Tube question / guitar tone (the amp is part of the problem)

[sylnau]

My last Post in this thread:
Get a 5r4wgb and try it. After that change The power tubes, Grey Glass 6v6. Don't change too much at The same time. Stay away from JJs.
You can change The tubes yourself. Shouldn't be a Problem for you.

I can change 12AX7 myself, but not 6V6 or 5AR4 as they need to be bias.

[univalve]

The rectifier for sure not! The bogner Manual encourages to try different ones. And The power Tube bias is afaik fixed - i would just try different tubes and hear if it is getting better. You won't harm The amp.

[sylnau]

Answer from them:
You can use a bias meter to bias the amp, but I can't recommend that you do it yourself because of the high voltage.

I don't have a bias meter.

The Tube Store recommand the Sovtek 5AR4... but it will have less sag than a chinese (so more headroom).

Power will be JJ 6V6 since I can't do it myself (would have prefer Tung-Sol)
12Ax7 will stay the same for a while, but I'll change them myself with Tung-Sol later.
5AR4 will be Sovtek or Sino (will have to talk to the tech about it).

[AxAxSxS]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=harkrTLWDp0[/youtube]

Not the greatest one, but talks over most of it, there are bunches of vids and forum discussions about doing it. If your amp doesn't have a test point, you can test from a specific pin on the tube ( I think pin 5, but check) You can also buy testing tools that plug in where the tube does, then you plug the tube into that and it has leads to connect your multimeter to.

It's not hard, follow the normal safety protocols, hand in pocket, dont go touching things inside the amp, insulatedscrewdriver, chopsticks for poking.

[rfurtkamp]

Swapping type for type power tubes, I never once rebiased anything before the Internets. Only amps that blew up on me were ones I'd abused beyond the help of any bias.

Now in an era of JJs where frankly I don't believe most of their labellings (the 6V6s that are as hot as a lot of 6L6 tubes), I might worry about it a little more, but frankly, on a modern fixed bias amp I'd just do what we used to do: if one set of tubes sounded off, I'd switch them until it was right. Didn't take long even with the total lack of QA out of the original Russian tubes coming in in the late 80s.

[sylnau]

Just got a call from the tech... all my tubes are 95% good.
And he found not problem at all.

The problem disapear in the transport.

[Chankgeez]

I honestly don't think it's your tubes, Syl.

I hate to say "I told you so."

Sometimes all it takes is listening with fresh ears. Hopefully your amp will sound better now.

[Tristan]

Hmm, I had a similar problem with an amp before.
Did he run it for an extensive period to check it?
Also, did he have the footswitch there when he checked it?
I'm thinking it might have something to do with the channel blend or there might be a loose connection or joint somewhere.

[symbolique]

Hmm, I had a similar problem with an amp before.
Did he run it for an extensive period to check it?
Also, did he have the footswitch there when he checked it?
I'm thinking it might have something to do with the channel blend or there might be a loose connection or joint somewhere.

You can manually switch to both channels A or B on the Duende including the A+B blend option via the rear console, so the footswitch isn't a necessity, just a pain in the arse along with the stupidly placed but awesome Bogner tremolo.

[symbolique]

Syl, what settings do you have across the board for your Bogner? I had to play around a lot until I got happy and my settings have remained stable, though I have to switch pickups depending on A or B or the blend.

[sylnau]

Here's my setup:

photo.JPG (41.01 KiB) Viewed 832 times

[sylnau]

I honestly don't think it's your tubes, Syl.

I hate to say "I told you so."

Sometimes all it takes is listening with fresh ears. Hopefully your amp will sound better now.

Yeah, but that noise with the standby switch and the volume.
I will get it back before going home tonight.
Can't wait to try it.

The tech say maybe it was something in my FX Loop (my delays and chorus are there).

[Chankgeez]

I hope everything's alright. It could possibly be something as simple as a grounding issue.

[symbolique]

Here's my setup:

photo.JPG

Sweet, just thought you might be conflicting the EQ on A with the Body/Air. Similar setup to mine though I have a touch more Body, less Air, and less Bass in A stage than you have. I tend to play with bright switch pulled too.

Hope it works out this eve!

[sylnau]

I'm not using the bright switch... not working great with some pedals.

The tech moved the two TAD 12AX7A-C on V4 and V5 so the Sovtek 12AX7-LPS are in the begining now.

I still wonder if I should order some JJ or Tung-Sol 12AX7 to give them a try?