Guitar amplifier power tube life span?

[Adam-12]

Anyone care to guess (generally speaking) how many hours of power tube usage at recommended bias setting to be had before considering a full replacement? Makes no difference whether idle on standby or fully cranked.

 

[Shark Diver]

Well, from my understanding it does matter how hot they are run. Average use - once a year generally. But 5-6 nights a week, for 3-4 hours ran hot, maybe every 6 months. There are a lot of variables. What tube, brand, amp, load, etc...

 

[Adam-12]

Well, from my understanding it does matter how hot they are run.

I said "tube usage at recommended bias setting" - so it doesn't matter what brand, Ohm or guitar power tube. So I was very clear about this.

 

[Shark Diver]

Well, from my understanding it does matter how hot they are run.

I said "tube usage at recommended bias setting" - so it doesn't matter what brand, Ohm or guitar power tube. So I was very clear about this.

Well, yes it would. Certain tubes hold up longer than other brands. Bias is only one part of the equation. To discount how full/hot they are run takes away any guess's validity as well. And I'm not saying "Bias hot", I'm saying is the master on 2 or 10? That matters. Just trying to help. Why ask and then be a dick when someone takes the time to try and help? If you don't like the answer then simply say thanks and wait for others. Most manufactures recommend power tube change every year - but obviously that depends one how they are used. Easy enough to Google that.

 

[se7en]

Gotta agree with Shark. It absolutely DOES make a difference whether the amp is idle or fully cranked!

 

[midnightlaundry]

Like it was said, it depends on how loud and long you play, and the bias range they're in.

I'd just play them until they start to sound weak, or you start getting pops or volume dropouts.

 

[Adam-12]

Well, yes it would. Certain tubes hold up longer than other brands. Bias is only one part of the equation. To discount how full/hot they are run takes away any guess's validity as well. And I'm not saying "Bias hot", I'm saying is the master on 2 or 10? That matters. Just trying to help. Why ask and then be a dick when someone takes the time to try and help? If you don't like the answer then simply say thanks and wait for others. Most manufactures recommend power tube change every year - but obviously that depends one how they are used. Easy enough to Google that.

Wrong! Bias is the main factor for power tube life span. You say "Most manufactures recommend power tube change every year" and you’re wrong once again, respectfully. Ever hear of NOS power tubes. Some of these famous power tubes (I won’t go into the dozen of brands here that are more than 40-50 years old and sell for 2-3-4 & $500 per valve. Life span of power tubes has nothing to do with the volume if biased to the manufacturer’s specifications.

The answer is how many hours the power tube has been used at whatever volume to manufacturer spec over time; and that answer is generally 1000 hours per valve or 19 hours per week or 2.7 hours per day.

 

[Shark Diver]

Well, yes it would. Certain tubes hold up longer than other brands. Bias is only one part of the equation. To discount how full/hot they are run takes away any guess's validity as well. And I'm not saying "Bias hot", I'm saying is the master on 2 or 10? That matters. Just trying to help. Why ask and then be a dick when someone takes the time to try and help? If you don't like the answer then simply say thanks and wait for others. Most manufactures recommend power tube change every year - but obviously that depends one how they are used. Easy enough to Google that.

Wrong! Bias is the main factor for power tube life span. You say "Most manufactures recommend power tube change every year" and you’re wrong once again, respectfully. Ever hear of NOS power tubes. Some of these famous power tubes (I won’t go into the dozen of brands here that are more than 40-50 years old and sell for 2-3-4 & $500 per valve. Life span of power tubes has nothing to do with the volume if biased to the manufacturer’s specifications.

The answer is how many hours the power tube has been used at whatever volume to manufacturer spec over time; and that answer is generally 1000 hours per valve or 19 hours per week or 2.7 hours per day.

So, if you know, was this a quiz? I've hung out and had dinner with Mike Soldano, Dave Friedman, Reinhold Bogner, Peter Diezel, Rick St. Pierre, etc. And in general they would all say you need to check/change your power tubes roughly once a year. Several Amp Manuals say the same thing - 3rd page of the SLO manual - "generally changed annually". (But that is said with the idea that you are using the amp in what they would consider an average volume and average amount of time to what they are use to seeing.) So, if you believe I'm wrong, and the amp designers are wrong, that's fine. I've been wrong many times. Will be again too. I also said that it would depend on many factors, so saying NOS tubes are 50 years old, and sell for X amount, says nothing. How were those tubes used - especially since NOS means New Old Stock - or unused. Whatever, if you want to bias only to recommended specs and clock hours on a time card to tell you when to change tubes so be it. But I know many people who run their bias cold or hot because they like it better, and crank their amps, and others bias to specs and play at moderate volumes - and none of this means crap to them because they will check/change power tubes every six months to a year.

I was just trying to pass on a general practice recommended to me by some of the best amp designers in the world. But you know better, so why ask?

Last paragraph. I guess you can call Mike and tell him he's wrong as well. While you're at it tell him to fix that damn loop

 

[LP Freak]

This thread is pointless.

 

[guitarmike]

Adam 12 is a troll

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

Adam 12 is a troll

Wrong! You're wrong!

 

[charveldan]

Winged =C= power tubes 5000 hrs under normal conditions [more or less].

 

[JTyson]

mmmmm........ popcorn

 

[mjtripper]

mmmmm........ popcorn

I like mine without butter please.

 

[fluff191]

mmmmm........ popcorn

I like mine without butter please.

Can you please pass the salt?

 

[electrophonic.tonic]

The answer is how many hours the power tube has been used at whatever volume to manufacturer spec over time; and that answer is generally 1000 hours per valve or 19 hours per week or 2.7 hours per day.

I believe you are confusing tubes with light bulbs.

 

[apophis]

hahaha....power tubes can last from a couple of minutes to thousands of hours......let your ears tell you when they are starting to sound shitty and don't troll

 

[se7en]

The answer is how many hours the power tube has been used at whatever volume to manufacturer spec over time; and that answer is generally 1000 hours per valve or 19 hours per week or 2.7 hours per day.

I believe you are confusing tubes with light bulbs.

 

[ratter]

7.43 weeks at sea level.

 

[Mudder]

Why the hell does anyone post a thread to ask a question then argue about the answer?