It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:53 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
Post subject: Re: '65 Deluxe Reissues . . .?
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:47 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:55 am
Posts: 335
Location: australia
Hi Nice Bit of tube rolling there.Ive Been lucky to find a few nos pre amp tubes around local tips,some old ham radio fellas let my take a pick from there stock off pulls,And ebay,Get some great Tubes cheap sometimes,I test them with a mates tube checker and most pass with Hi marks. So have rolled a few in my DRRI and For me.V1 RCa 12ax7,V2 Mullard ecc83,v3.RCA 12at7wa Nos,V4 Ge12ax7,V5 I use A made in China 12ax7,V6 RCA 12at7wa NOS..Power Tubes Radiotron 6v6gt Made In Aus,Was using a jj Gz34 For REC, Do a Great Job.But i won a Amprex gz34 For Ten Bucks on ebay An old pull From a Gibson Amp So the guy Said And it has there Brand Name on it anyway It tested Very strong,And works well in the amp,On the Bench Tested 4 more Volts than the Stock JJ gz34..? Tone for Days Now, To these Ears :D Have a nice Day Cheers.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: '65 Deluxe Reissues . . .?
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 6:20 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:08 pm
Posts: 2889
I spent a little time reading as many complaint threads about DRRI's as I could find and bad power tubes seemed to be the #1 problem.
a lot of power tube failures and burned grid resistors, the one and only failed DRRI I had (bought it as not working) also had fried Grid resistors.
It looks as though modern 6V6 tubes are the real problem ! and yet thousands of DRRI's are run daily with the modern stuff so ???? just a bit of bad luck ?
Since we tend to only hear from those who have had issues it is easy to focus on those relatively few who have had an actual melt down.

Glad I spent the last few years collecting good old USA made 6V6's and have enough to last the rest of my lifetime 8)

_________________
Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: '65 Deluxe Reissues . . .?
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 7:56 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:07 pm
Posts: 303
shimmilou wrote:
Maybe. Almost any speaker needs a good break in period. As you said, tone is in the ear of the behearer (is that a word? :lol: )

And there are so many subtle differences with tubes, and surely certain tubes might sound better with certain speakers. The combinations must be near endless.

I did some tube swapping. First, settled on some GT (EH) output tubes and then started with preamp.

For 12AX7 - Tung Sol RI, Mullard RI, Sovtek, EH, TAD 7025 WA, TAD ECC83, GT-C, MB SPAX, Ruby, Preferred Series (TheTubeStore), JJ, RCA, JAN Phillips, Ei. Then 5751 and 12AY7 - GT, EH, JJ, Sovtek, GE, RCA, JAN Phillips, Siemens, and one that I think is a Japanese made RCA 5751(?).

The TAD 7025 was the best in V2, really rich in harmonics, articulate and balanced sound that was really clean and sparkly, yet easily pushed into smooth breakup with some volume. Then tried all of the same tubes in V1. V1 was more difficult to decide. I really liked the EH gold-pin 5751 (Cryo treated), very rich, warm and smooth, with decent sparkly highs. The Sovtek 12AX7A was very rich, clean and smooth, with decent highs. But, I finally settled on the Mullard RI 12AX7, which was close to the TAD sound in V2 to have the two channels fairly close in sound, with just enough difference to make it worth switching channels.

With many of the preamp tubes, the differences were subtle and I tried several of them a few times to really discern which was better for me. Now I have a great sound that I like, running the volume, bass, and treble of both channels around 5-ish, controlling the clean/breakup with the guitar volume, and switching with a cheap A/B/Y foot switch. Sounds great with single coils and hum-buckers. The normal channel is just a bit cleaner and smoother, and the Vibrato channel having a bit more grit in the mids when pushed.

Forgot to mention that the V1 and V2 tubes that I replaced, GT ECC83-S (JJ made) were a bit boomy and muddy sounding at volume. It was the same with the GT 6V6-S (JJ made), too muddy, too much like a 6L6 sound. The rest of the tubes are the stock GT. V3 - GT 12AT7 (EH), V4 - GT ECC83-S, V5 - GT 12AX7-R (Sovtek), V6 - GT 12AT7 (EH long-Plate), V9, the rectifier - GT 5AR4/GZ34 (JJ made).


Good rolling. :)
I've got a decent collection, but nothing NOS.
The Jan Phillips 5751's look old but I can't tell if they are NOS or modern build.
The one I put in the PI sounds great.
Both of 5751's I have are pretty microphonic in V1 or V2, but works and sounds great in the PI. In my Egnater Vengeance they sound great in the gain stages, no microphonic squeal. Different circuit though, very modern high gain.
I find that pre tube changes in a Fender amp makes a much bigger tonal difference than in modern multi gain amps with a master.

Do you think there is anything to be gained with a different rectifier tube compared to the stock one?

