RA100 (revisited) A slight bit of a task to change tubes in this amp due to the 2 boards on the back that have to be removed but that is it. Access to all of the preamp tubes are right there (removal of two power tubes for better access). Yes, this amp sound the best with EL34's (especially when using the power soak feature, better power tube saturation, also the gain structure of the clean channel is a joy to push or keep low for a liquid blues). Now for something completely different, Swap the set of EL34 for some 6L6GC and turn this amp into a Marshall killer :shock: Since I bought a complete set of spare tubes for the Roadster, I put the new one's in, and was going to use the stock tubes as back up. (since I put the preamp tubes in the Mark V, why not try the power tubes in the RA100). Holy crap this amp rocks. Power soak was not as effective though, it did reduce the volume but did not get the tube saturation characteristic as I did with the EL34 since they go into clip much earlier. 6L6 will also effect the clean channel too, more headroom and with the gain set high will not clip as hard. Still not bad. Just thought I would pass this on to feed the need..... Regardless of what power tube used in the RA100, still can beat the V30 speaker for character and tone from this amp. It will sound thin through EV or similar or take on a boomy tone.
Roadster is easy to gain access to the tubes. One hides behind the OT but not too hard to reach regarding the head. I am sure there are an array of different speakers that sound great, for me it is EV. V30 not bad either.
Mark V, not easy access to preamp tubes. Similar to the Roadster, one hides behind the OT, Very tight space due to the reverb tank and smaller shell compared to the full size heads. In combo form, you can just about reach everything and almost do not even need to pull power tubes but easier if you do. EV speakers I feel sound best. V30 is okay, many like the V30, I thought they were terrible (reason I swapped the V30 in my cab to EV, but held on to them just in case, did not expect to actually crave them but I do with the RA100. The only amp I have that does well with both V30 and or EV is the Mark IV, reason for getting the 412 cab in the first place).
Basically all of this is all subjective. All that matters is how you feel with the amp once you get it.
So far, I only have two amps I can really get lost with, almost in a time warp if that were the case. In other words, I am spending more time playing the guitar than trying to make the amp sound the way I like it too. Both are Class A/B power amps. RA100 and the Roadster. I know I voted for Mark V. Still a good amp if you so desire it.
Roadster is easy to gain access to the tubes. One hides behind the OT but not too hard to reach regarding the head. I am sure there are an array of different speakers that sound great, for me it is EV. V30 not bad either.
Mark V, not easy access to preamp tubes. Similar to the Roadster, one hides behind the OT, Very tight space due to the reverb tank and smaller shell compared to the full size heads. In combo form, you can just about reach everything and almost do not even need to pull power tubes but easier if you do. EV speakers I feel sound best. V30 is okay, many like the V30, I thought they were terrible (reason I swapped the V30 in my cab to EV, but held on to them just in case, did not expect to actually crave them but I do with the RA100. The only amp I have that does well with both V30 and or EV is the Mark IV, reason for getting the 412 cab in the first place).
Basically all of this is all subjective. All that matters is how you feel with the amp once you get it.
So far, I only have two amps I can really get lost with, almost in a time warp if that were the case. In other words, I am spending more time playing the guitar than trying to make the amp sound the way I like it too. Both are Class A/B power amps. RA100 and the Roadster. I know I voted for Mark V. Still a good amp if you so desire it.
