zulnd3r
New Member
Pharm-Assist
Posts: 22
|
Post by zulnd3r on May 15, 2011 12:08:07 GMT -7
Thanks for the helpful info!
|
|
ksks
Full Member
Posts: 120
|
Post by ksks on Jul 5, 2011 14:12:39 GMT -7
How about a 5T4 in a Maz Jr?
|
|
|
Post by myles on Jul 5, 2011 15:45:08 GMT -7
How about a 5T4 in a Maz Jr? No. Most are metal cased, will buzz microphonically and could have some ground issues.
|
|
|
Post by Matt on Apr 6, 2012 13:37:32 GMT -7
Playing along just fine on my Maz 18 NR when all of the sudden my sound just faded out. Checking the tubes, found that my rectifier wasn't lit. and the 1/2 amp fuse blown. Any thoughts? 95% chance it is a failed rectifier. The AC fuse blown will generally blow when a rectifier is bad. The HT fuse will blow if an output tube fails so ... there is also a very high chance one of your putput tubes blew and perhap took out the rectifier. Like I say over and over and over .... change EL84 output tubes in cathode biased amps often. Myles - How often do you recommend changing output tubes on a Maz38 NR head then? Does that mean it's not worth getting higher cost or NOS output tubes since they will need replaced frequently? I'm looking to upgrade my tubes and am a complete novice at all of this so any help at all is greatly appreciated. Also, for anyone out there, I emailed a NOS tube supplier about a new rectifier tube and he said the difference between the JAN Philips and the Mullards is that that JAN will be softer/saggier. Could someone explain to me what exactly saggy means to someone who knows nothing about tubes lol?? I like to run my MAZ 38 clean if it matters at all, so I'm not looking for early breakup. Thanks in advance for the help!
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Apr 6, 2012 17:16:09 GMT -7
For Power tubes, we all generally run current production due to cost and the life of the tube. We love NOS Power tubes too, but save them for special occasions. (recording and such) What is "Sag"? www.aikenamps.com/Sag.html
|
|
|
Post by myles on Apr 7, 2012 9:50:37 GMT -7
95% chance it is a failed rectifier. The AC fuse blown will generally blow when a rectifier is bad. The HT fuse will blow if an output tube fails so ... there is also a very high chance one of your putput tubes blew and perhap took out the rectifier. Like I say over and over and over .... change EL84 output tubes in cathode biased amps often. Myles - How often do you recommend changing output tubes on a Maz38 NR head then? Does that mean it's not worth getting higher cost or NOS output tubes since they will need replaced frequently? I'm looking to upgrade my tubes and am a complete novice at all of this so any help at all is greatly appreciated. Also, for anyone out there, I emailed a NOS tube supplier about a new rectifier tube and he said the difference between the JAN Philips and the Mullards is that that JAN will be softer/saggier. Could someone explain to me what exactly saggy means to someone who knows nothing about tubes lol?? I like to run my MAZ 38 clean if it matters at all, so I'm not looking for early breakup. Thanks in advance for the help! Some folks change output tubes in a few as 30 hours and some go months or longer. If it were my amp I'd change them about every 100 hours or so. A lot of my own amps get used pretty hard as I tend to loan them out. I recommend production EL84 tubes in cathode biased amps due to the shorter life span. If you have NOS save them for critical applications such as studio work rather than some bar gig where folks are not there for the sonic quality. Rectifier tubes ... if NOS the brand means very little. The current drop and voltage, which can vary from tube to tube in the same batch, will be the factor. NOS tube rectifiers are very close in specs and performance which is not the case with most production pieces.
|
|
|
Post by koreyhicks on Jul 3, 2012 9:50:10 GMT -7
My new Carmen Ghia came stock with a JJ 5y3. Didn't even know they made them! Any ideas to the reliability of this tube? Is it even a real 5y3 (as in the JJ 5751)?
|
|
|
Post by myles on Jul 3, 2012 15:37:55 GMT -7
|
|
|
Post by digiTED aka 'Ted' on Aug 12, 2012 14:41:33 GMT -7
Thorough and timely info for me; thanks Myles et al!
|
|
|
Post by sturob on Sept 12, 2012 12:49:16 GMT -7
So... Anyone rolled anything different rectifier-wise into a Maz 8? I have a ton of 5Y3 type tubes, many soft-start varieties, that I've used in place of GZ34 in amps. Sounds like people have had good luck with 5Y3 in my 8's big brothers and cousins...
