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Post subject: Best Replacement Tubes for a 1959 Bassman LTD Reissue
Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 8:10 am
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I have a '59 Bassman LTD Reissue (2009-2010?) 4x10 combo amp that I want to re-tube soon, after a year or so of playing out. I know my Marshall real well and know which tubes I like in it, but I am not sure what the best tubes are for my Bassman amp as this is my first re-tubing with this amp.

I kind of want to re-tube the whole thing, pre-amp, power and tube rectifier, just to be sure of the tube life; what are the best combinations of tubes for this amp? I have heard JJ Power, Mullard pre-amps and JJ Rectifier.. But I am curious to know what my fellow Bassman players recommend... Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Best Replacement Tubes for a 1959 Bassman LTD Reissue
Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 8:35 am
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You want to keep the tone and reliability in this amp? Is it your primary workhorse? I'd go for the best matched, quietest GT 6L6-GE. These are the last of the US made 6L6GC's. Made in the Owensboro, KY plant. It's a real 6L6GC.

There are many Russian and Chinese labeled "6L6GC" out there, but very few match the toughness and tolerance of the GE. I would only trust the 1990's made Svetlana (=C=) SV-6L6GC. NOS Svet's of this era are almost as $$$ as BP RCA's.


If you really want to go whole-hog... search for high testing or NOS ( :mrgreen: ) RCA or Sylvania black plate 6L6GC's. Really, no other output tube has the harmonics and overtones of the US made 6L6GC. Along with the toughness. IMHO, of course.

Be sure to rebias.

Good hunting!

http://www.legendarytones.com/groovetubes.html


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Post subject: Re: Best Replacement Tubes for a 1959 Bassman LTD Reissue
Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 9:05 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
There are many Russian and Chinese labeled "6L6GC" out there, but very few match the toughness and tolerance of the GE. I would only trust the 1990's made Svetlana (=C=) SV-6L6GC. NOS Svet's of this era are almost as $$$ as BP RCA's.


+1!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Best Replacement Tubes for a 1959 Bassman LTD Reissue
Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 10:22 am
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BMW2002Ti,

So what tubes do you recommend? I am interested in "hot-rodding" this amp if possible (better quality tubes, easy mods), because I love how it sounds!!

The Bassman hasn't been my workhorse amp, I usually use a 1982 Marshall JCM 800 with a 4x12 Bogner cab, but recently I have fell in love with the flexibility of using pedals with my Bassman. I have several different gain pedals: Marshall Shredmaster, Ibanez TS808HW and a Wampler Pinnacle 2 to name a few. I kind of like having different tone and gain structures rather than using my JCM, which sounds amazing (with an Ultimate Attenuator), but is a single channel amp and only really does one thing well.

Would love to hear input about improving the overall tone, which is already pretty damn good, of my Bassman.


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Post subject: Re: Best Replacement Tubes for a 1959 Bassman LTD Reissue
Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 10:36 am
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+1 on the GT 6L6-GE

I thought that GT bought and moved the machines from Ky to Cal, but yes, they were still US made on the original machines using many of the original materials and suppliers. :D

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Post subject: Re: Best Replacement Tubes for a 1959 Bassman LTD Reissue
Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 12:03 pm
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I use JJ tubes from Eurotubes in my 5F6A clone:

Fender 59RI Standard Retube
Price: $86.50
Description: Just need to sweeten up your 59RI and make it sound closer to the real thing? This kit includes a matched pair of the JJ 6L6GC's, a GZ34 rectifier tube and three ECC83S preamp tubes with one of them balanced for the phase inverter in V3. When ordering please leave a note in the comments box on the checkout page to let us know if you have the original 90's reissue or the new LTD because the 90's amps are fixed bias and need hotter power tubes.

https://ssl.eurotubes.com/cart/index.ph ... ory_id=129

Except in V1 I use a NOS JAN GE 12AY7:

http://www.kcanostubes.com/content/nos-jan-ge-12ay7

I love the sound. :D

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Post subject: Re: Best Replacement Tubes for a 1959 Bassman LTD Reissue
Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 6:49 am
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Shimmy, you are correct. GT has bought the toolling. Would be neat to watch them build a 6L6GC.

BTW... I just bought a quad of NOS tan based Sylvania STR 415 ( 7581A ) --- similar to the GE made linked tube, but much taller bottle. These tubes are something else. Power and headroom galore. If you find good testing pulls, worth a try.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TESTED-Stromber ... 2314d107af


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