GenoBluzGtr
Active member
First question, my amp is sounding really "scratchy", "gritty" and hard to smooth out. It seems to get worse as it gets warmer.
I assume a tube change out is in order (I have had the amp nearly a year, and steadily gig and rehearse to the tune of over a dozen hours weekly. I estimate the amp (original tubes) has close to 400 or 500 hours on it, not counting what it got as a floor model in the store.
The original Power Tubes are the 430s, but in speaking with MB (Mike? I believe) the 440s are fine to use as well. I have heard that the 440s are a bit "lower gain".
Does anyone here have any experience with the 440s?? Also, I am going to take the opportunity to change out all preamp tubes as well, and will simply go with replacement MB 12AX7s...
Any thoughts?? Thanks in advance!!!
For info and insight..... I use Strats (with Humbucker in the bridge) exclusively, and the band I am in does Classic Rock, Country, Southern Rock and Blues covers. My preference is for a deep, thick, quacky clean (think Tweed Bassman or Super Reverb with a speck of dirt) using the single coils; a nice crisp, but tight and smooth Rhythm 2 (think Super Reverb or Deluxe Reverb cranked) - kind of a good SRV/Walter Trout grind; and the Lead channel (which I use as a rock rhythm channel) more "Boogie-like", ... sorta Santana... Robben Ford.... Clapton with Mid-Boost on... type of sound (sort of a Dumble-esque tone). I use the EQ as a lead boost, so all my tones are achieved without the EQ.
I assume a tube change out is in order (I have had the amp nearly a year, and steadily gig and rehearse to the tune of over a dozen hours weekly. I estimate the amp (original tubes) has close to 400 or 500 hours on it, not counting what it got as a floor model in the store.
The original Power Tubes are the 430s, but in speaking with MB (Mike? I believe) the 440s are fine to use as well. I have heard that the 440s are a bit "lower gain".
Does anyone here have any experience with the 440s?? Also, I am going to take the opportunity to change out all preamp tubes as well, and will simply go with replacement MB 12AX7s...
Any thoughts?? Thanks in advance!!!
For info and insight..... I use Strats (with Humbucker in the bridge) exclusively, and the band I am in does Classic Rock, Country, Southern Rock and Blues covers. My preference is for a deep, thick, quacky clean (think Tweed Bassman or Super Reverb with a speck of dirt) using the single coils; a nice crisp, but tight and smooth Rhythm 2 (think Super Reverb or Deluxe Reverb cranked) - kind of a good SRV/Walter Trout grind; and the Lead channel (which I use as a rock rhythm channel) more "Boogie-like", ... sorta Santana... Robben Ford.... Clapton with Mid-Boost on... type of sound (sort of a Dumble-esque tone). I use the EQ as a lead boost, so all my tones are achieved without the EQ.
