I've been trying out a pedal a friend built me recently on my Classic 30 at low volume. I noticed there were slight volume jumps/drops at times and before it started periodically making reverbed out noises that sounds like they were coming sort of from the back. Is this a microphonic tube? They're a bit old. I think they've been in there since before I bought it, and it's pre-tube shield so I'm assuming it's a 90s model, possibly early to mid-90s, so that's a fair bit of time. So I'm assuming that, whether or not the problem can most definitely be pinned down to the tubes or even a single one, I should probably just replace the whole lot anyway.
So what do I need to know? Do I need matched sets? Considering I've been using tube amps for yeeeeaaars I know hilariously little about them. Also, what properties do certain tubes have? Could I change the sound radically, get a bit more bass oomph or whatever?
Echoey, sprangggy kind of sound from my amp.
Moderated By: mods
Echoey, sprangggy kind of sound from my amp.
Brandon W wrote:you elites.
Check they're seated OK, and keep your nose peeled for any bad, cooking-amp smells, but a bad valve sounds most likely.
I've bought some stuff from Amplified Parts lately, and they've been really good - nice prices, and really reasonable UK shipping rates. He won't mark the value down on the shipping chit, though.
I've bought some stuff from Amplified Parts lately, and they've been really good - nice prices, and really reasonable UK shipping rates. He won't mark the value down on the shipping chit, though.
My old Mid 90's C30 did the same thing. I bought it in 04ish and the dude had the same set of JJ's in there for about 2 yrs. With this being my first tube amp I just played it and thought fuck all the tube business it works and sounds stellar compared to what I had been playing thru. After about a yr mine started making the same noises as you described. It was almost like someone was banging on the reverb tank(echo spring type of noise). It only happened when the amp was on an moved around/bumped.
This was enough for me to have the tubes checked at a local shop. I had a bad EL84 and a bad 12AX7. I ended up buying a quad of JJ EL84's and Tungsol 12AX7's. The Tungsols were high gain and to me sounded shit, they had a shrill high end that I despise. I then bought some JJ 12AX7's and was happy. By the time I got around to replacing these tubes I had purchased my Dual Terror. I had took the cheap Chinese no label tubes out of it for JJ's and put these tubes in the C30. They sounded shit in the C30, thin and lifeless. I did not care thou cuz it never got touched again as I had my DT at that time.
So, to answer your questions. A retube should fix it in my mind. I know you were talking about selling this amp to fund your Stoner/Metal Urges. If so buy whatever is cheap. If you are going to keep it buy JJ's. A matched Quad of EL84s and some good grade 12AX7's. I would recomend a highgrade tube for V1 to keep it quite. The JJ's were my favorites for years. Very solid and reliable at fair prices. I have since started using TAD tubes and FRIGGIN LOVE THEM!!!! I'm not sure the TADs will work in a C30 thou as they are short and fat. The tube retainers on the C30 may be to long.
This was enough for me to have the tubes checked at a local shop. I had a bad EL84 and a bad 12AX7. I ended up buying a quad of JJ EL84's and Tungsol 12AX7's. The Tungsols were high gain and to me sounded shit, they had a shrill high end that I despise. I then bought some JJ 12AX7's and was happy. By the time I got around to replacing these tubes I had purchased my Dual Terror. I had took the cheap Chinese no label tubes out of it for JJ's and put these tubes in the C30. They sounded shit in the C30, thin and lifeless. I did not care thou cuz it never got touched again as I had my DT at that time.
So, to answer your questions. A retube should fix it in my mind. I know you were talking about selling this amp to fund your Stoner/Metal Urges. If so buy whatever is cheap. If you are going to keep it buy JJ's. A matched Quad of EL84s and some good grade 12AX7's. I would recomend a highgrade tube for V1 to keep it quite. The JJ's were my favorites for years. Very solid and reliable at fair prices. I have since started using TAD tubes and FRIGGIN LOVE THEM!!!! I'm not sure the TADs will work in a C30 thou as they are short and fat. The tube retainers on the C30 may be to long.
lorez wrote: I'm a fuzz lover so my clean is another man's crunch
I get some low volume noises through my Classic 30... sounds like a hamster in crisp packet; scuffling noise. But I'm pretty sure it only occurs in the first minute or two after switching on. I was told that it could just be the valves warming up so forgot about it since... Mines probably about 5 years old.
I've seen so many amps fail in many ways, so I just left alone. Wouldn't mine changing the valves though just to see what happens.
I've seen so many amps fail in many ways, so I just left alone. Wouldn't mine changing the valves though just to see what happens.