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This article describes when to change the vacuum tube in the Le Preamp Series Preamp Pedals. If you want to know how to do it, please refer to this article.

The vacuum tube is a sturdy device, but it does wear out over time. Unlike power amp tubes, preamp tubes do not require frequent replacement or replacement as preventive maintenance. But, in order to keep your Le Series Preamp Pedal in perfect working condition, you may need to replace the tube at some point. We have taken great care in selecting a commercially available tube from a company renowned for its exceptionally low failure rate (the Ruby 12AX7AC5 HG) and tuned our design for what we feel are the best sonics. 

Most of the time, the tube won't fail totally and suddenly. Instead, the tube will degrade gradually. Your Le Series Preamp Pedal will continue to work, but will loose gain, dynamics and harmonic richness. Eventually, the sound will become flat and lifeless. 

Because of this gradual degradation, it can be hard to know exactly when the tube needs to be changed. So the general answer is: when you feel your Le Series Preamp Pedal is not sounding or reacting to your playing as it should.

How often this should be done depends on many factors - like the original tube quality, the rate of use, the conditions of use, and your personal taste. This makes if hard to indicate exactly how often the tube needs to be changed. The following guidelines can be given, but keep in mind that they may have to be adapted to your particular situation.

Generally speaking, a tube can give you several years of pleasure before needing a change. A hobbyist musician using a Le Series Preamp Pedal on occasions may not even need to change it at all. On the contrary, a regular musician, using Le Preamp everyday, who demands the best tone possible may want to change it more regularly.

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