How Do I Know If My Amp Needs New Tubes?

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How Do I Know If My Amp Needs New Tubes?

Rodnator View Member Profile	Dec 15 2007, 10:30 PM
Dec 15 2007, 10:30 PM	GMC:er Posts: 68 Joined: 20-July 06 From: Connecticut, USA	I have a Marshall JCM 800 2204 50 watt head. I bought it around a year ago. It sounds Awesome. When I bought it the tolex was in shambles, corner caps cracked. Decided before I bought it that it was going to be a restoration project, so condition was a non issue. After I got it I played through it for a week or so before I disassembled it and went to work. Bought all of my replacement parts from Marshall and it came out just perfect, couldn't be happier. Now this is the first all tube amp I have ever owned and although it sounds terriffic, I do not know if maintenance is required on anything electronic. I don't know when it is time for new tubes or any other changes or upgrades or adjustments. Should I just listen and let the amp tell me if there are problems when the time comes. or should there be some proactive maintenance that I should have performed. This is a true classic amplifier and I would hate to cause any avoidable issues if possible please advise. Rod You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Electric Guitars : Gibson Les Paul Standard "Raw Power", Fender American Deluxe HSS QMT Stratocaster Acoustic Guitars : Ovation 1771 LX Balladeer Effects : Digitech Jammer Looper, Digitech DF7 Distortion Factory, Boss DD-3 delay, Keeley Modded Boss DS-1, Keeley Modded TS-808 Tube Screamer, Keeley compressor, Dunlop CryBaby Wah. Amps : 1982 Marshall JCM 800 2204 50 watt Head (all original unmodified Electronics, Complete cosmetic restoration) It is the "Tone of the Gods" 1982 Marshall 1960a JCM 800 4x12 Slant Cabinet

JVM View Member Profile	Dec 15 2007, 10:38 PM
Dec 15 2007, 10:38 PM	Learning Roadie Posts: 2.878 Joined: 2-June 07 From: Raleigh-Durham, NC	I'd like to know too. I bought my hot rod deluxe used, and when it got here it had some trouble with a lot of fuzz and sometimes just not making noise. I cleaned out the pots and it pretty much fixed itself, but I sometimes wonder if the tubes could use a replacement. How do you know? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Gear: Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Gibson '67 RI Flying V, Mesa Boogie F-30 112 combo, crazy pedals.

MickeM View Member Profile	Dec 15 2007, 10:49 PM
Dec 15 2007, 10:49 PM	Born of NWOBHM, Moderation Team Leader Posts: 8.562 Joined: 9-January 07 From: Stockholm, Sweden	Check for a note somewhere on the back. If it was ever in for repair they shoud have put a sticker there saying which date the tubes where changed. I think it's safe to say that you will hear when the tubes run out. Fuses can blow, sound can get bad or bi-sounds so to say. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My bands homepage All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello

Pavel View Member Profile	Dec 15 2007, 11:15 PM
Dec 15 2007, 11:15 PM	Instructor Posts: 3.764 Joined: 8-January 07 From: Rijeka, Croatia	QUOTE (MickeM @ Dec 15 2007, 10:49 PM) Fuses can blow Anything dangerous? Never saw the tube blowing, but i saw one that was close to it. While i was recording a demo with my ex-band i borrowed a Fender Deluxe amp from another guitarist and when we turned it on - the tubes had really strange color and the sound was fuzzy. I hope it's not a big deal when the tubes blow You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- "It isn't how many years you have been playing, it's how many hours." -- Prashant Aswani "PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!" -- Michael Angelo Batio Check out my video lessons and instructor board!

Smikey2006 View Member Profile	Dec 15 2007, 11:45 PM
Dec 15 2007, 11:45 PM	GMC:er Posts: 2.361 Joined: 27-April 07 From: London,ont	" i hope its no big deal..." turns around turns on his amp and plays a riff with 1 really loud chord at the end.. tubes explode shrapnal flies out and ruins the jem ... jk im sure they just fry and don't work anymore when they go You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Schecter Exotic Star+ Peavey VK Ibanez Xiphos 707 + Krank Revolution 100 Damien 7 Wishlist Schecter Customshop Schecter 2008 Blackjack Damage Control Timeline Delay Pedal/Distortion a laptop that runs protools :'(

Hisham Al-Sanea View Member Profile	Dec 16 2007, 12:12 AM
Dec 16 2007, 12:12 AM	Instructor Posts: 4.085 Joined: 19-October 07 From: middle east / lebanon	firstable you will loose the quality of tube sound and finally the sound is comming so weak and not warm You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- email me *my video lessons* *instructor board*

USAMAN View Member Profile	Dec 16 2007, 01:13 AM
Dec 16 2007, 01:13 AM	GMC:er Posts: 664 Joined: 15-October 07 From: Minnesota, USA. Earth	QUOTE (Rodnator @ Dec 15 2007, 10:30 PM) I have a Marshall JCM 800 2204 50 watt head. I bought it around a year ago. It sounds Awesome. When I bought it the tolex was in shambles, corner caps cracked. Decided before I bought it that it was going to be a restoration project, so condition was a non issue. After I got it I played through it for a week or so before I disassembled it and went to work. Bought all of my replacement parts from Marshall and it came out just perfect, couldn't be happier. Now this is the first all tube amp I have ever owned and although it sounds terriffic, I do not know if maintenance is required on anything electronic. I don't know when it is time for new tubes or any other changes or upgrades or adjustments. Should I just listen and let the amp tell me if there are problems when the time comes. or should there be some proactive maintenance that I should have performed. This is a true classic amplifier and I would hate to cause any avoidable issues if possible please advise. Rod They do make testers ...pick one up from ebay You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- If we aren't supposed to eat animals, why are they made out of meat ?

MickeM View Member Profile	Dec 16 2007, 01:15 AM
Dec 16 2007, 01:15 AM	Born of NWOBHM, Moderation Team Leader Posts: 8.562 Joined: 9-January 07 From: Stockholm, Sweden	QUOTE (Pavel @ Dec 15 2007, 11:15 PM) Anything dangerous? Never saw the tube blowing, but i saw one that was close to it. While i was recording a demo with my ex-band i borrowed a Fender Deluxe amp from another guitarist and when we turned it on - the tubes had really strange color and the sound was fuzzy. I hope it's not a big deal when the tubes blow I meant the fuse - which is not dangerous. If a power tube gets worn and starts over using current a fuse should blow first before anything else happens. My Peavey is having a constant low buzz right now and I belive it's the power tubes so I will change them sometime early next yeay... I'm getting that meter so I may do it myself this time. It's a first for me. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by MickeM: Dec 16 2007, 01:17 AM -------------------- My bands homepage All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello

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