New to Valves/Tubes need help!!

[seamonkey]

On the subject of replacement tubes...

What I learned in the process of buying tube amps and a Hickok Tube Tester over the last couple of years...there are very few people on forums that I would either ask or accept advice about which 'different' tube to buy. Advice is cheap, but so many of us repeat what we've heard without intimate knowlege of a subject, eh? This is a complex subject.

An excellent tube source is Doug's Tubes, and upon hearing what equipment you've got, and perhaps a bit about your goals with the amp, he can offer
suggestion(s) for a replacement tube.

That is the best tube advice I've seen here.
Buy a tube tester. And test them yourself.

People think their tubes don't wear out because they still make sound. If they tested them they might find they're not up to spec. But then again, maybe you don't like tubes in spec, maybe you like them with a certain curve that you see on a tube tester.

I'd be curious of playing a matched set for 3 months and testing them again. See how well they stay matched. then measure again after 6 months. Old tube books seem to indicate tubes tend to wear at different rates.

But get a tech to work on the amp internals. Dangerous voltages. Even if you don't die you don't want burnt fingers.

 

[Korladis]

Probably a good thing to have. What's a good tube tester for an average, non-techie musician? That Hickok one?

 

[AwkwardLoudness]

well it may surprise you all to know that it has all of its original GEC's in with that lovely made in england stamp. It also has its original partridge transformers. Im not gigging at the moment so i only bought the one electro harmonix replacement. i havent had a tech look at it yet cos im low on cash, however i have pulled a wiring diagram off the net, and upon first inspection I have discovered that the middle control for the EQ is'nt even connected.
I will post pics if someone tells me how haha

You could sell the working GECs and then probably have money for new tubes and a visit to the tech. The preamp circuit may have been re-wired or modified if the mid control is not connected.

 

[fishman35]

It's never a bad idea to have a tech go over an old tube amp before you start using it regularly.

+1. Find your self a good tube tech and stick with them, IF you plan to stay with the vintage tube stuff.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

It's funny. Another regular on here balked when I said I change my tubes about once a year. As if they dont wear out that fast. Well I do run my Mesa 400 very hard, but I also notice that after a year they are already not as bold sounding. In hindsight maybe a re-biasing would get them in line, but there are so many tubes to try! It's not like I throw the old ones away! Heck I am sure they would be just dandy for a guitarist.
Again =C= SED are very good. I also can not believe how different (better) JJ Tesla 12ax7a/ECC83 preamp tubes sound than everything else out there. I wonce spent a whole weeekend tube rolling with my epi valve jr and my Summit 2ba221. In both boxes that tube was positively 3d. All the others were just there. Well the RCA 12ax7a was pure velvet and the raytheon was very solid.
But, every circuit is different. What sounds like butter in my amp may be way too mid forward in yours.

 

[JimmyM]

It's funny. Another regular on here balked when I said I change my tubes about once a year. As if they dont wear out that fast. Well I do run my Mesa 400 very hard, but I also notice that after a year they are already not as bold sounding. In hindsight maybe a re-biasing would get them in line, but there are so many tubes to try! It's not like I throw the old ones away! Heck I am sure they would be just dandy for a guitarist.

if you run your amp really hard, you will need to change them more often. but like you said, sometimes a rebiasing is all they need to bring the rock back. and tubes can last years and years and not be degraded in the least. if you're really gunning it, you'll need to change more often, but there are so many people on here who change them whether they need it or not and that's a waste.