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5U4?
Feb 19, 2007 7:38:47 GMT -7
Post by taswegian on Feb 19, 2007 7:38:47 GMT -7
Anyone tried a 5U4 in the Route 66 yet? I'm very curious as to how this will sound and how much headroom/volume would be lost. If there was a reasonable tech around here I wouldn't feel so reluctant to try it. Also, I imagine it would be harder on the power tubes too and I have NOS GEC's that I'd rather keep for as long as possible. But curiosity....
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5U4?
Feb 19, 2007 8:19:27 GMT -7
Post by Curt on Feb 19, 2007 8:19:27 GMT -7
Jaye I run one in my '68 Pro Reverb and it puts the volume down RIGHT where I need it. I want another Z/28 to try a 5U4 in....really really cool in the Pro.
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5U4?
Feb 19, 2007 20:42:23 GMT -7
Post by hdahs143 on Feb 19, 2007 20:42:23 GMT -7
I would think that since a 5U4 has a lower voltage capability than the stock GZ34/5AR4, it would actually be a little easier on the power tubes. I've read where guys used to sub a 5U4 for the GZ34 in their old Vox AC 30's to give the power tubes a little longer life.
You could double check with Myles, but I don't think you're gonna hurt anything.
Good luck
Harold
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5U4?
Feb 20, 2007 18:05:12 GMT -7
Post by skydog958 on Feb 20, 2007 18:05:12 GMT -7
Should rebias the output tubes though if you do replace the rec.
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5U4?
Feb 20, 2007 19:16:14 GMT -7
Post by taswegian on Feb 20, 2007 19:16:14 GMT -7
boy, it's almost tempting to get another 66 and set it up with the 5u4 for smaller clubs!. Then I really would have a "little brother" for my 66. mmm...and run that in stereo with a carmen ghia...sorry, thinking out loud again
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5U4?
Feb 21, 2007 17:29:47 GMT -7
Post by nitehawk55 on Feb 21, 2007 17:29:47 GMT -7
Should rebias the output tubes though if you do replace the rec. I agree 100% , you will need to rebias . They will not hurt your output tubes at all unless you do not rebias .
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5U4?
Feb 21, 2007 18:38:10 GMT -7
Post by hdahs143 on Feb 21, 2007 18:38:10 GMT -7
Should rebias the output tubes though if you do replace the rec. I agree 100% , you will need to rebias . They will not hurt your output tubes at all unless you do not rebias . Thanks to both of you guys for pointing that out. I live in EL-84 cathode bias land, and forgot about the rest of the world. Harold
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5U4?
Feb 21, 2007 18:57:10 GMT -7
Post by taswegian on Feb 21, 2007 18:57:10 GMT -7
Well, of course I know I would have to rebias, that is why I said I'm a bit reluctant as there is only one tech around here who can bias an amp and some are even a bit sus on him. So it's not as easy as just throw one in, bias up, and try it out. I never had to worry about it in Melbourne as Dave Ulbrick did all my tech work, but Hobart, Tas, (300 000) is a lot smaller than Melbourne. (4 000 000) I should probably invest in a bias right or something but I'm such a mechanical numbskull I'm a bit worried about frying myself! ;D (240 v down here don't forget) I also wonder if it would shorten the life of the tranny, I doubt it but I want this amp for a lifetime. Man, this is making me seriously consider another 66!
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5U4?
Feb 21, 2007 20:07:57 GMT -7
Post by Curt on Feb 21, 2007 20:07:57 GMT -7
Well, of course I know I would have to rebias, that is why I said I'm a bit reluctant as there is only one tech around here who can bias an amp and some are even a bit sus on him. So it's not as easy as just throw one in, bias up, and try it out. I never had to worry about it in Melbourne as Dave Ulbrick did all my tech work, but Hobart, Tas, (300 000) is a lot smaller than Melbourne. (4 000 000) I should probably invest in a bias right or something but I'm such a mechanical numbskull I'm a bit worried about frying myself! ;D (240 v down here don't forget) I also wonder if it would shorten the life of the tranny, I doubt it but I want this amp for a lifetime. Man, this is making me seriously consider another 66! Jaye, Doc mentioned a few months back in his "recto primer" how sweet a 5U4 sounds with 6L6, KT66, 6V6..... I do not think you would harm it in any way. Check the plate voltage and bias her accordingly. Drop Doc a note and ask the horse so to speak.
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5U4?
Feb 21, 2007 20:14:15 GMT -7
Post by billyguitar on Feb 21, 2007 20:14:15 GMT -7
I've used a 5V4 in my Stang ray with no issues and it has less capacity than a 5U4, of course it's cathode bias. I've never done biasing myself on a fixed bias amp. Is there a cheap way to do it? Turn them up 'til they start to glow and then back them off?
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5U4?
Feb 21, 2007 21:24:42 GMT -7
Post by Curt on Feb 21, 2007 21:24:42 GMT -7
Billy I bought the GT tool, pretty simple and really helpful instruction booklet.
Just make sure you index them correctly.....I did not once and Ronnie followed suit.......D'oh.
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5U4?
Feb 22, 2007 11:18:06 GMT -7
Post by billyguitar on Feb 22, 2007 11:18:06 GMT -7
Sounds like a good plan
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5U4?
Feb 23, 2007 20:35:49 GMT -7
Post by taswegian on Feb 23, 2007 20:35:49 GMT -7
Well, last night kinda put an end to this little foray. I decided to try the airbrake again and get the amp into big overdrive. Set it at 3 oclock Bass, 2 oclock treble, 1 oclock volume and airbrake on 3. Halfway through the first set I had the brake down to two. Sounded great on the dirty stuff but I just can't get the amp to clean up the way I like with the airbrake on. Turned the amp down to 12 oclock across the board and the airbrake to 1 in the second set. Finally I turned the amp down the 11 oclock across the board, no airbrake and had my Fatboost for goosing a little breakup, then the Fulltone FD2 on comp/cut, volume 3oclock, gain hardly on for crunch, boost channel with the gain at 9 oclock for high gain stuff. I virtually had a 4 channel amp, clean, grit, crunch, high gain, plus I had my Hellbilly for germanium and fuzz sounds. Most of the time the fatboost was left on unless I needed to play something really clean, like prince or james brown. Incidently, I also took a Strat last night and used it for all the single coil and funky stuff. Man it is so much easier to play funk on a strat than my Set Neck! Loved the single coil definition. I can see a Tele in my future. Of course the set neck just rocks and is as thick as! Very complex tones. So I think that is the best way to run for what I'm doing in coverland, so I need the headroom, hence forget about da 5U4.
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5U4?
Feb 24, 2007 0:16:04 GMT -7
Post by Dr.T on Feb 24, 2007 0:16:04 GMT -7
Jaye, I understand what you're talking about: I do play funky stuffs wiyh my Strat & Tele, and they do it very well. But only if you don't crank 66 too much, so, as we spoke in other thread, I keep trebs and bass at 11, vol tll noon or at 1:00 and push a little with an RC for cleans. Gtr vol a little rolled back and the funky stuff is served...
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