Bad luck with JJ ecc83s

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LP Freak

LP Freak

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So I grabbed a new Bogner Snorkler a couple months ago. After only two days in I flipped on the amp and nothing. Looked around back and V1 wasn’t lighting up so I tested it on my tester and it showed DOA. Popped in another I had here and she fired right back up. Bogner was pretty quick to send me out a replacement with no questions asked.

Fast-forward to this morning, flip the amp on and again nothing. Looked around back, and the FX loop tube was dark. Same thing, threw it on the tester and DOA so I again replaced it with one I had here and she fired right back up.

Not sure if Bogner just bought a bad batch or what I’ve never had issues to this extent on a new amp. Luckily, I’m still within the 90 day warranty on tubes so it looks like they’ll be sending me another one out

The first bad tube on the right and today’s on the left

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At least it's just tubes.....Bogner should be thanking you for being educated enough to be able to recognize it's probably not the amp and to check tubes pull and test them. I would imagine some people would say the amp was broken and demand a return or exchange for a new these days.:dunno:

Probably just a bad run, Dave Friedman ran into issues with JJ a few years ago. I'm not sure if he started using them again but at the time he stated he started using EH and new sensor.

Most of my old stock JJ's prior to 2010 have always been reliable tubes, I can't speak of current production. I have been using 9th generation Chinese Ruby AC5's from Doug's tubes for my CF and PI workhorse tubes these days and then select newer EH and Tung Sols, and NOS for V1.

On a side note how have you been liking the Snorkler versus all the Friedman amps that you have had? I know you have had all the flagship amps........is the Snorky a more raw, pissed off open Marshall compared to the BE100 Deluxe?
 
harddriver said:
At least it's just tubes.....Bogner should be thanking you for being educated enough to be able to recognize it's probably not the amp and to check tubes pull and test them. I would imagine some people would say the amp was broken and demand a return or exchange for a new these days.:dunno:

Probably just a bad run, Dave Friedman ran into issues with JJ a few years ago. I'm not sure if he started using them again but at the time he stated he started using EH and new sensor.

Most of my old stock JJ's prior to 2010 have always been reliable tubes, I can't speak of current production. I have been using 9th generation Chinese Ruby AC5's from Doug's tubes for my CF and PI workhorse tubes these days and then select newer EH and Tung Sols, and NOS for V1.

On a side note how have you been liking the Snorkler versus all the Friedman amps that you have had? I know you have had all the flagship amps........is the Snorky a more raw, pissed off open Marshall compared to the BE100
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I still love my BE100 Deluxe. It’s pretty impossible to beat the versatility of that amp. But yeah, the Snorkler is definitely more pissed off. I could pretty much tell as soon as I flipped the standby off for the first time that it was a keeper.
 
LP Freak said:
I still love my BE100 Deluxe. It’s pretty impossible to beat the versatility of that amp. But yeah, the Snorkler is definitely more pissed off. I could pretty much tell as soon as I flipped the standby off for the first time that it was a keeper.
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At least Reinhhold finally gave people the amp they were chasing for years!:2thumbsup: It's great when an amp get's what you want right from the onset!
 
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harddriver said:
At least Reinhhold finally gave people the amp they were chasing for years!:2thumbsup: It's great when an amp get's what you want right from the onset!
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Only thing is, I wish he spent a little more time on the blue channel. I’d think with some minor tweaking it could be stellar. It’s a bit too loose as is for my liking. The red channel is 🔥 though. Great loop too
 
Is that tube on the right in your pic have that white chalky residue inside it when it failed? I thought that was from losing vaccum in the tube mostly? I've seen that in some old tubes as well.
 
LP Freak said:
Only thing is, I wish he spent a little more time on the blue channel. I’d think with some minor tweaking it could be stellar. It’s a bit too loose as is for my liking. The red channel is 🔥 though. Great loop too
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It sounds like alot of people really like the Snorkler that's for sure!:rawk:
 
harddriver said:
Is that tube on the right in your pic have that white chalky residue inside it when it failed? I thought that was from losing vaccum in the tube mostly? I've seen that in some old tubes as well.
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Yes that's what that is. You probably tossed it but maybe one of the pins is loose/bent?
 
harddriver said:
Is that tube on the right in your pic have that white chalky residue inside it when it failed? I thought that was from losing vaccum in the tube mostly? I've seen that in some old tubes as well.
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No, that white chalky residue appeared sometime after it failed while it was sitting there. I’m waiting to see if the latest failure does the same.
 
Always had good luck with them, but I always bought from Eurotubes..
However, I just had one fail and I could see it arching inside the tube! Never had that one before..
That tube was probably nearly 20 years old and has been kicked around a bit. I have a bag of them..
 
Smart move to have a tube tester. Best investment I made last year!

I bought a used PRS MT100 that was mint, and I found 4 microphonic preamp tubes in it.
No wonder the last owner traded it in. and I'm figuring PRS got a bad batch of tubes. It happens.
I replaced all the preamp tubes with JJs from Eurotubes, and the amp breathes fire now!
A Tube Tester is a game changer
 
I also had a similar tube failure, in my new to me Snorkler. But, it was an old vintage Tungsram pre, also in V1. First vintage tube, pre or power that's given up the ghost. In 10 years, all my vintage tubes have lasted and lasted....until this one.....it also lost its vacuum.
My thoughts on the amp...it's easily the best 50w modded Marshall I've played. Over any Cameron...yep, the Snorkler is THAT good!
You can run the FX vol as a second master, and get the power tubes cooking at a low vol...plus, a built in Gate that works great.
 
Here’s the bad FX loop tube while still in the amp. No lights on but it still heated up as if it we’re working

IMG_0095.jpeg
 
Must be a bad tun, my friedman plex came with jj's, not to say they're the best sounding glass out there or anything

BTW, trying to get to my 50 posts so I can list the plex in classifieds if anyone is interested.
 
I mean honestly now that Shuguang is back or you can easily put in an LPS in a boutique amp from the factory and anything else other than a JJ 12AX7 anything...... Why do amps that cost 2500-3000 dollars or more or the boutique stuff ship out with the same shit you get in a mainstream brand like Fender...... even EHX 12AX7 seem like a much better option relative to JJs.......



I mean if these things cost a pretty penny...... why ship them out with shitty or below average tubes by most opinion. JJ preamps are simply the worst IME and maybe it's fine for Jazz players on average...... or not sure who needs a super dark, muddy tone :dunno:


May want to try something more robust like an EHX 12AX7 or a Shuguang in V1 if you find it happens again or the tube gets eaten up quickly and IME they sound better than any JJ preamp.
 
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