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Post subject: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:32 am
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I'm about to buy a 65 TRRI and am told it is completely stock - including the tubes.

I'm buying it over eBay so won't have chance to try the tubes out until I go to collect it. That said, I've never been very impressed by Groove Tubes in the past...I assume Fender is still using those as OEM?

Does anyone have any recommendations for replacement tubes for the 65 TRRI, preferably not NOS tubes as my budget doesn't stretch that far at the moment!!

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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:19 am
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I installed blackplate RCA's in my TRRI, along with a mix of NOS JAN glass for the pre-amp.

As far as contemporary tubes go, you could do a lot worse than JJ's or Sov-Tek. You might also consider Electro-Harmonix. I've been using some of their 6L6's with excellent results thus far.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:37 am
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Great recommendations Retroverbial.

Before even considering a tube change, it might be worth checking/adjusting the bias to see if you can improve the tone with the stock tubes. The stock GT tubes could very well be Sovtek or EH already, preamp and/or output.

But, cart before horse......worth a listen first.

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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:46 am
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shimmilou wrote:
Before even considering a tube change, it might be worth checking/adjusting the bias to see if you can improve the tone with the stock tubes. The stock GT tubes could very well be Sovtek or EH already, preamp and/or output.

But, cart before horse......worth a listen first.


Definitely! Every new or contemporary Fender tube amp I've worked on was seriously under-biased from the factory -- likely an attempt to extend the life of the original tubes. If your TRRI's plate voltage measures to spec at 448VDC, a healthy starting point should be in the neighborhood of 33 to 35 mA.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:05 am
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Yes, as Arjay and shimmilou suggested, check the bias first. If still not satisfied, then take a look here:

https://ssl.eurotubes.com/cart/index.ph ... gory_id=38

Don't bother with the gold pin tubes.

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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:26 am
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Yeah, I see it industry wide, Marshall, Egnater, Carvin, Fender, MB and others tend to bias very cold. But, many EL84 amps from those same manufacturers tend to be biased too hot. :o

If it would only occur to more people to check the bias first....

It pains me to hear the stock tubes being dissed, new tubes installed and then the bias set. Many times the two different sets of tubes came from the same factory, yet the ones installed with a cold bias get a bad rap for the wrong reason. Then, the same tired myths are perpetuated. The stock tubes aren't always the best, opinions considered, but the stock bias is almost always off on most new amps, definitely worth a look.

If you serve the same soup hot or cold, the soup isn't different, only the temperature. (OK, analogies usually suck, but I keep trying.) :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:55 am
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shimmilou wrote:
Yeah, I see it industry wide, Marshall, Egnater, Carvin, Fender, MB and others tend to bias very cold. But, many EL84 amps from those same manufacturers tend to be biased too hot. :o

If it would only occur to more people to check the bias first....

It pains me to hear the stock tubes being dissed, new tubes installed and then the bias set. Many times the two different sets of tubes came from the same factory, yet the ones installed with a cold bias get a bad rap for the wrong reason. Then, the same tired myths are perpetuated. The stock tubes aren't always the best, opinions considered, but the stock bias is almost always off on most new amps, definitely worth a look.

If you serve the same soup hot or cold, the soup isn't different, only the temperature. (OK, analogies usually suck, but I keep trying.) :lol:


Calm down shimmi. :lol:

When I first got my BDRI I thought the stock GTs sucked. :cry: I increased the bias and they still sucked. :cry: :cry: It wasn't until I replaced them with JJs and set the bias properly that the amp sounded great. :D

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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:15 am
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:lol: OK!

Yes, I remember, and credit you with at least trying it for yourself. :D

I believe that on this forum so far for me, it's been about 50-50 for those trying the bias adjust with the originals and actually liking the originals. But I'm thankful to get 50% really, as many people's bias (pun intended) won't allow them to even try it. Kind of a reverse placebo effect, predisposition to dislike without even trying.

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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:50 am
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Thanks guys.

I should have mentioned that I would of course check the sound of the existing tubes and the bias first, but I'm picking the amp up in the morning and then hoping to gig with it that evening, so want to have a backup set of tubes ready in case it has a bad tube or something...and if I'm going to buy new tubes, may as well get decent ones.

Just as an aside, what do you guys think of TAD tubes?

I had them in a BDRI and liked them, same in a Bogner Alchemist, but only compared them to the stock tubes in each amp...

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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:54 pm
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TAD output & rectifier tubes are selected (by a German firm), usually, Shuguang-made (Chinese if you haven't guessed :D ) babies.

They have been pretty good (though I haven't tried the TAD-6L6GC-STR). One thing, Chinese-made rectifiers and output tubes are notorious for a lot of contaminate "blow-off." It appears as a dancing blue-purple haze in the glass envelope during first couple of weeks of use. Maybe Jimi inspired the production specs. :mrgreen:

This can get ppl nervous. I have not had one of these "light-show" tubes goes bad on me (in many different apps-- hi-fi or guitar amps). This glow usually abates after the first month of use.

Also, Chinese made output tubes tend to really change bias, as they break-in. Recheck them every week, or so, for the first month of use.


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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:36 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Also, Chinese made output tubes tend to really change bias, as they break-in. Recheck them every week, or so, for the first month of use.


+1

After the first month on this regimen, check them every six months or so (if you gig or play the amp regularly).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 5:56 pm
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Have had very good luck with all my amps with Mike K of KCANOStubes.com - tell him your amp, tone goals and budget, and he has NOS and new glass for your amp.

For Fenders, it's really hard to beat a Mullard CV4024 for the Phase Inverter tube. Only $30, but makes a huge difference on 6L6 and 6V6 amps.

I've got a matched set of Groove Tubes in my showman right now; may upgrade my Bandmaster to either the SED 6L6GCs or NOS JAN Philips 6L6WGBs.

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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:40 pm
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Neo, if you replace a 6L6GC with a 5881/6L6WGB, be sure to bias the amp for a 5881/6L6WGB. The NOS Tungsol can take the 6L6GC plate voltage, but should be biased to idle at no more than 20 watts per tube. (Most RCA, Sylvania labeled brown based 6L6WGB are Tungsol made---check for stop sign lettering on the top of the tube).

These puppies take a long time to break-in. Once done... very good, long lasting tubes. (Me love you long time tubes :lol: )


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Post subject: Re: Tube Recommendations for 65 Twin Reverb RI...
Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 10:40 pm
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absolutely. I always have my guy adjust bias and ensure everything else is hunky dory when replacing power tubes.

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