Power tubes, how long have they lasted for you?

[emperor_black]

If you think your tone hasn't changed over that time period with heavy use, then you are most likely tone deaf and might as well go with a solid state amp

Nice one man! I love the current sound of my amp. I dont know what tubes are in it cause there is no brand-name on the tubes. I'm afraid to lose that tone. I could ask "what tubes do you recommend for the carvin" and everyone has their own taste.

Maybe I should get a SS power amp and band-practice with it, but if we go gigging, I could use the carvin. or I could ask Carvin what tubes they shipped the amp with. :idea:

[Spivonious]

I have all stock tubes in my Genz Benz.

I think if you treat the tubes well, they can last a couple of years. I have had an amp that was seriously improved by new power tubes: JCM900 MkIII. I was getting very low gain (like pre JCM800 levels) and kind of a thin tone. I replaced the power tubes with some new ones and it really was a different amp.

I had a Mesa Road King for a couple of years that I never changed tubes in. It sounded great up until I sold it.

I can tell that the Benz is starting to lose a bit of its edge, but not enough to drastically affect the sound yet. I'd give it another 6 months unless my band moves out of the basement.

As far as replacing preamp tubes, I only do that when one breaks/goes microphonic/etc. I will replace the whole set then.

[emperor_black]

That's the other thing. Since I'm using the carvin for only the power section, all the eq'ing, etc. is coming from my MXR 10-band and Uber metal. I dont notice much difference in sound over the past year. Also, we play fast 190+ bpm death/progressive metal at ear-shattering volumes. Not much tone difference I can make out at those levels. I'll probably be deaf in a couple of years anyways.