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Post subject: 6V6 Tubes in a HR DeVille 4x10 (MIM)
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 6:55 am
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Since I can't afford a Deluxe Reverb RI or a vintage VibroVerb, I've been stuck with my HR DeVille 4x10 which I LOVE the heck out of ... I just can't play it as loud as it needs to be played to sound the way I fell in love with it in the first place!1@#&^%$#$$#@!!

Let's try to step 'er down a bit. Warnings are everywhere to NOT use 6V6 power tubes in place of the 6L6s. They are fine for HR Deluxes but NOT the HR DeVilles. EURUTUBES, a very informative site and JJ seller states that YOU CAN use 6V6s as long as you keep the bias down around 30 -35mv.

Has anyone successfully done this and if so, was the result worth it?


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Post subject: Re: 6V6 Tubes in a HR DeVille 4x10 (MIM)
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 7:16 am
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I think that you'll find little overall volume reduction by going to 6V6GT's. The 4 x 10 inch speaker arrangement it pretty darn efficient. I bet 1-watt RMS is plenty loud.


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Post subject: Re: 6V6 Tubes in a HR DeVille 4x10 (MIM)
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 8:22 am
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Hi there ... I couldn't wait so I stuffed my new 6V6s in place of the 6L6s. Though I've been a performer for just over 40 years, I still ain't deaf yet. There is a substantial reduction in volume; especially on the 'clean' channel. Bias was set at 31mv.

The 'drive' channel can be cranked (8 on the drive & 5 on the master volume) to get very nice Blues rock results. I went through all my guitars - 4 gibsons and 2 fenders. The results were equal on all strings.
On the down side, a noticeable amount of 'sparkle' is now missing in the tone dept.

My tube config is as follows: V1= 12AY7 (EH), V2 & V3= ECC81 (JJ), the 2 Power Tubes ar JJ 6V6S.

I should've done this before I posted my question so, I apologize but, this setup IS VERY SATISFYING. Thanks :shock: :shock: :arrow: :D


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Post subject: Re: 6V6 Tubes in a HR DeVille 4x10 (MIM)
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 12:38 pm
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Glad it worked out for you. Not sure what the plate voltage is on the your, but 31mA (read as 31mV) maybe pushing those JJ to around 14-15 watts per tube. That's if the plates are seeing 460-475VDC.

They may not last too long at those settings.


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Post subject: Re: 6V6 Tubes in a HR DeVille 4x10 (MIM)
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 1:45 pm
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bluezguy09 wrote:
Since I can't afford a Deluxe Reverb RI or a vintage VibroVerb, I've been stuck with my HR DeVille 4x10 which I LOVE the heck out of ... I just can't play it as loud as it needs to be played to sound the way I fell in love with it in the first place!1@#&^%$#$$#@!!

Let's try to step 'er down a bit. Warnings are everywhere to NOT use 6V6 power tubes in place of the 6L6s. They are fine for HR Deluxes but NOT the HR DeVilles. EURUTUBES, a very informative site and JJ seller states that YOU CAN use 6V6s as long as you keep the bias down around 30 -35mv.

Has anyone successfully done this and if so, was the result worth it?


Just to be perfectly clear, the 30 mV - 35 mV range referred to by Eurotubes when using 6V6 tubes in the HRDvl, is that measured at the amp test point, so this is for both tubes, each tube will be at approx 15 mV - 17.5 mV (15 mA to 17.5 mA). If using bias probes, set each 6V6 tube between 15 mV - 17.5 mV (15 mA to 17.5 mA). The Plate voltage in the HRDvl will rise to around 500 VDC when using 6V6 output tubes, so you must use tubes rated for this high of a Plate voltage. The Plate voltage in the HRDlx will rise to around 470 VDC when using 6V6, again, use tubes rated high enough for the application.

Also for the HRDvl (and HRDlx), only use JJ 6V6, or GT 6V6 S (S version only!). The recent production EH 6V6 can also work in the HRDlx. Any other 6V6 is not robust enough to last in the HRDvl, and most others won't even work in the HRDlx.

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Post subject: Re: 6V6 Tubes in a HR DeVille 4x10 (MIM)
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 1:55 pm
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bluezguy09 wrote:
Hi there ... I couldn't wait so I stuffed my new 6V6s in place of the 6L6s. Though I've been a performer for just over 40 years, I still ain't deaf yet. There is a substantial reduction in volume; especially on the 'clean' channel. Bias was set at 31mv.

The 'drive' channel can be cranked (8 on the drive & 5 on the master volume) to get very nice Blues rock results. I went through all my guitars - 4 gibsons and 2 fenders. The results were equal on all strings.
On the down side, a noticeable amount of 'sparkle' is now missing in the tone dept.

My tube config is as follows: V1= 12AY7 (EH), V2 & V3= ECC81 (JJ), the 2 Power Tubes ar JJ 6V6S.

I should've done this before I posted my question so, I apologize but, this setup IS VERY SATISFYING. Thanks :shock: :shock: :arrow: :D


I enjoyed the sound of the 6V6 in my HRDlx, very DR sounding, but went back to 6L6 because I have other 6V6 amps. If you want some of the sparkle back when using the 6V6, try ditching the 12AY7 in V1 and substitute a 5751 or 12AX7, and I would never use a 12AT7 in any preamp position, so a good 12AX7 would be best for V2. I do like a 12AT7 in V3 (PI) and nearly every PI position and reverb driver position in most amps. My tube lineup in your amp would be; V1-5751, V2-12AX7, V3-12AT7, whether using 6V6 or 6L6 output tubes.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


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Post subject: Re: 6V6 Tubes in a HR DeVille 4x10 (MIM)
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 4:03 pm
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Thanks for all your knowledge!!! It is truly appreciated and I WILL check it out!

Here's another happy freakout for me. We all know OE speakers are OK but, not anyone's first choice. I have a couple Marshall stacks - Vintage Modern - which are loaded from factory with Celestion Greenbacks rated @ 25W each. Just on a whin, created the 4 ohm load on the DeVille and flicked the 425A Marshall cab to 4ohm as well.

I almost jumped out of my skin!!!! Both the Tele and the ES-335 kept melting me with clarity unheard of (to my ears). Sad part is, I can't see carrying around a marshall cab and DeVille to 50 seater clubs... no room on the stage.

Since I'm trying to reduce the weight of my DeVille anyway, I'm now thinking of pulling the four stock speakers and buying a pair of 40W Celestion G10 Golds. I don't know how this'll sound in an open back cab like my DeVille because my ears were forever screwed by the closed back marshall cab. I'll get a 2 x 10 cab built with a closed back.
The Greenbacks are available but there we go again with the heavier cab as I'd need 4 of them.

This may give me the VibroVerb with high headroom I always wanted :lol: :lol:
We'll see.


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