Electronic failures now on 3 different amps

[Craig Schwartz]

I’m certain I’m not the only one that has issues with amps, I didn’t realize the time on tubes goes by to quick and you need to retube the monster after so many hours, solid state breaks also, when it rains it pours

Does anyone know of an amp tech close to the Chicago - Wisconsin border, I’m in between but closer to Wisconsin ?

[Tony Prior]

I’m certain I’m not the only one that has issues with amps, I didn’t realize the time on tubes goes by to quick and you need to retube the monster after so many hours, solid state breaks also, when it rains it pours

When you say SO MANY HOURS, what are you referring to ? 1 hour, 10 hours, 100 hours, 1000 hours, 10,000 hours ?

Tubes indeed get weaker with time but they in all practicality do not stop working, they become less efficient . Like many here, I used some amps that had the same tubes for years !Was it peak performance ? No, but they still perform just the same.

In all of my own experiences with tube amps, I can only recall one time that a preamp tube died on a gig and caused NO output. I'm talking years, decades.

Remember our old TV sets, they were on 24/7 and lasted years. Maybe ONE tube took a hike now and then but overall they performed for years.

Maybe something else is going on ? The biggest issue with tube amps is not the tubes, it's the support system for the tubes. Sockets, caps, grid and screen resistors ,power supply etc...

[Bob Hoffnar]

Sometimes with tube amps the tube that goes first is the reverb tube. Try swapping that one out before the surgery option. You could also try swapping out any of the little ones yourself. The only tubes you might want a guy who knows how to bias to deal with are the power tubes.

A simple test that sometimes works is to see if the tube looks like it has a bluish gas in it while it’s turned on. Also if you lightly tap the tube and it makes a big noise or whistles through the amp.

I am assuming that you have already tried the banging the top of the amp with your fist while yelling “ Piece of crap !” method.

[ajm]

From the OP I gather that you are talking both tube and SS amps that are giving you problems.
No specific models mentioned.

And even then I'm guessing.

Once again, a lack of information.

[Craig Schwartz]

You Guys are great , I’m sorry about the vent, I’ve been jammin away for years on these things and there great when there working, the trouble I’m having is I don’t have anyone to help me figure out what part of the chain is failing or if an amp is actually bad, my process of elimination sucks especially after working like a dog all day,I guess I’ve gotten lazy, just need to relearn it every time something’s failing and you can’t just go to a music store locally and buy what you think you need, I saw a post where a guy had a bad volume pedal and it distorted his tone severely, I probably would have bought a new amp not knowing the difference and continued to use the VP. That’s why I made this post,

When having any issue, what is the first thing I should do ?

[Chuck Stowe]

Depends on what kind of problem you are having. No output, look to see if all tubes are glowing, or if one looks like it is glowing differently.

You have my number, give me a call tomorrow or Sunday, I don't have anything planned, we might be able to talk it through.

[Craig Schwartz]

Thanks for the chat yesterday Chuck , you’ve helped me resurrect my thinking process
Thanks again everyone sometimes I can’t think straight

[Brad Sarno]

Having a good and logical troubleshooting method using a process of elimination is critical for us guitar gear types. Start with nothing but the guitar and amp, if that's ok then you've ruled out the amp and guitar/pickup - then add one device at a time checking each device and cord until something bad happens.

I've walked thru countless troubleshooting processes with people and I find that more than 75% of the time it's a bad or oxidized cord/plug issue.

B

[Craig Schwartz]

Brad ,,, you did it again buddy at least for now,
I used that can of deoxit I had on every plug and jack on my traveling setup ,
plunging each jack 50 times in every direction and I let it drip dry the interiors
and scoured each tip with a cloth, I felt like I was rubbing for a genie,
8 hours later I put it all together

This old Vegas 400 never sounded so good I thought it was going to blow (my amps usually sound fabulous before they smoke)
The buzz on every string disappeared, (i had a distorted sound from the guitar directly to the amp, very annoying sound) there must have been a lot of oxidized connections including the HD & the volume pedal, I think I’ll be good for this show out in west Des Moine Iowa
I’ll keep you updated

By the way I got your email the day I was leaving for St Charles Mo. i could have brought the Rev right to you, dang , oh well someday I’ll get it to you!
Brad Thank you so much for chiming in !!!

Merry Christmas Ya’ll and to all you steelers out there, Hang Loose

[Craig Schwartz]

This is Adam Tuiaana from the Aloha Chicago Entertainment were a High energy Hawaiian music band , he’s photogetic and I’m not as pretty hah...lol but the hula dancers are gorgeous

[Larry Dering]

Craig, Where were you playing in St. Charles Mo. I've played St. Charles Music House although Telecaster only.

[Craig Schwartz]

We were at the Ameristar Casino, oh man what a place, it’s huge and they treated us like kings

[Larry Dering]

Were you playing Hawaiian music on E9?