Posts Tagged ‘valve matching’
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
Tube Testing – A common requirement for tube amplifiers used for professional and stage purposes is that there should be a high percentage of confidence that one or more tubes will not fail during the performance. Tubes are often thought of in the same manner as light bulbs, in that they are most likely to fail catastrophically at switch on. This means that the moments just after the switch on point constitute the most stressful and potentially damaging periods in the life of the equipment.In an attempt to guard against this possibility, it is common practice to do one of two things on a regular basis.
1/ regularly remove the tubes and have them commercially tested;
2/ replace the tubes with new stock on a regular basis.
These two methods may give the operator a degree of confidence ///but in fact, it can be shown that the faith placed in both methods is misplaced.
It is a known fact that removal of a tube from its socket results in a number of potentially damaging mechanical stresses on the metal to glass seals around the pins. Each insertion of an all glass tube will cause micro-cracking of the glass around the pin. This will invariably cause a small leakage of air into the tube, causing ‘gassing’ and eventually leading to its demise.
Removal for testing will also break the intimate contact between the holder and the tube contact pin, resulting in a poorer contact on re-insertion.
Many tube testers apply unreasonable electrical stresses to the valve internal electrodes and it is not uncommon for a known good valve to be damaged during the test. Tube testers can also give erroneous results depending on the way they perform the tests, possibly allowing faulty tubes to show ‘good’ and the good valves to be rejected as ‘bad’.
The second method of ‘blanket replacement’ with new stock on a regular basis can also lead to problems because if the failure distribution curve for tubes is analysed, it can be seen to follow the classic ‘bathtub’ failure curve. This inevitably means that an amplifier which is regularly ‘re-tubes’ will inevitably be considerably more likely to fail during the first hundred hours service than one which has been left untouched.
TubeSync overcomes these problems by performing an ‘in circuit’ test on the tubes every time the amplifier is powered up. The mutual conductance (gm) of the tube is measured by monitoring the cathode current of each valve whilst adjusting the grid bias in fixed steps. The results are tabulated and the new value is compared with previously stored values. A decision is then made on how far the tube has decayed in emission since the last test. Outputs from the device inform the user of the predicted remaining life of the tube.
Tags: 6v6, anode, Hiwatt at Musikmesse, Musikmesse, technician, Tube Amp Doctor, Tubes, TubeSync Bias Engine, UK, valve, valve matching
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Thursday, April 21st, 2011
Orange Amps presents DIVO with TubeSync technology. DIVO helps increase the life of your tubes, protects against unexpected tube failure, and even allows for (4) different tube types to be installed in the same amp.
DIVO will come pre-installed on select Orange Rockerverb 100 MKII heads beginning Summer 2011. The OV4 stand-alone unit, also available in 2011, can be installed on almost any amp that has (4) power tube slots.
Tags: 6v6, amp, Amp Fix, Bias Engine, bias problems, biasing, Dark Terror, Dennis Marshall, DIVO, Doug doppler, EL34 Valve, guitar, guitar amp repair, Guitarist Magazine, Hiwatt at Musikmesse, John Beer, KBO Dynamics, Marshall, Musikmesse, Orange Amps, Orange DIVO, Output transformer, Rock, Rockerverb 100 Head, Scotand, Summer NAMM, UK, valve matching, valves
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Friday, April 1st, 2011
Checkout the TubeSync DIVO review in the April 2011 Guitarist Magazine.
”TubeSync DIVO works perfectly and does an excellent job of keeping even the most wayward valves on the straight and narrow. If you want to get the absolute best out of your amp and improve its reliability, DIVO is almost an essential – it’s a real innovation”.
Tags: 2011, 6v6, amp, Bias Engine, cathode, DIVO, Frankfurt, guitar, hi, KBO Dynamics, Musikmesse, Musikmesse 2010, new, orange, Orange DIVO, Orange ov4, Output transformer, retro fit, technician, TubeSync, TubeSync Bias Engine, UK, valve, valve matching, valves, whats new at Musikmesse 2011
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Friday, February 25th, 2011
Come and see TubeSync / DIVO in action at the Northern Newcastle Guitar Show:
Northern Newcastle Guitar Show
The Lancastrian Suite, Federation Brewery, Lancaster Rd, Dunston, Gateshead, NE11 9JR
on Sunday 6th March 2011
With Blues Guitarist : Mitch Laddie
 
Tags: 6v6, Bias Engine, directions, entry, exhibitors, Federation Brewery, fee, Gateshead, guitar, hiwatt, Lancastrian Suite, Mitch Laddie, Newcastle, Newcastle Guitar Show, Northern, Show, TubeSync, TubeSync Bias Engine, valve matching
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Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
For over 30 years, Geoff Pugh has been providing the musicians’ community with vital repair services. We repair, modify and produce high quality valve amplifiers. Our services extend beyond that of just valve amplifiers and therefore we are highly skilled in repairing and modifying other products such as effects pedals, solid state amplifiers, hi-fi amplifiers, etc.
