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Post by kc on Feb 12, 2011 9:04:16 GMT -7
My Stangray rectifier went bad - a Sovtek 5AR4. I can buy another Sovtek for less than $20, or I can buy a Mullard clone for around $185. There are other options between these two price-wise. I understand the Mullard clones will last a long time while the current production ones are questionable as to durability. To those Stangray owners who have replaced your rec tube, what did you go with? And more importantly, what change did you notice in the sound of your SR? Thanks for any input.
kc
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Post by hdahs143 on Feb 12, 2011 9:15:32 GMT -7
I would steer clear of the Sovtek, as it seemed to be the least reliable of the current production rec tubes in my experience as a repair tech. Current production, I would recommend the T.A.D. followed by the JJ. Not sure you will notice much difference with a current production tube. When I installed a Mullard in my Stingray, the amp had noticeably less sag. Apparently the Mullard was a much more efficient tube.
Good luck!
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Post by Lonny Caughron on Feb 12, 2011 19:02:43 GMT -7
I have a NOS GE in mine and it work well. Better reliability than new production tubes. Take a look at www.kcanostubes.com He has some that are around 100.00
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Post by kc on Feb 14, 2011 9:37:08 GMT -7
Thanks for the info. For now, I ordered a Sovtek 5ar4 (in spite of hdahs143's advice!) just to get up and running again. With shipping, it's $19 from GC website - and I used bill-me-later via Paypal and will get $10 off - so, if I get a decent rec tube for $10, I'm Ok with that. I still may invest in a NOS rec, I'll have to see what's available at what price.
kc
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Post by drew on Feb 16, 2011 17:41:57 GMT -7
I picked up one of the mislabeled Sylvania NOS tube from Mike and KC tubes. I think is was about $50 about yr ago. I can't say I noticed a difference at bedroom levels. And I couldn't say I noticed a difference playing live as it always seems little different, depending on the room, how loud the drummer is playing, how much whiskey i've had, my mode etc. there's always a little bit of difference. I can say that the louder I get to play the better it sounds. :-) Sorry Ken, I know that doesn't help much. But I do have a question. Does anyone know if the ray can run a 5U4GB type rectifier tube? Ken, are you playing your ray a lot these days?
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Post by kc on Feb 17, 2011 3:35:19 GMT -7
Thanks, Drew, that's helpful .... sounds like I wouldn't likely notice a sonic difference between rec tubes. Yes, using the Ray every chance I get. I recently got a C-Gold and that's working out well.
kc
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Post by drew on Feb 18, 2011 13:05:39 GMT -7
Great to hear. I'm still a ray fanatic. I thought that Don (at Z Fest in the shop when I was playing the ray/gt prototype) popped 5u-something rectifier tube in the amp. I can't be sure as I was overwhelmed just to play the amp again to notice the difference in a quick a/b that lasted only a few minutes. I'm sure there would be a difference in a 5U4G tube and I don't think it could do any harm but I would want to try it until I validated the ray would be OK.
I do like the gold with the ray but still my fav is the 50w alnico blue dog for it's inefficient properties. I've been playing with a classic rock band and started using a weber ceramic greenback clone alone and combined with a ceramic silver bell for more punch and immediate attack. The ray was rockin like doken with the ceramics. Similar to running the ray into a Z Best... OMG! I still prefer the alnico spks with the ray but for classic rock ceramics rock.
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Post by M Fowler on Feb 21, 2011 7:33:00 GMT -7
The 5U4 rectifier tube is 3 amp load where as the 5Y3, 5V4, and 5AR4/GZ34 are 2 amp. Not sure how many amps Doc spec'd the 5v tap on his power transformer.
So you should get another 5AR4.
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Post by kc on Feb 21, 2011 7:46:58 GMT -7
The 5U4 rectifier tube is 3 amp load where as the 5Y3, 5V4, and 5AR4/GZ34 are 2 amp. Not sure how many amps Doc spec'd the 5v tap on his power transformer. So you should get another 5AR4. Thanks, Snooty. I planned on using a 5ar4, my real concern was whether I should go with a more expensive NOS or a current production tube - would I notice much of a sonic difference, if any at all. kc
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Post by drew on Feb 22, 2011 16:04:38 GMT -7
Good point Snooty. I wonder what rectifier tube Don plugged into the ray. It was one of those coke bottle shaped tube which made me think 5U4 but I'm sure there are 5AR4 coke bottle shaped tubes.
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Post by M Fowler on Feb 22, 2011 17:21:53 GMT -7
I use current production rectifier tubes but yes there is a difference in NOS rectifier tubes and the new crop out there. If you can get a NOS without going broke you should at least try one but have some of the cheaper newer stock on hand as well. I currently use JJ's and Sovtek I want to try out the new Mullards and Shuguang and see how they work out. Trying out different tubes and speakers is the way to get good tone out of your amps. I know it's not cheap Mark
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Post by Hohn on Feb 26, 2011 15:45:20 GMT -7
I picked up one of the mislabeled Sylvania NOS tube from Mike and KC tubes. I think is was about $50 about yr ago. I can't say I noticed a difference at bedroom levels. And I couldn't say I noticed a difference playing live as it always seems little different, depending on the room, how loud the drummer is playing, how much whiskey i've had, my mode etc. there's always a little bit of difference. I can say that the louder I get to play the better it sounds. :-) Sorry Ken, I know that doesn't help much. But I do have a question. Does anyone know if the ray can run a 5U4GB type rectifier tube? Ken, are you playing your ray a lot these days? That's what I'm running, too. Just wanted to have a good quality reliable unit that wasn't too much. This one fit the bill. JH
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Post by muzacman02 "Jamie" on Feb 27, 2011 20:06:21 GMT -7
Iam using and old Mullard with the Long Black Plate and it made a world of difference IMHO, also using the same in my SRZ! It's well worht it. Also the preamp tubes made smoother Highs and creamier sounding when pushed with pedals. ;D
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Post by Hohn on Mar 1, 2021 13:26:10 GMT -7
I picked up one of the mislabeled Sylvania NOS tube from Mike and KC tubes. I think is was about $50 about yr ago. I can't say I noticed a difference at bedroom levels. And I couldn't say I noticed a difference playing live as it always seems little different, depending on the room, how loud the drummer is playing, how much whiskey i've had, my mode etc. there's always a little bit of difference. I can say that the louder I get to play the better it sounds. :-) Sorry Ken, I know that doesn't help much. But I do have a question. Does anyone know if the ray can run a 5U4GB type rectifier tube? Ken, are you playing your ray a lot these days? That's what I'm running, too. Just wanted to have a good quality reliable unit that wasn't too much. This one fit the bill. JH Well, it looks like that mislabeled Sylvania lasted about a decade. Mine is just now popping fuses like crazy. Not too bad considering there was a 3 yr period of last of pack in/out and lots more movement than a tube amp should be given.
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Post by jhen86 (jordan) on Mar 1, 2021 19:05:04 GMT -7
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