Tube layout in dual rec/3 channel

[hydro]

Hi everyone,

Couple of questions - these may be RTFM, but I have read it and may just not be bright enough to understand...

How are the power tubes in a dual recto/100w 3 channel paired? I think the manual said somewhere that the outer tubes are one pair and the inner two are the other pair. And that if you want to, you can pull two tubes to go 50 watts but that you need to pull one of the rectifier tubes too.

I blew a fuse last night and probably have to replace a tube, but I will replace with a matched pair. I just don't know which ones are the pairs.

And also, any concerns about using Groove Tube 6L6 as a replacement? I am not like super tone dude who can tell difference in sound, I am mostly concerned with reliability.

This head has fried fuses twice now and I expect it is a bad power tube (again). Mesa tech dude told me to expect 2 year life on power tubes but man, other heads I've had don't seem to blow near as often. And I don't run this thing flat out, maybe 11 o'clock master vol., though I do use "bold".

Any advice/opinions appreciated as always --

:mrgreen:

 

[bendo]

Inner pair, and outer pair. Does not matter which rectifier tube you pull.

The manual also has a tube map, and an explanation of what tube to pull.

 

[hydro]

Inner pair, and outer pair. Does not matter which rectifier tube you pull.

The manual also has a tube map, and an explanation of what tube to pull.

Thanks man - I thought that was how they were laid out but I wasn't sure. When I turned it on with a new fuse, the far left tube looked like something from a Frankenstein movie - replaced the outer set and it's right as rain now. 8)