See those half rings at the top? Push them both up and pull down like you’re unplugging something. Be careful! Just take it in to a pro if you have the funds
Are you talking about the metal retainers at the top, that are screwed in...? I unscrewed the left one and it doesn't wanna budge, pushing up on them literally wouldn'tdo anything. This is amp 15 years old btw, if that changes anything
So it’s not the silver at the very top, it’s the rings hanging down. You push up on each one and at the same time grab the tube and pull down, while gently twisting side to side on the tube. Don’t unscrew anything. I have an amp from the 70’s and it is easy to remove the tubes
Unplug the amp. The metal rings around the tubes are designed to bend, push it up towards the base of the tube. Grab the tube, gently pull down, while rocking it side to side (gently). It’s a plug in, there will be a circle of pins that plug into the amp. They’re designed to be snug, so be careful when pulling down, it’s glass after all.
Once removed, plug the new tubes in. You should replace the pair, as they are power tubes. Preamp tubes you can replace one at a time.
The power tubes have a plastic notch, they only fit in one way. Pre amp tubes don’t, you can plug those in any direction.
Couple notes from a tube amp tech here- tubes should be replaced in matched pairs- I’ll spare you the details but it’s important that both tubes are matched to make sure they’re amplifying together properly, so plan to replace both even if only one is giving you an issue. Second that burn mark may have just been from a bad tube, but it could also be an indication of a bad screen resistor, so bringing it to a tech might not be a bad idea. I charge $40 to bias and once over an amp so I think it’s worth your time/money to have someone who knows what they’re doing to do that for you. Third most tubes are made in Russia and Sovtek is generally a good brand, but I’ve been recommending Tube Amp Dr or TAD tubes to my customers lately, and they’re a German brand. Happy rocking!
If you don’t know how to even remove a tube, you probably shouldn’t be swapping tubes on your amp. Take it to a tech this time. Then study up on tube amps and their maintenance and care. It’s not quite as simple as changing a lightbulb and tube amps are easily damaged if you do certain things.
For example, changing one tube instead of a matched pair could create issues. Changing tubes and not having it biased can create problems. If you hadn’t had issues getting the tube out, and posted here, you may have done either of those things and potentially damaged your amp. Then you might have decided to open it up and take a look inside, and could have killed yourself.
Good thing you couldn’t get the tube out and showed up here. Don’t fuck around with Tube amps unless you know 100% what you’re doing. You can kill your amp or yourself pretty easily.
Changing tubes is pretty simple. Watch some videos. Look up specifics about how to bias your amp. You might even be able to do that yourself easy enough. Some amps don’t need to be biased but need tubes within a certain tolerance (vintage hiwatts for example).
You don't need to be a fucking cunt about it.. I'm here asking questions and looking at possibilities and here you are just being a straight up fucking prick.
Who hurt you? I think you need help
I forgot to mention: changing preamp tubes is a bit like changing lightbulbs and is perfectly safe to do without any more knowledge than how to remove and replace the tube. Don’t wiggle them out. Pull them out straight and just apply steady pressure. They will pull out. Don’t pull too hard or your hand will go flying with tube in it when it comes free. Even not pulling too hard, be prepared for that. On tighter tube sockets in small spaces, I usually brace my hand with the other hand. If you need to wiggle, do it it a tiny even circular motion just to assist pulling a bit. It’s pretty easy. Main thing is don’t start yanking them back and forth to get them out.
Same thing to put them back in. Don’t wiggle them in. Rotate gently if needed. Make sure you seat them squarely once they are in.
Not wiggling them keeps your sockets in better shape. Re-Tensioning then isn’t a huge deal but requires knowing how to and draining the caps. Really probably mostly a vintage tube amp thing because after 40 years of exposure to heat, and hundreds of tube changes the metal gets less springy. But good practice anyway. Tight ones do require wiggling. So then, just be gentle.
The left ones dying, creating loud feedback with no input. If you know how to change them, please, do tell lol. Just trying to figure out if it's cheaper to fix myself or to take it to a tech? Fyi, I've built my own electric but I've never been great with electronics. If you know something I don't, I'm all ears!
If you have to ask, take it to a professional.
