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Post subject: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 10:05 pm
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Did some reading on using 6L6 power tubes in 6V6 DLX reverb amps.
Found a good number of vintage DLX Reverb owners using 6L6's, as well as
65 DRRI users.
Given the that the 68 CDR uses the same board and nearly same parts as the 65 DRRI, then the 68 can also use 6L6's.

Most recommend using a SS rectifier to bring up available voltage to feed the 6L6's.
Some stayed with the tube rectifier with good results.
Comments were made about output impedance being better/more correct at 4 ohm's, but pretty much all said that using the stock 8ohm speaker is just fine.

So, why do this?
It's more a curiosity, but I like the idea of raising the clean headroom of the 68 CDR so that I could use it when playing with the guys. My drummer buddy is one LOUD drummer, so trying to play and stay with a clean tone would be tough with using a good bit less than the 22 watts, as the 68 actually breaks earlier than the 65.

As I write this it reminds of how much I really would like to try the new
68 custom vibrolux that, I think, uses 6L6's and should be able to run louder while staying cleaner.

What are opinions on running 6L6's in a 65 and 68 deluxe reverb?
I've got a good number of 6L6 and 5881 tubes as that's what my Egnater Vengeance uses.


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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 10:33 pm
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While doable, and interesting, I think that the DR has its own, very cool sound, and 6V6 are a big part of it. In a DR, I prefer EH 6V6, but a good compromise between 6V6 and 6L6 might be some GT 6V6-S, or JJ 6V6, which gives a bit beefier/cleaner sound than other 6V6, closer to a 6L6 sound without losing a lot of the DR sound.

But, if you prefer the 6L6 sound, go for it and tell us what you think of the difference.

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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 1:22 am
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Amp will not play louder , just more clean , but you have to adjust bias for better sound.

Beware 6L6's heater need twice current than 6V6 .

Better to check ( with 6L6s in the amp) if you read at least 6 volts AC on heater, best is 6.3 . Under 6 volts you may damage your Power Transformer .

IMO most of the time drummer ( and band ) play too loud . Better to learn how to play softer


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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:54 am
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About two weeks ago I put a pair of JJ 6L6es in my DRRI and rebiased the amp. I can tell you that it really turned my DRRI into a mini Twin Reverb! You do not get more power output by changing to 6L6es. What you get is more headroom before power tube distortion, so it remains cleaner further up the volume knob than with 6V6es. And it has the bottom end of the Twin. Awesome classic Fender Twin Reverb sound, but in a smaller, lightweight package (I'm almost 67 years old!), which is exactly what I wanted.

Having said that, I did notice that the PT is running hotter than with 6V6es. I may remove the preamp tube in the dry channel to save filament current or I may just buy a set of JJ 6V6es, rebias it back where it needs to be, and let it go at that.

Bob at Eurotubes says that he has put 6L6es in many Deluxe Reverbs and DRRI's over the years, with no other mods and the amps run fine for long periods of time without consequence. No need to go to 4 ohm speakers, etc.

My ideal amp would be a 40 watt 2x10" or even a 1x15" AB763 like the 65 (64?) Vibroverb.


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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 2:57 pm
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Play it safe. Use the JJ's and a more efficient speaker.
I use the Wizard and am very happy with the increase in volume along with late break up.


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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:09 pm
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Thanks for the great suggestions and experience.
IF I finally get a fully proper functioning CDR I may try the JJ 6V6's and 6L6's to hear what they can do.

For my wants and needs I really want a great clean Fender tone like a Twin Reverb but in a lighter package.
A 1x12 is what I prefer for greater mobility, and for when I want a fuller tone I have a
2x12 cab with V30's that sounds great.

I'm really interested in the new 68 Custom Vibrolux as it sounds close to what I'd like, even though it has 2x10's.
But they are not out in the market yet.
Seems Fender pulled them so as to fix or correct something, but why is it taking so long?


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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:24 pm
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Putting in 6L6-variants may void your warranty.


