Retubing ya high gain amp??

[hopkinWFG]

Just wondering how many of you guys here retube ya power tubes ie EL34 or KT88 or 6L6 over a period of 3 years or so...?

Just wondering if tubes were to subject to considerable amount of long hours play time... will it affect or contribute to bad tone eventually ? Ie sounding less "open" more rubbery tone and less lively ?

 

[ElectricVoodoo]

They die out over time, absolutely.
Even my pre amp tubes in my 1987x lost their umph..after awhile. I replaced them about a week ago and it made a considerable difference.

Just to add, I used jj's, and although they fall on the cheaper side of preamp tubes, it still sounded better than the stock marshall branded 12ax7's that it came stock with. I may even buy mullards and put them in just to go farther..

 

[napalmdeath]

I'm a tube roller, and love to experiment. The right tubes/bias always makes a difference. As far as frequency, I would say it depends on how often you play, volume, and duration.

 

[hopkinWFG]

I'm a tube roller, and love to experiment. The right tubes/bias always makes a difference. As far as frequency, I would say it depends on how often you play, volume,

Mmmm... was trying to say has anyone ever notices from putting in the right tubes during the start, bias right and sounded good... but tone then found "bad" after few years of playing getting more "saturated easily" no more headroom inturns sounded rubbery and sound sluggery...

But tubes still working thou.... if it does does it happens more to preamp than power tubes or other way round? Which needs to renew to new sets after long hours of abuse and playing?

 

[napalmdeath]

I'm a tube roller, and love to experiment. The right tubes/bias always makes a difference. As far as frequency, I would say it depends on how often you play, volume,

Mmmm... was trying to say has anyone ever notices from putting in the right tubes during the start, bias right and sounded good... but tone then found "bad" after few years of playing getting more "saturated easily" no more headroom inturns sounded rubbery and sound sluggery...

But tubes still working thou.... if it does does it happens more to preamp than power tubes or other way round? Which needs to renew to new sets after long hours of abuse and playing?

Of course they're sound less desirable as time goes on. Preamp tubes generally last much longer. I typically change tubes once a year, (if I keep an amp that long)

 

[skullfxr]

Get some JJ 12AX7's and throw a tung sol in V1 sovtek 12AX7LPS in the PI. It is mildly generic, but that is my goto prior to rolling.

 

[napalmdeath]

Get some JJ 12AX7's and throw a tung sol in V1 sovtek 12AX7LPS in the PI. It is mildly generic, but that is my goto prior to rolling.

That's my cocktail as well.

 

[hopkinWFG]

Yeah thanks for advise guys... its all about my VHT pittbull UL as it has been sitting for long... and recently i picked up the D120H i was marvelled by the amount of crushing lowend it has when at thick mode.... and i start to do comparison between my UL and D120... and i just cannot believe the D120 was so much "open" and has headroom compared to the Ultra lead i have... i was kind of upset about how i hear the UL now since the D120 has open me to a new dimension...

I still recall my UL didnt use to sound so bad as it starts to sound kinda "rubbery" when i push my gain higher and masters higher to compensate for more "open end" to it... but it just didnt sound right...

I was thinking if it could have been the tubes i habe on this amp as i haven been change new power tubes from the start i recieved this beast Ultra lead...