Will new tubes make my amp sound better?

So which is it: do tubes sound better, or is it all the same? Both! If you match everything, they will sound the same, but in real life, things are never matched. In reality, tube amplifiers tend to have enough distortion that does make them sound different.

How often do you need to replace tubes in an amp?

You can expect a conventional amplifier tube to have a service life ranging up to 10,000 hours. Tubes with military specifications are built to last up to 100,000 hours.

Where can I get a vacuum tube for an amplifier?

Audio tubes for any amplifier: from high end home audio to classic guitar amps. If you aren’t sure about which valve you need, or what tubes you can substitute, let us help you. More electron tubes can be found in the tube store collection of New Old Stock (NOS).

Where are the pins on a tube amplifier?

If your socket does not have these numbers you can count the pins using the key, which is the small notch in the center hole of the socket. Pin 1 is the first pin clockwise from the key. Pin 3 is the plate (anode) for the following tubes: Locate the pin that connects the plate voltage to the tube.

What happens when you bias a tube amplifier?

With a properly biased amp, the amplifier will work more efficiently and will accurately amplify the sound of the guitar, pedals, and preamp. An incorrect bias setting can result in crossover distortion, inefficiency, and can cause damage to the tubes and amplifier. This guide will cover fixed adjustable bias amps.

Can a red plating tube damage an amplifier?

This can result in one or more tubes not operating correctly, running too hot, or even red-plating which will damage the tube and possibly the amplifier. Apex Tube Matching® uses state of the art equipment designed and built specifically for matching tubes used in guitar and audio amplifiers.