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Post by guitargeorge on Dec 8, 2006 15:49:57 GMT -7
Is it okay to use the Groove Tubes 5AR4 SS rectfier in my MAZ 18? I tried it and it sounds good, but are there hidden dangers with these, what's the story on the Weber Copper Caps also, are they MAZ 18 approved?
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Post by guitargeorge on Dec 23, 2006 10:17:28 GMT -7
Just a little info on SS Rectifiers. I ordered a Weber copper cap and have also a groove tubes SS rectifier. The Groove tubes is smaller and really changes the character of the amp. My bass is much tighter and it seems that I can get a lot closer to the Fender cleans when that one is in the amp. The Weber I installed last night and to me it sounds like I have a tube in there, this SS rectifier is big and heavy too. The bass on the amp is a little less tight but it seems that I can get the amp sounding very Vox like with this one in there. It really smoothed out the mid frequencys so I can get into the more Vox sounding settings without ice-pikcy highs. I figure that the advantages of using a SS rectifier outweigh the use of a tube rectifier, the transformer does'nt get as hot because I'm not heating a tube filament, it won't ever wear out, there's less glass to rattle inside the amp, it cost only $22.50, good rectifier tubes are not that available and a real good one will cost about $60 (NOS) and with the 2 different SS rectifiers I have the option of having a tighter bass or if I want the more "tubey" sound I can use the Weber. It's a win win situation I would have to say.
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Post by kruzty on Dec 26, 2006 6:11:01 GMT -7
Thanks for the comparison. I have a Weber that I take with me for backup. I plugged it in when I got it just to make sure it worked. I couldn't tell a difference between that and the tube, but I wasn't listening too critically.
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Post by tele1962 on Dec 27, 2006 16:22:41 GMT -7
On those 18's...were the rectifier tubes bad, or just not working at all? I'm confused, because all the 18's I've heard and seen have been awesome with stock equipment that Mike built into them. That includes the rec. tubes. Mine came with a NOS RCA blackbottom, and never a lick of trouble. It's such a great little amp, that perhaps one can afford to give away some tonal qualities for everyday convenience, but Z designed that girl to run with tube rectification, and I'd like to think he got it right.
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Post by guitargeorge on Dec 28, 2006 4:49:51 GMT -7
I had a Sylvania 5U4GUB installed in mine when I got the amp from the original owner, He said it came that way, then I changed to a Chinese GZ34/5AR4 and then put a JJ GZ34 in there, there are better recto tubes but they are a little bit more expensive than the previous mentioned. I had an issue with the glass rattles and I think a good bit of it was the recto tube, I just wanted to try a SS recto in a MAZ and I think the Weber Copper Cap makes the amp sound like there is a tube in there without any glass rattling, The Groove Tubes SS recto really tightened up the Bass on the amp, I liked it a lot. I just installed a set of TAD EL84-STR power tubes and am really happy with them, I had the Copper Cap installed when I checked the TAD's out last night, I want to hear them with the Groove Tubes recto in there, the TAD's are a solid sounding tube, with the tighter bass response of the GT recto the combo should sound really good.
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Post by tele1962 on Dec 28, 2006 14:18:54 GMT -7
I didn't ever know the bass on a Jr was so loose that SS recto would make a difference to that extent. Anything that noticable would almost be a design flaw, and thereby shared by all Jrs.
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Post by guitargeorge on Dec 29, 2006 8:47:00 GMT -7
Speaking of design flaws, my MAZ is an early 90's that had the reverb ground loop as standard equipment, the ring modulator overtones ( which I have almost eliminated by swapping tubes), the rattling glass at higher volumes, about 12 cases squeals hums and buzzes that were either loose reverb cables or bad tubes, amp cutting out because of loose rectifier ( JJ smaller pin syndrome) and interference from Christmas lights and cell phones, maybe now I have the perfect MAZ 18 but the road there was rocky and steep. BUT was it all worth it, for the tone this beast produces, YES......my MAZ 18 was far from perfect but I know this amp, I will go to my grave owning this amp because I afraid to sell it to someone who may believe it is "plug and play" I must admit for all it's quirks, I have always managed to fix every problem without taking it into the shop.
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