Mesa Boogie Question - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Valarius

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Joined: January 08 2005
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Topic: Mesa Boogie Question
Posted: July 05 2005 at 02:44

Well, on average I do about 4/5 hours a day...?

pammiwhammi View Drop Down

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Posted: July 04 2005 at 21:22

The latter. Unless you're playing like, 8 or 10 hours a day you shouldn't worry about changing them sooner than a year after you buy it....

"I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress..."

Valarius

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Location: Germany
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Points: 1480

Posted: July 04 2005 at 18:56

You mean they come with spares? Or the ones they come with don't have to be changed very often?

pammiwhammi View Drop Down

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Posted: July 04 2005 at 08:22

actually the amp will come with tubes from the factory...I wouldn't worry about changing them unless they start producing the afore-mentioned symptoms...

"I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress..."

Valarius

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Joined: January 08 2005
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 1480

Posted: July 04 2005 at 03:08

Thanks for your help.

Well I'll definately look around and ask music shops around the area how much the tubes are and stuff.

pammiwhammi View Drop Down

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Posted: July 03 2005 at 21:16

Tubes rock! In a tube or "valve" amp. tubes provide power to drive the speakers, as well as the pre-amp. They're the source of most highly prized guitar tones, no matter who the player is...with few exceptions.

In recent years a number of companies (most sucessful being Line 6) have produced tube amp modelling direct boxes, amps and software. These models literally mimic the characteristics of the amps being modelled. Opinions vary, but a lot of notable names (like Les Paul!) have been seen using modelling amps. Personally I use a Line 6 POD xt modeller into the power amp in on my old acoustic 165 tube amp. The tone is wonderful! On its own the POD sounds very good, but putting it through real tubes is ecstatic....

Any modern tube amp will typically use easilly avaliable tubes. I've yet to see a music store that sells guitars not carry tubes. Prices vary widely, so definately compare. Depending on the types of tubes you may need to have the amp "biased" which can be done at many music stores for a nominal fee. It's best not to go poking around inside your amp if you don't know what you're doing; there are lethal amounts of eletricity in sections of tube amps, even when unplugged.

Rules of thumb for changing tubes...some people swear by every six months, some have to be changed if they turn "microphonic" (you'll know; howls of unwanted feedback and occasionally picking up noises from the room) or if they have an unusual purple glow which coincides with unwanted distortion...

Good luck!

"I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress..."

Valarius

Forum Senior Member

Joined: January 08 2005
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 1480

Posted: July 03 2005 at 18:15

Okay, I'm so interested in purchasing a Mesa Boogie amp (Dual Rectifier probably). But I've got some questions.

What's this whole "Transtube" thing... or "tubes" or whatever? What are they? What do they do? How often do they have to be changed? Are they easy to use? Where can I get new ones and for what prices?

Just some general infomation please. I've read hundreds of reviews about MB amps lately and have yet to hear a bad one, but these "tube" things tend to put me off a bit.

Thanks in advance.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Valarius Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 08 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 1480	Topic: Mesa Boogie Question Posted: July 05 2005 at 02:44
	Well, on average I do about 4/5 hours a day...?

pammiwhammi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: June 29 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 54	Posted: July 04 2005 at 21:22
	The latter. Unless you're playing like, 8 or 10 hours a day you shouldn't worry about changing them sooner than a year after you buy it....
	"I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress..."

Valarius Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 08 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 1480	Posted: July 04 2005 at 18:56
	You mean they come with spares? Or the ones they come with don't have to be changed very often?

pammiwhammi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: June 29 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 54	Posted: July 04 2005 at 08:22
	actually the amp will come with tubes from the factory...I wouldn't worry about changing them unless they start producing the afore-mentioned symptoms...
	"I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress..."

Valarius Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 08 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 1480	Posted: July 04 2005 at 03:08
	Thanks for your help. Well I'll definately look around and ask music shops around the area how much the tubes are and stuff.

pammiwhammi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: June 29 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 54	Posted: July 03 2005 at 21:16
	Tubes rock! In a tube or "valve" amp. tubes provide power to drive the speakers, as well as the pre-amp. They're the source of most highly prized guitar tones, no matter who the player is...with few exceptions. In recent years a number of companies (most sucessful being Line 6) have produced tube amp modelling direct boxes, amps and software. These models literally mimic the characteristics of the amps being modelled. Opinions vary, but a lot of notable names (like Les Paul!) have been seen using modelling amps. Personally I use a Line 6 POD xt modeller into the power amp in on my old acoustic 165 tube amp. The tone is wonderful! On its own the POD sounds very good, but putting it through real tubes is ecstatic.... Any modern tube amp will typically use easilly avaliable tubes. I've yet to see a music store that sells guitars not carry tubes. Prices vary widely, so definately compare. Depending on the types of tubes you may need to have the amp "biased" which can be done at many music stores for a nominal fee. It's best not to go poking around inside your amp if you don't know what you're doing; there are lethal amounts of eletricity in sections of tube amps, even when unplugged. Rules of thumb for changing tubes...some people swear by every six months, some have to be changed if they turn "microphonic" (you'll know; howls of unwanted feedback and occasionally picking up noises from the room) or if they have an unusual purple glow which coincides with unwanted distortion... Good luck!
	"I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress..."

Valarius Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 08 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 1480	Posted: July 03 2005 at 18:15
	Okay, I'm so interested in purchasing a Mesa Boogie amp (Dual Rectifier probably). But I've got some questions. What's this whole "Transtube" thing... or "tubes" or whatever? What are they? What do they do? How often do they have to be changed? Are they easy to use? Where can I get new ones and for what prices? Just some general infomation please. I've read hundreds of reviews about MB amps lately and have yet to hear a bad one, but these "tube" things tend to put me off a bit. Thanks in advance.