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Post by Scott on Oct 19, 2010 10:46:10 GMT -7
The truth about JJ 5AR4/GZ34 Rectifiers, and the Jr.So what is the true story with JJ 5AR4/GZ34 Rectifier tubes, and the Jr. www.tubedepot.com/jj-gz34.htmlDo they work if installed correctly, or not? I found this thread, with this post: www.thegearpage.net/board/archive/index.php/t-386433.html04-27-2008, 12:22 PM tele_jas: "My amp tech told me that JJ's are some of the best rectifier tubes, but to "be careful with JJ rectifier tubes, they can go in wrong"!
Sure enough, I could put mine in in more than one position....... the correct way was easier to slide in, but the other ways still went in pretty easy. So yeah, I can see how this will happen".
But also numerous posts with Jr's having issues: drzamplifiers.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=maz18&thread=24023&page=1Are we dealing with a tricky install issue here, or are they flat out a bad gamble? I ordered 2 Maz Jr retube kits and the JJ GZ34's came with them. Then I bumped into the warnings. I have 2 right now. Do we have any success stories running on a JJ?
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 19, 2010 11:31:16 GMT -7
If you put them in right, they'll likely last from two minutes to maybe a couple years. That's as good as new manufacture gets. They'll go in wrong because the center pin is slightly undersized, rendering the key irrelevant.
Now a proper NOS rectifier will only go in one way, and will likely last from 10 years to life. AND it will put out a bit higher voltage (which most folks can hear as more headroom or better dynamics).
I've run both here, but all my amps have NOS in them now.
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Post by Scott on Oct 19, 2010 14:12:17 GMT -7
Thanks Steve.
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Post by helmi on Oct 19, 2010 15:03:51 GMT -7
I prefer NOS 5v4's in my maz.
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Post by iluvpunz on Oct 19, 2010 15:35:21 GMT -7
I had bad experiences with the JJ GZ34. I also did a full retube a little over a year ago (maybe two, I lose track of time) and went through 3 tubes, all bad. They would intermittently blow fuses. I put in an NOS rectifier and have had no problems since. The NOS was quite a bit more money but well worth it in my opinion. I play travel gigs every weekend and can't afford to have a less than reliable tube installed. I would guess at least 75 gigs on the NOS.
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Post by Scott on Oct 19, 2010 15:56:21 GMT -7
Love the input...
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Post by Scott on Oct 20, 2010 2:09:48 GMT -7
I'm just wondering if JJ's GZ34 tubes have possibly been updated with a proper size Center Pin and key? Looking at my JJ next to my NOS GE, it's hard to tell from the picture, but both keys and pins look like they are identical size? Is this new, or have they always been this way?
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Post by pintail78 on Oct 25, 2010 12:02:16 GMT -7
Ive used them on all my amps never a problem, in fact I had a NOS go out a few weeks ago on my Z-28. The JJ stuff is really durable in general at least thats been my experience.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 25, 2010 12:04:52 GMT -7
It's hard saying. I've seen at least four or five folks come here in the last few years complaining that they had managed to plug in a rectifier wrong, and I'm thinking it was JJ's but maybe it was another brand of tube now that you mention it. Geez, how embarrasing. I can see in the pics there that the JJ's sure look right up to snuff in this regard...
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Post by wubberdubber on Oct 25, 2010 18:23:47 GMT -7
Is this a very recent thing? I've run JJ rectifiers in my MAZ 18 and 38 amps for years now and never had a problem. Crap...I probably just jinxed it.
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Post by Scott on Oct 25, 2010 18:55:04 GMT -7
I am thinking the JJ's are fine now?
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 25, 2010 19:26:10 GMT -7
It's hard saying. I just finished searching all over the web and I was able to come up with several other folks saying they got a JJ rectifier in wrong. There is nothing wrong with the rectifier if you put it in right. Just pay attention. This goes for ANY rectifier - maybe the sockets are the problem, who knows? But if you don't get the key in the slot you're going to have a problem. Get them in right, and you don't have to worry about that.
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