NOS Tubes Archives - Fuzz Audio

Vintage Vacuum Tube Handling: Debunking the Glove Myth

FuzzAudio — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 03:10:38 +0000

Vintage Vacuum Tube Handling: Debunking the Glove Myth

When it comes to vacuum tubes, let’s face it… to most of us they are a complete mystery- how they work, how to handle them, what they are good for. If we told you right now that valves were alien technology, 20% of our readers might just believe it. Heck, even for true analog gear dorks like us, we are constantly learning new things about tubes and their application. That is why we are going to start a new “Vacuum Tubes Myths” blog series to help combat what we call “filament fables” and their tendency to distort the truth about these classic components with a dose of (electrifying) reality.

The handling of vintage vacuum tubes is a topic surrounded by myths and misconceptions. To set the record straight, here’s a succinct guide to dealing with these delicate yet robust pieces of technology.

Does Oil Ruin Vacuum Tubes? - FILAMENT FABLE #1

Despite what you may have heard, the oil from your fingers will not damage the glass of a vacuum tube or affect its performance. Vintage tubes, particularly those with ink labels, are delicate in other ways. The ink can easily come off—especially if it gets wet—so when handling or shipping these tubes, it’s wise to avoid touching the labeling. When opening a vintage box, do so with care to preserve its integrity, as collectors often value the packaging just as much as the tube. We see tubes with layers of dirt and grime caked onto them all the time, they work and will continue to work just fine, yet we normally clean them of course.

Remember vacuum tubes get hot, they are designed that way, so a little oil is not going to hurt anything. In fact, maybe that’s that delicious smell we get when those tubes we love heat up. Just kidding

Safety First: How to Handle Tubes Properly

Vacuum tubes, whether they are electron tubes or cathode-ray tubes, can handle the bumps and jolts of regular use but are not invincible. Given that they can get very hot, it’s imperative to let them cool down before handling, but otherwise gloves are only necessary if you are trying to keep your fingerprints off the tubes for cosmetic reasons. If your tubes are on display, it can be nice to have them all nice and shined up.

However, be warned. Tube amps can have A LOT of power running through them and be very dangerous. The other day we were testing a tube and it crumbled/imploded on us as we were taking it out of our trusty ’73 Fender Champ. The glass envelope of the tube simply broke in half as we were removing it, leaving the entire inside of the tube still plugged into the amp and exposed. Luckily the amp was not on, but having something happen like that with the amp on is a great way to get a nice shock or cut.

Lastly, if you are someone like us and has a ton of tubes laying around. Pro tip, don’t actually leave them lying around. We had a friend who is in the same business fall on a open box of vintage 5Y3GT rectifiers that he left on the ground and he took about 50 of them straight into his stomach and gut. Ultimately this left him hospitalized for over a weak with barium poisoning and he almost f***ing died.

Tips for Vacuum Tube Longevity and Cleaning

When it comes to everyday care, a gentle approach is key. Rocking tubes slightly while installing or removing them helps avoid damage. Gloves or a cloth can be used to keep tubes clean but are not necessary; if your hands are clean and dry, they are your best tool. If pins are dirty, we recommend using 000 steel wool or even a Dremel tool which is our go to for extremely dirty examples. Cleaning pins can save pins from corrosion and keeps system free from microphonics.

Before any maintenance, make sure the amplifier is turned off and unplugged, and be wary of stored electrical charge in capacitors. Store your tubes in a safe, dry place to protect them from accidents or extreme conditions.

Conclusion: A Respectful Approach to Vacuum Tubes

In conclusion, proper handling and maintenance will allow you to enjoy the rich history and continued performance of these electronic ancestors, whether they’re New Old Stock (NOS) or contemporary productions.

The world of vacuum tubes is as rich and deep as it is quirky and misunderstood. With our “Vacuum Tubes Myths” series, we’ll shine a light on the filament fables that cloud their legacy, ensuring these vital pieces of audio history get the respect and care they deserve. Stay tuned as we turn up the volume on truth, and dial back the distortion on myths, keeping your tube experience safe, sound, and spectacular. Explore the world of vacuum tubes with our tube buyers guide and our tube history blogs.

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When Should You Replace Your Vacuum Tubes?

FuzzAudio — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 21:00:20 +0000

WhEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR VACUUM TUBES?

