Replacing tubes

[SteveXFR]

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?

[Lozz196]

Big time apparently, might be worth contacting Watford Valves for their advice.

[BassAdder60]

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

[SteveXFR]

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. 

[BassAdder60]

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 

[BassmanPaul]

Pre-amp tubes should last decades as they don't do much work - lazy buggers!!! LOL

[agedhorse]

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

[SteveXFR]

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? 

[BassmanPaul]

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

[agedhorse]

In general, unless there is a problem that can be traced to a bad tube, I recommend leaving well enough alone. 

[SteveXFR]

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. 

[BassmanPaul]

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.