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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:37 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Putting in 6L6-variants may void your warranty.
If you leave them in and take it in for repairs as is that is.

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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:50 am
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desertbluesman wrote:
BMW2002Ti wrote:
Putting in 6L6-variants may void your warranty.
If you leave them in and take it in for repairs as is that is.



+1 ...and mod bias resistor or there is a pot ?


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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 7:21 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
desertbluesman wrote:
BMW2002Ti wrote:
Putting in 6L6-variants may void your warranty.
If you leave them in and take it in for repairs as is that is.



+1 ...and mod bias resistor or there is a pot ?


Yup, I won't do it until I get a working amp and then only if I decide to keep it.

I may actually want a higher powered and cleaner Fender.
With my Schecter C1-Classic and it's Duncan HB's even at around 2 the clean is not really clean and pristine. My Start keeps the CDR clean all the way to around 4, which is plenty loud for home use.

I too am curious as to how easy it is to adjust bias in the deluxe reverbs.
Super easy in the HR Dlx3.


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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:21 pm
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Rverb wrote:
...I too am curious as to how easy it is to adjust bias in the deluxe reverbs.
Super easy in the HR Dlx3.


Not difficult for the DRRI or the CDR if you use bias probes (there is no resistor test point in the DR like the HRd). You don't have to remove the upper back panel, but it makes it bit easier*, and the bias adjust pot is accessible from the outside of the chassis. I just leave the tube pins a little bit exposed above the bias probes and measure the Plate voltage on the tube pin #3, although this can be precarious if you don't have a steady hand. But, this means that you don't have to remove the chassis from the cab to measure.

Edit:
*The newer amps have this stupid cage around the output and rectifier tubes, so you will have to remove the upper back panel. :roll:

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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 1:46 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
Amp will not play louder , just more clean , but you have to adjust bias for better sound.

Beware 6L6's heater need twice current than 6V6 .

Better to check ( with 6L6s in the amp) if you read at least 6 volts AC on heater, best is 6.3 . Under 6 volts you may damage your Power Transformer .

IMO most of the time drummer ( and band ) play too loud . Better to learn how to play softer


Digging up an old subject
I switched mine to 6L6 biased and took your advice on the heater (which according to what I've read is pin #2) I measured the voltage to ground there and got 2.6, so of course I got scared put the 6V6's back in biased and measured at the heater and also got 2.6. Kinda confused now. The PT felt kinda warm/hot with 6L6 but now checking it again with 6V6 it seems about the same. I would really like to have the 6L6s in there it truly does sound like a min twin....HELP


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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 3:40 pm
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GuitarMechanic wrote:
stratele52 wrote:
Amp will not play louder , just more clean , but you have to adjust bias for better sound.

Beware 6L6's heater need twice current than 6V6 .

Better to check ( with 6L6s in the amp) if you read at least 6 volts AC on heater, best is 6.3 . Under 6 volts you may damage your Power Transformer .

IMO most of the time drummer ( and band ) play too loud . Better to learn how to play softer


Digging up an old subject
I switched mine to 6L6 biased and took your advice on the heater (which according to what I've read is pin #2) I measured the voltage to ground there and got 2.6, so of course I got scared put the 6V6's back in biased and measured at the heater and also got 2.6. Kinda confused now. The PT felt kinda warm/hot with 6L6 but now checking it again with 6V6 it seems about the same. I would really like to have the 6L6s in there it truly does sound like a min twin....HELP



You must read heater voltage between pin 2 an 7 ,
Pin 2 to ground must read at least 3 volts. At 2.6 you overload power transformer if your meter is right
I won't put 6L6 on this amp


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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 11:14 pm
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stratele52, reread his post, he has the same voltage reading with 6L6 or 6V6.

There is no problem using 6L6 in the DR.

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Post subject: Re: 6L6 tubes in 68/65 DLX Reverb
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2016 1:06 am
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shimmilou wrote:
stratele52, reread his post, he has the same voltage reading with 6L6 or 6V6.

There is no problem using 6L6 in the DR.


I don't wan't to reread, so no problem.


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