Guitar players love tube amplifiers for the warmth of their tone. All tube amps have different qualities. The trick is to find the right amp for you and to keep it in well functioning order. There are several things to consider in regards to testing and adjusting tube amplifiers. Test the amp before you buy it. There are a wide range of options for tube amps. Besides the minimal requirement that everything works, remember that you are search of the right sound. Tube amps need to be regularly maintained. Some of this you can do yourself and other adjustments need to be made by someone qualified to work with high voltages.
Instructions
Finding The Right Amp
1. Test the amplifier with your own guitar. Guitar amplifiers respond differently to different guitars as well as different guitar styles. Use your own guitar to test the amp playing at different volumes while using various guitar techniques.
2. Experiment with the tone controls. Tweak the tone controls to find the sound that you are seeking. The treble, bass and middle tone controls respond differently on different amps. Try different settings to find the sound that you like.
3. Test the amplifier in a live band setting. Most guitar stores have a 10-day return policy assuming there are no scratches, scuffs or other damage. A good tube amplifier will cost $1,000 to $2,000. It is important to know how it performs in a live situation with bass, drums and other instruments. It may sound great at home but you may find that it it doesn't perform well at the gig.
Take Care Of The Amp
4. Learn the symptoms of bad tubes. Tubes are unpredictable and may last for a long time or only for a short time. The general rule of thumb is that you should replace the power tubes every one to two years if you are playing on a regular basis. The preamp tubes can be changed less frequently. You can stay on top of the situation by knowing the symptoms of bad or weak tubes. A loss of tone control and power indicates a problem with the power tubes. The sign of a bad preamp tube is a high-pitched squealing sound. Always keep extra tubes with you in case you need to replace them at a gig.
5. Take your amp to the guitar store for an annual tuneup. Guitar amplifiers are high voltage, and, therefore, highly dangerous. The tubes need to be biased properly, and this is a job for a professional. If the tubes are not biased or balanced, the sound quality of the tubes will be bad and the tubes will burn themselves out. While the tubes are being biased have the tube sockets re-tensioned and tightened as well.
6. Include an inspection of the capacitors and resistors in the annual tuneup. This is another job for a professional. Capacitors are filters that look like metal tubes in the back of the amplifier. Worn out capacitors will have a detrimental effect on the sound quality of the output stage of the amplifier. As they weaken and age their ability to filter extraneous noise becomes less and less. You will hear strange harmonics called "ghost notes" or "following tones." Resistors wear out from heat and high voltage. They need to be inspected as well.
7. Tighten the nuts and bolts. Any part of the amplifier that is held in place with nuts and bolts needs to be tightened periodically in order to prevent strange rattles and hums. Speakers need to room to vibrate, so don't overtighten them.
Tags: tone controls, your guitar, annual tuneup, differently different, find sound, find sound that
