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Post subject: Tubes for Twins
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:23 pm
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The power tubes in my 65' twin RI are the stock GTs from 2003 which are rebranded sovtek (So i can read fromt he side of each tube).

They've been heavily used and my headroom isnt what it used to be.

The preamp tubes are all good, four NOS RCA tubes and two Tesla/JJ. relatively new.

Can anyone suggest a tube that is preferably bass bias. I like to have a thicker bass freq with the nice fender rich top end.

Thanks.

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Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:42 pm
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Tung-Sol re-issues or the JJ's should make that amp sing.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: TRRI tubes
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:18 pm
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If you liked the sound that you had new, GT 6L6 S Red Label. These are not the Sovteks, but are made by JJ. Great clean headroom, lows and highs. :idea:

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Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:24 pm
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If you want awesome bass... think about Philips-ECG 7581A (bias them hotter, around 45-50mA per tube to start). The only other change would be heavier duty speakers. I run two JBL D120F's in my BF Twin Reverb. The amp can literally get the 2x4's in the attic resonating. And projects tone out to like the cheap seats at a ballpark.

Otherwise go to a half or full stack extension for even better bass.


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Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 8:40 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
I run two JBL D120F's in my BF Twin Reverb. The amp can literally get the 2x4's in the attic resonating. And projects tone out to like the cheap seats at a ballpark.


+1000

I'll attest to that. I have two TR's with JBL's......nothing else comes close to that tone.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 2:27 am
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maybe i could find an extention with JBLs in. then i get best of both worlds. I'll have a look at them phillips.

Thanks guys

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"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
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The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
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Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 2:35 am
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Change also the Phase Inverter tube. The 12AX7 or 12AT7 just side of output tubes.This tube work hard too.


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Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 2:05 pm
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I already use 12AT7s on the phase inverter and the reverb. thanks though.

I think i'll just replace the tubes, i dont want to mess around with speakers and whatnot. Thanks for the advice. I was tempted to bi-amp threw a mesa boogie rectifier i own too but they're both fierce loud. I'll just have to make do.

Any more suggestions on the tubes? so far i got the phillips and the GT s red labels. Im not a fan of the tung-sol but JJs will be my last resort.

How are the old RCA black plates, and the winged Cs ive heard about?

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"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
And I can hear the faint sound of distant waves
The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun day"


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Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:28 pm
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Those RCA Black Plates are legendary for their balance, dimension, and longevity. They would be lifer's in your Twin. But a matched quad would be quite an initial investment. I've only had the pleasure of having a pair that I reserve for recording. I have an early iteration set of GE tubes in the B Master. They are very nice sounding tubes. You could check hitestguitars.com for some prices. I have also used the Phillips 7581's, with great results, in the B Master. Still have a(1000 hr) pair that I drag out sometimes for a reality check. To my ears they are very powerful, in-your-face type of tubes, whereas, the RCA and GE seem more refined. Can't help you out on the new =C= tubes. Art

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:05 pm
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Art, I've tried some of the new Svetlana 6L6GC (=C=) and they don't sound as good or last as long as those made in the 1990's (St Petersburg origin). Bigger QA problems. Believe me, right now the coin-based mil-spec 1980's made Reflector 6P3S-E (6N3C-E) is a better Russian made tube for 6L6GC use. Plus they have one other advantage in not needing as much current for the heaters (about 100mA less per tube). Don't worry about rated plate/screen voltage data. This is more for the 6P3S (non mil spec tube). I've put nearly 500VDC onto some 6P3S-E that replaced OEM EL34's in Dynaco amps. The tube hardly sweats.

The 1970-80's Philips-ECG 7581A is supposedly a mil-spec copy of the famous Sylvania STR-415. I have several quads of these STR-415 in storage. All of them have the pink ceramic bases. Not the black plastic base you often see in EBay ads today. They are wickedly tough tubes that take a good month of playing to break-in. Initially, all you hear is power and a bit constipated tone. No mids. After a month, they relax andsund more like a good 6L6GC (albeit, not an NOS BP RCA).

My understanding on GZ34/5AR4 rectifiers in Fender amps, is Leo bought only so many for each year's production run. This is when only Mullard/Amperex were making the rectifier. Amps got solid-state diodes when the stock ran out. That's why some amp have GZ34's and some have ss diodes from the same year lot. BTW... GE made 5AR4 are great rectifiers, if you can find them.




6N3C-E:

http://www.cryoset.com/catalog/product_ ... cts_id=252


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 4:28 am
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Thanks, this is a good read. I'll look into some RCAs, the current preamp is made up of RCA tubes and it made the amp sound a hell of alot better.

_________________
"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
And I can hear the faint sound of distant waves
The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun day"


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:19 am
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RCA blackplates are "the holy grail", followed closely by the grayplate GE's. The JAN 6L6's from Sylvania, Westinghouse, and Raytheon are likewise excellent bottles and will perform reliably for decades.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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