Newbie questions here!

[KoskineN]

hi! Like the title said I'm new to tube amps(bought a Roadster last november) and I have a few questions:

1- I think I got a microphonic preamp tube, so I would like to swap it but there is all the power tubes in front of them and I would like to know the best way for doing this.

2- I like the sound of the Mesa tubes but I would like to knows what are the best substitute for them? Since that I read that they just rebrand them for Mesa...

Thanks a lot!

 

[stokes]

What makes you think you have a microphonic tube?I ask because you are apparantly asking how to reach the preamp tubes,so if you havent reached in there and tapped the tubes to find the microphonic one.... and if you have,you know how to change it,just reach in there and pull it out and put a new one in its place.Most Boogies are a little awkward to reach past the power tubes to get at the pre's.Is it possible to pull the front off to make them more easy to reach?
Mesa tubes are made by others and labeled for them.If you like the sound then I would suggest sticking with them,at least for the power tubes.For power tubes you are limited to using tubes that are graded for that amp,JJ's,GT's and Doug at dougstubes.com can match tubes for you.To use other tubes,and it is beneficial to do so,IMO,you have to be able to rebias your amp.Preamp tubes are a different story,you can experiment with any 12AX7's you want.As to what is the "best substitute for them"I would suggest you look at the thread in this section of the forum titled "Looking for the best overall tube".Plenty of opinions and explanations there.

 

[KoskineN]

Thanks for the reply! As for the microphonic tube, I hear this high pitch noise on the 3&4 channel, and after reading throught this board and the amp manual, this seems to be the problem, but I'm not 100% sure! I'm a newbie with this! :?

 

[stokes]

Okay,you have to have the amp on and the volume set as if you were using it,now tap each tube with a pencil or such,and see which tube acts up,they will all make some noise but the problem tube will make the most or start the squeeling you describe.