dgf1811 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Hi guys, I've had a DT25 head and DT25 extension amp for almost 6 months now, and was lucky enough to get the pod hd500x for christmas. I've been loving it. But a couple of days ago all of a sudden I started to hear a sort of popping noise. The popping noise gradually got worse and now there's regular screeching noises too. It's like nails down a chalkboard. I'm not even touching the guitar when this happens sometimes. After talking to some people it sounds like it's the valve or valve stage in the head(?) Anyway, I've been checking out the Line 6 warranty, and I've been trying to get written proof from the retailer of my date of purchase. The retailer has offered to help, and have told me to get the head bundled up and they'll arrange a courier. (and yes, all they said was "help", they didn't actually say "try to fix" or "replace") I'm just pretty sceptical about doing this when it's still under Line 6 warranty....albeit I can't actually prove that at the moment. I would just love some advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innovine Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Time for new tubes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinon2 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Time for new tubes Most likely...does Line6 warranty the tubes themselves, or are they considered a "consumable"? Eventually they'll all crap out, especially if it's well-used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumblinman Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Tubes are consumable. I think some websites warranty 30 days or something, but if they are stock tubes, it's time to throw some new ones in. Most likely...does Line6 warranty the tubes themselves, or are they considered a "consumable"? Eventually they'll all crap out, especially if it's well-used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgf1811 Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Ok, thanks guys. Seems like quite a daunting task lies ahead then. There seems to be a wealth of info about doing that on this site though, which is a relief. So that's the 2 power tubes I'll need to change? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geppert Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 One of the things you might consider is to buy a set of 4 matched power tubes .... this way you have 2 tubes for the next change over and/or a set of spares you can swap in any time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaubinHood Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I'm not sure, if 6 months is enough to finish the tubes. Althou i've had tubes broken after one days use, it is not very common. Before using money to tubes (even when one should always have a set of spares for every amp he/she/it owns), i'd check few things. There may be several explanations for them strange sounds. One my old JTM popped an hissed when it needed resoldering of a tube socket. Resonance works in mysterious ways and tube amps tend to dismantle themselves occasionally. A tube may be also loose in its socket. Yanking a tube soflty tells you if something like that is happening. Do not roast your fingers with hot tube!! Knocking tube softly with handheld of a screwdriver may also tell you about tubes condition. However if you do not have slightest clue what to do, leave the inestines of your amp to a pro. Even if Wylie E Coyote survives when electrocuted to black and smoking pile of ashes, humans tend to start their travel to the paradise of their chosen religion in same circumstances. If you have your POD connected to a computer via usb cable , you may've created a ground loop. That will give some noises. For this try to disconnect usb and see if noise goes away. However dunno if it is possible with DT. I had ground loop hissing when using POD with my boutique thingy, but it is silent with DT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyce89976 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 You can use a pencil lead to lightly tap the power tubes while they are on to see if they make any offending noises. If they do, then you can be sure it's the tubes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geekpimp Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I'm not sure, if 6 months is enough to finish the tubes. Althou i've had tubes broken after one days use, it is not very common. I started to experience screeching and poping with my DT25 after 10 weeks of moderate use (approx. 50 - 60 hours total). I didn't have time to wait for new tubes via mail order, so I went to my local GC and picked up a matched pair of Groove Tubes (model = GT-EL84-S "medium", part # = 555-0113-580, performance rating = 5). The bias readings for both tubes were 23.5mV and 23.7mV respectively. Both of those readings were within the recommended range (25mV +/-3mV), but I adjusted the bias so that both tubes read exactly 25.0mv. Here is a link to a thread in the old Line6 forums with details on how to check and adjust the bias on a DT25 head. http://line6.com/supportarchivenew/thread/75238 One of the things you might consider is to buy a set of 4 matched power tubes .... this way you have 2 tubes for the next change over and/or a set of spares you can swap in any time. Great suggestion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgf1811 Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Hi guys, just wanted to thank you for all your help and advice. Tubes have been changed, and the offending noise seems to have disappeared. Hurrah. I did run into a couple of issues whilst biasing the tubes; The meter I used only had settings for 250m or 100m. The guide said I should be using 200m. I couldn't get any reading at all whilst in A/B mode. In A mode I got a reading of 9.0 for both valves (I tested it twice, once in 250m and once in 100m. Same reading both times) So I decided not to adjust the bias at all, considering I wasn't in the right mode etc, and it did seem to be balanced. I've just been playing for a good half hour and everything seems fine....maybe a slightly louder hum, but that could be my imagination, or the new tubes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaubinHood Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Well... In most (?, at least many) meters, options are something like 200m, 2V, 200V and 600V or so. From those options you choose 1st one big enough to fit your wanted range (in this case 25mV-ish). So if you have 100m option, use that. Of course making sure that you're in Voltage sector of your tool (how can it be 9?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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