Preamp tube section on head - how long for warmup?

[echo008]

Hello
My head has a single tube for the preamp section. I recently replaced the stock tube with a PSVanes 12ax7 gold tip. The pins came bent from the place I purchased from, I straightened them enough to make the tube “fit” in my head socket. All was fine for a bit. I turned power off after I was done.
When I go back to play again I have no sound. Waited about a 30-60 seconds and still not a peep out of it.
I went back to stock tube and no issues, sound came on very quickly.

Do different tubes take more than a minute to warm up? Am I just being to hasty should I have waited longer?
Any insight is appreciated
Thanks

 

[mikeswals]

Sound like your new preamp tube has an issue. Shouldn't take more than 10-or so seconds for a preamp tube element to warm up.

FYI, that's not a "tube amp". Tube amp would mean the power section; those require a couple minutes of proper warm-up for those big bottles.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Just a preamp tube shouldn't take long to warm up, and even then you should be getting some signal (perhaps not good at first) within a couple seconds. I woulda returned the damaged tube for a new one, but not sure if that's an option now.

Not to sound rude, but one preamp tube isn't going to break the bank. I'd just grab another one and look it over thoroughly before installing it.

 

[beans-on-toast]

The misaligned tube pins need to be straightened with a tool that won’t scratch them and damage the plating. You may have an intermittent tube pin to socket contact.

For a preamp tube, a 30 second warmup should be sufficient.

 

[agedhorse]

15-20 seconds is all that's needed.

Bent pins can damage tube sockets, I see this a lot.

Was there a problem with the old tube? If not, this is why I recommend leaving well enough alone.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Turn on amp, pick up bass, it is ready to go in that time.

The Psvane is broken.

 

[echo008]

Thanks everyone, truly appreciate the comments.

 

[echo008]

Just a preamp tube shouldn't take long to warm up, and even then you should be getting some signal (perhaps not good at first) within a couple seconds. I woulda returned the damaged tube for a new one, but not sure if that's an option now.

Not to sound rude, but one preamp tube isn't going to break the bank. I'd just grab another one and look it over thoroughly before installing it.

I sent email initially when I got the tube explaining ing the pins were bent. The person answering just said to straighten them. I’m past that point of return I suppose. Though that is not a cheap tube and I’m a bit bummed. Onward…

 

[echo008]

15-20 seconds is all that's needed.

Bent pins can damage tube sockets, I see this a lot.

Was there a problem with the old tube? If not, this is why I recommend leaving well enough alone.

No problem at all just my mania of wanting to try something else. The old tube is back and so far so good

 

[echo008]

The misaligned tube pins need to be straightened with a tool that won’t scratch them and damage the plating. You may have an intermittent tube pin to socket contact.

For a preamp tube, a 30 second warmup should be sufficient.

This may be what is happening. I’m not using messing with it any further though.

 

[echo008]

Sound like your new preamp tube has an issue. Shouldn't take more than 10-or so seconds for a preamp tube element to warm up.

FYI, that's not a "tube amp". Tube amp would mean the power section; those require a couple minutes of proper warm-up for those big bottles.

Gotcha. Thanks, I fixed title

 

[themickster]

I sent email initially when I got the tube explaining ing the pins were bent. The person answering just said to straighten them. I’m past that point of return I suppose. Though that is not a cheap tube and I’m a bit bummed. Onward…

He told you to straighten them. It's down to him, not you. You have the email as proof.

 

[echo008]

He told you to straighten them. It's down to him, not you. You have the email as proof.

Maybe I’ll give it a try. It has been awhile I didn’t use the tube right away.

 

[agedhorse]

I had a fair number of issues with Psvane tubes that I evaluated as an option, most were great electrically but mechanically there were consistency issues.

 

[echo008]

I had a fair number of issues with Psvane tubes that I evaluated as an option, most were great electrically but mechanically there were consistency issues.

I was enjoying it. More alive in the highs without being thin…a bit smoother.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hello
My head has a single tube for the preamp section. I recently replaced the stock tube with a PSVanes 12ax7 gold tip. The pins came bent from the place I purchased from, I straightened them enough to make the tube “fit” in my head socket. All was fine for a bit. I turned power off after I was done.
When I go back to play again I have no sound. Waited about a 30-60 seconds and still not a peep out of it.
I went back to stock tube and no issues, sound came on very quickly.

Do different tubes take more than a minute to warm up? Am I just being to hasty should I have waited longer?
Any insight is appreciated
Thanks

If you don't mind me asking, why are you changing the original pre-amp tube? I've had pre-amp tubes lasted decades.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Hello
My head has a single tube for the preamp section. I recently replaced the stock tube with a PSVanes 12ax7 gold tip. The pins came bent from the place I purchased from, I straightened them enough to make the tube “fit” in my head socket. All was fine for a bit. I turned power off after I was done.
When I go back to play again I have no sound. Waited about a 30-60 seconds and still not a peep out of it.
I went back to stock tube and no issues, sound came on very quickly.

Do different tubes take more than a minute to warm up? Am I just being to hasty should I have waited longer?
Any insight is appreciated
Thanks

No. You bought a cheap Chinese tube, and it showed up broken. Then, you put it in your amp and turned it on.

 

[echo008]

If you don't mind me asking, why are you changing the original pre-amp tube? I've had pre-amp tubes lasted decades.

Really was just wanting to see what it would do to the tone overall, and it did brighten it up without getting thin, it sounded good.

 

[echo008]

No. You bought a cheap Chinese tube, and it showed up broken. Then, you put it in your amp and turned it on.

The reality of it I suppose. I should have pushed the matter when I initially
Contacted the company that sold it to me. I didn’t.

 

[Pocket Dave]

Could be a damaged tube socket, could be the act of bending the pins caused the tube to slowly lose vacuum (doubtful) or could be a simple failed tube, which is most likely.

In my experience, preamp tubes have a slightly higher OOB failure and early failure rate than power tubes.

Though some current-production tubes can be pretty robust once they've passed initial burn-in times.

With guitar amps - I don't used bass amps with tubes - I just don't have the patience for early/OOB failure any more; I've gone to buying only relatively lower-price, current-production tubes, and only from suppliers who test and burn them in before they become my problem. From them, I've had exceptionally good luck with JJ ECC83s spiral-filament 12AX7's.