4:57...a metal bristle brush would erode the plating on the tube socket contacts- you're better off using a plastic bristle brush, and considering the brush(es) to be disposable "single-use" items like cotton swabs.

You have a cool voice! Awesome video too. Thanks!

Nice workshop/maintenance tube amp . I wonder which software do you use and how do you link to your PC ? That drop down voltage ( 100W to 50w ) using those sockets allows you using EL84's ? I presume the sockets does the matching voltages job ! Can I use the same configuration on a Rivera Knucklehead 100W ( 4 x EL34's ) ? Does not harm the amp using only two PT's ? Thanks for sharing your knowledge .

Great video thanks. You mentioned not being able to find those brushes by themselves. I have been using a similar thing from the dentist designed to clean between teeth and around gums etc. Seems to work pretty well and is basically the same thing. Hope that helps!

@therockstudio

5 жыл бұрын

Ahh, I see. This is a stainless steel brush though, have you seen one of those for teeth? I figured it would be way too rough/sharp. Thank you for commenting and watching!

@bouipozz

5 жыл бұрын

Youre right it does have plastic bristles so maybe not up to much against serious corrosion but definitely helps work your cleaner around the sockets. Plus its the best thing iv got available! Ill remember those kits if I encounter anything particularly stubborn

Plate load resistors are infamous for producing random pop and sizzles.

@therockstudio

5 жыл бұрын

Check out follow-up video, how to replace plate load resistors! kzread.info/dash/bejne/qZej1NRterSpaJM.html

@daleburrell6273

2 жыл бұрын

...that's what I've heard...(!)

Look for paint gun cleaning brushes /needles

@therockstudio

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Thanks for watching and commenting.

@AntonVanDerSar

Жыл бұрын

Fellow kegger?

You can get the brushes on Amazon.

@therockstudio

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Thanks for this video! I'm about to do the same on a few of my amps. I have a question about this el-84 socket thing to run the Marshall at a lower power. Do you rebias the amp to deal with running at lower power? I've been thinking about how to tame my Marshall to avoid the wrath of my neighbors. Maybe that would make a great video, not that you need like suggestions or anything.

@onixtheone

5 жыл бұрын

Go to eurotubes.com and ask them if they have a lower output tube for your specific amo

@loulasher

5 жыл бұрын

@@onixtheone thanks, that is a good idea. I've got to place an order with them anyway, for an old Fender Pro Reverb I've decided to stop neglecting. I should add that I learned the answer to one of the questions I have above. The "yellowjacket" type tube converters don't need biasing, the tubes are self biasing.

@therockstudio

5 жыл бұрын

Sorry I missed your question. In case you haven't found a what you're looking for, I'll give you some info. I'm using Ruby tube adapters, I'm not sure if they are still in production. Yellow Jacket tube adapters are also very popular. You do not need to re-bias your amp, the adapters take care of adjusting themselves (magic?). Anyways, I buy most of my amp stuff from tubesandmore.com the last category on the menu is "yellow jackets". Thanks for watching!

Thanks. One of the two power tube sockets on my blues junior is totally dead. Hoping cleaning will fix it.

@therockstudio

5 жыл бұрын

Good luck! You might check the solder joints on the PCB as well, just be sure to read up on safety precautions first. Thanks for watching.

Out of interest how long would it take for the voltages to reduce to a safe level just by unplugging it?

@therockstudio

Жыл бұрын

It's often said that a capacitor can remain charged for hours to days to years. So you see the dilemma, you can never be sure if a capacitor has drained or not. So be safe and drain your caps every time.

@benspinks342

Жыл бұрын

@@therockstudio Thanks for the reply. I thought that would be the case. I have an amp I want to clean the sockets on and thought I might be able to probe the sockets with ground on the socket screw, check the pins for voltage and get swabbing if the voltage is low enough. Still a bit nervous though.

@therockstudio

Жыл бұрын

@@benspinks342 yeah, sometimes I'll check the voltage across the capacitor, but since it acts almost like a static charge, I'm not sure how accurate that reading is. Maybe an electrical engineer can chime in. But since I'm not an electrical engineer, I always err on the side of caution and just drain them. Many air conditioning guys tell me they just put a screwdriver across the contacts, and that shorts out the capacitor - which decreases its life / destroys it and the screwdriver - because it creates a giant spark, so don't do that. Follow the steps in my video, grab yourself a nice big resistor and some alligator clips, you can get them very cheap from anywhere online, or if you have an electronic supply shop in town, that would be a great place to start.

