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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 21, 2015 13:29:47 GMT -6
Obviously there's an issue...Got some farting going on on the attack. It's not a gain-staging thing...not happening when I bypass the Sta or when using the FC526. I think it might be one of the 6v6 tubes, but I just replaced those...I also balanced the tubes (I held down the red hum button and twisted until I heard it at the quietest volume)...Still nothing. How would you diagnose this?
It seems to be happening on the double and triple attacks. First pass bypass, 2nd pass single attack, 3rd pass double attack, 4th pass triple attack
https%3A//soundcloud.com/johnandkris/retroprob%3Fin%3Djohnandkris/sets/sta-issue
https%3A//soundcloud.com/johnandkris/526bass%3Fin%3Djohnandkris/sets/sta-issue
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 21, 2015 14:01:23 GMT -6
Just spent some time swapping out tubes...Ran into a different 12ax7 that seems to help the problem. Getting much less fart in the double attack now...but still coming on the triple. I'm sure that's kind've a "Thing", but I swear there was a time I was getting it on anything.
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 21, 2015 14:07:05 GMT -6
This 526 is REALLY making me re-think this $2600 worth of tube-ness
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Post by deehope on Feb 21, 2015 14:10:01 GMT -6
This 526 is REALLY making me re-think this $2600 worth of tube-ness 526-> pentode color module -> vc528 = bye bye sta? |
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Feb 21, 2015 15:02:00 GMT -6
This 526 is REALLY making me re-think this $2600 worth of tube-ness Yeah but you know as well as I do you let it go you'll be back ! |
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 21, 2015 16:26:01 GMT -6
Yeah - not sure I could say goodbye - it's a special piece and nothing else sounds quite like it ...but I'm telling you, this 526 is taking over most tracking duties...Jeff has become a friend, but I swear I'm not just pumping sunshine...it's my favorite thing he's done. In my opinion, there aren't many compressors out there right now that rival this thing.
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 21, 2015 16:32:01 GMT -6
This 526 is REALLY making me re-think this $2600 worth of tube-ness 526-> pentode color module -> vc528 = bye bye sta? Well, I think they're different things. I think I said this somewhere else...but the sound of the Sta and the CAPI stuff is different to me. The Sta is that big girth on the bottom with a little sheen on top. The CAPI products do the API thing - transient smoothing, mids a little more forward but smoother, punchier. Plus, I don't use the Sta on the whole mix of course...so, I guess the real answer is to have both. I've actually been playing around with using the 526 as a tone box on the 2 mix. You can bypass the compression and just use it as flavoring...spent the last hour playing around with that, but I only have one 526, so it's kind of a PITA. But I'm really liking what I hear! Also playing around using it as a 2 bus compressor. The compression is so freaking transparent but it adds more color as you turn the input up. Still figuring out gain staging right now. |
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Post by matt on Feb 21, 2015 18:04:54 GMT -6
526-> pentode color module -> vc528 = bye bye sta? The Sta is that big girth on the bottom with a little sheen on top. It's funny, I'm re-thinking my Sta. Mine can sound wooly on the bottom, which doesn't always translate well when I'm trying to mix vocals. I find myself trying to fix this when comping, with not much success. I've always chalked it up to my beginner-esque engineering skills (hitting it too hot during tracking), but maybe not. I have a problem with enunciated Ws, which I've always attributed to my vocalist's technique (moving in when he should be moving out), but again, maybe not. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 21, 2015 18:14:13 GMT -6
I really think it has to do with tube health...
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Post by wiz on Feb 21, 2015 18:15:58 GMT -6
I would get complete set of tubes.. swap em all out (might as well have spares) and then if its good.. start putting em back one by one.
cheers
Wiz
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Post by indiehouse on Feb 21, 2015 20:00:19 GMT -6
This is weird. Patched in my Sta today and the thing is dark, muddy and lifeless all of a sudden. I mean, it's always been wooly and thick, sometimes too crunchy, but this is a new level, unusable.
Time for new tubes? Replace the whole set or just the power tubes?
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 21, 2015 21:22:22 GMT -6
A whole new set is only a $100...from Retro...
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,107
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Post by ericn on Feb 21, 2015 22:27:54 GMT -6
A whole new set is only a $100...from Retro... That's a pretty good deal ! |
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 21, 2015 22:30:47 GMT -6
How often should you be re-tubing something like this?
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Post by tonycamphd on Feb 21, 2015 23:46:32 GMT -6
unplug it, and make sure it's been off for about an hour to drain the caps, pull all your tubes and re seat them, sometimes that will take care of weird happenings.
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Post by unit7 on Feb 22, 2015 5:07:18 GMT -6
How often should you be re-tubing something like this? If I remember correctly 6386s has shorter life span than many others, but should work for like 5-10 yrs normal use. The others should be like at least 10yrs. Of course depending on how much use and quality of individual tubes. I thought you had a NOS 6386 in? I have two 670 clones here, bought in 2009 and 2010. 16 x JJ6386s in total, and only one going bad so far, just to give a clue. But my studio is far from at work 24/7. Hopefully I won't have to start replacing the whole bunch until a few more years.. Did you talk to Phil Moore? I'm sure he knows about all quirks after all his STA level years. |
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Post by jsteiger on Feb 22, 2015 11:20:44 GMT -6
Have you invited Phil to post here? Looks like his banner ads are running......
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 22, 2015 11:51:43 GMT -6
I might buy one of those JJ 6386's just to see if it makes a difference. Edit - scratch that. They're $115. I bought my nos RCA for $125.
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Post by tonycamphd on Feb 22, 2015 11:57:43 GMT -6
when your done reseating all the tubes, if it doesn't work, take a high rez picture of the guts so experienced eyes can look for anything weird, bulging caps, discolored this or that?... worth a try maybe.
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Post by Ward on Feb 22, 2015 19:01:01 GMT -6
Tubes are finiicky devices at the best of times. You might have that issue for 10-20 operating hours and then BAM, it'll go away. This happened with my CL1b. Producing wild amounts of distortion, swapped out the tubes and the it was fine, then started again, then swapped back in the original tubes and it's been perfect for 3 years.
Go figure??
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Post by wiz on Feb 22, 2015 20:16:06 GMT -6
unplug it, and make sure it's been off for about an hour to drain the caps, pull all your tubes and re seat them, sometimes that will take care of weird happenings. if you are trying to drain caps... shouldn't you leave the unit on, and turn the wall socket off, leaving the power plug connected so the caps have a drain path? thats the way I have always done it on tube guitar amps... cheers Wiz |
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Post by indiehouse on Feb 23, 2015 12:23:34 GMT -6
A whole new set is only a $100...from Retro... Just heard back from the fellas at Retro. A set of replacement tubes from Retro runs $160 plus shipping. A set of power tubes only will run around $40 from tubesandmore.com, whom Phil recommended. Decisions, decisions. |
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Post by indiehouse on Feb 24, 2015 12:18:38 GMT -6
What are you guys using for power tubes? Any recommendations on a replacement pair?
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 24, 2015 15:46:12 GMT -6
Electro Harmonix 6v6's...Wonder if the Brimar's are really an upgrade? I think my issue might be the 12ax7 preamp tube.
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Post by indiehouse on Feb 24, 2015 19:31:41 GMT -6
Electro Harmonix 6v6's...Wonder if the Brimar's are really an upgrade? I think my issue might be the 12ax7 preamp tube. Are you using a 12AX7 in place of the 12AT7? |
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