Tubes ???? To many to choose,,,,,, Need Help

[Ranger Jim]

:!: I am re-tubing a Mesa MK IV,,,,, to many brands to choose from. I have used in the past Mesa 6L6GC and presently using SV6L6GC, I am thinking on trying the 6V6's. I want a killer tone and need some help on what kind and which brand to choose,,,,, tired of asking tube companies, they give you all kinds of wrong info,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[stokes]

Yes,there are a lot to choose from,and it is all subjective as to what will give you that"killer tone"you are looking for.You just gotta experiment.I can tell you in my MKIIC+ I have some NOS 7027A's that I think are the best.You may not be so inclined.I am sure you will get a lot of answers to this post,everybody has a favorite,and everybody is right,because what counts is what you like.I have used a lot of different NOS tubes and they all are very pleasing,and use nothing but NOS in all my amps.But to go that route you need to be able to check and adjust your bias if need be.It can be expensive,but I think it is well worth it,and almost any good NOS will blow away any current production.I have heard that Dougs and JJ are very accomodating to Mesa users,and will get you tubes that are "safe" for your amp.But you also gotta remember that "safe" is not always the best tonally.I have been able to get better tone from tubes that sound like crap with a simple bias adjustment.Good luck with your hunt for that killer tone,its out there someplace,but once you find it,you'll want better,it becomes an endless quest.Oh,as to the 6V6's,I wouldnt recommend that,at full power you will put a serious hurt on them.There is too much voltage on the plates and many 6V6's wont hold up.

 

[fishyfishfish]

Stokes is right on the money! I found the JJ's a tad darker, but more complex sounding, stock Mesa tubes (which are a mix of Russian and Chinese) to be a little on the bright side. As far as dealers, Euro Tubes, and Doug's Tubes are good folks to deal with. The best ammunition for tube hunting is knowledge. There is some great books out there as well as some good info on the Board. I bought a couple of different brands and found what I liked and if one goes down I have some spares. Good luck!

 

[Ranger Jim]

Thanks guys for your input, I have always bought from mesa and want to try something different. As far as bias as you know the mesa mk IV is fixed and can not be adjusted, I talked to one of the guys at EURO tubes on a bias modificationon for my amp and he told me that it was really not needed if I purchased hand picked tubes from a reliable company. I also talked to an electrician tech and he basicly told me the same thing. He also stated that on the mesa mk IV there was a problem of not having enough room to put a bias adjustment deal in it and said that to do a true bias adjustment involved more than a ohm meter. I guess I will always be in the find a better tone mode,,,,,,,,,,,, thanks

 

[domct203]

:!: I am re-tubing a Mesa MK IV,,,,, to many brands to choose from. I have used in the past Mesa 6L6GC and presently using SV6L6GC, I am thinking on trying the 6V6's. I want a killer tone and need some help on what kind and which brand to choose,,,,, tired of asking tube companies, they give you all kinds of wrong info,,,,,,,,,,,,

Don't overlook Doug at http://www.dougstubes.com. He has more than just the JJ's and SED =C=(my fav as well). I told him I needed tubes for my Roadster and wanted them to draw the same plate current as the stock STR-440's and he got the =C='s within 2-3mA's (warmer) of my STR-440 bias. Pretty **** good service if you ask me!

Dom

 

[stokes]

Thanks guys for your input, I have always bought from mesa and want to try something different. As far as bias as you know the mesa mk IV is fixed and can not be adjusted, I talked to one of the guys at EURO tubes on a bias modificationon for my amp and he told me that it was really not needed if I purchased hand picked tubes from a reliable company. I also talked to an electrician tech and he basicly told me the same thing. He also stated that on the mesa mk IV there was a problem of not having enough room to put a bias adjustment deal in it and said that to do a true bias adjustment involved more than a ohm meter. I guess I will always be in the find a better tone mode,,,,,,,,,,,, thanks

All amps that have a negative voltage applied to the grid are called fixed bias and can be adjusted.You can add a small cermet pot or do it the old fashioned way with a resistor substitution.Bias adjustment doesnt require an ohm meter at all,you would use an ammeter.There is more than enough room to add a cermet pot in a MKIV.Of course if you dont know what you are doing you should not try this and stick with the pre-selected tubes from Euro, Dougs or Mesa.