How many ma for mark series

[zodiac272]

Hey,

I was curious if 55 ma 6L6gc's are too hot for a 60 watt or 100/60 watt mark series. And what range is the best for mark series...

I was thinking from like 30 to 40 milliamps?

thanks

scott

 

[zodiac272]

ok I did a little research and thanks to a Boogiebabies post from Dec. 27, 2006:

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8923

it's suggested that the tubes be in the range of 22ma to 35 ma. so it looks like 55ma is much to hot and will fry a tranny or something...

thanks

scott

 

[JOEY B.]

Hey,

I was curious if 55 ma 6L6gc's are too hot for a 60 watt or 100/60 watt mark series. And what range is the best for mark series...

I was thinking from like 30 to 40 milliamps?

thanks

scott

Which power transformer is in your HRG?

 

[zodiac272]

It has the 100 tranny. and the 60 watter has whichever non-export tranny it comes with so they both are at 448V.

so according to Boogiebabies' calcs,

30W6L6/448V = .06696amps so then

66.96ma x .75% = 50.22 ma

so those 55ma 6L6gc will be running a little hotter than the 75%.... about 82%. So they are safe? but will burn out faster?



scott

 

[JOEY B.]

The STR-415, running in the outer socket of a Simulclass 105 PT Mark series amp, will draw in the 50-55mA range. These sockets are wired in triode, and I don't know if that will make a difference, as far as a safe current draw is concerned. I do know that the STR-415, installed in a 105 PT HG C+, will draw in the mid 40mA range. Keep in mind that if you use a good bit of preamp gain in your lead channel, that the sweet spot of 75% idle may not be ideal. Too much preamp gain stacked on top of power tube distortion turns to a mushy, overly- compressed tone in a hurry. I hope that this helps, and didn't add to the confusion. :lol:

 

[zodiac272]

at first I was using the STR-440's. they sound fine, but I'm not pushing them so hard... I put a quad of NOS sylvania 6L6gc (not my mesa str 415's) which are about 34 ma . they sound really good, but again I'm not really pushing the power section too hard, so I don't really hear much of a difference. I got them cheap, and I figured the amp was designed around that tube, and they should outlast anything I can get new.

I also have a pair of nos sylvania 6L6gc that are 55ma... these are the ones in question.

So if you are saying If I use a lot of preamp distortion, then put cooler tubes in, so instead of 75% use 60 or 65% idle? With the 55ma tubes, run the preamp settings lower, or just get cooler tubes.


I'm starting to pick it up... thanks JOEY.


Scott

 

[JOEY B.]

Sylvanias running that hot at idle will sound great using the rhythm channel of the C+. The edge of breakup/mild overdrive tones will be awesome. This is the real reason that tube amps are the only choice when going for this type of sound. If you mainly stay on the lead channel, I would suggest a 55-65% idle for the best balance of tone and tube life. Try the 55mA pair in the rhythm channel of your 60 watt amp, and you will truly understand what I mean. :wink:

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Sylvanias running that hot at idle will sound great using the rhythm channel of the C+. The edge of breakup/mild overdrive tones will be awesome. This is the real reason that tube amps are the only choice when going for this type of sound. If you mainly stay on the lead channel, I would suggest a 55-65% idle for the best balance of tone and tube life. Try the 55mA pair in the rhythm channel of your 60 watt amp, and you will truly understand what I mean. :wink:

Truth. My hot 387's are the cat's meow on my Mark III with the Vol 1 and gain dailed back a notch or two for more clarity insead of gristly gain. I turned the master volume up and let the amp cook. WHOA!!! Sinister tones unparalleled Mesa clarity; the gain is still on tap - I know it is the same for the IIC+.

 

[zodiac272]

ok, nice suggestions! Hopefully get it back this week and try that out...

thanks
scott

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Hey scott, today I recorded drum tracks today with my new settings and the hotter pair of 387's (415's) with volume 1 at 6.5 and the lead drive at 7 and my pick attacks have NEVER been so clear and crisp! It was truly the first time I had got the "IIC+" sound out of my III on record without it sounding fuzzy. I think Photi G was the one who suggested dialing back Vol 1 to get less murky preamp distortion (I usually had it around 8 for maximum brutality) and MAN it worked, it lets the Sylvania's come to life and you can drive the master higher. The recordings really tell the tale.

 

[zodiac272]

brutality[/i]) .

nice... sounds like it should be the name of a thrash metal band or something.

That sounds great SP... can you post your recordings? yeah, I can understand rolling back on V1 just a bit... must be so articulate. Where do you keep Master 1? lead master?

thanks

scott

 

[SonicProvocateur]

I will when I get them done, bro. I recorded our promo on my PRS and Ruby MSTRs (not Mesa, but victor matched them up to STR-440 specs) and they ran cold and were just mushy sounding and too fuzzy by comparison. Here's a track from the promo. You'll need to crank it probably to get the compression up since we didn't add much since we mixed for clarity not volume (fight the volume war!) I recorded the promo with the Master on 3 and the lead master on 2.5.

I'm going to record the album on my Ibanez guitars with the Master on 2 and the lead master on 2.5, but the Sylvania's retain their clarity at simply unreasonable Master levels. If I had a super ribbon mic like a Royer R121 I could really experiment more, but all I have is some LDCs and various other mics to play with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SWq9RCk2AE

 

[zodiac272]

Hey man, I really dig the riffing on your tour rig video with your 301 jem... the first time you brought your tour rig into your place.

The guitar sounds great on the clip you gave here... great definition and clarity... great playing.

thanks!

scott

 

[dodger916]

It has the 100 tranny. and the 60 watter has whichever non-export tranny it comes with so they both are at 448V.

so according to Boogiebabies' calcs,

30W6L6/448V = .06696amps so then

66.96ma x .75% = 50.22 ma

so those 55ma 6L6gc will be running a little hotter than the 75%.... about 82%. So they are safe? but will burn out faster?

scott

Just curious, Scott. How do you know they are drawing 55?
Frank

 

[zodiac272]

hey Frank,

there is a small sticker on them that says 55 ma. But I'm not sure which tester was used to measure the 55 ma. I'm just trying not to toast anything. I guess a bias probe and a DMM are in order?

scott

 

[JOEY B.]

I guess a bias probe and a DMM are in order?

Absolutely, the "rating" on the tubes would have to be measured in an identical amp to yours for the sticker to have any meaning. The same tube will draw a different current in different versions of the C+. The plate voltage and bias will vary depending on which power transformer that your amp uses as well which model (60, 60/100, Simul, Coliseum). A bias meter is a cheap peace-of-mind when it comes to NOS power tubes.

 

[zodiac272]

So those that buy NOS sylvanias and other tubes generally buy them hoping they will match their amp, test them, and if not a good match then flip the tubes on ebay or something?

scott

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Something like that, but the thing is also since we play Mesa's our bias is fixed unless modded. Think of all the Fenders, Marshalls, etc that you simply tweak for optimal sound. I pulled all my Sylvanias from big old Peavey power amps with hours on them, so they were pre-spec'd to run pretty cold. When I got my Ruby's I had Victor pull them from a giant box of singles and match them TO my amp. I had to tool around and figure out which Sylvanias sounded best and performed best; it is indeed a crap shoot sometimes on NOS tubes as people often say. I prefer to keep mine as spares though in case of blowouts since mine see the road and lots of shows.

Btw, thanks for the compliment Scott. That clip was with the Ruby tubes, I need to make some new clips with the Sylvanias that dont suck lol.