Adambomb
Member
Decided to experiment with my BE100's Line Out into my Audient iD14 interface into Two Notes Wall of Sound in Logic. First of all, when I'm playing at home recording into Logic or whatever, I keep my amps on for hours.
*Amp was connected to a BE 2x12 cab, while using Line Out of the BE100, had Line Out level up a little over half-way, running that line signal into the guitar DI input of my audio interface into Logic and experimenting with Two Notes WOS Speaker Simulation program.
*This was the first time using the BE100's Line Out. Was hooked up like this for couple hours (prob 45mins play throughout the 2 hours). I'm waiting to receive a Two Notes Torpedo Captor 8ohm, so wanted to play around and get familiar with the program. Wall of Sound ctually sounded pretty good using the amps line out into the interface.
*So I take a 30min break and put amp in standby.
*Come back out of standby and there's a very LOUD hum sound coming through the 2x12 speakers, so I put back to standby.
*Flip amp back on, amp hums for about 5 more seconds then blows a fuse and powers off.
*Replaced the blown Mains 4 amp slow blow fuse, turn back on keeping an eye out for tube red plating or any power tube failure signs, and can't remember if it hummed again or not but this time I remember no sound, but the amp stays powered on. I turn off to check fuses and it blew the 1 amp slow blow HT fuse this time.
*I check power tubes and notice one EL34 has two burn spots, not any red plating, more like a quarter-inch sized welding torch had burned through both sides of the plates, I'll post a picture. Maybe the tube shorted out, but the plates didn't get red hot like what I've usually seen happen when a power tube goes bad,
**Tubes are about 2 years old and the brown bases were getting real dark from countless hours of hot operation.
Now, I'm about to put in another set of EL34 and use my bias prob and meter to bias up. If there's anything else you knowledgable amp tech, @RACKSYSTEMS , can recommend doing before I throw in a new set of tubes, please post any suggestions or tips you have for me, as I'm not a professional amp tech but I do know the basics about tube amp troubleshooting. I've soldered, modded and biased many of my amps over the years and know enough to not get killed, but far from a professional. I know some will say "just email Dave Friedman", and I love Dave, but that guy is so busy, and I can usually fix and diagnose these things myself.
If a new set of EL34's doesn't fix the problem, then I will have to contact Dave. Also, I just enjoy working on my own equipment and doing this stuff, especially tube amplifiers. Thanks
The 4A mains fuse blew initially, probably because the EL34 shorted, then after replacing the 4A with tubes still installed, on the second power-up the 1A HT blew. This was before I knew the EL34 was bad since there wasn't any red-plating.
Check out how the getter (the hallo ring at top) got pushed back, or blown out of alignment with the top! Actually noticed the getter has been like that since tube was new.
*Amp was connected to a BE 2x12 cab, while using Line Out of the BE100, had Line Out level up a little over half-way, running that line signal into the guitar DI input of my audio interface into Logic and experimenting with Two Notes WOS Speaker Simulation program.
*This was the first time using the BE100's Line Out. Was hooked up like this for couple hours (prob 45mins play throughout the 2 hours). I'm waiting to receive a Two Notes Torpedo Captor 8ohm, so wanted to play around and get familiar with the program. Wall of Sound ctually sounded pretty good using the amps line out into the interface.
*So I take a 30min break and put amp in standby.
*Come back out of standby and there's a very LOUD hum sound coming through the 2x12 speakers, so I put back to standby.
*Flip amp back on, amp hums for about 5 more seconds then blows a fuse and powers off.
*Replaced the blown Mains 4 amp slow blow fuse, turn back on keeping an eye out for tube red plating or any power tube failure signs, and can't remember if it hummed again or not but this time I remember no sound, but the amp stays powered on. I turn off to check fuses and it blew the 1 amp slow blow HT fuse this time.
*I check power tubes and notice one EL34 has two burn spots, not any red plating, more like a quarter-inch sized welding torch had burned through both sides of the plates, I'll post a picture. Maybe the tube shorted out, but the plates didn't get red hot like what I've usually seen happen when a power tube goes bad,
**Tubes are about 2 years old and the brown bases were getting real dark from countless hours of hot operation.
Now, I'm about to put in another set of EL34 and use my bias prob and meter to bias up. If there's anything else you knowledgable amp tech, @RACKSYSTEMS , can recommend doing before I throw in a new set of tubes, please post any suggestions or tips you have for me, as I'm not a professional amp tech but I do know the basics about tube amp troubleshooting. I've soldered, modded and biased many of my amps over the years and know enough to not get killed, but far from a professional. I know some will say "just email Dave Friedman", and I love Dave, but that guy is so busy, and I can usually fix and diagnose these things myself.
If a new set of EL34's doesn't fix the problem, then I will have to contact Dave. Also, I just enjoy working on my own equipment and doing this stuff, especially tube amplifiers. Thanks
The 4A mains fuse blew initially, probably because the EL34 shorted, then after replacing the 4A with tubes still installed, on the second power-up the 1A HT blew. This was before I knew the EL34 was bad since there wasn't any red-plating.
Check out how the getter (the hallo ring at top) got pushed back, or blown out of alignment with the top! Actually noticed the getter has been like that since tube was new.
