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Post subject: Blues jr w/5881 tubes
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 11:52 am
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Did anybody tried 5881 tubes with blues jr?
Please comment ?
thank you


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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 3:13 pm
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Hi Gonogo, I'm afraid it would take extensive modification to convert an EL84 based amp to a 6L6(5881,6V6)power section. Art

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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:26 am
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Yes I know, just change the sockets...


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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:02 am
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It's more than just changing the sockets.


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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:51 pm
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It would be necessary to replace the power and output transformers. The power filtering would need to be increased, a number of components and wiring changes would also be needed. Since this is a printed circuit board, desoldering and resoldering is a delicate operation. Just my opinion. Art

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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:09 pm
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aclempoppi wrote:
It would be necessary to replace the power and output transformers. The power filtering would need to be increased, a number of components and wiring changes would also be needed. Since this is a printed circuit board, desoldering and resoldering is a delicate operation. Just my opinion. Art


Yep! Too much cost and effort for the results.


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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 8:37 am
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Check out Billmaudio.com he has a mod on there for this.
I have modded mine for 6v6 and love it!


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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 4:48 pm
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I just read the billm 6v6 mod today and was wondering where I might find a used Blues Junior to have a little fun.

I am a 6v6 fanatic, I'll bet it makes them sing !!!

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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 4:58 pm
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BillM did the 6V6 Octal conversion on my BJ and I love it. The amp takes on more of a Black Face tone that is fuller with better bottom and clean head room. However, I needed to upgrade the O/T, so I went with the T020 BillM developed with David Allen.


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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:24 pm
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Yeah, I also reread and read the section on the power trans research. Seems like the jury is still out on the PT heat related issues for the use with 5881's. But the rest seems like it would make for a neat project. The experience of working on the sensitive board and rewiring is all good stuff. Art

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Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:17 am
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6V6s do not have a heat issue. In fact, they run cooler than the original EL 84s. A good feature of the 6V6 octal mod is that the tube sockets are mounted on the chassis verses the EL84s which are mounted on the circuit board, which tends to get "cooked' from the tube heat. Even after only a year and a lower bias setting, my board started to "cook" the circuit board around the tube sockets prior to the conversion. However, Billm does note a heat issue with 5881s if the amp is used for a longer period of time ( ie. end of night at a gig)


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Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:27 pm
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Not to mention the sweet tone of 6v6's

Its on my to do list for this year for sure, there are allways Blues Juniors in the pawn shop and craigs list around here.

Then I would like to make it into a head and matching cab too.

FUN !!!!

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Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:11 pm
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A better project would be to build your own amp from a kit. It's educational too. Then you have a hand wired amp that you built yourself that will be way better sounding than any modified HRD amp. The Champ and Deluxe 5e3 amps aren't a hard build. Modding some of these amps has the potential of considerably shortening their lifespan. If you build one, you could probably hand it down to your Grandchildren.


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Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:57 pm
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63supro wrote:
A better project would be to build your own amp from a kit. It's educational too. Then you have a hand wired amp that you built yourself that will be way better sounding than any modified HRD amp. The Champ and Deluxe 5e3 amps aren't a hard build. Modding some of these amps has the potential of considerably shortening their lifespan. If you build one, you could probably hand it down to your Grandchildren.
I have been wanting to try to build a 57 deluxe kit for a while now.I just might do it.


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