5 Methods For Fixing Takamine Cool Tube Problems

Takamine Cool Tube Problems
Takamine Cool Tube Problems

If you are striving for a great sound output from your guitar then you should invest in great quality supportive equipment. Preamps are important if you wish to get a clear sound and play music to the best of your capabilities.

It goes without saying that you need great guitar skills but your equipment matters a lot too. Your guitar, preamp and amp need to complement each other so that you can put across the sort of performance that can blow up minds.

A preamp needs to be chosen based on the type of music that you will be playing on your guitar. There is a large variety of guitar pickups and preamps available in the market.

However, specialised preamps take your performance to a much higher level. If you had enough money to invest in any one guitar equipment then a Takamine Cool Tube would be it.

This is a preamp that can work really well with tube amps and acoustic guitars. Along with all the perks that come with this device, there are also certain downsides.

You can also encounter some problems which will need urgent attention. If you are looking for some solutions then read ahead to find out what suits your situation the best:

Takamine Cool Tube Problems

1. Low Output

One common problem that you may face when you start using Takamine Cool Tube is that there might be a slightly lower output range.

This may be especially noticeable when some specific tunes. If you plan on playing any warm tones then you should be careful about this issue.

If you are a professional guitarist then this issue can hamper your performance in many ways. You might not be able to perform certain songs or you may even have to change venues to suit the intensity of the sound output.

2. Installation Issues

Install takamine cool tube

Another combination that you may face while using this preamp is related to its size incompatibility with the guitar. There are not many solutions available for this issue except for cutting the body of the guitar to make the preamp fit onto it.

No doubt Takamine Cool Tube Preamp is a great device but you should be careful about these size issues before making the jump.

This falls under an installation problem so it is better that you go for some discreet preamp that is better that has a better compatibility with your guitar.

3. Bad Tubes

This cool tube preamp is a high maintenance device due to the presence of the tubes on it. If you are someone who likes low maintenance musical instruments then the Takamine Cool Tube preamp is not for you.

The tubes are prone to malfunction due to a number of reasons. Once the tubes encounter a problem, there is no other option but to have them replaced.

This quite a tightrope between pros of the cool tube that include a crisp sound quality and the cons which entail frequent maintenance. You have to decide according to whatever suits you best.

4. Electrolytic Cap Leakage

This is a common issue that can lead to preamp failure. If you have encountered a minor repair issue on your Takamine Cool Tube preamp, it is better to take the device to a professional repairman.

The electrolytic caps are quite delicate and tiny. They require careful handling with a pointed and precise soldering tip when you are removing those caps.

If you apply too much force or use the wrong kind of instrument then you can damage the caps, which will cause the leakage of all the fluid inside. This will cause the whole thing to fail.

5. Bad Gain Potentiometer

Takamine Cool Tube preamps are amazing devices that most users find worth all the maintenance they require.

However, they might come across certain issues where you just cannot opt for repair as it is either too expensive or you are not sure whether that will solve your problem for good

If a repairman tells you that your beloved preamp has a bad gain potentiometer then it is time to say goodbye to the device.

potentiometer

Instead of wasting a lot of money on a repair that may or may not work. It is better to buy a new one. If your device is new and is still under its warranty period then you can get a replacement for it.

Conclusion

Takamine Cool Tube preamp is an overall high maintenance device that is great for those who are loyal to the brand.

It is no doubt one of a kind and if you are willing to put in the required amount of work then this preamp can really boost your performance.

If you are a hardcore guitarist who loves a particular type of guitar equipment and the Takamine preamp is your favourite then the above mentioned solutions might help you at some point in your life.

2 thoughts on “5 Methods For Fixing Takamine Cool Tube Problems”

  1. Do these cool tube, cold cathode devices actually light up like conventional tubes? I would not think so.

  2. Hi
    This is Joe Leo from Cecere Music Store in Adelaide.
    Have a CTP3 for repair. Valve does not heat up. Replaced all of the caps on the board but still valve not light up.
    Is there a circuit available for this model.
    Thanks

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