Mesa Boogie F-50... just a couple questions

[Chadk808]

What's up tech-heads! I'm hoping someone can help me.

I have a Mesa Boogie F-50 1x12 combo with four 12AX7's and two 6L6's. I noticed today that three of the preamp tubes were not glowing (I'm assuming they weren't running or powering anything). Only the tube closest to the power tubes was glowing. Both power tubes were fine. Are the three preamp tubes dead, or does it have something to do with the configuration of them?? And if I get new tubes, would I be able to buy any brand as long as they're the same type??

Also, there's a weird "static" noise going on when I'm playing. I initially thought the speaker might've been blown, but it's not that kind of sound... it seems to be coming from inside the amp itself. Could it be caused by all the tubes not being active??

Sorry if these seem like silly questions, but I'm not the most technical guy when it comes to amps..

Anyway, thanks for reading, and please respond if you have answers!

 

[Anonymous]

Different brand of tubes glow more or less; chinese tubes glow a lot, while Electro Harmonix almost don't glow at all.

If any of your tubes would be dead, you probably wouldn't be getting any sound from your amp, or maybe sound from only one channel. The hiss might be a bad tube though (still working but microphonic)

 

[blackba]

Do you have any spare preamp tubes to check or can you check the preamp tubes in your F50 in another amp?

 

[JerEvil]

When my preamp tubes went bad the amp made no sound. Well, it was whisper quiet. I retubed the entire thing as the tubes were old when I bought the amp. $85 for piece of mind.

Problably you preamp tubes going. If you do replace, the stock Mesa tubes from GC are just fine.

 

[Chadk808]

right on, thanks guys.