Question:
So i got my 5150 the other day, and much to my surprise it had fender power tubes(6L6). They looked in pretty bad condtion(old and toasty). I was thinking about getting some new tubes, but i dont know what i want or need. I would like something that would compliment the 5150 well(high gain, etc). I have the hookup at guitar center, but all they sell are GrooveTubes, which i knew nothing about. Ive heard alot about JJ tubes. Does anyone have some suggestions??
Answer:
Groove Tubes are OK. Some folks here swear by them, where I've bought them a few times and I must have got an "average" set each time so I really haven't gone back. They're sold by a lot of music stores because they're often original equipment on Fender amplifiers.
JJ/Tesla Tubes are available, probably easiest if ordered online from a tube broker/sales site.
In any case, no matter what brand you buy, you want to make sure that for power tubes:
1) You get a matched pair (if the amp has 2 power tubes) or a matched quad (if 4). "Matching" power tubes basically assures that you'll get the best possible tone and lifespan out of the power tubes.
2) You get tubes that are "hot" or "cold" to the taste of your amp's bias. Generally, just writing a note in about what type of amp you're putting the tubes in will help the tube seller (if they're knowledgeable) get you the right tubes.
Nate
Answer:
thetubestore.com
or
tubedepot.com
Answer:
Originally Posted by nate95366 2) You get tubes that are "hot" or "cold" to the taste of your amp's bias. Generally, just writing a note in about what type of amp you're putting the tubes in will help the tube seller (if they're knowledgeable) get you the right tubes. Is the 5150 fixed bias? for some reason I thought it could be biased.
Answer:
Well i might not be buying new tubes for it afterall. Today when I turned it on, the power light flicked on for a split second then went off. Now it won't turn back on. I was hoping it was just the fuse, but the fuse is fine. I tried different outlets and no luck. So thats awesome, I've gotten to play it twice and its already busted. I would love to fix it, but I'm not going to spend alot of money trying to fix an amp i just bought, so it might be getting returned
Answer:
The power light wouldn't really have anything to do with the tubes. *Someone correct me.* You might be going microphonic if they were bad, or maybe no/muted sound, but I don't know what's going on with that power light.
Answer:
Originally Posted by omensixaxe The power light wouldn't really have anything to do with the tubes. *Someone correct me.* You might be going microphonic if they were bad, or maybe no/muted sound, but I don't know what's going on with that power light. indeed. I've been told that with guitar amps there's actually multiple fuses, at least two or three. so the main fuse that you see on the back of the amp might not be the one that popped.
Answer:
Well luckily for me, guitar center is paying to have it repaired. When the switch is in the on position, there is no light, but the power tubes still light up. In fact they glow violently when im off standby, I tested 2 pairs of tubes. Only 1 of the preamp tubes lights up at all. But i guess its not my problem to figure out anymore