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Hi, this is maybe slightly off topic...my tube amp is starting to make a
slightly metallic or glassy sounding rattle on certain notes (the A string
will usually do it, or if I fret a B on the 14th fret, A string). I pushed
an unsharpened pencil against the first power tube and it seemed to stop.
But it will also stop if I push my palm against the back panel. I also
tightened every screw I could find on and in the thing. Some of them were
very loose. But it still might be that tube. Any suggestions? Is this what
happens when tubes go bad? Can I just buy one power tube and replace it?
Thanks,
Tube Novice,
BN
--- In SurfGuitar101@y..., "Brian Neal" <bneal@z...> wrote:
> Hi, this is maybe slightly off topic...my tube amp is starting to
make a
> slightly metallic or glassy sounding rattle on certain notes (the A
string
> will usually do it, or if I fret a B on the 14th fret, A string). I
pushed
> an unsharpened pencil against the first power tube and it seemed to
stop.
> But it will also stop if I push my palm against the back panel. I
also
> tightened every screw I could find on and in the thing. Some of
them were
> very loose. But it still might be that tube. Any suggestions? Is
this what
> happens when tubes go bad? Can I just buy one power tube and
replace it?
> Thanks,
>
> Tube Novice,
>
> BN
Hello, I'm a tube novice as well, but a couple of weeks ago I blew a
tube in my Twin Reverb and the main symptom was a subtle and then
progressivley louder and louder "crackling" noise. Hopefully, this
will help out.-Phillip
Your tube has become microphonic and must be replaced. You have to
replace them in matched pairs, and have the amp biased
unfortunately.
--- In SurfGuitar101@y..., "Brian Neal" <bneal@z...> wrote:
> Hi, this is maybe slightly off topic...my tube amp is starting to
make a
> slightly metallic or glassy sounding rattle on certain notes (the A
string
> will usually do it, or if I fret a B on the 14th fret, A string). I
pushed
> an unsharpened pencil against the first power tube and it seemed to
stop.
> But it will also stop if I push my palm against the back panel. I
also
> tightened every screw I could find on and in the thing. Some of
them were
> very loose. But it still might be that tube. Any suggestions? Is
this what
> happens when tubes go bad? Can I just buy one power tube and
replace it?
> Thanks,
>
> Tube Novice,
>
> BN
> -----Original Message-----
> From: viktor423 [mailto:]
>
> Your tube has become microphonic and must be replaced. You have to
> replace them in matched pairs, and have the amp biased
> unfortunately.
>
Thanks for the input guys.
It only rattles on certain notes...? Does that fit the symptoms of a
microphonic tube?
I've done some reading on the Fender Forum and here is the best description
I have found of a "microphonic tube":
============================================================================
================
It is quite common with the tubes available these days to have rattling.
This is one of my frustrations, especially since I have to stock lots of
tubes for repairs.
You probably have rattling or "microphonic" tubes. This means that the tube
picks up any environmental noises ( vibrations) either from the amp or the
speaker.
You may have to go through a lot of preamp or power tubes to find some that
don't rattle. I suggest the EH tubes ( Electro-Harmonix). I have had very
good luck with these, and they sound good as well.
Good Luck
Rich
Amplifiers Plus
============================================================================
================
Thats kind of a bummer because although I have had my amp several years, I
haven't played it a lot, certainly never gigged with it, and hardly ever
raise the volume above 2.
Maybe this is the excuse I need to go buy a different amp... =:-O
Naaahhh...
Thanks again,
BN
BRIAN
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