Westenra Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I'm pretty miffed, bought this second hand the other month and today I've got that whooshing sound which (from what I gather) could be a transformer issue. Now as I bought it second hand am I entitled to ashdowns superb customer service or should I take it to a tech? OR ( a big or) is it something a little DIY can't fix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Take a valve out, spray contact cleaner (NOT WD40) in to the valve base, push the valve back in. Repeat for all the valves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarfyBass Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I've always found Ashdowns service very accommodating. If the contact cleaner doesn't work give Guy a call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westenra Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 Well I didn't take any valves out and the whooshing sound went away on its own BUT (and a big but at that!) I've noticed a substational drop in volume, I can have it cranked going through a barefaced 15" compact and it isn't nearly as loud as it was yesterday with the whooshing sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 It's a valve amp, first thing to do is clean the valve contacts, and then swap similar valves around to see if the noise changes. This will sort out a huge proportion of valve amp troubles by fixing it, or showing up a defective valve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarfyBass Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 [quote name='ColinB' timestamp='1470063622' post='3103001'] It's a valve amp, first thing to do is clean the valve contacts, and then swap similar valves around to see if the noise changes. This will sort out a huge proportion of valve amp troubles by fixing it, or showing up a defective valve. [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westenra Posted August 8, 2016 Author Share Posted August 8, 2016 So I opened it up, took all the valves out and sprayed contact spray, no luck... I then replaced one of the stubbier valves (the three in the front, guess they are the pre-amp ones...?) with a new ruby one and boom it all works perfectly now. However when I was going through the valves they were a mix match of different types, is this something I should avoid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 [quote name='Westenra' timestamp='1470682670' post='3107649'] So I opened it up, took all the valves out and sprayed contact spray, no luck... I then replaced one of the stubbier valves (the three in the front, guess they are the pre-amp ones...?) with a new ruby one and boom it all works perfectly now. However when I was going through the valves they were a mix match of different types, is this something I should avoid? [/quote] The pre amp and any driver tubes typically can be different. And in the case of the LB has 2x12ax7 and 1x12au7 any off these can be a different brand. And you can probably play about with the 12ax7's to get slight changes. The output valves (el84) however should be matched and of the same brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westenra Posted August 9, 2016 Author Share Posted August 9, 2016 Any recommendations for replacement valves? Want something that can bark with my jazz... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 No recommendations, but there's lots of info on the [url="http://www.watfordvalves.com/"]Watford Valves[/url] site, and they're very helpful and informative on the phone, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 [quote name='Westenra' timestamp='1470748958' post='3108129'] Any recommendations for replacement valves? Want something that can bark with my jazz... [/quote] I know over on talkbass they have a few excellent threads on the LB including swapping valves etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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