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jammie17
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If this has been asked before, sorry. Please delete. How long do power tubes in a modern tube designed amplifier, in this case an Ampeg SVT CL, last before they need replacing? I have gotten ALL sorts of answers on this from an Ampeg engineer himself, stating 18 months with weekly heavy usage, to another source stating power tubes last 30 years. My Ampeg service manual states 18 months or whenever you HEAR a degrade of quality in the sound. So what is your opinion/experience in this?


Jim

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[quote name='jammie17' post='109179' date='Dec 25 2007, 12:07 AM']If this has been asked before, sorry. Please delete. How long do power tubes in a modern tube designed amplifier, in this case an Ampeg SVT CL, last before they need replacing? I have gotten ALL sorts of answers on this from an Ampeg engineer himself, stating 18 months with weekly heavy usage, to another source stating power tubes last 30 years. My Ampeg service manual states 18 months or whenever you HEAR a degrade of quality in the sound. So what is your opinion/experience in this?


Jim[/quote]

Hi Jim,

It all depends on how lond they are switched on and how hard the valves/tubes are driven and that's down to the design of the amp. When the sound gets thinner with loss of the mids then they are done. Sometimes you may even hear an increased level of hiss and popping.

The new valves will need to be matched and the amp re-biased by someone that knows how to do it.

Merry Xmas

Dave

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[quote name='DHA' post='109225' date='Dec 25 2007, 11:04 AM']Hi Jim,

It all depends on how lond they are switched on and how hard the valves/tubes are driven and that's down to the design of the amp. When the sound gets thinner with loss of the mids then they are done. Sometimes you may even hear an increased level of hiss and popping.

The new valves will need to be matched and the amp re-biased by someone that knows how to do it.

Merry Xmas

Dave[/quote]

Thank you Dave and Merry Christmas to you also.


Jim

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