Tubeampdoctor Magazin
« Dirty sound, clean contacts »
To enjoy your tube amplifier, for possibly decades, more than occasional tube replacements are required. The upkeep of electronics, amplifier cabinets, and related aspects should also be considered periodically. Particularly, tending to the electronic elements of the tube amplifier holds special significance. In today’s article, we present the most important tube amp maintenance tasks alongside the required tools. Ultimately, only a well-maintained amp delivers the intended sound: Nice and dirty!
Tube amp maintenance – the three pillars of a clean sound
If you aim to maintain and clean your amp, you’ll promptly encounter numerous potential aspects to address – should the Tolex be wiped down or freshened up? Are the contacts corroded? How can I remove dust from tight crevices? How might I achieve a vibrant color restoration? Many tasks and even more cleaning and care products await the musician. Therefore, we divide the maintenance tasks into three categories: Electronic, mechanical and cosmetic care.
Electronic care – professional support for pots, contacts and faders
Even though tube amps are usually quite linear in design, when we take a look inside, we encounter a large number of contacts and switches that can use some maintenance over time. Moisture in particular is known to take a toll on electronic devices – one reason why instrumental amps in particular need help quickly and urgently: rehearsal rooms, concert venues, and transport in the drummer’s T4 all take their toll on delicate tube technology. Fortunately, there’s a whole battery of products to help musicians take care of their tube amps.
Cleaning contact surfaces
In pursuit of the finest sound output, intricate circuits and wiring are employed. Yet, the reality that a tube amplifier essentially constitutes a relatively intricate circuit often goes unnoticed. The clarity (or character) of the sound reaching the speaker doesn’t solely hinge on component quality or wiring technique. Particularly at junctures where two components meet, minute portions of the signal can be lost or modified. Dirty contacts can have a big impact on the sound of an amplifier and should therefore be avoided as much as possible.
Regular tube amp maintenance of the easily accessible contacts prevents or significantly slows down the corrosion of the small metal surfaces. With special agents, contacts can even be permanently protected against corrosion, thus extending maintenance intervals.
CAIG Laboratories Deoxit – D-Series
The very finely dosed agents of the D-Series of the care specialist CAIG Laoratories, specially created for stuck, corroded or dirty contacts, always come into play when metallic contact surfaces are limited in their function by environmental influences. The products of the D-Series, such as the Deoxit D5 Spray, are much more than just contact sprays: The precise application of the Deoxit D5 Spray and the gentle composition of the agents make it possible to care directly at the point where the contamination is located.
Exercise caution when utilizing contact sprays: Despite their swift remedy claims, contact sprays available at DIY stores and similar establishments should be handled cautiously. Typically, these agents are applied indiscriminately, boosting the conductivity of the impacted components. Regrettably, substantial quantities of the spray tend to infiltrate the electronics and other amplifier components, leading to issues in unexpected areas rather than providing the intended care.
Cleaning switches and plastic parts
In a tube amplifier live, in addition to a large number of metal contacts also a lot of switches and knobs, which are usually provided with one or the other plastic component. To safeguard the material, which is inherently not very prone to damage, from undue deterioration, it’s advisable to employ suitable care products. Specifically, oil or grease can prove detrimental to plastic components, and switches can sustain enduring harm if improperly treated. Depending on the position of the particular switch, excessively liberal application of care products can also result in undesirable repercussions. Thus, well-meaning tube amplifier maintenance could swiftly transform into a comprehensive repair task. However, thanks to specialized agents, cleaning the core components of the setup need not become needlessly intricate.
CAIG Laboratories DeoxIt – F-Series
Specially developed for the care of faders and other sliding plastic parts, the products of the DeoxIt F-Series, such as the Deoxit F5, ensure long-lasting and sustainable maintenance of the sensitive parts. Noise caused by poor switching, foreign objects and similar problems are gently eliminated, leaving the sliders running smoothly and easily again. Thanks to special applicators, the targeted and pinpoint distribution of Deoxit F5 is also child’s play here and ensures ideal material use during care and maintenance.
Special feature gold contacts
Particularly in the hi-fi sector, but also in some instrumental amplifiers, manufacturers have long relied on the outstanding properties of gold-plated contacts and connectors. The extremely thin precious metal layer serves to minimize tarnishing and corrosion and is designed to facilitate optimal signal transmission. Nevertheless, even gold-plated contacts necessitate maintenance, as the alloy of plugs and related components are solid materials. Harsh agents can offer rapid relief (the gold prevents an accumulation of corrosion layers), but they can also quickly wear away the thin layer of precious metal. A dedicated gold cleaner is indispensable for rectifying the situation…we offer products to take care of these valuable elements!
CAIG Laboratories DeoxIt – G-Series
Of course, G for gold. The active ingredients, especially developed for the application of precious metal contacts, clean deeply and thoroughly without attacking the thin material layer. The treated signal transmitters are coated with a “protective layer” that further improves conductivity and signal transmission to contribute to the most ideal sound image possible.
Mechanical tube amp maintenance
While the main focus of amplifier maintenance is on the electronic components and their conductivity, the mechanical function of many a switch, screw and hinge should not be neglected. Potentiometers and toggle switches are particularly sensitive to clogged contact surfaces and running rails, so regular cleaning and care will protect them from nasty surprises.
Careful lubrication for optimum results
Wherever materials are to slide over one another, the sliding properties of the components must be established either by the material itself or by lubricants. In the course of the life of such connections, however, there are usually many thousands of movements that gradually displace even the most durable lubricant in the world with dust and dirt. The result is then at some point a poorly running controller or disturbing background noise. This is where a musician has to take care of his tube amplifier – with the right means!
CAIG Laboratories DeoxIt – S-Serie
The S-Series from the DeoxIt range provides gentle and long-lasting lubrication of stressed parts. The carefully dosed application of the agents is ensured by means of special nozzles and applicators, because after all, only one thing is worse than too little oil: too much oil! Caring for tube amplifiers thus becomes child’s play!
Cosmetic care – radiance or aging?
The exterior of the amp may also be given some care over the years. Tolex and tweed in particular have stood out as materials for amps over the years, and both materials require their own surface treatment to retain their charm for as long as possible – from simple cleaning to a color refresh.
From dirt to patina
Even if the vintage charm is unbroken, a dirty amp is not particularly attractive. This is also and especially true for old amps with a vintage look. While a scuff or two is likely to appear in the course of any beloved guitar amp, dust and dirt have no business on the surface of the equipment. With proper cleaning, dust and grime can be removed quickly and easily.
Be careful with sensitive tweed!
Old tweed guitar amps, as well as our tweed kits, have an outer shell of cloth over the tubes, which is covered with a thin nitro varnish. This finish protects the amp and the fibers, but also provides aesthetic aging. When caring for the tube amp, it is essential to avoid overly aggressive cleaners, otherwise there is a risk of abrasion of the protective coating!
Tube amp maintenance for advanced users – Conclusion
Caring for tube amplifiers requires some planning, a careful approach and, above all, the right care products. With CAIG manintenace products we have a competent partner with many years of experience on our side, that produces a whole range of high quality and gentle products. Due to the simple application and the excellent results, even sensitive tube amplifiers can be cared for and cleaned – so that nothing stands in the way of a nice dirty tube sound!
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Title image: © Petr Malyshev – stock.adobe.com