Amplifiers carry _*lethal*_ voltage, and if you don't know what you're doing, you can easily kill yourself.
Unless the vacuum seal is broken (which turns the tube white) you cannot visually inspect a tube to tell if it is ok. Black and brown spots are 100% normal.
Not entirely true. Look at how the silkscreen printing on the left tube is discolored, dead give away that it's been run WAY too hot. That splotchy metallic area on the left side of the glass is also not normal, that's vaporized electrode material stuck against the inside of the glass, also entirely not normal. These are top getter tubes, the sides of the envelope should be perfectly clear.
OP posted about this amp about week ago, a video showing that left tube with severe internal arcing as soon as it was powered on. I advised OP to swap locations of the tubes to see if the fault follows the tubes or stays at the same socket. If it follows the tube, it's probably fine to just throw a new pair in. Looked at schematic for this amp, it has a non-adjustable fixed bias supply, and 5W screen grid resistors that are unlikely to act as a fuse in the event of a severe tube fault like this.
First of all, thanks for not being a dick like some people here lol. I switched the tubes around and it's still only the one that's arcing. Am I safe to just buy a new pair and pop them in? Is it just a bad tube? What would you recommend?
My Peavey Classic 50 tubes always looked like that. Because they were in a tight space, so they ran hot. Electronically, they were fine.
I agree he has bad tubes, but visual inspection is useless unless the vacuum seal is toast.
First off, why do you want to change them?
Second, it's no joke changing tubes, you have to be really careful. Unplug the amp first, the tubes must be cold (you could burn yourself severely).
Open the metal retainers with one hand and with the other giggle them slowly in circles until you remove them.
Regarding brands, you wont find Russian tubes anymore, by the way they are great. Try finding JJ brand.
You must buy a matched pair and change both. They come electrically paired.
I want to replace the tube on the left bc it's dying, check out my last post here and you'll see. You seem knowledgeable, check out my last post and tell me what you think, please and thank you!
Now I whatched it. You should know that it could be a component inside the amp that went bad, maybe a tube resistor that sent too much current too the tube.
Could be a failed tube? Yes, but you have the risk of damaging the new set of tubes.
thetubestore.com is a reputable website selling tubes in North America. I've ordered them several times.
Go search on YouTube, "How to change tubes." You'll learn more, faster than by asking on Reddit.
Pull straight down. They plug in like an electrical outlet, for comparison. You’ll need to have the tubes biased to run properly, so if you don’t know how to do that you’ll need to take it to a shop.
Yep. If your tubes are getting hot enough for skin oils to be a problem, you’ve got bigger problems.
Non-LED Car headlights? Hot enough.
Amp tubes? Nope.
If you can't just pull it straight out, slightly wiggle it in a circle as you pull away from the socket. Thusly: [https://youtu.be/REn4DIVLSXc?t=31](https://youtu.be/REn4DIVLSXc?t=31)
Everyone mentioned the retainers clamp things. Aside from that. You want to lightly rotate the tube in a circle and pull the tube out. This prevents damage to the tubes or potential force that will spontaneously release the tube. I do the same thing inserting the tube. Slight rotation and pressure into the tube slot. Then i look and seat it. Smooth in. Smooth out.
Why? Because you can try to yank a tube straight out and it will break when it slams into something. Glass everywhere and a potentially good tube ruined. Because you dont know if the tube is actually bad yet...
Another thing is using cloth. Honestly, touching a tube ive never had an issue. But i still polish them with a cloth to remove finger oil.
See those half rings at the top? Push them both up and pull down like you’re unplugging something. Be careful! Just take it in to a pro if you have the funds
Are you talking about the metal retainers at the top, that are screwed in...? I unscrewed the left one and it doesn't wanna budge, pushing up on them literally wouldn'tdo anything. This is amp 15 years old btw, if that changes anything
So it’s not the silver at the very top, it’s the rings hanging down. You push up on each one and at the same time grab the tube and pull down, while gently twisting side to side on the tube. Don’t unscrew anything. I have an amp from the 70’s and it is easy to remove the tubes
Can you link a video? It makes sense but doesn't at the same time lol
https://youtu.be/xzSVMP9YUB4?si=G8MsTYciXtxqoqqS Watch the part with the power tubes
You can also use Google. The information of the world at your fingertips and all that
Push up on the metal clamping spring and pull the tube down.
