Old Tubes Vs New Tubes / How To Change Amp Tubes

Old Tubes Vs New Tubes / How To Change Amp Tubes

In this video we show how to change out tubes in your amplifier. After we do a comparison of tone from the old tubes to the new tubes. In this example we're using my Peavey 5150 Block Letter / Signature. We're replacing the Groove Tube GT-6l6-GE and GT-6l6-CHP with JJ Electronics 6L6-GC power tubes. The unmarked pre amp tubes in the 5150 are being replaced with Tung-Sol 12AX7's.

Or Groove Tube GT-6L6-CHP

[GearZombie]

What do you think? Did you expect a bigger tone change?

[carlfrei]

I haven't found tube changes to make that much of a difference except my wallet being a bit more empty.

[tjn]

That is sure nice having easy access to the preamp tubes.. I'm looking at changing my JSX tubes, which means pulling the amp entirely out of the housing to access to them, I sure wish it was setup like this amp, both are Peavey.

[EthanisWhite]

This video is awesome thank you. Scared to fix it myself but for sure feel better about getting new tubes for my jsx now

[TheSoulflytriber]

This tonal change can make a different bias settings. Each set of tubes gives you a different values. Even the same brand. It means that two identical 5150s can sound different. I have seen stock peavey amps and their bias were between 30 - 60 percent. The tubes work in amps without problem, but sound can be different. If you have 50% and 55%, you cannot hear anyting but if you have 30% and 60% you will hear a diference.The amps what have a bias adjustment are better because you can set a values which were with old tubes.

[TheShadowPerson.]

Also what were the songs for the clean channel and the lead section? Very beautiful song selection, its nostalgia from my childhood.

[AkiraSpectrum]

good video! yes, definitely surprised that there wasn't a bit more of a difference, although tube changes usually are. I found the greatest difference in the cleans--more midrange, punchy, and alive.

[McBug-]

About the same probably could've gone another year with the old gt's. Thanks for the video I'm gonna stick with my jj's

[Stretchwreckedem]

I thought there was a bit more low end with the new tubes tbh

[tomcatt]

I gotta say, I hear a noticeable difference with good head phones on ! fuller and more bass or i would say more head room, nice video, very well done

[renggaandromedha]

I have an Ultra Tube 112 combo, does it need to be "Biased" if I replace the Power Tube? sir...

[kopan]

this procedure can be applied to EVH5150 too? in which power tube replacement is just plug-n-play ?

[Coles-bootleg-vids]

The new tubes sounded, well, new, they weren't as squishy, they sounded more rigid like they were pushing back against the guitar instead of conforming to it. Especially on the clean channel, I loved the big difference in the upper high-end, even the lows sounded more precise. But as many other people and you pointed out, the more gain that was added, the less drastic the difference, even then it was minute in the clean channel to, you could've just said that you turned the highs up and the lows down and I'd believe you. To be fair, I'm listening to this vid with really overkill tws earbuds.

[bm-b]

Hi I got the same preamp tubes but noticed it was 12ax7a and not 12ax7 what difference does it make if any or are they interchangeable?

[folsomaudio]

Seems like the JJ's are quicker to breakup on the distortion. But aside from that not much difference! wow! The JJ do seem more aggression but that's probably just due to the breakup! Cool video man!

[thoroustreads]

cool video man. love my 5150 block!
am correct in noticing that there are 2 pairs of different gt 6l6s? from what i hear the tubes work in pairs outer two at 60 watts and inner two at 60 watts? is that correct? if so, is there any possible tonal advantage to mixing similar tube pairs in the correct placement? or am i dreaming.

[barrygomez]

I wonder if my 6505+ is as easy to retube as your 5150

Here i was trying to find a tech arpund here but ill prolly just do it myself and bypass being without an amp for 2 weeks.

[blakjack]

I've had shit luck with JJ EL34 tubes in my JMP 2203. They blow easy and don't last very long.

[sparkyguitar]

On my Fender and Boogie it's 1 and 4 outside pair and 2 and 3 inside pair. This looks like 1 and 2 then 3 and 4. Does this amp have any 50/100 watt setting like both my Twin and Boogie?

[lazvt]

heard finger prints create 'hot spots' on tubes...could cause their premature failure? Noticeable diff clean, no diff driven. Getting a set of JJ EL34II for my Hamstead...it blew a tube yesterday. $60 for a pair out of Tennessee.