Guitar amplifier power tube life span?

[kiff]

I believe you are confusing tubes with light bulbs.

hmmm, well, on a scale from 2Pi to English muffin, how hot do you bias your light bulbs?

 

[lespaul6]

this is great!

 

[electrophonic.tonic]

I believe you are confusing tubes with light bulbs.

hmmm, well, on a scale from 2Pi to English muffin, how hot do you bias your light bulbs?

If atmospheric pressure>(14.7 ) ¥¿ then use magnets (fridge style ok)
If < (14.7)¥¿ then use 9v battery with wires connected to it with some type of needle guage thing.

Or one could purchase matched set from home depot and have the clerk bias them (nominal fee)

 

[jsp]

Adam-12

Must be his age

 

[mjtripper]

I believe you are confusing tubes with light bulbs.

hmmm, well, on a scale from 2Pi to English muffin, how hot do you bias your light bulbs?

1.21 gigawatts

 

[Adam-12]

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.

WOW, then you must be one bad ass mofo!

 

[LP Freak]

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.

WOW, then you must be one bad ass mofo!

I know he makes some badass guitars.....does that count?

 

[Code001]

 

[Heritage Softail]

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.

Yes Richard...

 

[Shark Diver]

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.

WOW, then you must be one bad ass mofo!

I know he makes some badass guitars.....does that count?

 

[Shark Diver]

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.

WOW, then you must be one bad ass mofo!

I do alright



You ignored the manual page that showed you what I was saying was right. I know you probably just graduated Radio Repair School and have all kinds of little formulas kicking around your head - but when your proven wrong just say, "sorry, my bad".

 

[chunktone]

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.

By responding like this, it's also very clear you're a douche! I thought you were asking for info. You get some, from a long standing, well respected member, and you throw this back? Good luck!

 

[Skrln]

Would you notice a change in sound when you renew powertubes like the way you notice the change of feel and tone when you have new guitar strings?

The reason I'm asking: My amp has the same powertubes for 4 years now, and I'm still quite happy with the tone. Is it because I'm getting used to the slowly changing tone, or has it not changed at all from day one? (I play it about 3 hours per week and band practice).

 

[Heritage Softail]

Would you notice a change in sound when you renew powertubes like the way you notice the change of feel and tone when you have new guitar strings?

The reason I'm asking: My amp has the same powertubes for 4 years now, and I'm still quite happy with the tone. Is it because I'm getting used to the slowly changing tone, or has it not changed at all from day one? (I play it about 3 hours per week and band practice).

I would say that the power tubes may be aged a bit. Preamp tubes should be good. If you just want to flip $15 and get something different for V1, that is always a fun option.

When I get a used amp, I replace the power tubes soon. Did wonders for my DSL100. I love that old beater amp.

 

[FourT6and2]

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

lol 5000 hours? Let's average 3 hours a night, 3 times a week. That's 432 hours per year. To reach 5,000 hours it would take you 11.5 years. Even if you played 3 hours a day, every day... that's still 5 years.

 

[charveldan]

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

lol 5000 hours? Let's average 3 hours a night, 3 times a week. That's 432 hours per year. To reach 5,000 hours it would take you 11.5 years. Even if you played 3 hours a day, every day... that's still 5 years.

Thats correct ...

 

[baron55]

Keep in mind that most big power tubes were designed to run the screens about 40% to 50% of what the plate voltage is. But in most guitar amps the screens run about 95% of the plate voltage. This puts tremendous stress on the screens and they are the first to fail. NOS tubes were much more tolerant to this since they were built to very high standards compared to today's tubes.

For example, you can run an EL34 all day long at a plate voltage of 800 volts with the screens at 400 volts. But run one at 520 volts and the screens about the same, the tube will really take a beating and fail much sooner.

 

[stephen sawall]

I have been using the same strings for years. I have some tubes made in the 60's I have been using for a few decades. I use them because they sound better than anything else I put in there. Estimated time I have on them is between 15,000 & 25,000 hours at this point. I will keep using them till they are dead or I find something I like the sound of better. Amp is biased a little cold for most peoples taste as recommended by the manufacture & I run the amp at loud band volumes plus most of the time.