When tube amps die.

what happens?
can it fade in and out? like a bad cable could produce?
or does it not work at all?

I have a Marshall JTM30 and it's having issues.
It cuts out completely sometimes. other times it does this fade out thing.

How long has it been since you retubed?

Sounds like something a failing tube would do. Replace your tubes before it completely dies, because if a tube completely goes it will probably blow your fuse as the amp tries to produce the same output and draws more electricity. Replace ALL your tubes at the same time unless you can't afford it, otherwise the old tubes will reduce the life span of the new tube.

Tubes are flaky bitches, but they're worth it.

ok cool.
I'll replace them all.

They are old, 10 years but they weren't used for 7 of those years.

I'll replace them.

:rofl: I retube once a year.

ha, my uncle gave me a peavey amplifier from like 1972 and it was in storage for 30 years before i dug it out. It actually sounded pretty damn good considering the circumstances. They even lasted awhile before I accidentally left the amp on and the tubes blew

Now it sounds amazing, I paid some guy to refurbish it and don't regret it one bit.

Guess what my father sells for a living?
I haven't bought a tube yet.
;)

hey im pretty noob so sorry if this is a really common but i never played with anything else so i dont know but.....

with a tube amp is it normal for it to take a few seconds to start makeing sound? Like it has to warm up ?

the Epiphone Valve Junior that came with my starter guitar is a tube amp and it does this...My buddy sold me a bass guitar and a Fender Rumble 15 Bass Amp and it does not do that.

is this all normal ?

Yeah, most tube amps will have a on and standby switch as well for this reason.

yes it is normal. Tubes take a few seconds to warm up, so there is a safety circuit because you don't want to have an active cold tube, it can cause it to blow.

and Stilgar, next time I retube, can you hook me up with a deal?

yes it is normal. Tubes take a few seconds to warm up, so there is a safety circuit because you don't want to have an active cold tube, it can cause it to blow.

i thought it was normal but i have never had different ones to know for sure....Thanks for clearing it up for me

I had no idea my amp was prone to issues.
I bought it in 97 or 98, used it for 3 years or so with it working fine and sounding really nice. I started having issues with the volume fading and just played my little solid state practice amp.
Now I search google for my amp and find all these issues. people carry on about the great tone and then proceed to bash it for it's overheating issues and other issues.
One of the other issues is bad jacks in the effects loop. I never even used the effects loop, but the internal loop bypass can be bent accidentally(poor design) and not make a good connection causing the volume to fade.

So I tried just putting a cable between the in and out of the effects loop, bypassing the internal(faulty) one, and it isn't fading anymore. It sounds great and the tubes are ~10 yrs old.lol
I have some new JJs on the way. I'm also replacing the 5881s? with 6l6s. Many posts said they help with the heat issues a bit. :shrug:
I can't believe I've been ignoring this sweet sounding amp.

Tubes>solid state

always

and Stilgar, next time I retube, can you hook me up with a deal?

Sure.
Just don't expect Gold Lions or some other retarded brand name.
He has millions of no name 12ax7s and 6L6s.

my new tubes have arrived but I'm reluctant to put them in since it sounds good with these old tubes. :\