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Post subject: Tubes for a 1996 Hot Rod Deluxe
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 8:29 am
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I recently purchased a 1996 Hot Rod Deluxe from a friend of mine. About ten or eleven years ago he had the original power tubes replaced with MESA 5881-6L6 STR-425 power tubes and replaced the preamp tubes with Sovtek 12AT7 tubes. He quit playing shortly after changing the tubes out so they don't have much wear on them, the amp has been sitting in a closet for the past 8 years or so. I am not very happy with the low gain preamp tubes. The amp sounds okay, but sounds bland and kind of lifeless compared to my brother in law's newer Hot Rod Deluxe. I am playing a stock 2000 Fender American Standard Stratocaster through the amp.

I am thinking I would like to keep the Mesa power tubes since factory spec calls for 5881/6L6 tubes and these have little use, but would like some feedback/opinions on these tubes in this amp. I would also like to know if anyone has any suggestions on what 12AX7 preamp tubes I should pair with the Mesa power tubes? I am leaning towards either the Mesa 12AX7 or SPAX7A, or the JJ ECC83's or ECC803's. Any opinions or advise would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks!


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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:17 pm
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I decided to replace all of the tubes with JJ electronic tubes from Eurotubes. I now have two JJ 6L6GC power tubes and three JJ ECC83s preamp tubes. I have set the bias at 80mv, the factory reccomends 60mv, but the amp is a lot more responsive and warm at 80mv. According to Eurotubes, the JJ's can handle up to 90+mv and I have to agree the HRDLx amps sound better with the bias set hotter than factory spec. I would definately reccomend checking out Eurotubes if you are unhappy with your tone.


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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:30 pm
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Are these the ones?

http://www.tubedepot.com/jj-6l6gc.html

http://www.tubedepot.com/jj-ecc83.html

How would you say the 6L6's sound? Bassy? Trebley? Clear? How about with the volume and/or gain turned up (does the Hot Rod have gain?)?

I think the ECC83's I have are Fender clean and complex. But I want to replace some 6L6's in a non-Fender amp. Hence the questions. I need to calm down a too harsh trebley 6L6 amp. Thanks.


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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 8:38 am
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That's them. I am very pleased with their sound. The bass is tight, but full and warm, the mids are nice; well balanced, smoth and not harsh, and the treble is clear and most importantly not brittle or harsh. They give a very classic Fender tone with lots of detail. As far as overdrive, the HRDLx has a lot, but I don't really turn it up loud enough to start getting power tube overdrive. However, the combination of the JJ-6L6 tubes and the JJ-ECC83s tubes gives a great overdrive tone even at low volumes. I can get a great and useable overdriven tone with the volume on my drive channel set at 1.5. However, I should mention that I put a high gain JJ-ECC83s in the V2 position which should be giving me about 10% more gain in my drive channel.

If you are trying to improve your tone and get rid of harsh highs I would definately reccomend these tubes. Also, contact www.eurotubes.com, Bob Pletka has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to tubes and may have some other ideas to help you clean up your treble problems.


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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 8:44 am
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I love em too. Got em in my Bassman and Marshall clone. :wink: Mike

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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:53 pm
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My amp's a HR Deville but putting a pair Tung-Sol KT-66's as well as a Jan-Phillips 5751 in V1 fron http://www.thetubestore.com was the best thing I have done to it yet. The KT-66 was used in old Marshall's and complement the Deville perfectly for the sound I'm after (from SRV/Zeppelin and Hendrix to 90's crunch). Other KT-66 draw more current but the Tung-Sol's are supposed to draw the same current as the original tubes did.


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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:22 pm
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+1 on the JJ's.
Be careful setting the bias without knowing the plate voltage.
I would recommend the Bias Rite. Unless you like buying power tubes or over heating your amps pcb.


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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:20 am
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Plate voltage is about 420 volts for the HRDLx. At 25 watts for the 6L6 tube, 25/420 = 0.06 or 60 milliamps max. 70% of 60 milliamps is 42 milliamps which is around 90-92 mv. Anywhere between the factory spec of 60mv to 90-92 mv should be fine for a HRDLx and will deliver a much more lively tone than factory specs. However, you should always check with your tube manufacturer, the JJ's can dissipate a lot more heat than the sovteks, GT's, etc... The rate at which your tubes can dissipate heat has a lot to do with how high you can set the bias. Setting it to high will significantly impact the useable life of your tubes if they can't handle the heat. Setting the bias above factory spec with the stock GT branded Sovtek tubes will result in very short tube life. As I have learned over the past couple weeks; their is a lot to learn when retubing your amp, at least if you are going to do it yourself. :D

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