So I got my bias mod kit and I figured I would take some before readings. With Mesa STR 447 stock tubes the highest reading I got was 19.5 ma. Thats with Bold Power,silicone diodes and 50 watt on channel 2. Spongy knocked that down to about 9. That's pretty darn cold for a tube amp.Just for fun I threw in some Electro Harmonix EL34. At the highest setting I got 24 Ma. A little better. So I had some JJ E34L's handy that had a '45' on the box. Those registered a warm and fuzzy 38.5 Ma. Kicked over to channel 1 crunch and it was about the same. Switched to fat clean and it went up to 44. (remember the 45 on the box :wink: )
So if you don't want to do the bias mod but want to open the amp up a little to where a tube amp should run get yourself some JJ E34L's and specify a grade of 45. You can get other brand tubes in various grades of course if you want to experiment. If your lazy just order these from someplace like Eurotubes and pop em in. I would recommend getting the bias probe they sell so you can see wht your actually running at for experimenting and making sure your not running to hot.
So if you don't want to do the bias mod but want to open the amp up a little to where a tube amp should run get yourself some JJ E34L's and specify a grade of 45. You can get other brand tubes in various grades of course if you want to experiment. If your lazy just order these from someplace like Eurotubes and pop em in. I would recommend getting the bias probe they sell so you can see wht your actually running at for experimenting and making sure your not running to hot.