Aston Electronics is the home of Volt Amplifiers. Volt Amplifiers are a range of high quality hand made amps built on demand. Specific features and requirements can be provide you with the ultimate amp of your choice.
Aston Electronics is also the home of the Darktone pedal series. These high quality hand made pedals provide you with a huge range in tone and depth which can be vital to a players live setup.
We are proud to annouce that Aston Electronis is now an approved installer of TubeSync.
To find out more visit : http://www.voltamps.co.uk
Tags: anode, Ashdown, Aston Electronics, Bias Engine V4, bias problems, birmingham, Frankfurt, guitar amp repair, Guitar amp repair scotand, guitar amp tech, guitar amplifier repair, guitar valve amp repair uk, Happy Mondays, hiwatt, Hiwatt custom amp, kent, Laney, Manchester, Mesa Boogie, middlands, north wales, Saun Rider, Sean Syder, Shaun Ryder, south wales, Steve ryder, surrey, technician, TubeSync Bias Engine, v4, valve matching, Volt Amps, wales, warranty
Posted in Tube Amplifiers, TubeSync | Comments Off
Friday, October 8th, 2010
Backline rental companies don’t shell out on big, powerful expensive amps if they’re not going to be used on stage by pro musicians or semi-pro at the very least. That also means that the public shell out to go and see the artists play. Therefore, neither party will be particularly chuffed if an amp tube goes in the middle of a performance. Many travelling pro’s use the services of a backline rental company to take care of their equipment, however many tube guitar amps have problems which cannot be avoided by even the best tech.
So yes, the pro musician or backliner probably carries a spare amp or three just in case, not to mention a box full of matched tubes!
Peace of Mind
TubeSync gives the backline tech and the musician peace of mind; simple. With TubeSync fitted in the amplifier, it’s a bit like having a dedicated amp tech working full time on that amp from the moment it’s turned on to the moment it’s turned off. Best not to fiddle around too much, then. Better still, let TubeSync do what fiddling there needs to be done. Tubesync sits within the circuitry and ensures that the pairs remain matched throughout, and micro-adjusting the biases when necessary. Four LEDs display the status of each tube, in a 100W head for example, if a failure occurs TubeSync will immediately switch out the affected pair; OK, the amp will be functioning at only half power, but at least it will be working. That’s peace of mind. Knowing that this technology is available but not using it would be a bit like driving really fast whilst wearing welding goggles. Don’t want to worry you or anything.
 Why Choose TubeSync
• Performance peace of mind
• Greater efficiency due to reduced maintenance back at the workshop
• Can be configured to work with any fixed bias tube amp
• Logs how the long the amp has been driven with audio
• Records faults seen by the amp – Gives the tech full diagnostics
• No need to purchase tubes in matched pairs anymore, TubeSync takes care of the biasing
• Save money, better tube life / only need to change the defective tube
• Reduces quiescent power consumption
• Detects tube failure and prevents catastrophic damage to amp
• Switches out faulty tubes and runs amps at half power until tube can be changed
and there’s much more….
Bias Runner Software
Improving amplifier biasing methods, servicing and fault diagnostics
Interfacing with Bias Engine hardware, the Bias Runner software has been designed to allow professional amp technicians to interrogate the status of an amplifier, alter bias settings, perform field diagnostics and configure the amp for best performance, further adding value to your services.
Bias Runner is easy to install, offering full fault diagnostics, enabling tube biasing with and without audio present, either collectively or as individual tubes. It is the perfect tool for warranty provision and servicing, providing a database of hardware serial numbers and storing amplifier parameter settings for full traceability.
Please click here for your free information pack
Tags: 6v6, Amp tech, Ashdown, audio, backline, bass, EL34, Frankfurt, Germany, Hiwatt custom amp, John Henry, John Henrys, London, musicbank, Musikmesse, Output transformer, perform, Rental, Sound, sound and light, stage, terminal, tpi magazine, Tubes, TubeSync, TubeSync Bias Engine, UK, valve, valve matching
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Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Over the last 40 years Dennis Marshall has worked with many people in the music business. Some famous, some to become famous, but mostly just plain ordinary musicians. Dennis has gained a reputation throughout the UK for his work and contribution to the music business and the latest news is……is that Dennis has recently signed up as the exclusive Scottish installer of TubesSync.
‘’TubeSync is a new product and is the new ‘wheel’ for guitar tube amps’’ states Dennis, ‘’ No need to match output valves in your amp. Drop in any combination of makes OR EVEN TYPES!!! (EL34, KT77, KT88, 6L6 etc).’’
‘’ TubeSync will automatically sense and adjust the output bias of each tube independently to balance the amp. Imagine what new tones you can create from those limitless output tube combinations!’’
Dennis has an amp in his workshop with Tubesync installed – so anybody is welcome to come in and try it out!!
You can reach Dennis directly on…………..
