tube noob question

[xnatex]

ok a few months back i bought a dual recto second hand off of a guy. and now i am getting a wierd sound coming out i=of it. it sounds almost like an ocean. i was wondering if this means that the power tubes or the preamp tubes are going bad.

right now it has all mesa tubes. and EL34s in the power section. for what ever is going bad....any suggestions on a good brand of replacements? i play mainly punk and hardcore. thanks in advance

 

[Storm]

I would be guessing that the preamp tubes might be the problem. Since you don't know the history of the amp I'd retube the whole thing for piece of mind.

Ciao ...

 

[lookslikemeband]

Before you go swapping out tubes - check them first

You can check for harmonics by SLIGHTLY tapping them with a pencil (the wood will prevent any conductivity). You should be able to find which one is bad (if it's just one).

Also - a "whooshing" sound can also come from power interference.

A few thoughts:

Plug the amp into a new outlet.

Try going without a pedalboard -> directly into the amp

Try a different guitar.

 

[xnatex]

ok thanks guys. ill try taping on them first. i have tried this with 3 different guitars and in many different outlets. and the only pedals i run are my Boss NS-2 and TU-2.

nate

 

[xnatex]

any suggestions for preamp tubes?

 

[stokes]

The suggestion of tapping the tubes was mainly directed at the preamp tubes,they are more likely to be microphonic,but power tubes do it sometimes,but not as often.Another suggestion I would make is to rock the preamp tubes in the socket with the amp on,any change in the wooshing sound could be attributed to that tube,and could be a sign of a dirty or loose socket.

 

[MesaDCLP]

rock the preamp

careful with the rockin

my money would be on the el34's sense they are not stock.