Sounds like the GT 6V6's need to go. I've got 6L6's, 5881's, and EL34's but no 6V6's, so I think I'll try your suggestion for my 68 CDR.
Did you rebias? If so did you go hotter or colder than what the stock tubes were at?

I need an A/B, which one do you recommend?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: '65 Deluxe Reissues . . .?
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 8:31 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:06 am
Posts: 292
Location: SoCal
blues bondsman wrote:
I spent a little time reading as many complaint threads about DRRI's as I could find and bad power tubes seemed to be the #1 problem.
a lot of power tube failures and burned grid resistors, the one and only failed DRRI I had (bought it as not working) also had fried Grid resistors.
It looks as though modern 6V6 tubes are the real problem ! and yet thousands of DRRI's are run daily with the modern stuff so ???? just a bit of bad luck ?
Since we tend to only hear from those who have had issues it is easy to focus on those relatively few who have had an actual melt down.

Glad I spent the last few years collecting good old USA made 6V6's and have enough to last the rest of my lifetime 8)

Hi blues bondsman: your posts on the DRRI have been very valuable for me over the years (you are truly a specialist with this amp). If I troll ebay for some old or nos 6v6 tubes from the 60's, what am I looking for? I want to try and capture some of the 60's mojo in a modern amp (I know, I know, it really can't be exactly duplicated, but let's pretend we can get close [that's for the die-hards]). Am I looking for RCA or some other that might be also accurate? If I am looking for RCA, I see grey plates, and black plates, and clear bottles, and smoked bottles, and ... well, I'm confused. Can you point me in a direction that is best? AND .... I want to limit the cost to $50.00 a pair or better. Am I dreaming with Dorothy in OZ? Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it! (digression BTW: I have some booster pedals that I am just loving with the tonal variety they impart on the DRRI.)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: '65 Deluxe Reissues . . .?
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 9:08 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Rverb wrote:
...Do you think there is anything to be gained with a different rectifier tube compared to the stock one?

Sounds like the GT 6V6's need to go. I've got 6L6's, 5881's, and EL34's but no 6V6's, so I think I'll try your suggestion for my 68 CDR.
Did you rebias? If so did you go hotter or colder than what the stock tubes were at?

I need an A/B, which one do you recommend?


The rectifier is not going to affect tone.

I did rebias with each set of output tubes that I tried. Some were rated lower than others, so I had to adjust the bias pot quite a bit with several sets. Actually the bias with the stock tubes was a little hotter than I liked, about 24.5 mA. I tried them at 23 mA, not much difference in tone. I biased the new GT (EH) at 23 mA. I measured Cathode current with bias probes.

I have been using a simple, cheap A/B/Y switch, a Live Wire. It can be noisy depending on the amp, but with the DRRI it has been pretty decent. I think that the noise maybe because the washers on the jacks are plastic I think), isolating the cables from the case. I will try to connect the jacks to the case and see if it is quieter. I might get a Radial eventually, they have a couple that I like, but generally I don't even use one, so.....

And yes, I really like EH 6V6, and I had a few sets of GT 6V6 which are EH, that's the set that I thought sounded best, rated 5 on the GT rating scale (mid range).

_________________
---> "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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: '65 Deluxe Reissues . . .?
Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:03 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:08 pm
Posts: 2889
whatsthatsmell I have two favorites and they are broader than most folks fine tuned tube picks.

Basically I found any closely matched RCA usa 6V6's or Sylvanias sound amazing in a DRRI

Both have a wider range of specific years and types, and I've tried most, they all hold up well and sound pretty good ! so......... I am a USA vintage tube guy but not so much a cork sniffer as to specify types, just brands and country of origin :mrgreen:

_________________
Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: '65 Deluxe Reissues . . .?
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 3:01 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2014 3:40 pm
Posts: 15
Hi guys! I'm about to buy a FDRRI used (2013) and I was wondering if you can give me some directions of what should I check and how to do it, regarding its functionallity. I'm not a fan of used gears but I don't have much money these days... :S.
This is gonna be my first tube amp. I'm using an old Peavey banditt 112 (90's) Scorpion Speaker. Good amp, very reliable, but I'm afraid I've been always after that Fender clean channel.
Any thoughts will be appreaciated.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: '65 Deluxe Reissues . . .?
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:44 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Just try it out and listen for any noise/hum or ticking. If it sounds good...... :wink:

_________________
---> "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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: '65 Deluxe Reissues . . .?
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:25 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:08 pm
Posts: 2889
Jaguarnoise
The DRRI has that sound and more !
Tube amps are more dynamic for sure and they require more maintenance too
Warning !!! chasing "that tone" can become an obsession :mrgreen:

I would suggest you find yourself some good tubes, a nice pair of Sylvania, RCA, etc.... USA made strongly matched pair and then get your amp biased (or learn to do it yourself).

Then the DRRI will sing !!! and be roadworthy for ya.

_________________
Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron