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New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 7:54 pm
by schrodingersgoldfish
So, I just got my hands on a 1959 Gibsonette amp. This is the first tube amp I've owned, and I wanted some advice on maintenance, protection, and any other idiosyncrasies that they have. Any tips are much appreciated, guys and gals!
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:38 pm
by metalmariachi
neat amp.
runs a pair of 6V6s single ended in parallel.
very unusual but sweet sounding.
like the little Valcos it beats the crap out of Champs for recording.
MM
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:42 pm
by SPACERITUAL
DONT STICK THEM UP YOUR ASS. THE TUBES. ITS TEMPTING AND THEYRE A GOOD SIZE BUT I ASSURE YOU THEY WILL BREAK.
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:45 pm
by schrodingersgoldfish
SPACERITUAL wrote:DONT STICK THEM UP YOUR ASS. THE TUBES. ITS TEMPTING AND THEYRE A GOOD SIZE BUT I ASSURE YOU THEY WILL BREAK.
THANK YOU! THIS IS ALL THE ADVICE I SHALL EVER NEED!!!1!11!!11!!!11111!!
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:28 pm
by SPACERITUAL
I live to serve.
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:33 pm
by GardenoftheDead
On an amp that old? Get a tech to look at it just in case.
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:43 pm
by Chankgeez
GardenoftheDead wrote:On an amp that old? Get a tech to look at it just in case.
Yeah, it may sound better if you get it re-capped.
If it still has the original speaker, it may also sound better if you replace it.
(I'm not even gonna mention a conversion to a three prong plug.)
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:47 pm
by SPACERITUAL
Chankgeez wrote:
(I'm not even gonna mention a conversion to a three prong plug.)
I am. This is good for not burning your house down and shit. Should probably do it.
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:54 pm
by Chankgeez
SPACERITUAL wrote:Chankgeez wrote:
(I'm not even gonna mention a conversion to a three prong plug.)
I am. This is good for not burning your house down and shit. Should probably do it.
Maybe, but sometimes I like the convenience of reversing polarity by flipping the two prong plug.
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:10 pm
by schrodingersgoldfish
I did take it to my local tech and got a partial re-cap, along with some replaced electronics.
I noticed the lack of ground plug. That will go next on the to-do list to prevent me from going the way of Keith Relf.
I'm hesitant to buy a new speaker without the ability to try it first. The stock speaker still sounds sharp. It would perhaps be a good idea to protect it if it's in such good shape, though.
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:25 pm
by retinal orbita
Nice work mate. I just ordered a new tub myself. A nice soaker with a built in soap dish...
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:31 pm
by SPACERITUAL
retinal orbita wrote:Nice work mate. I just ordered a new tub myself. A nice soaker with a built in soap dish...
Clawfoot???
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 11:11 pm
by Jeff-7
You can probably get a good idea on maintenance and care for it over on the Gibson forums. There's been a couple threads about restoring and modding those old Gibson amps lately over there.
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 1:44 am
by D.o.S.
Chankgeez wrote:GardenoftheDead wrote:On an amp that old? Get a tech to look at it just in case.
Yeah, it may sound better if you get it re-capped.
If it still has the original speaker, it may also sound better if you replace it.
(I'm not even gonna mention a conversion to a three prong plug.)
All hail the Tao of the Chank.
(Garden's right on, too).
Re: New tube owner
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 1:34 pm
by schrodingersgoldfish
I appreciate all the advice thus far, but I would still love any other nuggets that you guys have to offer. I know that vintage amps have their own extra requirements for care and maintenance, but I am a n00b to all valve amplifiers in general. Just looking at the array of different types of tubes for when I need to replace was dizzying.