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Valve (as in Tubes)
CrimsonKing
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
This is a thread regarding a question I have on my amplifier, but what can hopefully become a discussion on guitar tech. Since my guitar tech is out of town, and I am really curious, I'll bring this here.
My amplifier is a 100 watt Ampeg VL-1002, designed and built by Lee Jackson. I love it, volume goes to 12, preamp goes to 24, gain goes to 36. Two channels, distortion is unholy (in a good way) and clean is crystal clear. I regularly push it at six, which is half volume, sometimes more with the preamp at 12, about half, fixing it when I need to. I can give you more info if you want or need but the crux of my problem is this:
I bought this amp two years ago, for 900 dollars for the head and matching half-stack. A steal I think. Worth every damn penny. At that time my tech and the shop owner regularly used it and, since this was a old hippie's music store, kids and experienced players alike regularly messed with it. What I'm trying to say is that it has had alot of use before I bought it.
I went to my tech after I bought it and asked him when he last put new tubes. He told me to see what kind were in there. After unscrewing the back of the head unit I noticed that to actually see who made the tubes, I would have to take them out as the logo was facing the front of the head unit. I do have this piece of info however:
95-634-01
Made in E. Germany
I forgot the brand but I'll ask him when he gets back. He said that they were from the mid-to-late eighties at least. Well, after much debate and me learning a whole lot about tubes and tube sound, we decided that I'd get new tubes when these blew.
Every time I play my amp, at any volume, it sounds great. I love my tone, and it hasn't changed in two years unless I changed it. So no degradation. My question is pretty simple compared to my post,
How can vacuum tubes last so long?
My amplifier is a 100 watt Ampeg VL-1002, designed and built by Lee Jackson. I love it, volume goes to 12, preamp goes to 24, gain goes to 36. Two channels, distortion is unholy (in a good way) and clean is crystal clear. I regularly push it at six, which is half volume, sometimes more with the preamp at 12, about half, fixing it when I need to. I can give you more info if you want or need but the crux of my problem is this:
I bought this amp two years ago, for 900 dollars for the head and matching half-stack. A steal I think. Worth every damn penny. At that time my tech and the shop owner regularly used it and, since this was a old hippie's music store, kids and experienced players alike regularly messed with it. What I'm trying to say is that it has had alot of use before I bought it.
I went to my tech after I bought it and asked him when he last put new tubes. He told me to see what kind were in there. After unscrewing the back of the head unit I noticed that to actually see who made the tubes, I would have to take them out as the logo was facing the front of the head unit. I do have this piece of info however:
95-634-01
Made in E. Germany
I forgot the brand but I'll ask him when he gets back. He said that they were from the mid-to-late eighties at least. Well, after much debate and me learning a whole lot about tubes and tube sound, we decided that I'd get new tubes when these blew.
Every time I play my amp, at any volume, it sounds great. I love my tone, and it hasn't changed in two years unless I changed it. So no degradation. My question is pretty simple compared to my post,
How can vacuum tubes last so long?
This sig was too tall - Elki.
CrimsonKing on
0
Posts
Mostly because I can't afford an amp right now. =(
I just plug into my Klipsch speakers.
Transistors FTW!
Edit:
Found this on wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tubes.jpg
The real reason that I maek post is because I used to own an Ampeg VL-1002, and it was incredible. The sheer number of tubes in that thing is insane. I think it has like 12, 4 power tubes and 8 preamp tubes. I once had a technical question about the amp for which I couldn't find the answer online, so I somehow got Lee Jackson's email address and sent it to him. He actually responded. I eventually sold it because the reverb was useless and I found it difficult to get a good lead tone, but damn ... the hellish sounds that thing could produce.
But I lack the monies. And I am quite happy with my current amp for now.
My favorite thing is the power attenuator myself. It really is a nice amp, I don't think I'll ever play another.
But the fucking seventies? Goddamn man. I was under the impression that tubes usually died quickly. Just out of curiosity, what type of amp is it?
As for transistors...I never liked the sound of solid-state. It always sounds cheap less rich to me but then again, its all a matter of opinion.
A Fender Bassman and a Fender Pro Reverb. The Pro Reverb was definitely still functioning on the original tubes as recently as the late 90s, but I swapped them out intentionally because I was using it at gigs and I was afraid they'd crap out due to their age. Granted, they've seen only light use over the years. I think that's a major factor. New old stock tubes that were manufactured decades ago are like treasure.
I'm not so great at these guitar things, but it seems like you have a pretty nice amplifier. What make is it?
(BTW, love the sig)
My dad has a Fender Twin Reverb Blackface from 1963 - almost as old as him and still in perfect condition, with all the original tubes and speakers.
He also made a tube amp when he was about my age - 1977 or so. Six tubes, based on a smaller Ampeg design and the cab was custom made in some nice solid, attractive wood. Still works.