Just bought a Boogie need tube help

[IbanezFreak777]

Hi all

I Just bought a Nomad 100 1x12 Combo. The previous owner said the tubes have had 30 to 40 hours use... I have never owned a tube amp so I need help....

Does that mean I should replace them ?

How long do tubes last ?

What tubes should I replace them with.
Should I stick to mesa brand tubes ?

I want to play Metal and rock and lots of lead playing.

Any help would be fantastic

Thanks

Julien

[voodoo_child]

30 or 40 hours is very little in the grand scheme of things. If you're regularly/heavily using the amp, you might need new power tubes every 6 months. A more casual user could certainly get 2 years or more out of a set. And of course, preamp tubes will last longer still.

The best time to replace them is either when
-They blow (and don't work any more)
-You can audibly hear that they don't sound as 'good' as they used to.

You don't need to stick to Mesa brand tubes, but you should note that you do need to buy tubes that have been screened to have the same operating parameters as Mesa-brand ones (as the amp is fixed bias). Most specialist tube retailers will be able to help you in this regard, they will know exactly what you need if you tell them the amp is a Mesa Boogie.

[IbanezFreak777]

Cheers that helps alot...

[IbanezFreak777]

Ok I have a problem with my amp..

I have played around with it alot and can get some great sounds..

When I play on the clean channel with hardly any gain, just a pure clean sound I get a buzz from the amp when I strike the e string. Its a definate buzz comming from the amp, as if something was loose.. Any idea what it could be, and did I buy a dude amp

Please help

[TheArsonistsDaughter]

you're sure its not the guitar? from the way you're describing it, it sounds like a little bit of fret buzz, which would be hidden on the gain channel..

otherwise, you might just check and see if something is loose in the amp/cab, sometimes due to vibration, screws and bolts can loosen up a bit. did you have it shipped to you? that might also account for something being loose...

as for tubes, i change the 6L6's in my Dual Rectifier about once a year. i play at low volumes almost every day, practice at gig volume once a week, and play a couple of shows a month. the mesa str 440 6L6's are pretty nice...