Tubes - Smooth/Tight sound

[redhouse]

Hello.

Amp: Mesa Single Rectifier.

I need more smooth and tight sound.

What do you think about this PRE tubes?

v1- tung Sol 12ax7
v2- JJ ecc83s
v3- Sovtek 12ax7 LP
v4- Sovtek 12ax7 LP
v5- Sovtek 12ax7 LPS

And this Power tubes?

2x SED Winged "C" 6L6GC

If I use the SED 6L6GC, I need to Bias my amp?

Thanks a lot

 

[fishyfishfish]

IF you got them from Doug's tubes and you told them they were for a 'Rec, you should be fine.

 

[redhouse]

IF you got them from Doug's tubes and you told them they were for a 'Rec, you should be fine.

thanks.

But Im from europe, and its to expensive to order from Doug's tubes.

 

[Rocky]

You can't bias that amp anyway. If the tubes are out of the standard range it wont sound its best but it will work fine.

 

[redhouse]

You can't bias that amp anyway. If the tubes are out of the standard range it wont sound its best but it will work fine.

Ok, thanks.

And for the Pre amp?

 

[stokes]

You can't bias that amp anyway. If the tubes are out of the standard range it wont sound its best but it will work fine.

That amp can be biased.All amps can be biased.If you didnt buy pre-graded power tubes that match the amp,you should at least have the bias checked to be sure the power tubes are operating in a safe bias range.If the tubes are out of the safe range they could damage your amp.It is not merely a matter of sounding their best.If they are biased too hot you could fry things.Never put power tubes in an amp unless you know for sure how they are operating.

 

[redhouse]

What do you think about this PRE tubes?

v1- tung Sol 12ax7
v2- JJ ecc83s
v3- Sovtek 12ax7 LP
v4- Sovtek 12ax7 LP
v5- Sovtek 12ax7 LPS

 

[Rocky]

You can't bias that amp anyway. If the tubes are out of the standard range it wont sound its best but it will work fine.

That amp can be biased.All amps can be biased.If you didnt buy pre-graded power tubes that match the amp,you should at least have the bias checked to be sure the power tubes are operating in a safe bias range.If the tubes are out of the safe range they could damage your amp.It is not merely a matter of sounding their best.If they are biased too hot you could fry things.Never put power tubes in an amp unless you know for sure how they are operating.

I suppose I shouldnt have used an absolute in my response. BUt Boogies NOT to require biasing by the user when changing output section tubes. Yes they can be biased but they are engineered in a wy that biasing is supposed to be not doable after the amp leaves the factory.

It isnt like an old Marshall where the amps are made to be biased when changing power tubes.

 

[Rocky]

What do you think about this PRE tubes?

v1- tung Sol 12ax7
v2- JJ ecc83s
v3- Sovtek 12ax7 LP
v4- Sovtek 12ax7 LP
v5- Sovtek 12ax7 LPS

hard to say for you....the Tungsol is a really nice tube. I am not usually big on JJ's or Sovtek preamp tubes. I have always found JJ's to be dark and Sovteks to be ratty.

 

[stokes]

You can't bias that amp anyway. If the tubes are out of the standard range it wont sound its best but it will work fine.

That amp can be biased.All amps can be biased.If you didnt buy pre-graded power tubes that match the amp,you should at least have the bias checked to be sure the power tubes are operating in a safe bias range.If the tubes are out of the safe range they could damage your amp.It is not merely a matter of sounding their best.If they are biased too hot you could fry things.Never put power tubes in an amp unless you know for sure how they are operating.

I suppose I shouldnt have used an absolute in my response. BUt Boogies NOT to require biasing by the user when changing output section tubes. Yes they can be biased but they are engineered in a wy that biasing is supposed to be not doable after the amp leaves the factory.

It isnt like an old Marshall where the amps are made to be biased when changing power tubes.

Boogies dont require biasing IF YOU USE GRADED TUBES TO MATCH THE AMP.If you read the entire thread you will see one of the authors posts where he pretty much says he isnt using graded tubes.If that is the case,he needs to have the bias checked.There is nothing different about the Mesa bias scheme than any other "fixed bias" amp.Many amp builders over the years have made amps that didnt or dont use an adjustable bias pot.Mesa just buys tubes,tests,or grades them to match their amps so you have to use their tubes,or do just like we have been doing for years,adjust the bias.And Boogies are not "engineered in a way that bias is not doable after the amp leaves the factory",it just isnt necessary if you use their tubes,it is as "doable" as any amp ever made,it aint no different.

 

[Rocky]

oogies dont have biad trim pots do they? My understanding was that the bias is 'hardwired' in Mesa amps. I'm totally open to being wrong and learning something new today.

I have never opened one up to take a look....

 

[stokes]

No,Boogies dont have bias pots.But neither did the Fender Bassman,way back in the '50's,along with a lot of other amps.But we still biased them,all biased just the way Mesa does it,with a fixed value resistor.The difference is that Mesa buys huge lots of tubes and culls them out and keeps only the ones that draw a specific current,to sell to you so you dont have to bias them.But if you use 6L6's that werent tested and graded to fit the Mesa specs,you should have them checked for proper current draw.Just because a tube is a 6L6 doesnt mean it will perform the same as the last 6L6 you had in the amp.
"But Im from europe, and its to expensive to order from Doug's tubes"
To me this implies he got the tubes from a local source and they are not graded to match his amp.So for you to say "If the tubes are out of the standard range it wont sound its best but will work fine" is just plain wrong.If the tubes are too hot they can fry,when tubes fry they have a habit of taking things with them,as easy as a screen resistor or could be as bad as an output tranny.To me it aint worth the chance.

 

[Rocky]

I saw Groove tubes quite a few in music shops in Europe. Mesa spec matches up with GT tubes that are rated b/w 4 and 7.

There is also Watford Valves in the UK....I am pretty sure they can let you know what tubes will match up to Mesa spec.

 

[redhouse]

Does anyone put the winged "c" 6L6 and dont bias the amp?

 

[dodger916]

Does anyone put the winged "c" 6L6 and dont bias the amp?

I do. Make sure you specify the amp in which they will be used, and the type of breakup (early, late, etc.). Most reputable dealers (Doug's, Tube Store) will ask you to specify both.

 

[stokes]

Does anyone put the winged "c" 6L6 and dont bias the amp?

If you didnt buy them "pre-graded",in other words you just purchased a pair of matched power tubes from a dealer not specific to your amp,you should at least have the bias checked to be sure they are safe.But you should be aware that "safe" doesnt always mean they will sound the best.I have installed tubes from Mesa in amps of the same grade and seen as much as 10ma's difference between the supposed "same" tubes.Ten ma's can make a big difference in the tone.I am not saying that because you didnt buy the tubes graded to suit your amp that you will definately have problems,but it is a possibility,why take chances with your expensive gear?

 

[redhouse]

Hey there.

The Winged 6l6 had 25/2.4 written on the top of the box.

What does it means?