Herbert lose of volume problem

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Metal6string

Metal6string

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I was playing my Herbert a couple of days ago and for no reason the volume changed. The volume level I had it set at was around 11'oclock and then when the volume drop occurred and it was almost no volume at all.

I live in Northwest Florida near Pensacola and I was wonder if anyone knows a good trust worthy repair tech in FL or nearby. I cant trust just any tech with my head, i mean who would trust a Guitar Center tech with any of their gear. Plus, When I got my Herbie it was already loaded with EL34's but I want to hear what it will do with KT77's and I think that will require a bias calibration.

Any helpful advice would be great, Thanks

Nate
 
Thanks Hard&Heavy,

I'll take a look and see what i can find. I guess I should start with V1 and a new 12AX7, and I'll conduct some swaptronics until something changes. From the internet info that I have dug threw in the past hour I think you are correct.

I also have a question about the Diezel Stock Tube .pdf I found, first are their really 9 preamp tubes and if so why are V7-V9 in parentheses
 

Attachments

Herbert has 6, vh4 has 7, and early vh4 and vh4s have more than 7 as far as i know.
 
So i finally got some time to look at my Preamp tubes carefully and from what I can see the V1 tube has a problem, the "getter" is flopping around on the inside, like a wet noodle. :thumbsdown:
 
90% of tube amp problems are caused from the tubes, 9.9% is user error and 0.1% is something actually wrong with the amp. Especially with quality built amps. Whenever you have a problem always check and swap tubes. When was the last time they were changed?

-Alex
 
bananaladonpcp":2s3c9dyh said:
90% of tube amp problems are caused from the tubes, 9.9% is user error and 0.1% is something actually wrong with the amp. Especially with quality built amps. Whenever you have a problem always check and swap tubes. When was the last time they were changed?

-Alex


I have had my Herbert for about a little over a year (bought 2nd hand)and IT IS AWESOME :rock: , she is my first tube amp. Because it is my first tube amp I'm still learning the troubleshooting aspect when I encounter a problem. The power tubes are about 4 or 5 years old(EL34's) and I have no idea how old the preamp tubes are. I am planning to reload her with KT77's. I know most of its history because I bought it from a good friend who played it in his band for about 4 years until he got a different amp. :D He really hooked me up on the price. :thumbsup:
 
Metal6string":3gr99yhm said:
bananaladonpcp":3gr99yhm said:
90% of tube amp problems are caused from the tubes, 9.9% is user error and 0.1% is something actually wrong with the amp. Especially with quality built amps. Whenever you have a problem always check and swap tubes. When was the last time they were changed?

-Alex


I have had my Herbert for about a little over a year (bought 2nd hand)and IT IS AWESOME :rock: , she is my first tube amp. Because it is my first tube amp I'm still learning the troubleshooting aspect when I encounter a problem. The power tubes are about 4 or 5 years old(EL34's) and I have no idea how old the preamp tubes are. I am planning to reload her with KT77's. I know most of its history because I bought it from a good friend who played it in his band for about 4 years until he got a different amp. :D He really hooked me up on the price. :thumbsup:


4 or 5 years old?? :doh: yeah time for a full retube man. get it biased and enjoy the REAL deal. you havent actually heard the herbert yet. you have been hearing an old used up version of it. get some new glass asap. it seriously makes a WORLD of difference.....

Alex
 
bananaladonpcp":27g8x9gg said:
Metal6string":27g8x9gg said:
bananaladonpcp":27g8x9gg said:
90% of tube amp problems are caused from the tubes, 9.9% is user error and 0.1% is something actually wrong with the amp. Especially with quality built amps. Whenever you have a problem always check and swap tubes. When was the last time they were changed?

-Alex


I have had my Herbert for about a little over a year (bought 2nd hand)and IT IS AWESOME :rock: , she is my first tube amp. Because it is my first tube amp I'm still learning the troubleshooting aspect when I encounter a problem. The power tubes are about 4 or 5 years old(EL34's) and I have no idea how old the preamp tubes are. I am planning to reload her with KT77's. I know most of its history because I bought it from a good friend who played it in his band for about 4 years until he got a different amp. :D He really hooked me up on the price. :thumbsup:


4 or 5 years old?? :doh: yeah time for a full retube man. get it biased and enjoy the REAL deal. you havent actually heard the herbert yet. you have been hearing an old used up version of it. get some new glass asap. it seriously makes a WORLD of difference.....

