OK, I was playing my clean channel (Rivera Clubster Tube amp) and no problem... sounds great.
Then I switch to my dirt channel and I get NOTHING!!! I play with the knobs and still nothing. Then I find that if I turn the volume and or master knob for that channel all the way up I start getting some crackle and very low volume.
The amp has two preamps and two power tubes. For only one channel to sound bad, do I likely have a problem with just one tube? Do I have one preamp for each channel, so if the preamp for my dirt channel is bad then it would explain why only that channel sounds bad? The clean channel sounds great.
Well, what say you? Where should I start?
Thanks,
Jim
"There won't be any money. But when you die, on your death bed, you will receive total conciousness. So, I got that going for me. Which is nice." - Bill Murray, Caddyshack ~~ Michigan Music Dojo - http://michiganmusicdojo.com ~~
Got spare tubes? Best way to know if you have a tube problem or not is swapping in one that you know works. Sometimes swapping around tubes of the same type in different positions in the amp can tip you off that one's bad.
Some amps use separate tubes or tube sections for the channels, some use all the sections for the "gain" or "distortion" channel and plug in the input at a later stage in the chain for the "clean."
Good chance you do have a bad tube or tube section, but there are several other things that can take out an amp stage.
A schematic of the amp would be very useful.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Well, I don't have a schematic, I don't even have an owners manual as it didn't come with one. The Rivera website offers owners manuals for some of their amps, but not mine.
I tried swapping out the preamp tubes and I still get the exact same symptons... no channel one, and channel 2 is fine. I swapped the power tubes and still the same.
It's funny that there was never a moment where something went wrong. I just turned on and was playing on clean..no problem. I switched to channel 1 and there was nothing... hmmmm.
I don't have a full set of tubes to replace.... should I try that first and then take it to a tech? Should I start with pre or power?
Man, I'm going to have to borrow someones amp for a gig we have next Saturday if I don't get this figured out... any volunteers? It's for Relay for Life...
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Jim
"There won't be any money. But when you die, on your death bed, you will receive total conciousness. So, I got that going for me. Which is nice." - Bill Murray, Caddyshack ~~ Michigan Music Dojo - http://michiganmusicdojo.com ~~
Here's another point... I just changed my tubes a few months ago... I put in Goove Tubes but didn't rebias. My old tubes were 1's and I replaced them with 5's. Should I try putting in a set of 1's? Could this have caused the problem?
"There won't be any money. But when you die, on your death bed, you will receive total conciousness. So, I got that going for me. Which is nice." - Bill Murray, Caddyshack ~~ Michigan Music Dojo - http://michiganmusicdojo.com ~~
No, that didn't cause your problem.
Bias only affects the "power" or output tubes.
I certainly do think you should always have working spares of each tube type your amp uses on hand. But there are other things that can go out besides tubes. Go to http://geofex.com/ and click on "Tube Amp Tech Pages," then "Tube Amp Debugging Pages." Gives you a good troubleshooting outline to follow.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
I'll let you know how it turns out, but I dropped it off at the tech today... I really don't have time to figure it out myself.
But, they gave me a Mesa 5:25 Express as a loaner while they work on it..... WOW! This is a beautiful little amp. I may try to alk them into letting me trade them straight up...
"There won't be any money. But when you die, on your death bed, you will receive total conciousness. So, I got that going for me. Which is nice." - Bill Murray, Caddyshack ~~ Michigan Music Dojo - http://michiganmusicdojo.com ~~
Sounds like you're on the right track. :D
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
