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Post subject: changing tubes
Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:15 am
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does an amp need to be re-biased if you are replacing original tubes with the same Fender Premium and Special Design tubes?
Of course I hope they are available.


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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:21 am
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IMO the bias should be checked (and adjusted if necessary) any time the output tubes are replaced, regardless of what brand goes into the sockets.

YMMV

Arjay

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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:24 am
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The answer is yes and more yes.

to get the very best sound and tube life check the bias.

another reason to do it is that factory settings tend towards the cold side and a good tech can heat em up a bit to get your amp responding like a revved up race machine !!!

You'll be glad you did.

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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:29 am
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blues bondsman wrote:
another reason to do it is that factory settings tend towards the cold side and a good tech can heat em up a bit to get your amp responding like a revved up race machine !!!

You'll be glad you did.


+1!

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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:57 am
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+1 to both Arjay and Blues Bondsman. Always check the bias when changing power tubes. Besides tone tweaking, it can alert you to potential problems. Also the bias can drift over time. Also, you can do a lot better than replacing the tubes with overpriced and over hyped Groove Tubes.

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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:12 pm
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thanks for all your help, what tubes do you recommend?


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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:22 pm
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pe001ne wrote:
thanks for all your help, what tubes do you recommend?


How much of a "tone junkie" are you and how deep are your pockets?

:mrgreen:

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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:42 pm
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Agree with all above. Pick your amp:

https://ssl.eurotubes.com/cart/index.ph ... egory_id=7

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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:58 pm
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pe001ne wrote:
..., what tubes do you recommend?


Groove Tubes are great too, maybe a little pricey, you get what you pay for. They are thoroughly tested and guaranteed. Do you like the sound that you have with the existing tubes? :wink: Many times people will recommend other tubes, but have never used the GTs with the bias set correctly to begin with, so they have no fair comparison. If you are unable to check or set the bias, replacing with the exact same tubes is really the best option. Fender recommends replacing with the same tubes so the bias will likely be the same. But, like the others have said, it is always best to check the bias to be sure. :)

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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:22 pm
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again muchos gracias, the pockets ain't deep and I can't tell the difference between tubes so...........


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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:30 pm
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For "budget tubes" I favor Electro-Harmonix and the Tung-Sol re-issues.

YMMV

Arjay

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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 6:05 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
pe001ne wrote:
..., what tubes do you recommend?


Groove Tubes are great too, maybe a little pricey, you get what you pay for. They are thoroughly tested and guaranteed. Do you like the sound that you have with the existing tubes? :wink: Many times people will recommend other tubes, but have never used the GTs with the bias set correctly to begin with, so they have no fair comparison. If you are unable to check or set the bias, replacing with the exact same tubes is really the best option. Fender recommends replacing with the same tubes so the bias will likely be the same. But, like the others have said, it is always best to check the bias to be sure. :)


JJs from Eurotubes sound way better than the stock GTs that came in my BDRI. JJs cost less than GTs too. :wink:

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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 6:26 pm
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Still lov'n my Tung-sol Reissue 6V6gt's

I also have gone the NOS RCA and GE route before, The truth is the Tung-Sol RI sounds just as good.

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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 7:24 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
...JJs from Eurotubes sound way better than the stock GTs that came in my BDRI. JJs cost less than GTs too. :wink:


That's cool. I was just wondering if you had tried to raise the bias on the GTs before switching to the JJs, and raising the bias on the JJs? It just seems to me that most people have changed the tubes and the bias, yet attribute the better tone to the tubes alone. In the case of the BDRI, the stock tubes were the 5881 I believe, which is a lower wattage tube than the JJ, so the JJ would need to be biased even higher than the stock tubes anyway.

And, keep in mind that the S series Groove Tubes are made in the same JJ factory, on equipment specifically for the Groove Tubes. If you use the S series, you would be getting JJ tubes, but paying for special testing of those tubes (whether or not it's worth it to you). The stock tubes in many new amps are Groove Tubes R series, maybe a lower wattage tube, but could certainly benefit from a bias adjustment in the same way that new JJs do. I have found the stock Sovteks to be very robust, and can handle a higher bias, but I guess that tone is subjective still. Maybe all of the loud concerts over the years has ruined my hearing? :lol: :)

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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 7:50 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
Groove Tubes are great too, maybe a little pricey, you get what you pay for. They are thoroughly tested and guaranteed.

My GT 6v6 rattled from day one in my new out of the box DRRI :? maybe I just got unlucky... the GT 6L6 in my 90's Blues Deluxe were actually not bad though.

If you're planning to get 6V6s tubes I wouldn't recommend the JJs, IMO they sounded too harsh in my DRRI. Tung-Sol reissues sound wonderful at a great price!


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