Question: Matching the tube 'color' batch

[GeoBull]

I had a rattling power tube in my LSC. Mesa sent me a new pair. The new one's are color batch 'Gry'; the one I'm replacing is color batch 'Yellow'

Rich at Mesa didn't ask about color batch which seems to indicate its not a big deal. However, the manual says I should match batch color.

-Is there any harm in using a mis-matched color batch?
-Is there any tone compromise?
-Should I call Mesa on Monday and ask for the right color?
-Should all my tubes (4 x 6L6) always be from the same color batch?

Thanks as always.

 

[JOEY B.]

The answer to your question would be: Does MESA ship out any of their new amps with different color coded tubes? :wink:

 

[GeoBull]

Further info; I've run the amp for a couple of hours with the following tubes; view is looking into back of amp (you're not upside down so amp left is the fuse); this only shows the 4 6L6, not the rectifier:

Yellow Yellow Yellow Grey
original original original New

-Is this ok?
-Should I swap out one of the Yellow for the other new grey?
----If yes, which socket should take the other yellow?
-Which socket pairs should have matching colors? or should they all match?

 

[GeoBull]

Update: I read the Mesa tube box (duh!) and it says as long as inners and outers match things are mine. Make sense to everybody?

So I swapped in the other new tube so they now look like this:

Grey Yellow Yellow Grey
New original original New

Interestingly, I think I noticed a power difference (more volume) after changing.

Any further thoughts on this?

 

[MrMarkIII]

Yellow Grey Grey Yellow
or
Grey Yellow Yellow Grey

"You are correct, sir!"

 

[JOEY B.]

Not to say that you can't sort them as per the instructions on the box, BUT has anyone seen a new Boogie with mis-matched color codes?

 

[jman7272]

Update: I read the Mesa tube box (duh!) and it says as long as inners and outers match things are mine. Make sense to everybody?

So I swapped in the other new tube so they now look like this:

Grey Yellow Yellow Grey
New original original New

Interestingly, I think I noticed a power difference (more volume) after changing.

Any further thoughts on this?

You are exactly correct. The inners have to match color code as well as the outers. the two inners and two outers DO NOT necessarily have to have the same bias color coding.

My new MK IV had a faulty tube and came with yellow 6L6's. They sent me a red replacement duo.

My config (as recommended by the literature and Mesa) was to go either Y-R-R-Y or R-Y-Y-R. Doesn't matter so long as the pairs match. The same concept applies if you wanted to use EL34's in your MK IV. you would put a 34 in each of the outer sockets leaving the inner ones 6L6.

FWIW - a friend who is knowledgable on the topic that I spoke with explained it like this: Mesa doesn't mismatch power tubes because it is a liability to have to explain this on a regular basis to uneducated end users. They would be replacing tubes up the ying yang so they always recommend matching them although it is really only necessary to match the pair from a technical, functional perspective.

Hope this helps.

 

[JOEY B.]

Update: I read the Mesa tube box (duh!) and it says as long as inners and outers match things are mine. Make sense to everybody?

So I swapped in the other new tube so they now look like this:

Grey Yellow Yellow Grey
New original original New

Interestingly, I think I noticed a power difference (more volume) after changing.

Any further thoughts on this?

You are exactly correct. The inners have to match color code as well as the outers. the two inners and two outers DO NOT necessarily have to have the same bias color coding.

My new MK IV had a faulty tube and came with yellow 6L6's. They sent me a red replacement duo.

My config (as recommended by the literature and Mesa) was to go either Y-R-R-Y or R-Y-Y-R. Doesn't matter so long as the pairs match. The same concept applies if you wanted to use EL34's in your MK IV. you would put a 34 in each of the outer sockets leaving the inner ones 6L6.

FWIW - a friend who is knowledgable on the topic that I spoke with explained it like this: Mesa doesn't mismatch power tubes because it is a liability to have to explain this on a regular basis to uneducated end users. They would be replacing tubes up the ying yang so they always recommend matching them although it is really only necessary to match the pair from a technical, functional perspective.

Hope this helps.

His LSC amp is a 100 watt class AB power section. The mismatch of colors will not hurt the amp, but matching the entire quad would be optimal. The MkIV is a Simul-Class power section that has a different bias for the outer sockets. It is a completely different animal in terms of optimal tube matching.

 

[jman7272]

Update: I read the Mesa tube box (duh!) and it says as long as inners and outers match things are mine. Make sense to everybody?

So I swapped in the other new tube so they now look like this:

Grey Yellow Yellow Grey
New original original New

Interestingly, I think I noticed a power difference (more volume) after changing.

Any further thoughts on this?

You are exactly correct. The inners have to match color code as well as the outers. the two inners and two outers DO NOT necessarily have to have the same bias color coding.

My new MK IV had a faulty tube and came with yellow 6L6's. They sent me a red replacement duo.

My config (as recommended by the literature and Mesa) was to go either Y-R-R-Y or R-Y-Y-R. Doesn't matter so long as the pairs match. The same concept applies if you wanted to use EL34's in your MK IV. you would put a 34 in each of the outer sockets leaving the inner ones 6L6.

FWIW - a friend who is knowledgable on the topic that I spoke with explained it like this: Mesa doesn't mismatch power tubes because it is a liability to have to explain this on a regular basis to uneducated end users. They would be replacing tubes up the ying yang so they always recommend matching them although it is really only necessary to match the pair from a technical, functional perspective.

Hope this helps.

His LSC amp is a 100 watt class AB power section. The mismatch of colors will not hurt the amp, but matching the entire quad would be optimal. The MkIV is a Simul-Class power section that has a different bias for the outer sockets. It is a completely different animal in terms of optimal tube matching.

Dam... guess I am too Mark IV centric. Totally answered this question in terms of the IV.

 

[MrMarkIII]

His LSC amp is a 100 watt class AB power section. The mismatch of colors will not hurt the amp, but matching the entire quad would be optimal. The MkIV is a Simul-Class power section that has a different bias for the outer sockets. It is a completely different animal in terms of optimal tube matching.

True, but from Mesa, the best he can do is two matched pairs. Maybe Doug's or Eurotubes can hook him up.