For those of you who have switched to non-Mesa tubes...

[BlueBones]

Just popping JJs in there (ALL tubes) made a noticable difference for the better. A little more than "subtle" but definitely not slap you in the face.

Summed up though...well worth doing.

 

[oyster]

Why would they make such great amps (IMHO), then ruin the tone by selling crappy bottom-of-the-barrel tubes for them? Does that make any sense?

Anyway I swapped out the 6L6s from my single rec and put in Boogie EL34s and I like the sound...

 

[Profklamen]

Oyster,

I don't think it makes much sense for Mesa to sell crappy tubes. I've had a limited sample so I couldn't say that they do sell crappy tubes - but 5 of the last 6 EL34's were not useable. Maybe a bad day at quality control? I don't know. It is worth keeping in mind that Mesa wwaaayyy over-charges for the tubes that they make you buy.

After playing phone tag, customer service is sending replacement tubes, and seems very professional and supportive. I requested new 6L6's instead of the EL34's since I've gotten so many bad ones.

I'll report when the new tubes get here.

By the way Oyster - are you using those EL34's in a head or a combo. Combo's tend to make the tubes rattle.