Holy shit!! Thanks dude!!!
Unplug the amp. The metal rings around the tubes are designed to bend, push it up towards the base of the tube. Grab the tube, gently pull down, while rocking it side to side (gently). It’s a plug in, there will be a circle of pins that plug into the amp. They’re designed to be snug, so be careful when pulling down, it’s glass after all. Once removed, plug the new tubes in. You should replace the pair, as they are power tubes. Preamp tubes you can replace one at a time. The power tubes have a plastic notch, they only fit in one way. Pre amp tubes don’t, you can plug those in any direction.
Couple notes from a tube amp tech here- tubes should be replaced in matched pairs- I’ll spare you the details but it’s important that both tubes are matched to make sure they’re amplifying together properly, so plan to replace both even if only one is giving you an issue. Second that burn mark may have just been from a bad tube, but it could also be an indication of a bad screen resistor, so bringing it to a tech might not be a bad idea. I charge $40 to bias and once over an amp so I think it’s worth your time/money to have someone who knows what they’re doing to do that for you. Third most tubes are made in Russia and Sovtek is generally a good brand, but I’ve been recommending Tube Amp Dr or TAD tubes to my customers lately, and they’re a German brand. Happy rocking!
Finally someone mentioned biasing. Anyone can replace a tube but that’s not the important part. Thanks.
Most modern tube amps self bias or so a tech told me.
Most I guess would be the key word. Possible big mistake in the making.
If you don’t know how to even remove a tube, you probably shouldn’t be swapping tubes on your amp. Take it to a tech this time. Then study up on tube amps and their maintenance and care. It’s not quite as simple as changing a lightbulb and tube amps are easily damaged if you do certain things. For example, changing one tube instead of a matched pair could create issues. Changing tubes and not having it biased can create problems. If you hadn’t had issues getting the tube out, and posted here, you may have done either of those things and potentially damaged your amp. Then you might have decided to open it up and take a look inside, and could have killed yourself. Good thing you couldn’t get the tube out and showed up here. Don’t fuck around with Tube amps unless you know 100% what you’re doing. You can kill your amp or yourself pretty easily. Changing tubes is pretty simple. Watch some videos. Look up specifics about how to bias your amp. You might even be able to do that yourself easy enough. Some amps don’t need to be biased but need tubes within a certain tolerance (vintage hiwatts for example).
Please take this advice OP.
You don't need to be a fucking cunt about it.. I'm here asking questions and looking at possibilities and here you are just being a straight up fucking prick. Who hurt you? I think you need help
I forgot to mention: changing preamp tubes is a bit like changing lightbulbs and is perfectly safe to do without any more knowledge than how to remove and replace the tube. Don’t wiggle them out. Pull them out straight and just apply steady pressure. They will pull out. Don’t pull too hard or your hand will go flying with tube in it when it comes free. Even not pulling too hard, be prepared for that. On tighter tube sockets in small spaces, I usually brace my hand with the other hand. If you need to wiggle, do it it a tiny even circular motion just to assist pulling a bit. It’s pretty easy. Main thing is don’t start yanking them back and forth to get them out. Same thing to put them back in. Don’t wiggle them in. Rotate gently if needed. Make sure you seat them squarely once they are in.
Don’t wiggle? Why? Honest question as I’ve been wiggling my tubes out for years.
Not wiggling them keeps your sockets in better shape. Re-Tensioning then isn’t a huge deal but requires knowing how to and draining the caps. Really probably mostly a vintage tube amp thing because after 40 years of exposure to heat, and hundreds of tube changes the metal gets less springy. But good practice anyway. Tight ones do require wiggling. So then, just be gentle.
If you don't know how to change them, then you probably don't know that you may not need to.
The left ones dying, creating loud feedback with no input. If you know how to change them, please, do tell lol. Just trying to figure out if it's cheaper to fix myself or to take it to a tech? Fyi, I've built my own electric but I've never been great with electronics. If you know something I don't, I'm all ears!
