SteveXFR Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 I've got an old style Orange Terror amp and it's sounding a bit crappy so I'm thinking it's time for new tubes. There a lot of choices available, are there big differences between them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 Big time apparently, might be worth contacting Watford Valves for their advice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 (edited) I’ve played the swopping tube saga in the past with my old Marshall guitar amps and there are slight differences or some would say huge differences but I didn’t notice it Pre Amp tubes are easy to swop around with some great brands such as JJ, EHX, Svetlana, Groove Tube etc etc Changing worn or faulty tubes is a must but swopping good tubes for bass tone nirvana seldom happens in my opinion unless you get the very expensive tubes but even then I’m not so sure As Lozz said Watford valves are great and very helpful Edited January 30, 2021 by BassAdder27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted January 30, 2021 Author Share Posted January 30, 2021 Thanks. I think my tubes are probably several years old and the amp doesn't sound as good as it should, especially when cranked up with lots of gain. Im not really chasing a tone but if there's a brand of tube which will give me a nicer, vintage tube gain sound then now is the opertunity to fit them. Its only the pre amp that has tubes, the power amp is solid state so I only need to buy two tubes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 Yes if they are several years old fresh tubes of the same type ie 12AX7 / ECC83 etc etc will make a more reliable amp and perhaps improve the tone too They are not that expensive to as a bonus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 Pre-amp tubes should last decades as they don't do much work - lazy buggers!!! LOL 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agedhorse Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 (edited) I see an awful lot of perfectly good tubes replaced, sometimes causing more problems than leaving well enough alone. For every player who is convinced a tube is "worn out", another player thinks that “bad tube” is the “best tube ever”. Edited January 31, 2021 by agedhorse 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted January 31, 2021 Author Share Posted January 31, 2021 7 hours ago, agedhorse said: I see an awful lot of perfectly good tubes replaced, sometimes causing more problems than leaving well enough alone. For every player who is convinced a tube is "worn out", another player things that bad tube is the best tube ever. Is there a way to test tube condition? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 (edited) It's called a tube tester. There are modern testers available for a limited range of tube types such as those pre-amp tubes used in MI amplifiers. Edited January 31, 2021 by BassmanPaul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agedhorse Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 In general, unless there is a problem that can be traced to a bad tube, I recommend leaving well enough alone. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted January 31, 2021 Author Share Posted January 31, 2021 2 hours ago, BassmanPaul said: It's called a tube tester. Well why did they give it such rediculous, cryptic name? Id have called it a loud light bulb inspector or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 I. have an old Heathkit tester which I use for quick go/no go checks. I also have a Hickok tube tester that gets very little use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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