Tube Amp Common Mistakes

[gbarchus]

Don't roll a tube amp (or any electronics, in my opinion). I know they're heavy but carry them.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

that would actually be a 1Ω load, almost a dead short!

Valve amps are happy into a dead short, check the output jacks and they are shorting if nothing is plugged in for a degree of protection in case of nothing plugged in. Open is what kills them.

 

[beans-on-toast]

so just curious... What would happen if you took, say, an SVT set on 2ohm and ran it with four 4ohm cabs? (since it would be set to a 2 ohm maximum)

As has been said, four 4 ohm cabs would give you a 1 ohm load. Why tempt fate connecting this to the 2 ohm tap on the amp?

I would build a box with five speakon connectors. Each cab goes into one of four speakons, the fifth speakon goes to the amp set for 4 ohms. Wire the box inside so that two pairs of 4 ohm cabs are wired in series giving 8 ohms each, then the two 8 ohm connections are wired in parallel giving 4 ohms.

 

[eyeballkid]

i wasnt going to do it..... just wondering aloud after all the talk about how tube amps dont mind too low of an impedance at all.

 

[4StringShooter]

Hello there, I just bought a tube amp(Ampeg SVT CL) my first tube amp. I noticed one of the tubes looks slightly crooked from the others. Should I be worried?
But the main point of this Thread is to share what you guys think of what are common mistakes you guys have experienced with your tube amps/ mistakes people do/ internal set ups that could possibly lead to malfunction.

Your knowledge can potentially prevent others from screwing their amps up.

THANK YOU

If I were you, I would take your SVT CL to a trusted Tech, and have him check ALL the GROUND wires to the Power tubes ASAP !!!! I had mine completely worked over after trying to replace the Preamp tube myself. It cost me about 350 bucks, but he replaced ALL the Powertubes, AND installed ANOTHER Preamp tube (the one I bought off Long & McQuade was bad). After that, the thing sounded better than it did when I first fired it up. It seems that the Circuit boards for them are NOT assembled in St Louis, but in ASIA !!!!!! Another thing.... NEVER attempt to set the Bias yourself !!! I dont care WHAT the Manual says!!! Have it set by a tech, because they measure power levels to the Tubes with a meter, and you'll NEVER get it right using those goofy lights on the back of the Amp !!!! The Powertubes operate on a " Push-Pull " theory.
After mine was re-set, it " appeared " by looking at the lights that it was set WRONG. Well, the LIGHTS are WRONG!!! DONT go by them. It sounded, and performed perfect.
Hope this helps......

 

[olddave]

I own and play trough tube amps exclusively. My biggest mistake has been not having enough money to hire a sherpa to move them around for me. Other than that, I luv em!