Who actually uses the rectifier tubes......?

[fluff191]

I have used the rectifier tubes in my 3 Channel Recto since I have owned it, but since doing the band thing again and moving the amp in and out of the house much more often than when it just stayed in the house (obviously), I constantly worry about the fragility of the 5U4GB's and I think I am going to re-bias the amp using the Diode setting, as the Bias jumps alot from when its running with the 5U4GB's.

So who actually uses their tubes? I know the tonal changes are subtle at best, but I am kind of curious, as I meet alot of people who don't use them at all!

 

[Jerrick]

I prefer to use them. The last set I had in there is from the 1960s. They lasted about a month, and it was a nice month of rectifying. My signal started to sound weak, flipped to diodes and amp was sounding good again. Since then ive been on the diodes.

Id rather be with the tubes, im just too lazy to order a new set.

 

[94Tremoverb]

I use them in my Tremoverb about 90% of the time - basically all the time unless I'm going for more of a vintage Marshall/Hiwatt type of sound. They do make quite a noticeable difference in tone, even at very low volume - you get a harder edge with the silicon diodes, a little more volume, and maybe a tiny bit more bass. You can even hear the difference between different rectifier types quite clearly - I'm currently running a pair of NOS Sylvania 5V4s, but I've used Mullard GZ34s and the stock 5U4s, both NOS and the Russian ones it came with - which were horrible, dull and mushy sounding.

But I'm not playing the kind of music a lot of you Dual/Triple Rec guys are... if you use more preamp gain, the tube rectifier sound gets more buried. You still get the sag, but you don't hear the tone differences as much. (At least not to me.) And if you don't want the sag either, there's no reason to use them. I do like the silicon diodes for that ringing, hard 1970s rock tone, both with 6L6s and EL34s. I disagree with the warning on the back about "better to use vacuum tube with EL34" too - that's a relic of the 1990s when the available modern EL34s were junk and wouldn't take the voltages. Use good ones and you can run them with the silicon diodes just as safely.

 

[LithiumZero]

I use them but I have JJGZ34's in place of the stock 5U4GB's. They are much less saggy than the stock tubes but less harsh sounding than the diodes. Try it, I think you'll love them!

 

[fluff191]

I love the feel and sound of the GZ34's and keep a set in the amp now, as the difference in bias when flipping over to diodes is minimal in the event of a failure.

 

[jamme61]

I use the rec and sag on my TOV and love it. I too play lower gain stuff,( classic rock) so the tube rec and sag setting, sound and feel great, to me. I p/u NOS GE 5U4GB's for $10 (ebay free shipping) and am very happy.

 

[Old BF Shred]

I p/u NOS GE 5U4GB's for $10 and am very happy.

Where? Are there any left?

BTW, I use tube rec. on the gain channel and diodes on clean. :wink:

 

[stephen sawall]

I use them in my Tremoverb about 90% of the time - basically all the time unless I'm going for more of a vintage Marshall/Hiwatt type of sound. They do make quite a noticeable difference in tone, even at very low volume - you get a harder edge with the silicon diodes, a little more volume, and maybe a tiny bit more bass. You can even hear the difference between different rectifier types quite clearly - I'm currently running a pair of NOS Sylvania 5V4s, but I've used Mullard GZ34s and the stock 5U4s, both NOS and the Russian ones it came with - which were horrible, dull and mushy sounding.

But I'm not playing the kind of music a lot of you Dual/Triple Rec guys are... if you use more preamp gain, the tube rectifier sound gets more buried. You still get the sag, but you don't hear the tone differences as much. (At least not to me.) And if you don't want the sag either, there's no reason to use them. I do like the silicon diodes for that ringing, hard 1970s rock tone, both with 6L6s and EL34s. I disagree with the warning on the back about "better to use vacuum tube with EL34" too - that's a relic of the 1990s when the available modern EL34s were junk and wouldn't take the voltages. Use good ones and you can run them with the silicon diodes just as safely.

+1 ..... more than 90 % of the time.

 

[rjf]

I never use the rectifier tubes, the diodes are tighter and louder.

 

[jpdennis]

I do use mine, however it is for the Mesa Heartbreaker and Rectifier tube is a Sovtek 5AR4 / GZ34. If I went to one of the other choice (I think it is the EL34 or it may be the 6V6 set to tweed and dump the voltage to 93 volts) I would use the 5U4G as suggested. I agree with 94Tremoberb that the style, penetration needs, and use of the amp would determine whether I would use the Rectifier tube or not. But I also use my rhthym channel for solos using the boost and the predominant solo channel for the beefier but clean/crisp chording. What I know is that when using a tube rig the complete package of tubes (manufacturers and all) has to be tweaked for me until I find that "just right" set of tubes since they all work together for the greater good (where have I read that before) :?: :lol:

Dennis

 

[jamme61]

I p/u NOS GE 5U4GB's for $10 and am very happy.

Where? Are there any left?

BTW, I use tube rec. on the gain channel and diodes on clean. :wink:

It was $9.75 with free shipping, it came with the NOS box too, LOL. On ebay there's a lot of NOS 5U4GB's for cheap, get em while you can IMHO.

 

[94Tremoverb]

Apart from Mullard GZ34s, most NOS rectifier tubes are still fairly cheap. Buy while you can, they aren't making any more!