Members Stephan1980 Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 I noticed a burning smell coming from my amp so I checked the back and the 5881s were glowing bright red. Time for new tubes or something else wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members White_Van Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 Redplating tubes = bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ~Abstract~ Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 Where? If the grey folded metal part is glowing cherry red...there's something wrong. If it's just a light in the tube, you're fine...I'm guessing you know what a normally operating tube looks like and you've probably got a tube out of bias. They may need to be replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mavesicles Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 I think the tubes can melt if they're in that state. I'd turn your amp off if I were you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pink freud Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 You just summoned Belzebuub. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stephan1980 Posted October 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 You just summoned Belzebuub. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pablo Jose Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 I often wonder why some of you buy valve amps, I know it's only to post here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stephan1980 Posted October 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 yeah the plates were red... not just the element... it was in 50w mode... switched it down to 15w and they stopped glowing... after that I just shut the amp off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Real MC Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 Red means it's going to launch. All kidding aside, red tubes are very very bad, turn the amp off ASAP and don't turn it on again until a shop looks at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members White_Van Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 I often wonder why some of you buy valve amps, I know it's only to post here... wat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hyperkookeez Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 I think the tubes can melt if they're in that state. I'd turn your amp off if I were you. I thought the inner components have already begun to melt in each other when redplating occurs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mavesicles Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 I thought the inner components have already begun to melt in each other when redplating occurs? I have no clue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stephan1980 Posted October 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 I thought the inner components have already begun to melt in each other when redplating occurs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pablo Jose Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 If it's only the "inner components " he should be OK. Still able to get that "low power, mid warmth EL34 kinda sound". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members leadfootdriver Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 Your tube sockets might be dirty. Give the tubes pins, and sockets a good whack with contact cleaner, and work the tube in and out a few times to establish good connections. YOu might need to take a pick, and re-tension the sockets by bending them together to make the pins fit tight again. Make sure the amp is drained of power before you do this. BTW, it's the tube beside the red glowing one that's the culprit. That's how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FastRedPonyCar Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 Replace power tubes. (all of em) double check bias with new tubes. carry on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ~Abstract~ Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 Replace power tubes. (all of em)double check bias with new tubes.carry on. this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stephan1980 Posted October 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 Replace power tubes. (all of em)double check bias with new tubes.carry on. k, will do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members potaetoes Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 clean/tension your tube sockets while you're at it. poor contact on the control grid pin can cause redplating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HKSblade1 Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 Means the flyback transformer is shot! Ooo wait.. that's old TV's Time for new tubes! If it still red plates, amp needs some service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members potaetoes Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 I thought the inner components have already begun to melt in each other when redplating occurs? it's more like the burner on your stove being red - it's not melting, just getting hot enough it starts emitting visible light, and in tubes that means the plate coatings are at risk of damage, which shortens life span. it's not an instant death sentence. i've had tubes glow like light bulbs because of a faulty bias supply, then go on to continue working fine a couple years after having the amp fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hecticone Posted October 3, 2009 Members Share Posted October 3, 2009 This is a great article on tubes. Try reading it maybe then you guys won't come across as so ignorant.http://www.vacuumtubes.net/How_Vacuum_Tubes_Work.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members charveldan Posted October 4, 2009 Members Share Posted October 4, 2009 The 3 major reasons why tubes redplate..... 1] Loss of plate voltage [Vp] to tube, or loss of B+ to O.T. center tap. 2] Loss of control grid bias voltage [-Vg.dc]...bad pin/socket connection; open wiper or dead diode. 3] Tube itself, internal shorts between elements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FastRedPonyCar Posted October 4, 2009 Members Share Posted October 4, 2009 This is a great article on tubes. Try reading it maybe then you guys won't come across as so ignorant. http://www.vacuumtubes.net/How_Vacuum_Tubes_Work.htm B. Guitar amps In general, only very low-cost guitar amplifiers (and a few specialized professional models) are predominantly solid-state. We have estimated that at least 80% of the market for high-ticket guitar amps insists on all-tube or hybrid models. Especially popular with serious professional musicians are modern versions of classic Fender, Marshall and Vox models from the 1950s and 1960s. This business is thought to represent at least $100 million worldwide as of 1997. Why tube amplifiers? It's the tone that musicians want. The amplifier and speaker become part of the musical instrument. The peculiar distortion and speaker-damping characteristics of a beam-tetrode or pentode amp, with an output transformer to match the speaker load, is unique and difficult to simulate with solid-state devices, unless very complex topologies or a digital signal processor are used. These methods apparently have not been successful; professional guitarists keep returning to tube amplifiers. Even the wildest rock musicians seem to be very conservative about the actual equipment they use to make their music. And their preferences keep specifying the proven technology of vacuum tubes. Ohhhhh buuuuurrrrnnn :snax::snax: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hecticone Posted October 4, 2009 Members Share Posted October 4, 2009 Good job you read it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.