Alex

100% agree! A WORLD of difference :)
 
Well just a quick update, I had a chance today at lunch to fire up my Herbie and really, and I mean REALLY push the volume after replacing the V1 preamp tube. I was pretty awesome until :thumbsdown: again the volume dropped to a super low level, and I was only playing for like 10 minutes.

So, I'm going to break down and totally retube it as you guys have suggested. I was thinking about getting a bias probe and reloading her myself :D , any other suggestions would be great.

Thanks ahead guys :rock:

Nate
 
Metal6string,
I'm no authority, but like many on this forum I've been playing through tube amps for many years and one thing is for sure, unexpected volume drops are *almost* always tubes dying on you.

The rule I follow is the same for blinker/head lights on your car - "when one goes, replace them all" - the logic there is that they all get basically the same amount of use and (*for this discussion) wear equally, so if one is dying or dead, the rest are soon to follow.

First tube amp you say? Welcome to the world of tone! To quote a wise old man, "You've just taken your first step into a larger world." - ObiWan Kenobi
 
Yes, it does have the external bias connections, so I guess I wont be needing the Bias Probe...just some connectors/wire and my trusty Fluke meter. I never leave home without that meter, I guess I wouldn't be much of an electrician without it....LOL :confused: But I am a little confused about the different values while researching about biasing. The instructions in this forum, to use the Bias Rite says 35mA but the instruction on the Herbert says 65mA. Is that because the setup ill be using is a transformer shunt method?
 
DatWunGai":1e93cz54 said:
Metal6string,
I'm no authority, but like many on this forum I've been playing through tube amps for many years and one thing is for sure, unexpected volume drops are *almost* always tubes dying on you.

The rule I follow is the same for blinker/head lights on your car - "when one goes, replace them all" - the logic there is that they all get basically the same amount of use and (*for this discussion) wear equally, so if one is dying or dead, the rest are soon to follow.

First tube amp you say? Welcome to the world of tone! To quote a wise old man, "You've just taken your first step into a larger world." - ObiWan Kenobi
DatWunGai,

Thanks for the advice, :thumbsup: I am on my way to doing just as you and others have suggested. I just need to wait for the tax return to deposit...lol A funny thing is I never thought I would have a Herbert as my first tube amp, I was trying to choose between the H&K Triamp MKII or the Mesa Mark V, but upon asking a good friend some questions he offered to sell me the Herbert. I definitely made to right choice.
 
values change for different types of tubes but the 35ma is per tube and the 65ma is per pair.
 
You definitely made a great choice :thumbsup: Although I've never played (or even heard) a Herbert, I know enough about those amps that I'd like to pick one up some day.
I'm currently in love with my *new* rig - a THD Flexi50 with the matching 4x12, and matching 2x12 for smaller gigs/jam sessions. :rock: Definitely the most dynamic and responsive amp I've ever had the pleasure to play through. And I love being able to mix and match tubes and bias it myself.
One other tidbit, I've noticed over the years that when power tubes start to go, the first indicator is a loss of high end sparkle. Of course different rooms/venues can make a difference in how you hear the amp, but if you're in a familiar place (like your practice room) and you find yourself turning the highs up little by little, it's a good indication that your power tubes are nearing the end.
 
:rawk: Got my tubes in this afternoon, :worship: Thank you Valve Queen!!! I am really excited to hear this power house with new glass, and the KT-77's instead of the EL34's. I have to wait until the end of the week to bias but oh well. :thumbsdown:
 
Question guys, are the preamp tube number left to right when facing the front of the amp or right to left?
 
:thumbsup: Wow…what a difference in performance with new tubes!! :lol: :LOL: And I have noticed a difference between the old EL34's vs the new KT77's. However, I have only played it with guitars that have passive pickups, I really noticed (with EL34's) a fizzly sound in channel 2 and 3 with active pickups. I need a day with the house all to myself so I can really crank her up!! :rock: :D So after the reglassing and setting the bias, I'm really happy with choosing to go back with original spec tubes.
 
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