Telephone 01383 881761
Email tech@dennismarshall.co.uk
Or Mail or in person at
6 Main Street, Newmills
Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 8SR
Every person who goes into Dennis’s workshop is equally important and will always get the same high standard of service. Dennis is an approved Mesa Boogie engineer and has worked with a number of high profile bands including:
Deacon Blue, The Proclaimers, Roger Nichols, Texas, George Michael band, Nine Inch Nails, Wasp, Uriah Heep, The Hazey Janes, Pete Caban, Glasvegas, Katie Melua, Dave Valentine, Ona, Mark DeNeys, Fiesty Piranhas, Ally McErlaine, Bobby Bandiera, Stapleton, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Dougie MacLean, The Eels, Joe Gore, Joe Gormal, The Searchers, Jon Solish, Ray Wilson, Idlewild, Lionel Richie, Paul Buchanan, Stuart McCredie, The Eagles, Ron Sexsmith, Tam White, Lauri Anderson, Willie Logan, Bobbie Heatley, Steve Adey, Robbie Gladwell, Frank Macbeth, Sons and Daughters, Hamish McGregor, Miguel Orgel, Pilot, John Goldie , Marcus Ford, Echo and the Bunnymen, Athol Fraser, Mats Nermark, Bobby Carlos, Craig Oxley, Steuart Smith, The Jam, Healthy Minds Collapse, Avast, Adrian Clark, Nick Guppy, Sergeant, Tango in the Attic, Mike Walker, NYJOS, One Night of Queen, Davie Brockett, Runrig, Glasshouse Project, Kevin Brown, Ocean Colour Scene, Tony ‘Doggen’ Foster, Midas Fall, Mayhew….
Tags: 6v6, amp, Amp tech, Bias Engine, Dennis Marshall, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, EL34 Valve, Fife, Glasgow, guitar, guitar amp repair, Guitar amp repair scotand, hi, KT88, Laney, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Scotland, service, St Andrews, tech, technician, tube failures, TubeSync, valve matching, valves
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Friday, August 20th, 2010
Due to popular demand the TubeSync Bias Engine is now in volume production!
For order enquiries please email sales@tubesync.co.uk
Tags: amp, bias, Bias Engine, biasing, current, DIY, EL34, EL34 tube, guitar, guitar amp repair, KBO Dynamics, kit, repair, service, Service Point, Sound, tech, Tube Amp Doctor, Tubes, TubeSync, UK, valve matching, valve replacement, valves
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Friday, August 13th, 2010
We are offering select retailers and amp technicians the opportunity to become authorised suppliers of TubeSync technology and to take advantage of our new innovative amplifier technology.
- Become a supplier of KBO Dynamics’ TubeSync Bias Engine
- Generate revenue from hardware sales and fitting
- Benefit from accreditation as a TubeSync technician
- Add value to your offering with improved amplifier biasing methods, servicing and fault diagnostics, using TubeSync Bias Runner software
- Get involved as TubeSync emerges in new amp designs from major amp manufacturers.
If you would like to be considered as TubeSync ‘Service Point’ then please email : info@tubesync.co.uk or telephone +44 (0) 1207 585846.
Tags: amp, Amp repair, amp repair shop, Amp tech, Bias Engine, hi gain, Hiwatt custom amp, repair, retrofit, service, Service Point, technician, Technology, Tubes, TubeSync Bias Engine, UK, valve amp repair, valve matching, valves
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Sunday, June 13th, 2010
After extensive testing, Duesenberg Boutique Amps select TubeSync as a standard part of their high quality boutique amplifier range.
Duesenberg is better known for their high quality guitars. In a unique way Dieter Goelsdorf´s Duesenberg design consolidates guitar construction, features and sounds which have written music history. The art deco style design of headstock, pickguard and metal components gives Duesenberg its own eye-catching look, while the body design bases on the old traditional Jazz guitars like being built from the 40s in Europe and in the USA.
These design elements are combined with the best possible electric guitar construction values of the 50s: Grand Vintage Alnico pickups, classical Fender scale length plus a Gibson-like fingerboard radius. Most of the vintage-style tailpieces, bridges, tremolos, pickups and controls come with greatly improved details.
The Duesenberg Doozy Two amp as pictured above is hand-wired and built in Germany, It is equipped with EL34 power tubes at 110 watts, but with the capabilities of also switching to 55 watts. This all around two channel amp comes with a switchable gain stage for the drive channel as well as serial loops for each channel. Duesenberg are proud to announce that TubeSync technology will be fitted as standard on new models manufactured after July 2010. ‘’TubeSync enhances reliability without changing the tone of the amp’’ More exciting TubeSync features will be announced shortly!
For more information visit :
http://www.tubesync.co.uk
http://www.duesenberg.de
Tags: 12AX7, 6v6, amp, anode, Bob Dylan, Boutique, Curt Smith, Custom, Doozy One, Doozy two, Duesenberg, Duesenberg USA, EL34, Eric Bazilian, Frankfurt, Gaby & Claudia, Germany, guitar, hi end, Hiwatt custom amp, Jörg Weisselberg, KBO Dynamics, Musikmesse, Musikmesse 2010, Output transformer, Randy Kohrs, technician, tube amp, TubeSync, USA, valve amp, valve matching, valves, vintage, Yogi Lonich
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