@therockstudio

Жыл бұрын

Also, check my follow-up video about changing the plate load resistors, there's more detail about draining the capacitors. kzread.info/dash/bejne/qZej1NRterSpaJM.html

@benspinks342

Жыл бұрын

@@therockstudio That’s great, thanks very much for the help and advice. Much appreciated 👍.

Nice video! It's ok to spray tube sockets with WD-40?

@therockstudio

Жыл бұрын

I would not spray WD-40 on anything electronic! A: it's very flammable. B: it becomes gummy over time. C: it may degrade plastics over time? The spray I am using is Deoxit by Caig Labs, which is safe to use, and is designed specifically for electronic components.

@alga1309

Жыл бұрын

@@therockstudio hace you heard about the Wd-40 contact cleaner?

@therockstudio

Жыл бұрын

@@alga1309 a contact cleaner is useful for removing grime, residue, dirt from electronic contacts. However it won't, in any way, remove oxidation nor corrosion from conductive surfaces. So if you need to give your part an overall cleaning, use contact cleaner. But if you need to remove surface contamination, stick to a product like deoxit.

@alga1309

Жыл бұрын

@@therockstudio thanks so much for the clarification

I found a brownish oil type of substance around the base of the pins on my tubes. Anyone know what that is?

@therockstudio

2 жыл бұрын

How long have those tubes been in there? How old is the amplifier?

@adamhill5563

2 жыл бұрын

@@therockstudio it's been a while since I've had these tubes put in but I can't say for certain how long ago that was. Other than this one thing that I noticed the tubes are in perfect working condition there's nothing wrong with them. At first I thought maybe it was some kind of lubricant to get the tubes in and out easier but after watching this video I'm wondering if maybe it's something similar to what you've used just maybe a bit discolored.

@therockstudio

2 жыл бұрын

Hmm, it is possible that whomever installed your tubes used some sort of contact cleaner/lubricant on the pins. But the fact that it's brown leeds me to believe that maybe it was a soda or a beer that may have been spilt near that area? Worst case scenario is some sort of capacitor is leaking? You've got to tell me what sort of amplifier you're dealing with, and from what year it may have been manufactured. But as long as your amp is working fine, and your tubes are good, make sure to discharge your capacitors and unplug your amplifier before attempting any sort of cleanup! Be really safe, and thank you so much for watching and commenting.

@adamhill5563

2 жыл бұрын

@@therockstudio its Mississippi made peavey delta blues combo so it'll be old enough to where it would still me made in America but im not sure about the exact year but its not terribly old. I have two of these amps and just checked both amps tubes and the stuff seems to be on both of them. I did notice the substance looked more clear but maybe slightly discolored on some of the tubes. I also can now that it seems to be on the pins as well. again this is on both amps.

@therockstudio

2 жыл бұрын

Okay. I'll ask around and see if anybody is familiar. If you live in a humid climate, you never know, there may be some condensation that collects when the amp cools off, and somehow collects at the pins of the tubes? The amps look to be made pretty clean, with modern components and everything, I was reading some difficulties when dealing with the u-shaped circuit board. However if both of yours work, I read that they're really good amps to have. Cheers!

@ 8:11 where do you get that needle point tool - how do spell it - awl? aul? all?

@therockstudio

5 жыл бұрын

Hi, I'm using an awl. You can buy one at any hardware store. Just make sure it is thin, roughly the diameter of a toothpick. Please don't mess around in a tube socket without draining your caps and having some experience with dangerous tube equipment. You may blow off a finger or receive a fatal shock.

@daleburrell6273

2 жыл бұрын

...right the first time: "awl". An ice pick would work too.

Geez, this was like open heart surgery for a patient that only had acid indigestion... spray DeOxit on the tube pins and just push the tube in and out of the socket a few times. Done in 46 seconds. Still have crackling and pops after cleaning?? Retension the socket pin holders w toothpicks for a tighter grip on the pins. Again, another 46 seconds.

@therockstudio

5 ай бұрын

Slow Down! Who are you, Lewis Hamilton of tube amps?

Carbon comp resistors are inherently noisey,shot noise.

Poor solvent in a small cup. Never put a contaminated brush in your full bottle of clean solvent, over and over.