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Post subject: New Tubes for DRRI
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:04 pm
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I've been told by several people now that replacing the stock tubes in my DRRI will result in dramatically increased performance of the amp... have you guys found this to be the case?

What tubes do you recommend? I've found a few websites that offer a complete re-tube package for the DRRI, and prices for the sets range from around $140 to more than double that for the most expensive.


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Post subject: Re: New Tubes for DRRI
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:16 pm
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See first item in the list. Don't waste your money on gold pins.

https://ssl.eurotubes.com/cart/index.ph ... gory_id=35

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Post subject: Re: New Tubes for DRRI
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:25 pm
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The first thing I'd do would be to make sure the existing tubes are biased to spec. FMIC deliberately sets the idle bias cold at the factory to extend the life of the bottles. Upshot? The amps usually sound brittle, sterile, and stiff.

And if your amp is new, give the speaker a minimum of 20 hours' play to fully break in before rushing to replace it because you've judged its tone to be less-than-pleasing.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: New Tubes for DRRI
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:25 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
The first thing I'd do would be to make sure the existing tubes are biased to spec. FMIC deliberately sets the idle bias cold at the factory to extend the life of the bottles. Upshot? The amps usually sound brittle, sterile, and stiff.

And if your amp is new, give the speaker a minimum of 20 hours' play to fully break in before rushing to replace it because you've judged its tone to be less-than-pleasing.

Arjay


+1 on that. How long have you owned played that amp?

I am using mine for almost a year and it is getting better and better tone wise. No mods at all needed. I appreciate brightness of the amp when I plug in my Gibson lp with the buckers. For the strat it is lot easier to EQ the good stuff. All I am saying is if the amp is still new to you give it a bit of time for speaker to break in and for you to get to know it and how to get the best out of it.

best of luck


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Post subject: Re: New Tubes for DRRI
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:23 pm
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It's my back-up amp, so I have not used it a ton... easily over 20 hrs though. I've just had several issues with microphonic "ghost" sounds coming from the amp and already replaced a few of the stock tubes. From what I've read the standard Groove Tubes are pretty crappy, and upgrading to JJs will make a huge difference.


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Post subject: Re: New Tubes for DRRI
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:38 pm
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I ordered some new tubes last week sometime and they should be here this week sometime.

I will let everyone know what I think.


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Post subject: Re: New Tubes for DRRI
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:20 pm
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fendermandan wrote:
I appreciate brightness of the amp when I plug in my Gibson lp with the buckers.


That was my primary motivation for leaving my "bright cap" in situ. I did do the "Fritz Mod" though, so I have the reverb and trem available on both channels. I use the "normal" side of the house for my Strats, works great.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: New Tubes for DRRI
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:40 pm
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I brought my amp home with a microphonic 12AX7. Then, over a period of about 6 months, I replaced a couple more 12AX7's and the 6V6's due to failure. Then just a while back the rectifier tube went out. My amp started going crazy!! I was like WTF lol It was just the rectifier tube. Now all the stock tubes have been replaced

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
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Post subject: Re: New Tubes for DRRI
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:46 pm
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HouserPhan wrote:
It's my back-up amp, so I have not used it a ton... easily over 20 hrs though. I've just had several issues with microphonic "ghost" sounds coming from the amp and already replaced a few of the stock tubes. From what I've read the standard Groove Tubes are pretty crappy, and upgrading to JJs will make a huge difference.


Upgrading to JJ made things worse for me :? I found the JJ 6V6 to be way too harsh in my DRRI. Might want to try some Tung-Sol instead or a nice pair of NOS RCA 6V6.


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Post subject: Re: New Tubes for DRRI
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:10 pm
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I've had a setp of TungSol RI 6V6GT and their RI 12AX7 in my SF Princeton for about 2 months, now. Very nice combination, that has as good a "Fender" tone, as any set of tubes out there, now. Bright, clean. Very good headroom.

If you want slightly more midrange and a little slower onset of overdrive, the Mullard RI 12AX7 maybe the ticket. One thing about Mullard re-issues, try to buy them from a seller that tests for noise as well as strength across the triodes. They are long plates & I've have a few (many 3 or 4 outta 25) be microphonic, right out of the box.

I haven't tried the new RI Genalex tubes. Though I've heard from several ppl with older Fender and Marshall amps, that their Genalex RI 12AX7 and KT-77 are very good tubes. More of a Euro tone. So, I'm thinking like original Mullard ECC83/EL34 combo. Which is not bad at all. :wink:

Now, if only SOMEONE would come out with a consistent GZ34/5AR4 and 5U4GB rectifier...


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