Swapping Valves And Biasing Amplifiers

Replacing valves can give your amplifier fresh life, but you'll also need to bias the amplifier whenever output valves are changed. This video addresses why that is so important.

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[brianricker]

You provide such great information without any bullshit. No hacky jokes, the video isn’t 4 days long. No fat, just facts. Love it, and thank you.

[echodigger]

"Having hundreds of volts surge through your body, is a shite way to die." I couldn't stop laughing.

[Unclejerryskitchen]

As a former Naval radar tech, I cannot strongly enough thank you for your words of caution. Voltages inside a tube (valve) amplifier are FATAL and must be approached with an appropriate level of caution. Cheers, Sir!

[MechMK]

I can already hear the news: "Young musician dies from electrocution after following internet tutorial on how to replace valves"

[danielham]

I find it hilarious how it really is appropriate for his tone of voice and choice of words here. He get's that people will be foolish and get into things they don't understand regardless of the risk because of their natural curiousness and lust for tonal reward. So it really is best to highlight the most dangerous elements of the job so that when they inevitably do start poking around inside, they'll at the very least understand a bit of what not to do.

[weswheel]

"loss of volume, a thin sound and unusual audio artifacts". Wow, I hadn't realised how well I'd been achieving that valve-amp-sound using my solid state amp. As they say, its all in the fingers :)

[retrodaze]

I remember when i lost my last friend to a shock from biasing his amp... it was tragic... it was my 18th friend I lost due to biasing and I had 3 cousins and an ex-escort who all died from biasing their amps too... Its starting to feel like a pandemic... please keep your kids from biasing amps... its a horrible way to die... damn you, Victory, Marshall and PRS... damn you and your dangerous biasing...

[troyjeffrey]

These are the videos that I sub to this channel for. Informative, well-produced, and featuring a dashingly good-looking and charming electronics technician.

[MrArchie]

I used to work in a fairly large UK music shop chain, and the number of times one particular old school engineer electrocuted himself (obviously not critically) working on valve amps was mental! - we used to call him electric Bob.

[kdawson]

I am an industrial automation mechanic for the US Government [civilian]... I work on 24 volt DC systems that are painful but not deadly, and 24 and 36 volt charging circuits that would resistance cook you like a hotdog. Proper grounding, PPE such as Class 0 gloves and protectors [rated for 1000 volts], 1000v insulated tools in proper repair inspected regularly, nonmetallic adjustment tools to adjust trim pots, clip lead for reference points and some way to position your meter to where you only need the one hand, and avoidance of capacitors regardless of power state. Usually best to leave the amp on and turned up then unplug to bleed excess electrical potential. You only have to screw up once. If you're not comfortable with high voltage and properly equipped, your dream amp costs less than the average funeral and getting bias set less than that. Be safe.

[JJamesmale]

If you wanted to deter me from ever biasing an amp by myself, YOU DEFINITELY DID.
This channel is a goldmine

[Blaydrnnnr]

SOOO glad you brought up the "ONE HANDED" rule....very good on you brotha... it could save someones life...Great timing.... For those who have never changed out the Power tubes, remember, its best to re-bias when you change them. As a rule, most of us who have been doing this awhile, insist, its a must when you change power tubes...theres alot at stake if they arent biased right...I just got my set of power and preamp tubes for my Marshall JCM 800 2204 in the mail yesterday. Its time for a change up. ( In fact, I think almost ALL my vintage amps, 11 of them... are VERY well overdo...) I tend to stick with the new Mullards, I also have a bunch of Tung Sol....I might check out those you have as well....I'm also doing a filter cap change as well on the Marshall....and my first attempt at changing out the V1 socket. Its very loose and might be giving me false microphonics...Great vis as usual Colin.

[Tenpete]

And when I'm not being a dashingly good looking and 100%-always-correct-Actually YouTube commenter & viewer, I'm a humble 6/10 looking cable technician who touched a live valve/tube in the back of an old radio my dad was working on when I was 4 years old. It's my earliest memory for a reason. Colin isn't joking or exaggerating the risks, I can promise you. You ever pee on an electric fence? It's like that... wait, you've NEVER relieved yourself on an electric fence? Hmm, well you, sir or madam, haven't really lived yet.

[franckinthestudio]

My gf keeps watching your videos with me. Normally she’s never interested in these type of videos. Hmm....?

[MikeStringsIn]

Finally, someone with the balls to explain the amp bias process so I understand and why I should my sausages out of the freaking wires. Well done and I will not be putting my hand near it.

[dukeofpearl]

I’ve been playing the axe for 20 odd years mate. Your enthusiasm and knowledge about EVERYTHING guitars, amps, tubes, effects...etc..has made me (over the years) not only a player, but more of a technician too. Your a smart guy. It’s refreshing to see someone who delves deep into everything guitar based. Keep up the good work! 🕶✌🏻🎶

[guitar]

Message heard loud and clear Colin. Given that being killed by the thing that helps me create my art is not the way I want to die, I will ensure I take my amp to a professional should it ever need service

[scouser]

Colin, I am so impressed with your knowledge of everything around electric guitars. For such a young guy it’s so impressive.

[s.e.n]

Believe me I completely understand how dangerous it is to mess with electricity. My grandfather has been a Master Electrician for about 35 to 40 years. My mom and dad have their journeyman license and at one point I was going to get one too, but didn't. I still help out my grandfather from time to time. It's no joke, you can very easily die from the smallest. Always be careful Colin. Cheers from Texas!!

[buffplums]

Coming from a radio transmitter past, we had metering to allow us to monitor important characteristics like screen current, grid bias and cathode current ... some of our transmitters would use 20 x 4CX250 which gave 1kW often we used to schedule our maintenance from daily checking the valve readings and monthly where any bias adjustments were made. That was convenient as we just selected the valve and the was a pot for each valve on the front panel. So all you had to do was turn the drive off and the set the DC Cathode I by tweaking the grid bias pot.

Your video brought back memories hahah