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[Graham]

i just bought a valve amp ( this one Fender Super 60 tube amp for sale.)

this is the first valve amp i've owned and was wondering if anyone has any tips on them? got a few from the previous owner such as to switch the power on for a couple of minutes before the standby, but when will i know when the valves need changing, how do i go about choosing valves, is it easy to change them myself, etc. any tips or information is much appreciated. thanks!

[lame guitarist]

Originally Posted by Graham

i just bought a valve amp ( this one Fender Super 60 tube amp for sale.)

this is the first valve amp i've owned and was wondering if anyone has any tips on them? got a few from the previous owner such as to switch the power on for a couple of minutes before the standby, but when will i know when the valves need changing, how do i go about choosing valves, is it easy to change them myself, etc. any tips or information is much appreciated. thanks!

aah the pleasure of valve amps.
Well trust me you will know by the sound when the tubes are needing a changing! The amp will prob lose a bit of volume and sound like shite!!
Do you know when it last had a set of new valves in it or a service? i usually revalve an amp every year. Just to keep it in tip top condition if i am using it a lot throughout the year. You can easily replace the valves but its when it comes down to the amp needing biased. I know nothing about that amp but most valve amps need biased and be very careful if you attempt to do that yourself. I learned the hard way and been shocked a few times by tinkering about inside a valve amp. some amps like certain marshalls can be biased without opening the amp out but others cant and you have a lot of voltage in there that can give a very bad shock and make you shit yourself! get a pro to do it..but anyway yeah, switch the power on and let the valves heat up for a couple of mins and then hit the standby button and your usually good to go!
when it comes to needing new valves i recommend watford valves. good supplier..
valves can be expensive.
I have a Diezel that costs over 200 a year to revalve. 6 power tubes and 6 pre amp tubes.
thats the joys of loving them..

[Dan Atom]

Originally Posted by lame guitarist

aah the pleasure of valve amps.
Well trust me you will know by the sound when the tubes are needing a changing! The amp will prob lose a bit of volume and sound like shite!!
Do you know when it last had a set of new valves in it or a service? i usually revalve an amp every year. Just to keep it in tip top condition if i am using it a lot throughout the year. You can easily replace the valves but its when it comes down to the amp needing biased. I know nothing about that amp but most valve amps need biased and be very careful if you attempt to do that yourself. I learned the hard way and been shocked a few times by tinkering about inside a valve amp. some amps like certain marshalls can be biased without opening the amp out but others cant and you have a lot of voltage in there that can give a very bad shock and make you shit yourself! get a pro to do it..but anyway yeah, switch the power on and let the valves heat up for a couple of mins and then hit the standby button and your usually good to go!
when it comes to needing new valves i recommend watford valves. good supplier..
valves can be expensive.
I have a Diezel that costs over 200 a year to revalve. 6 power tubes and 6 pre amp tubes.
thats the joys of loving them..

Who do you get to revalve your diezel?

It's just that I have had mine for just over a year and know that sooner or later it will need to be redone... it still sounds fine though, but then again I only use it for live/recording.

[Must have played about 50 half hour sets with it]

[HateEvent]

I haven't had to re-valve the ENGL yet but no doubt it'll need some soon!

As you said in the first post - allow a few minutes to let the valves heat up a bit prior to playing. I do the same when turning the amp off - let it sit on standby for a few minutes before powering down.

Enjoy it!

[shaun]

Originally Posted by Graham

i just bought a valve amp ( this one Fender Super 60 tube amp for sale.)

this is the first valve amp i've owned and was wondering if anyone has any tips on them? got a few from the previous owner such as to switch the power on for a couple of minutes before the standby, but when will i know when the valves need changing, how do i go about choosing valves, is it easy to change them myself, etc. any tips or information is much appreciated. thanks!

how much did you get the amp for?

[lame guitarist]

Originally Posted by Dan Atom

Who do you get to revalve your diezel?

It's just that I have had mine for just over a year and know that sooner or later it will need to be redone... it still sounds fine though, but then again I only use it for live/recording.

[Must have played about 50 half hour sets with it]

#I do mine myself. i put ruby EL34's in - same as it was stock. hook up a multimeter to the external points at the back, take each pairs fuse out and adjust till the pairs are at 65ma each.
Thats the good thing about the herbert having the external points, saves opening up the bugger..
theres info telling you how to do the VH-4 on diezels website. bit more to that one as i think you have to remove the chassis to bias but its still easy enough. i am prob being a bit fussy i guess doing it every year. just depends on how much you use them - even then you hear stories of valves lasting heavy users 3 years and others only a year

[Graham]

Originally Posted by shaun

how much did you get the amp for?

it was £175.

[Graham]

what happens when the amp is biased and how would i know when it would need that done? also when it sounds like it needs new valves how do i tell if its the big valves or the smaller sized valves that are also in the amp that need replaced? and whats the difference between the smaller and bigger valves? sorry if these questions are really obvious, just i don't know much about valve amps.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Graham

what happens when the amp is biased and how would i know when it would need that done? also when it sounds like it needs new valves how do i tell if its the big valves or the smaller sized valves that are also in the amp that need replaced? and whats the difference between the smaller and bigger valves? sorry if these questions are really obvious, just i don't know much about valve amps.

Try this site - lot's of really useful info...

Duncan's Amp Pages

Happy hunting!

[stuartmaxwell]

for revalving and mods speak to Home - Preamplifiers, amps for professional musicians, recording studios - Emerson Williams

dennis marshall, the man has dedicated his life to tone

THE best amp tech in scotland, very reasonable prices indeed and he doesnt charge on top for the price of valves. plus he will do some other work on your amp while inside, noise reduction et al

i cant reccomend this enough, bobby went to him last week and got his mesa single rec fully revalved, with an effects loop mod on it an all for about £160!!!!!! his amp sounds fucking phenomenal