• From: London, UK
  • Registered: 2008-07-27
  • Posts: 615

Topic: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

... How often do you re-valve your heads/combo's? Obviously, it varies HUGELY depending on how often you gig, and how loud you play, but for everyone who does gig fairly often, and usually plays fairly loud... How often do you change em?
Just wondering, as I've had my DSL401 for nearly 6 months now, and I gig usually at least 3/4 times a month, and usually run at:  Volume - 7/8
                                                         Master - 7/8         (bear in mind I do use a baffle, and have a very loud drummer  lol )

So Im unsure as to when I should change these EL84's, wouldnt have thought it would be around this time, but Im considering buying some spares just in case... Please give your answers.

Cheers
Rus

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Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

Mmmm as you say it is all down to how much you play and also the age of the amp. We always carry spares and have not had to change any in the last 12 months but we do use different amps for different venues.
If you are touring a back up amp is a must. We have back ups for lead and bass.
You do usually get a warning before the valves go anyways. Also with valve amps, handling has a huge effect on the valves. Never roll on a rough surface and treat with care (i.e. we never allow anyone other than ourselves to carry the heads on vintage stuff).


RusScagell wrote:

... How often do you re-valve your heads/combo's? Obviously, it varies HUGELY depending on how often you gig, and how loud you play, but for everyone who does gig fairly often, and usually plays fairly loud... How often do you change em?
Just wondering, as I've had my DSL401 for nearly 6 months now, and I gig usually at least 3/4 times a month, and usually run at:  Volume - 7/8
                                                         Master - 7/8         (bear in mind I do use a baffle, and have a very loud drummer  lol )

So Im unsure as to when I should change these EL84's, wouldnt have thought it would be around this time, but Im considering buying some spares just in case... Please give your answers.

Cheers
Rus

Martin
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  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

My 93 blues deluxe has the original valves in with no problems (thats 17 years lol), however my brand new 1974x after 4 gigs needed a new preamp valve. I think the real answer is if theres nothing wrong dont just go changing them, but always carry spares!! My 1974x valve went mid way thru a gig and I had no spare sad

  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

I hope not too often...with KT88s...

It has a good run for at least one hour a day at moderate volumes...sometimes for fair periods of time at vol. 5 or above - hot enough to cook an egg.

I received the amp in a messy condition and had it refurbished...I think it was ten carefully chosen valves - around 180quid?  yikes

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Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

Valves can be checked on a tester for gain. They do degrade over time due to cathode and heater ion depletion. They can also get gassy. Push pull pairs should be tested to make sure the gain is balanced. Using carefully matched pairs is one of the secrets of good sound linearity and long life. Depending on use and quality of manufacture, a life of thousands of hours should be expected. High quality ones typically have a life of 2 to 3 thousand hours. As has been stated here, rough handling of equipment can cause failure due to mechanical shock damage. Let the amp warm up fully, usually 3 minutes is good, before cranking it.
Rick

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  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
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Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

RickB wrote:

As has been stated here, rough handling of equipment can cause failure due to mechanical shock damage. Let the amp warm up fully, usually 3 minutes is good, before cranking it.
Rick


+10000  I use to just fire the amp up and go which caused a lot of tube problems for me in the past.  Now I allow things to warm up for a while and it's helped a lot.  Also, buying NOS tubes really help because they simply built them much better back in the day.  Military spec tubes have especially long lives!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.

7 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2010-04-24 13:01:10)

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Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

stratpaulguy86 wrote:
RickB wrote:

As has been stated here, rough handling of equipment can cause failure due to mechanical shock damage. Let the amp warm up fully, usually 3 minutes is good, before cranking it.
Rick


+10000  I use to just fire the amp up and go which caused a lot of tube problems for me in the past.  Now I allow things to warm up for a while and it's helped a lot.  Also, buying NOS tubes really help because they simply built them much better back in the day.  Military spec tubes have especially long lives!

Absolutely correct! Milspec tubes are manufactured to withstand a beating. Worth the extra money every time. These will withstand stage apes and accidental mishaps in the van. The reason for a warm up is to allow the heaters to get the tube fully ionized before it is put into operation. Cold operation can cause internal arcing, drastically shortening life or even causing instant failure. Worst case failures are internal shorts caused by a grid weld-arc which will burn out circuit components.

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
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Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

Wow everybody must have some really good places to jam.  Everywhere we go which isn't often the volume is very low.  Picture it a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe no extra speakers just 1 speaker and 40 watts to push it.  Now guess how loud I have to turn that thing up.  I only use the clean channel and get most distortion from a pedal or 2.  Oh and the the pedals don't get turned up but about half way on the level gain is full up.  The settings go up to 12 and I set the clean channel up to 3 max!  Oh one other thing we do baffel our drummer.  He's a heavy man and a heavy hitter.  Honestly though everywhere we play they have some sort of noise level that you can not surpass or you get asked to turn down.  I play my amp almost the same level in my basement and somehow don't wake up the kids.  I've done this for about a year and a half now and never had a problem with the tubes (knock on wood) I've thought about just putting in new tubes just because I've heard that different brands will make a big difference in the Hot Rod Deluxe.  Oh and because I run at what seems like low levels I have the amp biased hotter then it should be to help warm the tone up a tad.  That really worked... I can see all you guys with your multi meter making faces as we speak.

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  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
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Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

Actually, I hope to make a mini version of the Superlead + Super Reverb rig for gigging small places.  I was thinking a Marshall Class 5 and Fender Princeton reissue would be a cool small amp version of what I'm using now.  It really sucks that blues/rock isn't allowed to be played loud for the most part anymore.  Yet, without fail, any bar or club will be playing techno or rap music so annoyingly loud that you're pissing blood later that night.  mad

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
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Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

True but I must be getting old or something because if was much louder I know I'd have to either wear ear plugs or bring some asprin.

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Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

stratpaulguy86 wrote:

  Yet, without fail, any bar or club will be playing techno or rap music so annoyingly loud that you're pissing blood later that night.  mad

That music would make me piss blood at any volume level.  lol
Rick

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Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

ROFL!!!  lol

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
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Re: For all of those who gig with valve amps (so most of us, lol)...

I swap preamp tubes every 4 years, and power tubes every two or so.
I gig maybe four of five times a year, and practice with it maybe two hours a week.

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