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Post by dgabbear on May 6, 2010 18:00:14 GMT -7
I have replaced 2 rectifier tubes in my Maz Jr. within a month and am not too happy about this. Both have been JJ's. I am looking to go NOS for reliability. My choices are the NOS GE 5AR4-GZ34 at KCA, or the mislabeled Phillips 5v4ga (gz34) . I don't know too much about rectifier tubes. If someone can shed some light as to pros and cons of my 2 choices I would really appreciate the help. My Maz is the reverb model if that makes a difference. The type of music I play is variety of country to 80's rock to swing.
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Post by BritInvasion on May 6, 2010 18:50:30 GMT -7
I put the NOS GE 5AR4 from KCA in my MAZ18 Reverb head , and have had zero problems. I'm sure others will post regarding the use of the 5V4GA ,I have no experience with that tube. I don't believe there will much , if any , of a performance difference between the two. Both are good choices.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 6, 2010 22:13:50 GMT -7
I have one of the GE units here and it seems to be bulletproof.
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Post by Andy 67 on May 7, 2010 0:47:13 GMT -7
I put the mislabeled Phillips in my MAZ more than one year ago and I've had no problems at all. BTW, the general sound of the amp improved (just my opinion). Go NOS, you can't go wrong! Enjoy your tonal trip.
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Post by tdarian on May 7, 2010 12:37:57 GMT -7
I'm using the miss-labeled phillips and it has been rock solid. And I too thought it improved the sound and feel a bit, hard to describe in words, but it has been very reliable so far and that was why I got it in the 1st place.
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Post by Dannydny on May 7, 2010 15:24:05 GMT -7
+1 +1 +1 +1 on the above posts... NOS 5AR4 sounds supa...
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Post by Eddie on May 7, 2010 17:29:35 GMT -7
Keep an eye out on eBay (if you dare to buy used tubes from there) for an "almost" nos 5ar4. I bought a used RCA 5AR4 that had all the lettering gone except the acid-etched "stop-sign" logo. Tested as new. Clean as a whistle. Sounds amazing.
$9.95 plus $4 shipping.
I had one brand new JJ5AR4 that caused one of my fuses to blow as soon as I powered it up. I bought it after I had some fuses blow with the original Sovtek. Then, I started hunting for older rectos just to try them. I bought a GE, an International, and the RCA - all used from eBay and under $20 each. Not one of them ever failed or caused a blown fuse. If there's a sound difference between those three, I'm not sure I heard it, but I ended up keeping the RCA in the amp. I'm on the lookout for another.
I think the NOS or Almost NOS are worth the extra money just for peace of mind.
Best, Eddie
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Post by dgabbear on May 7, 2010 18:30:44 GMT -7
I really appreciate all the responses I have gottten from all of you. I am leaning toward the mislabled Phillips.I blew a 2A fuse a couple days ago. I replaced the fuse and the amp now works. I just wonder if that fuse blow was rectifier related. The rectifiers that have fried in the past all took out the 1/2 amp fuse. Its interesting, yet frightening of all the posts on this board regarding poor quality of modern rectifier tubes. It sounds like a scary epidemic for the tube amp industry.
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Post by tdarian on May 7, 2010 18:35:26 GMT -7
Sounds like there would indeed be enough of a market (just among us alone) for a dependable Rectifier tube to be made. The supply of NOS cannot be infinate.
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Craigo87
Junior Member
"These go to 11."
Posts: 98
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Post by Craigo87 on May 7, 2010 22:21:36 GMT -7
This might help with your decision whether to go with a 5AR4 or 5V4GA. Written by the good doctor himself. He talks briefly about the character differences between these two tubes. Whichever you decide to get, make sure it's NOS or at least ANOS. One thing to think about is that the NOS 5V4GA tubes are still pretty reasonably priced, so you might try one just to see how you like it... that's my 2 cents worth anyway. drzamplifiers.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=tubes&action=display&thread=6263regards, Craigo
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onegreatnote
Full Member
Let me hear your balalaikas ringing out!
Posts: 102
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Post by onegreatnote on May 8, 2010 0:10:26 GMT -7
+1 on NOS. I'm currently using a 5V4 in a 1x12 NR version. It seems to me it cleaned the amp up a little bit. Noticeably warmer tone as well. YMMV.
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Craigo87
Junior Member
"These go to 11."
Posts: 98
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Post by Craigo87 on May 8, 2010 19:03:24 GMT -7
Just put an ANOS Mullard (Eico labeled) rectifier tube in my Maz. So far so good.
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Post by JumpMarine on May 9, 2010 7:37:13 GMT -7
NOS is the only way to go with Rectifiers, running a mislabeled Phillips 5v4 in my Maz.
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jd3
New Member
Posts: 20
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Post by jd3 on May 10, 2010 18:44:38 GMT -7
I have replaced 2 rectifier tubes in my Maz Jr. within a month and am not too happy about this. Both have been JJ's. I am looking to go NOS for reliability. Just had exactly the issue you had -- blew a fuse, and the JJ rectifier blew at the same time ... Mike at KCA fixed me up with a Japanese NOS rectifier (I think Mazda) -- but is labelled something else.... it's about $50 and now all is well !
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