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AUDIO FORUMS >> Replacement Tubes >> Tube wiggleing
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Message started by Dana on 04/24/22 at 18:24:18

Title: Tube wiggleing
Post by Dana on 04/24/22 at 18:24:18

I've had my SE84UFO for a while now and am currently happy with my tube choices. The problem is as the system becomes more resolving I'm starting to hear background distortions. I'm can't tell if they are real or imagined, my system or the recording.

Wiggling the tubes to reestablish the pin connections seems to help but it could also just be a placebo effect.

I don't use socket savers but is there a downside to occasionally wiggling the tube as opposed to removing and reseating them?

Title: Re: Tube wiggleing
Post by CAJames on 04/24/22 at 22:57:34

I don't know that "wiggling" a tube re-establishes the connection with the socket, if anything I'd say it loosens the connection. The sockets in the amp are high quality, but they have a finite lifetime, and wiggling tubes seems like a good way to hasten their demise. I'm a big believer in socket savers and Deoxit and leaving tubes alone until I want to swap them out. Also using a pin straightener before I put any 9 pin tube in the system.

If you're hearing, or think you're hearing, distortion play it back and listen again. Play it back a little louder or softer. There are certainly distortions in some of my recordings I couldn't hear until I got my Decware system, but I'd guess a lot of times its just a glitch in your front end, esp. if you are streaming.

Just my 2 cents.

Title: Re: Tube wiggleing
Post by Archie on 04/24/22 at 23:49:46

That reminds me of when I first noticed the amplifier hum in the Doors' When The Music's Over. I thought I had equipment hum but it was in the recording. lol

Title: Re: Tube wiggleing
Post by Dana on 04/25/22 at 18:21:59

All right,

Previously I used the red DeOxIt on the tube pins but didn't wipe it off thinking it would air dry or something. I pulled the tubes and cleaned the pins and the input tube had a slight black residue but the power tubes left green streaks when I cleaned them. Those pins aren't gold plated and I'm not sure where the green came from but must be corrosion from the socket receptacles. I reapplied the DeOxIt but this time wiped all the pins off and haven't noticed the distortion so I hope I got it.

I need to start marketing PLACEBO as a sound enhancer.... the stereo has never sounded better [smiley=lolk.gif]

Thanks James

Title: Re: Tube wiggleing
Post by spyder1 on 04/25/22 at 18:56:34

Dana,

Deoxit "Red" cleaning products are not meant for cleaning vacuum tube pins.(High Heat Applications). The {Deoxit Red} will leave a black soot coating on vacuum tube pins. I use 90% Isopropyl Alcohol first using cotton swabs, followed by Deoxit "Gold GX100L-UV." The "Gold GX100L-UV" is expensive, but it is meant to be used with vacuum tube pins, and high heat applications. I coat pins with the Gold GX100L-UV product using cotton swab, make shure there is no excess product left on pins with clean end of swab.

Title: Re: Tube wiggleing
Post by Lin on 04/25/22 at 19:25:17

Jim McShane recommends using DeoxIt D5 and pipe cleaners or dental brushes for smaller tubes. [smiley=icqlite20.png]

Title: Re: Tube wiggleing
Post by Dana on 04/25/22 at 19:34:09

I found this

CLEANING TUBE SOCKETS
https://vintagefenderamprepair.com/blogs/maintenance-tips/cleaning-tube-sockets

Thank God for the lifetime warranty.

Title: Re: Tube wiggleing
Post by CAJames on 04/25/22 at 20:00:14

I've been using D100L for years, FWIW.