Author: Stewart

A New version of the JJ 6V6S tube?

Some folks find they can hear the valves rattling in their 6V6S-loaded amps. Usually with specific notes. I see reports of Fender Re-Issue Princetons and Deluxe Reverbs having rattling 6V6 valves. This rattling sound does not come through the speaker but is actually the mechanical parts inside the tube which you can hear. The tube internals resonate when you play specific frequencies. As it is acoustic rattling, this effect is usually only audible in quieter […]

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New to Valve Amps?

Introduction If you have recently bought a new valve amp and you have never had a valve amp before, then this short blog will give you a quick understanding of the valves in your new ( or, new to you) amp. I receive a lot of messages and emails on folks who are new to valve amps. I thought I collate the common things in this one blog. I have tried to keep all the

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Unleashing the Sonic Power

Unleashing the Sonic Power: Exploring the Art of Valve Rolling for Guitar Amps Introduction: Valve guitar amplifiers have long captivated musicians with their distinctive warm tones, rich harmonics, and organic response. Central to their magic are the valves, also known as vacuum tubes, which play a crucial role in shaping the amp’s sound. If you’re an owner of a valve guitar amp, you may already be aware of the potential for tonal exploration through valve

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The Truth About Valves

A few weeks ago, I had a chat about the valve market with Cliff Brown of 633 Engineering. Some really cool amps from this leading UK bespoke amp manufacturer. 633’s amps are the culmination of Cliff’s rich experience, having designed mixing desks and valve amps for household-name manufacturers. We chatted about the valve market under the banner “The truth About Valves” and Cliff recorded the discussion. Lots of inside knowledge about valves (vacuum tubes for

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JJ ECC83S Comparison of Prices in the UK

Prices on everything seem to be going up. We are all suffering the effects of inflation. I thought I would make a comparison of trusted valve ( tube) suppliers here in the UK on one of the most common valves, the popular JJ ECC83S. I looked at prices on the morning of 17th September, 2023. I went through the exercise of buying one piece. In each case, I picked the cheapest option to get a

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Fender Blues Jr Dead on Arrival

A Fender Blues Jr Mk III arrived in the workshop. It was dead. The amp was opened up. One EL84 output valve was completely destroyed. The other had most of the getter gone in the valve , suggesting long hours of use. The white material inside the valve indicated a slow gas leak that eventually killed the valve. The EL84 failure had blown one of the screen resistors on the main pcb and this resulted

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Exploring the Art of Valve Rolling

Valve guitar amplifiers have long captivated musicians with their distinctive warm tones, rich harmonics, and organic response. Central to their magic are the valves, also known as vacuum tubes, which play a crucial role in shaping the amp’s sound. If you’re an owner of a valve guitar amp, you may already be aware of the potential for tonal exploration through valve rolling. In this article, we delve into the exciting world of valve rolling, uncovering

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