Shot Pre-amp Tubes? Or what??

DAVE11 · Post by **DAVE11** » Sun Jul 20, 2003 5:08 pm

I'm wondering if any of the so-called "professional" tech's from the Orange forum can determine exactly what is wrong with my Orange AD 200B Head. It's very strange. I've only had the head since March so I find it hard to believe that the pre-amp tubes would alreay be shot. I turn the head on, everything is fine. It was running for probably 30 to 40 minutes our band was recording some tracks when suddenly the signal from the head starts cracking. Fairly loud and irregular cracking. Almost like a broken radio or something. I unplugged everything from the head except the cab and the louder I brought up the master the louder this cracking/humming roared.

There are two pre-amp tubes/valves (ECC83 and ECC81) inside and one is lit brighter than the other. I don't know if this is normal or if this is the source of the problem. If it is I can't imagine those tubes wearing out so fast. Then again I could be on the wrong track all together. Could it possibly be a fuse or a transformer? I don't know? I'm not exactly real technical when it comes to diagnosing these problems. Any help would be greatly appreciated before I end up taking it to a tech. Thanks!

Post by **bclaire** » Sun Jul 20, 2003 5:50 pm

Well, have you tried replacing the preamp tubes?

You should have spare tubes on hand anyways just in case- but you don't need to rebias an amp for preamp tubes. Just pop a couple in there and see if your problem goes away. A lot cheaper than taking it to a tech. Billy

Post by **bclaire** » Sun Jul 20, 2003 5:58 pm

oh, and if you bought the head new, it's under warranty- doubt that the tubes would still be though. I don't know what Orange's policy is on tubes but generally 90 days is what other amp makers do... so bring it back to your dealer and have them diagnose it...

DAVE11 · Post by **DAVE11** » Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:10 am

Billy, first of all thanks for your response. I really appreciate your help!

This problem surfaced in the wanning hours of Saturday night and I'm to stupid to just have spare pre-amp tubes laying around. I'll follow up on your advice because it never hurts to have an extra pair. I'll swipe the tubes on Monday and find out if that was the problem.

As far as dealers and warranties are concerned I have a few problems. I bought the head off of a dealer in Atlanta. I live in Pittsburgh <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> lol. But everything should be cool with my local Orange dealer if things reach that point.

What gets me though is the life of those tubes, if that is the problem. For example, our guitar player just had his amp retubed after almost a year and a half. We play shows about 2 to 3 times a week, but still. I would think those pre-amp tubes would hold up.

I'll keep you posted on any progress.

DAVE11 · Post by **DAVE11** » Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:10 am

Billy, first of all thanks for your response. I really appreciate your help!

This problem surfaced in the wanning hours of Saturday night and I'm to stupid to just have spare pre-amp tubes laying around. I'll follow up on your advice because it never hurts to have an extra pair. I'll swipe the tubes on Monday and find out if that was the problem.

As far as dealers and warranties are concerned I have a few problems. I bought the head off of a dealer in Atlanta. I live in Pittsburgh <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> lol. But everything should be cool with my local Orange dealer if things reach that point.

What gets me though is the life of those tubes, if that is the problem. For example, our guitar player just had his amp retubed after almost a year and a half. We play shows about 2 to 3 times a week, but still. I would think those pre-amp tubes would hold up.

I'll keep you posted on any progress.

DAVE11 · Post by **DAVE11** » Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:10 am

Billy, first of all thanks for your response. I really appreciate your help!

This problem surfaced in the wanning hours of Saturday night and I'm to stupid to just have spare pre-amp tubes laying around. I'll follow up on your advice because it never hurts to have an extra pair. I'll swipe the tubes on Monday and find out if that was the problem.

As far as dealers and warranties are concerned I have a few problems. I bought the head off of a dealer in Atlanta. I live in Pittsburgh <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> lol. But everything should be cool with my local Orange dealer if things reach that point.

What gets me though is the life of those tubes, if that is the problem. For example, our guitar player just had his amp retubed after almost a year and a half. We play shows about 2 to 3 times a week, but still. I would think those pre-amp tubes would hold up.

I'll keep you posted on any progress.

DAVE11 · Post by **DAVE11** » Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:11 am

Billy, first of all thanks for your response. I really appreciate your help!

This problem surfaced in the wanning hours of Saturday night and I'm to stupid to just have spare pre-amp tubes laying around. I'll follow up on your advice because it never hurts to have an extra pair. I'll swipe the tubes on Monday and find out if that was the problem.

As far as dealers and warranties are concerned I have a few problems. I bought the head off of a dealer in Atlanta. I live in Pittsburgh <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> lol. But everything should be cool with my local Orange dealer if things reach that point.

What gets me though is the life of those tubes, if that is the problem. For example, our guitar player just had his amp retubed after almost a year and a half. We play shows about 2 to 3 times a week, but still. I would think those pre-amp tubes would hold up.

I'll keep you posted on any progress.

DAVE11 · Post by **DAVE11** » Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:13 am

wow, sorry about that! someone's a bit lost...<img src=icon_smile_sleepy.gif border=0 align=middle>

Post by **bclaire** » Mon Jul 21, 2003 2:36 pm

Whoops... oh well.

You know, I have replaced more preamp tubes in my AD140TC head than any other amp I've ever owned. Either it's a bad run of luck with preamp tubes or my Orange runs them ragged. Personally, I don't really care as I carry spares and the amp sounds so great. Don't know.... others?

DAVE11 · Post by **DAVE11** » Mon Jul 21, 2003 10:28 pm

Ok Billy, I replaced the pre-amp tubes and it took care of the problem for the most part. The buzzing isn't as loud and crazy, but my cab is still buzzing. It's very annoying. When I bring the master and gain knobs from zero to about four o'clock the noise just gets worse. How much noise is a standard Orange head suppose to put out when standby is switched off? How does your AD140 respond?

The noise this sucker is putting out can't be normal. I've had buzzing episodes w/it before, but just at shows when I've been forced to pull power from the same source as say a guitar player or whatever. I've tried a hand full of other sockets in my house to see if that's what the current problem is. Hmmm, I don't know what it is at this point.

I'll probably have to take my Orange head to my local dealer or maybe I'll just throw it off a bridge. I haven't decided yet....

Shot Pre-amp Tubes? Or what??

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