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  1. Probably. It's just a matter of buying the tubes needed for your amp, and taking apart the amp and getting at the tubes. The tubes plug in like plugs into an outlet, there are little spikes that fit into holes. However, apparently the spikes are easily bent, (there's a little tool that straightens them out in a quick second though) and there's the risk of shocking yourself by touching the chassis or whatever (all of the wires). On my blues jr. I can get at the tubes right from the back, so I don't really encounter the chassis. In fact I have to push them back in once in a while just because they come loose. You can also bleed out the electric charge too, or "ground" the amp, so there's no danger.

    Because I knew nothing about tube changing and all that jazz, I just had it done by a professional. ANd even though I know more now, I'd still get it done by a pro. Yeah it probably runs you more, but at least you know it's being done right.

    But it's entirely up to you. You can find steps all over the net, as well as instructional videos on youtube.
  2. Didn't we say Bono was interested in a Tele while back?
  3. ok this ones for the gear snobs...

    i was reading edge finally had to some speaker swapping in one of the ac30s...call me crazy...but any gig before the santiago show...ive felt edges tone has been kinda off (maybe its just me...im picky with tone). But listening to this video of streets I was so pleased to hear some really great tone...I have to think those speakers have been going bad for awhile. It simply sounds sooo much warmer and much kless harsh than before. I mean we can do an A/B thing but heres the video im talking of...let the discussion begin boys and girls...

  4. Originally posted by EyesWithPrideB3:Really hoping for some help here....

    I have an old secondhand Fender 90W amp with one 12inch speaker, and whenever I play it loudly, which is sort of essential for gigging (even though it IS pumped through a speaker- the power going through the amp tends to do this-), it suddenly cuts the sound to something of the volume of a whisper and "motorboats". At least thats the term I've read it described as on some help websites I've searched...Basically the amp just sputters a dead sound, similar to that of a motorboat puttering across the water. It's always fairly perfectly even- almost like an unwanted tremolo effect pumping dead sputters through my amp. Sometimes I can pat the top of the amp a little bit (sometimes harder than others, admittedly), and it will kick back in, loud and clear. But rocking out, I'll be in the middle of a chord progression etc. and the damn thing will just cut right out.

    It's a combo amp, and I'm pretty sure the only thing I can see from the back is the speaker (I'm virtually stupid in the realm of amps)...are there still tubes inside the upper casing of the amp somewhere that might need replaced? Is there something inside that needs resoldered? Is there a much bigger problem, am I better off replacing the amp? How would I even begin to diagnose the problem?!

    Haha as you can see I have virtually no clue what I'm doing here...I may play a mean U2 cover, but if my amp is broken I'm a bit of a know-nothing in terms of how to fix the situation without just replacing the amp itself. Can anyone help me/at least tell me what might be wrong?!

    Thanks!


    homie that sounds like your speaker needs to be reconed. I couldnt imagine that being a tube issue. it sounds like when your really pushing that speaker its having trouble moving which would make sense why hitting could cause able to move freely again. Im echoing Alex by saying im NOT an amp tech, But he and I both have a pretty good knowlege of gear. Its either the speakers or the tubes. Owning a tube amp means upkeep its like maintanace on a vehicle nothin to worry about. do you know what amp it is? Im having a hard time thinking of any 90 watt fenders that arent solid state...the blues jr is 15...the deluxe is 40...the devilles range from 40 to 60...any pictures?


  6. When I talked to Dallas last summer, he'd said that he found Bono a Telecaster
    in NY and that Bono had been playing a lot more guitar while they were working
    on new songs in the studio.



    I've heard that they ceased production of the Irish Falcon in 2010. And perhaps
    Bono was ready to move on to something new... or at least somewhat different.



    I'm guessing that while liking aspects of that Telecaster that Dallas bought, he
    still like some aspects of the Gretsch. As luck should have it, Gretsch
    production is controled by Fender... so... easy enough to have Fender Custom
    make a hybrid to suit.



    Info update: Thanks to Jeff S. for the info.

    Here's the scoop... Paul Waller is the guy who makes these guitars. It was basically his idea to combine some features of a Gretsch (the pickups, the f-holes) into a Tele. He built a white one about a year or so ago as a prototype. I'm not sure if Bono has that one or not. From what I was just told, it seemed like the idea for this guitar was Paul's, and then Bono somehow heard about it and/or saw the prototype guitar. But, in any case, yes, the green one is obviously for Bono, and it's just now getting ready to ship.


    These are not production guitars (and there are no plans for them to become production guitars), but Paul can build them for anyone who may want one. You'd simply place an order through a Fender Masterbuilt dealer, ask for Paul to be your builder (he's the only one doing these), and discuss what you want to do. Of course he could make an exact replica, if that was what a customer wanted

  7. Originally posted by thebonodrums:[..]

    homie that sounds like your speaker needs to be reconed. I couldnt imagine that being a tube issue. it sounds like when your really pushing that speaker its having trouble moving which would make sense why hitting could cause able to move freely again. Im echoing Alex by saying im NOT an amp tech, But he and I both have a pretty good knowlege of gear. Its either the speakers or the tubes. Owning a tube amp means upkeep its like maintanace on a vehicle nothin to worry about. do you know what amp it is? Im having a hard time thinking of any 90 watt fenders that arent solid state...the blues jr is 15...the deluxe is 40...the devilles range from 40 to 60...any pictures?




    It doesn't have any exposed tubes, but I'm literally so amp-stupid I couldn't even tell you that I know if it has tubes inside the casing or what. Not a freakin' clue.
  8. Good to see that Edge is still using his 2009 G6136 Gretsch Black Falcon for "One Tree Hill" (Santiago, Chile show).

    Most associate U2 playing this tune merely when in New Zealand/Australia and Japan legs of tours.



    Good to see that they are willing to play it more. I hope to get to experiece them playing it once the band return for the U.S. dates.
  9. I wouldn't count on that, Jeff. Did you hear the introdcution by Bono? "This is a song we play in extremely special ocassions..." , and it's really been like that since the end of the Lovetown tour. I don't think they're willing to play it randomly at other shows than maybe one Argentina, one Brazil and one Mexico (and I wouldn't raise my bets on that one). But hey, dream up loud, I hope you get it, it's one of the big ones that you haven't heard yet


  10. ya man thats not a tube amp lol so seriously its probably your speaker...


  11. Seeing the back, is there anything I could potentially do myself instead of having it professionally repaired, to save some money? A re-solder, replacing part of the speaker, etc?

    There's a ZT Lunchbox amp on the market for roughly $200 right now...if something's going to run me 150 or more, I'll just buy the new amp- I haven't been 100% satisfied with the Fender and have heard nothing but rave reviews of the ZT for ages now...
  12. or you could shell 100 more and get a fender blues jr you will never be 100% satisfied with anything but tubes. (ask edge). A blues jr will run you about 350 for the older used models. You will love it
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U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.