Early Mark IV A... tuned up and :(

[Mark Fore]

I bought one of Steve Miller's Mark IV heads (first couple weeks of production back in '89) about a year ago. It is the best sounding amp I've ever heard. Since it was immaculate, I assumed it wasn't touched much and sat in storage for years. Anyway...

Since I want to gig with it, I wanted to get it checked out so it wouldn't blow up mid-gig. I brought it in to a local authorized shop get a tune up and cleaned. It needed new tubes so they put JJ's in. I brought it home, turned it on and played with it at home for a couple weeks. It does not sound nearly as good as it did before I brought it in.

My question... could the tubes influence the tone that much? That sounds like a stupid question, but I've put Mesa tubes in my Mesa's for 25 years and it seems weird to me that just one time putting in JJ's would change the tone that much. The bass is SUPER excessive and the EQ bass slider is almost off with plenty of bass still present. I brought it back in for them to check it and possibly change the tubes.

Any opinions are appreciated, thanks guys!

 

[swbo101]

It's very possible...the tubes that were changed, pre-amp or power or both. The pre-amp would most likely have more of a sound difference. I have a Mark IV A and for the V1 position I have a Tung-Sol Reissue. It keeps it not so bass heavy and very articulate. Depending on what they do in the shop, I'd buy just one and place it in the V1 to see if you like it.

 

[dodger916]

My question... could the tubes influence the tone that much? That sounds like a stupid question, but I've put Mesa tubes in my Mesa's for 25 years and it seems weird to me that just one time putting in JJ's would change the tone that much. The bass is SUPER excessive and the EQ bass slider is almost off with plenty of bass still present. I brought it back in for them to check it and possibly change the tubes.

Any opinions are appreciated, thanks guys!

Absolutely. Over the years I've read Board members say JJs tend to be dark; never tried them myself for that reason. Not to be morose, but those tubes might be half the reason it sounded so good.

I assume you did not keep the old tubes (fingers crossed)? If not, do you know what tubes were in it? If not, in the power section I'd recommend Winged =C=s or STR420 (my favorite, but hard to come by). Mesa 5881s work well too. I've read that Mark IVs were designed "around" the STR420. For preamps, I've had good success with mostly vintage tubes, especially Tung Sol, Sylvania and RCA. It depends on the sound you're after. Keep us up to date.

By the way, I feel for you. That's gotta suck when an amp you love comes back sounding all wrong. You'll get her back!

 

[Mark Fore]

Thanks guys! Much appreciated.

The tubes were stock Mesa's, all 6L6's when I brought it in. I will most likely put some new Mesas in. All of my Mark IV's have always sounded great with those tubes. You guys have convinced me. Thank you!

 

[SonicProvocateur]

If you don't have the original STR-420's you can still get the chinese ones here:

http://www.tubesandmore.com/scripts/foxweb.dll/catalog@d:/dfs/elevclients/cemirror/ELEVATOR.FXP?SEARCH_KEYWORD=SP_6L6

The coke bottle ones are the T-6L6GC-CHN--C, and the regular type are the T-6L6GC-CN--S

The newer Ruby ones issued as the STR-440's are crappy IMO. Stick with russian tubes (=C=, EH (can't remember what Mesa issued those as) or USA tubes (STR-415's).

 

[zebpedersen]

Thanks guys! Much appreciated.

The tubes were stock Mesa's, all 6L6's when I brought it in. I will most likely put some new Mesas in. All of my Mark IV's have always sounded great with those tubes. You guys have convinced me. Thank you!

Go for it man, I changed the JJ output tubes in my D-type over to Boogie and it sounded better (to me, anyway) straight away. I re-he-heally don't rate JJ.