I need the help of you Electronic minds out there
I just received a Deluxe Verb in the mail Like a dream come true for me. the tubes had been removed for shipping so I put them back in a turned it on. But I did not have any Vol. I could turn it all the way up to 10 and it would just whisper. the tube second from the left was glowing cherry red I put it back on standby and the red went away fast. turned it off and let it cool then took out each tube one at a time and they all looked like tubes I don't know how to tell if good or bad. Pluged it back in and man was it loud i had left it on 8
Have I hurt anything, does this happen once and awhile?? Does i mean I need new tubes??
ps How long should it be on standby turning on and turning off??
Thanks
Scott/Hawaii
Fender Deluxe Verb. Question
Moderator: Dave Mudgett
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Ricky Littleton
- Posts: 724
- Joined: 7 Mar 1999 1:01 am
- Location: Steely-Eyed Missile Man from Cocoa Beach, Florida USA
It's possible there was a poor socket connection on the grid pin. Sounded like (based on you description) the tube was wide open and conducting full bore. If you removed each tube and reinstalled and everything is ok now, I bet that was the problem.
Hope it goes well.
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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Alesis Microverb
Dan-Echo, E-Bow
Hope it goes well.
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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Alesis Microverb
Dan-Echo, E-Bow
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Bob Metzger
- Posts: 580
- Joined: 6 Jan 2000 1:01 am
- Location: Waltham (Boston), MA, USA
All Tube Amp Users:
For a long and trouble free association with your tube amp, everytime you use it:
1) Examine the power tubes/rectifier tube and give them a little 'push' into their sockets first.
2) Plug the AC cord into a wall outlet.
3) Turn on the AC power switch.
4) Wait 30 seconds, then flip the standby switch to the 'play' position.
5) Re-examine the power tubes briefly. If looking normal, proceed. (Learn to know what your tubes should look like in their 'normal' state of operation.)
6) Have fun playing; put your amp on standby during breaks.
7) When finished, switch your amp to standby position. Wait 30 seconds. Then turn the power switch to the off position. Unplug your amp's AC cord from the wall outlet.
Most power tubes will last 2 to 3 years or about 2000 hours of playing time. EL-84's/6BQ5's won't last that long; 6550's/ KT-88 will last longer. Have the bias checked when replacing the power tubes.
When examining your power tubes: If any tubes are glowing red (or any color near red), put the amp back on standby immediately. Wait 30 seconds. Turn the power off. Let the tubes cool (5 mins). Remove the tubes, noting which tube came from which socket (a sharpie comes in handy). Re-insert the tube/tubes, paying attention to the guide pin on the tube. If the guide pin is broken off, be very, very careful to make sure the tube is in the socket the correct way. Triple check this! A mistake will be disastrous. Make sure the power tubes are seated properly in their respective sockets. Proceed again from #3 above. If the tube/tubes are still glowing red, (you're still watching, aren't you), then put the amp back on standby and follow the above power down directions; it's time for a trip to the repair place.
Looking at your power tubes prior to playing is the same thing as paying attention to that red "oil light" on the dashboard of your car.
If you blow a fuse: My opinion is that you're done for the nite with that amp but, if you want to, you can replace the fuse with another of the same type (usually Slo-blow in tube amps) and of the same value or a lesser value, but never a larger value fuse. A blown fuse means the amp is pulling too much current (usually about two to three times as much current as the amp uses during normal operation) and is indicative of a major malfunction. If you insist on using a larger value fuse than specified while the amp is malfunctioning, you may increase the internal damage (and subsequent repair bill) by another 2 or 3 or 10 times. Most fuses will blow before you take out a transformer (the most expensive part in the amp). If you put a larger value fuse in it, all bets are off. If you do try a 2nd fuse, watch the power tubes when you switch it on and when switching it to 'play', so you can describe what and when it happens to the repair person. Very, very occasionally, the amp will work fine with a 2nd fuse.
If you have an amp where the tubes 'hang down' (most Fender amps) and you carry the thing around alot from gig to gig, you need to have sharks jaws (or tube retaining clips) installed for every large tube. You can also use the spring loaded devices usually seen on Marshall amps that do the same thing. Deluxe reverb amps do not have these; nor do alot of smaller amps but they need them in high use situations.
Make sure your tube amp has a functioning 3 prong AC cord.
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Bob Metzger on 29 March 2001 at 02:55 AM.]</p></FONT>
For a long and trouble free association with your tube amp, everytime you use it:
1) Examine the power tubes/rectifier tube and give them a little 'push' into their sockets first.
2) Plug the AC cord into a wall outlet.
3) Turn on the AC power switch.
4) Wait 30 seconds, then flip the standby switch to the 'play' position.
5) Re-examine the power tubes briefly. If looking normal, proceed. (Learn to know what your tubes should look like in their 'normal' state of operation.)
6) Have fun playing; put your amp on standby during breaks.
7) When finished, switch your amp to standby position. Wait 30 seconds. Then turn the power switch to the off position. Unplug your amp's AC cord from the wall outlet.
Most power tubes will last 2 to 3 years or about 2000 hours of playing time. EL-84's/6BQ5's won't last that long; 6550's/ KT-88 will last longer. Have the bias checked when replacing the power tubes.
When examining your power tubes: If any tubes are glowing red (or any color near red), put the amp back on standby immediately. Wait 30 seconds. Turn the power off. Let the tubes cool (5 mins). Remove the tubes, noting which tube came from which socket (a sharpie comes in handy). Re-insert the tube/tubes, paying attention to the guide pin on the tube. If the guide pin is broken off, be very, very careful to make sure the tube is in the socket the correct way. Triple check this! A mistake will be disastrous. Make sure the power tubes are seated properly in their respective sockets. Proceed again from #3 above. If the tube/tubes are still glowing red, (you're still watching, aren't you), then put the amp back on standby and follow the above power down directions; it's time for a trip to the repair place.
Looking at your power tubes prior to playing is the same thing as paying attention to that red "oil light" on the dashboard of your car.
If you blow a fuse: My opinion is that you're done for the nite with that amp but, if you want to, you can replace the fuse with another of the same type (usually Slo-blow in tube amps) and of the same value or a lesser value, but never a larger value fuse. A blown fuse means the amp is pulling too much current (usually about two to three times as much current as the amp uses during normal operation) and is indicative of a major malfunction. If you insist on using a larger value fuse than specified while the amp is malfunctioning, you may increase the internal damage (and subsequent repair bill) by another 2 or 3 or 10 times. Most fuses will blow before you take out a transformer (the most expensive part in the amp). If you put a larger value fuse in it, all bets are off. If you do try a 2nd fuse, watch the power tubes when you switch it on and when switching it to 'play', so you can describe what and when it happens to the repair person. Very, very occasionally, the amp will work fine with a 2nd fuse.
If you have an amp where the tubes 'hang down' (most Fender amps) and you carry the thing around alot from gig to gig, you need to have sharks jaws (or tube retaining clips) installed for every large tube. You can also use the spring loaded devices usually seen on Marshall amps that do the same thing. Deluxe reverb amps do not have these; nor do alot of smaller amps but they need them in high use situations.
Make sure your tube amp has a functioning 3 prong AC cord.
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Bob Metzger on 29 March 2001 at 02:55 AM.]</p></FONT>
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Rick Johnson
- Posts: 1572
- Joined: 19 Jan 2001 1:01 am
- Location: Wheelwright, Ky USA
Scott,
By now you may have the amp fixed. If not
make sure the correct tubes are in the
correct socket.
Facing the rear, the tube on the far left
is the Rectifier, the next two are 6V6 power tubes. They could look similar depending
on what rectifier tube you have. A 5AR4 can
look like a 6V6. The GZ34 is much smaller.
If this is not the case and the tube is still
glowing red, you have a severe bias problem!!
Take it to a tech.
RIck
------------------
Rick Johnson
By now you may have the amp fixed. If not
make sure the correct tubes are in the
correct socket.
Facing the rear, the tube on the far left
is the Rectifier, the next two are 6V6 power tubes. They could look similar depending
on what rectifier tube you have. A 5AR4 can
look like a 6V6. The GZ34 is much smaller.
If this is not the case and the tube is still
glowing red, you have a severe bias problem!!
Take it to a tech.
RIck
------------------
Rick Johnson
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scott anderson
Thanks for all the help, The amp is working good no more cherry red tubes. It has only happened after i have moved the amp so I think maybe we'll have to check the tubes or push them back in after moving it. I will try to find a shop to have it checked out . I love the tone of this amp with the stringmaster
Thanks Again
Scott
Thanks Again
Scott
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Bill Leff
- Posts: 1917
- Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
- Location: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
-
scott anderson
Bill
the Delixe verb. is a Silver Face early 70's I wanted one for a long time. I traded a Nash 400 from my failed PSG atempt,and a Princeton Verb. late 70's silver face. I no I no the Deluxe cost me alot. But my wife can't undrstand why I need more then one of anything, They all sound the same to her. I know none of you guys have that problem.
thanks again
scott/Hawaii
the Delixe verb. is a Silver Face early 70's I wanted one for a long time. I traded a Nash 400 from my failed PSG atempt,and a Princeton Verb. late 70's silver face. I no I no the Deluxe cost me alot. But my wife can't undrstand why I need more then one of anything, They all sound the same to her. I know none of you guys have that problem.
thanks again
scott/Hawaii