| Author | Message | ||
     William Michel (bill) Username: bill Registered: 12-2006 |
Hi-looking for a little sound advice. Picked up a nice old MM combo, sounds allright, but lacks power. I noticed the tube closest to cabinet wall seemed not to glow....so I dropped a sylvania in. I was told the heater is shot, or rather snarled at. No the amp doesn't do this etc....more snarls. I never played through it until I did the switch, and it just lacks the guts it should have for a 130 watt amp. It is not much louder than a 65 combo, and you find yourself not playing through it. The tubes are probably old and worn; I just don't want to be trashing out NOS tubes due to an internal problem. Thanks | ||
| Mike Kaus (mm210) Username: mm210 Registered: 05-2006 |
Actually, a 65 watt amp IS almost as loud as a 130 watt amp. The clean area is just higher before it breaks up. THe number of dB's louder from 65 to 130 watts is minimal(maybe 10-don't remember). New tubes throughout MAY make a difference but a complete checkup may be required. May have weak preamp -IC's not allowing full signal to power amp. Do BOTH channels sound the same? Are all four tubes REASONABLY matched? All valid concerns. | ||
| William Michel (bill) Username: bill Registered: 12-2006 |
Both channels sound the same. Other 130's sound louder. ALSO: When taking tubes out, as some guys do for shipping, does it matter if they're put back in same sockets, as in keeping bias safe? I have always wondered about this. Thanks. | ||
| Mike Kaus (mm210) Username: mm210 Registered: 05-2006 |
If the tubes are matched, it shouldn't make any difference. However, if you have the 130 with NO phase inverter tube, I THINK that the bias/current driver will be screwed up because the driver is SS and driving two tubes instead of four. Wouldn't suggest removing tubes. Kind of like removing tubes on a cathode biased amp-not good.. |