The vacuum tubes in your amplifier are the most critical components. Without them, your amplifier will not power on, nor will it allow any signal to pass through to the speaker or output jack. Not only are tubes an integral part of the signal path, in a guitar amp they are responsible for both amplification and tone. In the audio world, they are responsible for amplification, fidelity, noise level, and intangible qualities related to tone. All of this means that the health and performance of your amplifier depend on the condition of its tubes. Because your amplifier is so valve dependent, there are many reasons why replacing your tubes might be necessary to keep your amplifier functioning as it should. We will break down our reasons (for replacing tubes) into three categories, starting with the most obvious.

A Malfunctioning Amplifier

One bad tube (let alone a few) can create an abundance of issues. The result can be quite a headache if you do not have a replacement set of tubes or a tube tester on hand. The most common reason for starting an inquiry into buying a new tube, a new set of tubes, or even a tube tester, involves improving amplifier health.

Some of the main symptoms of a bad tube include loud hiss, hum, white noise, popping or screeching. These issues can often be heard even at low volume, and when bad enough such noises can make your amp unplayable. A few months ago, we had a vintage amp come through the door with a bad preamp tube. The amp had such a constant loud noise that it could be used as a tremolo, metronome, drum machine, or a steam-engine sound effect. This type of failure is cause by a microphonic tube, and it is one of easiest issues to diagnose.

Recommended Tubes for Reducing Noise:

NOS 7025s of all makes.

GE or RCA short plates.

Mullard and Telefunken 12AX7s.

Tone and Performance

The next reason to think about changing your tubes is to improve the tone and overall performance of your amplifier. Each tube, modern and vintage alike, comes with unique tonal qualities that can alter how your amplifier sounds and feels. Think of it as analogous to acoustic guitars. Sure, all acoustic guitars sound, well, like acoustic guitars; but they can vary enormously with respect to frequency balance, sustain, harshness, etc., even within a given model. It is generally not hard to tell a “cheap” guitar from a high-end one. Tubes are much like this. You can have an array of tubes, ranging from low-end ($) to high-end ($), and more often than not it is the higher end tubes that are regarded as “better.”

Guitarists who play a lot, especially with the same amplifier, will be able to tell an immediate difference in tone, volume, and headroom (referring to how loud an amp will get before breakup/distortion) between a bottom-end modern tube and a top-end vintage tube. However, it is important to note that results can depend greatly on the amplifier you are using and your ability and confidence in choosing the correct tube. If in doubt, reach out to us, and we will be happy to help you find you the right tube.

Harmonic and distortion characteristics relate in part to the “amplification factor” or gain of a given tube or type of tube. To put this into context, the 12AX7 has a gain or “amplification factor” of 100 (on average). Compare this to the 12AT7 which has a gain factor of 60 (again on average for new tubes). The 12AX7 is the producing 40% more gain than the 12AT7. Thus, swapping out a 12AX7 for a 12AT7 will produce some interesting results!

Rock legend, Stevie Ray Vaughn famously used 5751 tubes in his Fender tweed style amps to achieve his creamy, heavy and thick edge of breakup/overdrive sound. The 5751 has a gain factor of 70, right in between the 12AX7 and 12AT7, so for some guitarists this tube makes a lot of sense as a substitute. Your volume may suffer but just turn the dial up a bit and you’ve got a whole new amp.

While gain is an important factor in determining tone and volume, there are other important factors, many of which remain somewhat mystical. Two tubes of similar type and gain, but with different construction characteristics can and will sound very different. For example, a vintage RCA black plate will produce a sound quality very different from many modern tubes with similar gain values, as a result of the different harmonic characteristics of the tubes combined with the operating conditions of the amplifier.

Restoration and Cloning

Swapping guitar tubes for restoration purposes can make a ton of sense in the right circumstances. If you are interested in returning an amplifier to its original stock condition or are making a truly accurate clone, using period and brand accurate tubes is one of the best ways to make sure your amplifier is performing as it would have decades ago.

This tube buyers guide will not go out of its way to promote NOS (new old stock) tubes over modern tubes, but NOS tubes can have special value based on both tone and authenticity. If someone has gone to the expense and trouble to acquire or restore a vintage amplifier, or if they desire to have an authentic a clone, it makes sense to invest in stock (original for that model) tubes. Not only do they improve resale value, but NOS tubes can be a key element in achieving vintage sound. Modern tubes are great for many types of applications, but they are not great at sounding like vintage tubes.

There are exceptions to the rule that vintage amps require vintage tubes. Some amplifiers require very specific, very expensive NOS tubes. When this is the case, it can make some sense to compromise by using used vintage tubes, reissue tubes, or modern “boutique” variants.

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