Can only speak to the Blackheart 5W that we tested so far.
If you would like to send us a Friedman amp we would be happy to test it !!
The EHX is usually my go to 12ax7, also like the jj ecc803 (long plate)
A while back ordered two Psvane 12ax7s
(Forget from who, probably AES )
Sorry for the late report.
The tubes are well build and well packaged, and sealed.
Test bed is a Blackheart 5W Little Giant with a sino EL84 (cleanest el84 iI have) Trelwheen was with me.
Even at full volume and tone...
Modded by a previous owner before you got it maybe ?
Seems a safe bet the footswitch didn't come wired from the factory that way.
Recommend you find a tech to put the amp back to stock.
Just realized I posted to an older thread
But,
My thoughts on this repair is the there was a faulty solder joint in a coupling cap connection and that just the act of desoldring/testing/resoldering the caps 'fixed' the problem.
Hope that info helps someone in the future !
In addition:
TAD Is...
Surely someone in your area has a tube tester.
An HAM operator, a radio repair guy, a tube amp tech ?
You can check for grid shorts with a multi-meter.
Those tubes have gotten HOT !
My guess is biased too hot, bet they work though.
For how long ? Anyones guess.
Had a quick look at the gut shots (pictures)
Haven't had time to look at the schematics yet.
The black electrical tape disturbs me.
What mods have been done to this amp ?
Just a shot in the dark ---> Triode-Pentode switching via footswitch ?
Ok then measure the heater voltage of the pre amp tubes (look up the pin #s)
Should be 6.3V +/- 0.2
Look for cracked solder joints with magnification
Re-flow where necessary.
My best guess without seeing your amp is a continuity break in the heater circuit.
There is also the possibility of a...
The next step would be to replace the unlit pre-amp tubes with a known good one -- one by one.
Turn off the amp and wait for the tubes to cool before swapping.
If the known good tube lights up, then the problem is with the tubes. If the known good tube Does Not light up, the heater circuit has...
I'm unsure of your abilities with tube amp circuits so my advice will be intentionally vague.
There are lethal voltages in a tube amp, do not attempt repairs if you are not qualified to work with high voltage circuits
Check the fuses, replace if needed with the exact same values and types...
Has anyone actually tried PsVane tubes ?
I'm specifically interested in their EL84s
Do they make different versions?
Have seen the 'classic' and the 'Mk II'
For some reason this keeps reloading and I cannot edit the othe posts !
Anyway rig-rundown ,BFG tech said those guitars had been 'wrapped' with a print of some barn wood that BFG liked.... or something to that effect IIRC ymmv