tube recommendations
tube recommendations
Sounds like your power tubes are worn out. Usually they give you some tell-tale signs when they are going bad. Fairly simple fix, tubes are relatively inexpensive and you can order them from American Musical or Musicians friend. You may have to take them in to get biased. Although they are a bit more maintenance, I think tube amps sound better than a solid state. Tubes are just like anything else mechanical, they are going to wear out. Although if you don't abuse your amp, you should be able to get a long life out of them. You'll find the power tubes are going to wear out before preamp tubes. No big deal though. Tube amps are actually fairly simple, there's not a lot to them, so don't be intimidated by them. I believe the XXX can use both 6L6 and El34 type tubes. Although if you traded it off for a Mesa, you'd get a fixed bias without having to worry about getting tubes biased and can easily switch between EL's and 6L6 without much more than the flip of the switch.
Go with EL34's, man. The amp comes alive.
I've read several places about how great this particular amp sounds with el34's.. But also about how they can possibly damage it due to a crappy screen grid resistor, unless it's been upgraded or was in the 1st run of them (which i believe mine was) that had a solid one to begin with..
From the way people talk, it seems the EL34's are the way to go..
Get Sovtek power tubes and electro harmonix preamp tubes. YOUR AMP WILLL BURNNNNNN!