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Cost to Replace Guitar Amp Tubes

The cost to replace guitar amp tubes can run anywhere from $10 to $100 per tube depending upon the type of tube you need and how rare the tube you need to replace it. However, the most commonly used tubes will run anywhere from ten dollars to thirty dollars each to replace. 

If you choose to replace your guitar tube amps at a local music store, the cost to do so should be the cost of the tube or tubes plus an hour of labor charged by the technician to do so. The price can vary depending upon the music store where you bring your amplifier to have the tubes replaced as well as the number of tubes you are replacing.  

Many guitar players have played through an amplifier on a regular basis without realizing that the sound it was producing was slowly changing over time. Therefore, recommended that they be changed regularly to ensure you have the best sound possible. The good news is that it is a relatively simple process. 

As someone who has purchased multiple amplifiers over the years, I can confirm that investing the funds to replace your tubes regularly is well worth the investment. Your guitar playing will also sound much better if you regularly replace your guitar amp tubes.  

This article will cover how often guitar amp tubes will need to be replaced, how long the tubes typically last, instructions on replacing amp tubes yourself, and how to check if the tubes are bad. Additionally, we will also go over some frequently asked questions, like if the tubes can be touched with your bare hands and if they are hard to maintain or not.   

How Often Should Guitar Amp Tubes Be Replaced?

Replace amp tubes after every 6 months

If you are playing regularly, the guitar amp tubes should be replaced every six months to a year. If you do not play through your amplifier regularly, then you should plan on changing the tubes every 500 to 800 hours of play.

Failure to change the tubes regularly will result in a weaker sound when playing through the amplifier. It can result in other symptoms as well. Please see the section below regarding signs of bad tube amps for additional information. 

While many people will still be able to play through their amplifiers with older tubes, the sound your amplifier produces will not be nearly as good as it would if they were replaced regularly.

Therefore, it is a good idea to replace them once every six months as a general rule if you are playing regularly or every 500 to 800 hours of playtime. 

Read Also: Guitar Amp Cutting Out: 7 Reasons, Fixes & Prevention

How Long Do Tubes Last in Guitar Amps?

This will depend again on how often you are playing through the amplifier. While a tube can malfunction suddenly, it typically lasts every six months or 500 to 800 hours of playtime.

While a tube amp can malfunction and stop working altogether, it is still a good idea to replace them regularly to ensure that your amplifier will sound as good as possible.  

How To Replace Amp Tubes Yourself

Turn off the amplifier before removing the amp tubes

  1. Please turn off the amplifier and leave it for a while to ensure safety.
  2. Unplug the amplifier
  3. Wait at least ten minutes to ensure the tubes have thoroughly cooled down.
  4. If necessary, remove the back of the amplifier with a Phillips head screwdriver. Set the panel aside with the screws you just removed.
  5. Remove the tube cover if applicable (these are usually metal). Grab the cylinder to twist and remove the tube.
  6. Remove the vacuum tube. The tubes are seated with a nine-pin connection, with the female connection at the bottom of the socket and the male pins extending from the bottom of the tube. Please ensure you are not twisting the tube when lifting it from its socket.
  7. Replace the tube using the same motion you used to remove the old one. When lowering it down, gently move it back and forth very slowly to ensure that it is firmly secured back into its socket. Throw away the old tube.
  8. Turn on the amplifier for approximately 10 minutes and let the new tubes you just replaced warm up.
  9. Start jamming and having fun

How To Check If Your Amp Tubes Are Bad (Symptoms)

Any loss of sound can be due to poor amp tubes

The following are some typical symptoms of bad guitar amplifier tubes:

  1. The amplifier will not turn on. This is pretty self-explanatory. When you attempt to turn the amp on, it will not turn on.
  2. There is a loss of tone. When attempting to adjust the tone, bass, and treble, it seems to have a limited effect from what it previously did.
  3. Unusual sounds coming from the amplifier. These can include a popping, hissing, humming, or crackling sound that you previously have not heard before.
  4. Perceived loss of volume. If you feel as though it just doesn’t seem to be as loud as it previously was before, you are probably correct.
  5. Specific tubes appear to be glowing brighter or dimmer than others. When removing the back of your amplifier, power it on and see if one or more of the tube amps appear to light up differently than the rest.

Read Also: Leaving Guitar Amp On: Is It Bad? (Tube & Solid State Amp)

Conclusion

Replacing the tubes in your amplifier regularly is strongly recommended to keep the sound quality as high as possible. After the first couple of times you go through the process of replacing your tubes, you will find that it is relatively easy to do and can be pretty enjoyable. Not to mention that you will ensure you sound as good as possible. 

FAQs

Q: Can You Touch Guitar Amp Tubes?

Tube amps are safe to touch so long as they are not hot, which is an obvious safety concern. However, this is easy to prevent by simply powering off the amplifier and letting it cool down for approximately ten minutes. 

 

Q: Are Tube Amps Hard to Maintain?

Good news. It is relatively easy to maintain guitar tube amps. This can be done by simply turning off the amplifier when it is not in use. Another good way to maintain them is to regularly wipe the amplifier down with a dry cloth to remove any dust that may have accumulated on the amplifier. 

Ifandi S.

About Ifandi S.

Ifandi started Strumming Bars to answer all the questions of a guitarist. As a self-learned guitarist, he remembered how frustrating it was to not find answers to his many questions in the journey. With Strumming Bars, that's no longer the case!

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