Shuttle 9 - Preamp hiss...

[Andysalt01]

Still could have been a loose tube and just needed reseating. A good thing to have a spare anyway. Next time you're in there, try putting the original tube back in just in case it wasn't making good contact. The original tube may still be OK!

Oh yeah, that's a good call. I'd only opened it up once I had the new one. I'll probably recheck again this weekend then just to find out for sure.

 

[audiomitch]

These ultra light heads probably vibrate a lot more than the old heavy boat anchor heads. Some people are reporting the little GK ultralight combos dancing around when turned up. There's no tubes in them, but it's an example of the side effects of these tiny amps.

Tubes don't like too much vibration. A guitar player can get away with it without all the low end, but even then tube can go microphonic or just plain bad on them.

I'm thinking of putting some rubber under mine to minimize the vibrations.

 

[Andysalt01]

I put some rubber under mine, but I dont think it dampens the vibrations that much. I was thinking about trying a thin course of foam.

I'm also using an ultra light cab, which i think has a tendnacy to vibrate a little more than a 'standard' type as well.

Good point though, I hadnt thought about that.

 

[Oldtimer]

There is also an issue of some iffy tube sockets that manufactureres use. I am not talking about Genz Benz specifically. There have been runs of sockets that just don't hold the tubes very well. Sloppy tolerances of tube pins or sockets that need the metal spring contacts in the socket retensioned so it grabs the pins better. The tube retainer Genz uses is a good idea, but the tube can still make poor or intermittent contact with one of the pins if the spring contacts lose tension. Heat is generally the culprit that causes the contacts to loosen so Power Tubes typically have more issues. Also, people that change tubes a lot looking for tone nirvana may have more trouble with loose sockets.
There is a way to clean and retension the sockets, but it is Dangerous if you don't know what you are doing! Don't go poking around in any amp! You could kill yourself!
Anyway, this is why it's always a good idea to remove the tube and reseat it if you are having problems. Also, having spare tubes for any amp you own is a good idea.

 

[agedhorse]

As a note, part of our incoming parts QC is to verify proper pin contact tension. The socket that we use was designed with a very robust contact system that has given us no problems over a many year history. This, combined with the "industrial" style tube retainer should result in a "lifetime" tube socket.

Also, as some of you might have noticed, the tube socket can be replaced without soldering as it's located on a seperate plug-on module that also uses very heavy duty, high reliability contacts. I can change a tube socket in under 15 seconds!

 

[Oldtimer]

As a note, part of our incoming parts QC is to verify proper pin contact tension. The socket that we use was designed with a very robust contact system that has given us no problems over a many year history. This, combined with the "industrial" style tube retainer should result in a "lifetime" tube socket.

Also, as some of you might have noticed, the tube socket can be replaced without soldering as it's located on a seperate plug-on module that also uses very heavy duty, high reliability contacts. I can change a tube socket in under 15 seconds!

Very well thought out! Andy, I think you know I was speaking in generalities, not about Genz Benz in particular. Most of the time, it's the tube that's the problem. They just don't make em like they used to! Wow, 15 seconds! That's a lot faster than retensioning.

 

[agedhorse]

Very well thought out! Andy, I think you know I was speaking in generalities, not about Genz Benz in particular. Most of the time, it's the tube that's the problem. They just don't make em like they used to! Wow, 15 seconds! That's a lot faster than retensioning.

Look closely at it and you will see how easy it is to change out.