How Do You Troubleshoot Tube Guitar Amps?
For guitarists in search of raw power and pure tone, there is no alternative to a tube amp. Here are a few methods for troubleshooting a tube amp on the go. Check your guitar cable. Twisted, old or rusted cable ends will probably have shorts, so make sure that the problem lies with the amp before doing anything else. Broken tubes result in very poor sound quality and a dramatic volume drop. It’s also a very quick thing to fix. Simply pull out the old tube and replace it. No hardware or rewiring is necessary. A blown speaker will still produce the same volume, but the quality will be far less than normal. Fuzzy, crackling sounds are common indicators of a shot speaker system. Repairing it takes time as it requires rewiring and calibration. Take it to a certified repair shop. The problem will require a thorough inspection by a certified repairman. If you do the repairs, you run the risk of damaging your amp beyond repair, as well as voiding any sort of warranty or protection it may have.
