery in my active instrument. Cable is unlikely candidate for failure.

Jazz duo, wining and dining = quite low volumes in controlled environments.

Kindly,

Lee

With these symptoms, the first thing I would suspect is ear fatigue... more common than you might imagine.

It could be a tube problem as well, it's easy enough to check by swapping the tube.

[will33]

Originally Posted by jlepre

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe bad/inconsistent power?

Yeah that, or the ear fatigue Agedhorse mentioned. Don't if he's running few enough speakers hard enough for power compression to become an issue in a wine/dine gig, but it not happening until after an hour/hour and a half of play time could point to any one of those. A tube problem should present itself sooner I would think.

[Lee Barker]

Thanks for the helpful input. I did order a new tube.

This has occurred at the last two gigs (different venues) and at rehearsal. None of these places would have suspicious power. Now on the list, however, to think about.

I hadn't considered ear fatigue. With a duo, rehearsing at living room levels, we both noticed. I would put that lower on the list of possibilities...but, on the list.

Kindly,

Lee

[will33]

Originally Posted by Lee Barker

Thanks for the helpful input. I did order a new tube.

This has occurred at the last two gigs (different venues) and at rehearsal. None of these places would have suspicious power. Now on the list, however, to think about.

I hadn't considered ear fatigue. With a duo, rehearsing at living room levels, we both noticed. I would put that lower on the list of possibilities...but, on the list.

Kindly,

Lee

That is odd then, and gets outside of the usual failure modes and various other things "gone whacky" in the usual playing situations.