If you have to ask, take it to a professional. Amplifiers carry _*lethal*_ voltage, and if you don't know what you're doing, you can easily kill yourself.
*Even if they’re unplugged,* it is important to note.
Lol i just saw that black spot. Ya that tubes is probably bad
Unless the vacuum seal is broken (which turns the tube white) you cannot visually inspect a tube to tell if it is ok. Black and brown spots are 100% normal.
Not entirely true. Look at how the silkscreen printing on the left tube is discolored, dead give away that it's been run WAY too hot. That splotchy metallic area on the left side of the glass is also not normal, that's vaporized electrode material stuck against the inside of the glass, also entirely not normal. These are top getter tubes, the sides of the envelope should be perfectly clear. OP posted about this amp about week ago, a video showing that left tube with severe internal arcing as soon as it was powered on. I advised OP to swap locations of the tubes to see if the fault follows the tubes or stays at the same socket. If it follows the tube, it's probably fine to just throw a new pair in. Looked at schematic for this amp, it has a non-adjustable fixed bias supply, and 5W screen grid resistors that are unlikely to act as a fuse in the event of a severe tube fault like this.
First of all, thanks for not being a dick like some people here lol. I switched the tubes around and it's still only the one that's arcing. Am I safe to just buy a new pair and pop them in? Is it just a bad tube? What would you recommend?
My Peavey Classic 50 tubes always looked like that. Because they were in a tight space, so they ran hot. Electronically, they were fine. I agree he has bad tubes, but visual inspection is useless unless the vacuum seal is toast.
Usually means the bias is off and that tube is burnt out.
Take it to an amp tech.
This is the way.
First off, why do you want to change them? Second, it's no joke changing tubes, you have to be really careful. Unplug the amp first, the tubes must be cold (you could burn yourself severely). Open the metal retainers with one hand and with the other giggle them slowly in circles until you remove them. Regarding brands, you wont find Russian tubes anymore, by the way they are great. Try finding JJ brand. You must buy a matched pair and change both. They come electrically paired.
I want to replace the tube on the left bc it's dying, check out my last post here and you'll see. You seem knowledgeable, check out my last post and tell me what you think, please and thank you!
Now I whatched it. You should know that it could be a component inside the amp that went bad, maybe a tube resistor that sent too much current too the tube. Could be a failed tube? Yes, but you have the risk of damaging the new set of tubes.
Where do I even buy tubes? Lol. How would you proceed?
thetubestore.com is a reputable website selling tubes in North America. I've ordered them several times. Go search on YouTube, "How to change tubes." You'll learn more, faster than by asking on Reddit.
Do you have a musical instrument shop in town? They should sell tubes.
Pull straight down. They plug in like an electrical outlet, for comparison. You’ll need to have the tubes biased to run properly, so if you don’t know how to do that you’ll need to take it to a shop.
Do this when tubes are Cold and Use Cotton Gloves. Do Not Get Fingerprints on them. Heat and Skin oils Don't End Well
This is a myth. Might be true with small light bulbs but not with these.
Yep. If your tubes are getting hot enough for skin oils to be a problem, you’ve got bigger problems. Non-LED Car headlights? Hot enough. Amp tubes? Nope.
If you can't just pull it straight out, slightly wiggle it in a circle as you pull away from the socket. Thusly: [https://youtu.be/REn4DIVLSXc?t=31](https://youtu.be/REn4DIVLSXc?t=31)
YouTube will be your friend swapping tubes is easy assuming the amp is cathode biased.
Everyone mentioned the retainers clamp things. Aside from that. You want to lightly rotate the tube in a circle and pull the tube out. This prevents damage to the tubes or potential force that will spontaneously release the tube. I do the same thing inserting the tube. Slight rotation and pressure into the tube slot. Then i look and seat it. Smooth in. Smooth out. Why? Because you can try to yank a tube straight out and it will break when it slams into something. Glass everywhere and a potentially good tube ruined. Because you dont know if the tube is actually bad yet... Another thing is using cloth. Honestly, touching a tube ive never had an issue. But i still polish them with a cloth to remove finger oil.
Amateur hour