Question:
OK I've been waiting about a year and a half, and I'm finally getting my first valve amp (and I think it will probably last my whole life cos I ordered a bloomin good one (saturday jobs rock ) A ENGL screamer 50 head. Now I probably won't be doing this for 2 or 3 years, but how do I replace the valves when the wear out, cos valve amps can be deadly I've heard.
Answer:
The capacitors in tube/valve amps can hold lethal charges, but the tubes themselves don't. As longs you're just touching the tube, you don't have much of a chance to get shocked. To replace preamp tubes, just pull the old ones out, and put the new ones in. Same thing if you're replacing identical power tubes, but if you're changing to a different tube, find an amp tech.
Answer:
ok, and are the capacitators anywhere near the tubes?
Answer:
Originally Posted by dnl88 ok, and are the capacitators anywhere near the tubes?
They can be anywhere inside the amp, and they are wired between the tube plates and the amp's ground, meaning that one (at least) of the pins is connected to the capacitors. As far as any danger in pulling out tubes, just don't go poking at the pins while they are half in.
Anyway, in most combo's, the tubes are readily changable without opening anything. In a head, nearly all the components (capacitors, resistors, and everything else) will be located within a chassis inside the frame of the amp, well away from where the tubes are located (outside the chassis, inside the frame.
In other words, you should have nothing to worry about.
Answer:
ok cool! guys, if in 2 years I suddenly find myself in heaven after trying to replace my valves, thank you
Answer:
Changing valves is a lot like swapping out hardware with a parallel port on your computer. There are pins on the valve and holes in the valve socket. You line the pins up with the holes.
Nate