Stuart
|
|
|
Post by cap217 on Apr 3, 2014 6:42:30 GMT -7
What will a 5v4 do in an rxes? Will it soften it and produce sag?
Also, on the rxes it any el84 vox ish amp, we can't adjust the bias but the first post in this thread says to adjust bias for a 5u4. I assume you can't do anything on these amps (Rxes)? I ask because when. I bought this amp, it had a 5u4 in it. I just replaced it w a 5ar4.
|
|
|
Post by captainron (Ron) on Feb 21, 2015 13:10:09 GMT -7
Hello all, I'm looking for some info/help on tubes. I have a Stang Ray combo(six months old) that blew a fuse or 2. I ended up replacing the (bad)rectifier tube(stock Electron Tube brand 5AR4 made in china) and the stock, still good but many hours on, power tubes EL84's(Electro harmonix made in Russia). I replaced the 5AR4 with a Sovtek 5AR4. I replaced the power tubes with JJ's. I feel I can hear a big change in tone. It now sounds a little "stiff" for lack of a better word. It's ok...just not as good as before the fuse popping. So I'm looking for advice on what to do to have her sound as great as the Doc had her sound in the beginning.
Part 2: I love my Ray so much I picked up another one. This one is used and belonged to a very beloved member of our Z family. This Ray is just a head. I now have played the 2 amps in 3 different speaker-cabs...and like the head much better! I noticed the head has a Dario miniwatt in for the EF86 and a 5V4 GA USA...GE stamped rectifier tube. The power tubes are GT's GTEL84S (6BQ5). Is this what I'm hearing? Does the rectifier tube have that much effect on overall tone? Or is it the Dario? Or is it both? I know very little about tubes. I always thought the tone was mostly effected by the power tubes. In this case the power tubes could still be what I'm hearing. Advice please!
|
|
|
Post by captainron (Ron) on Feb 21, 2015 13:48:59 GMT -7
I'm thinking after reading more...that for gigging I need a set of tubes for the Head...and save the current tubes for studio work.
|
|
|
Post by zpilot on Feb 21, 2015 17:41:14 GMT -7
I was told something a long time ago by a tech I learned from that makes a lot of sense. He said that what you hear is largely defined by the power supply of the amp and the rectifier is a main part of that. The other tubes act as valves, varying the voltage gain, but what actually drives the speaker is the power supply. That's why I try to use the best NOS rectifier I can afford in my amps and I recommend the same when I work on other players amps.
|
|
|
Post by wraparound (Steve) on Feb 23, 2015 10:07:49 GMT -7
^^^^^^What he said. I use what the tube chart calls for in the amp and don't skimp on the rectifier. USA tube for that one, or a healthy Mullard.
|
|
|
Post by dergit (Markus) on Mar 10, 2015 12:09:49 GMT -7
Whoops, accidentally deleted rather than edited my post. So I got my hands on a bunch of Rectifiers. Worth >1.000% in price difference? You be the judge:
|
|
|
Post by bukowski on Sept 1, 2016 8:35:16 GMT -7
Hi just curious I've had an Raytheon (nos) 5y3gt in my Ghia for a long time ...8 plus years I'm guessing well over 1500 hrs of use .....question is any need to change ? or just keep a spare fuse (which I do)
|
|
|
Post by myles on Sept 1, 2016 18:05:59 GMT -7
Hi just curious I've had an Raytheon (nos) 5y3gt in my Ghia for a long time ...8 plus years I'm guessing well over 1500 hrs of use .....question is any need to change ? or just keep a spare fuse (which I do) Rectifers do not wear out. They are either good or bad. I have had the same 5Y3 in my own Carmen Ghia even longer. If you gig with the amp, carry a spare rectifier, a spare (also known good, not just new) 12AX7 and 5751 (if your Ghia has a 5751 in V2). I also keep a spare duet of EL84's on hand. The rectifier can blow the fuse but so can output tube issues. Happy playing.
|
|
|
Post by myles on Sept 1, 2016 18:08:58 GMT -7
Whoops, accidentally deleted rather than edited my post. So I got my hands on a bunch of Rectifiers. Worth >1.000% in price difference? You be the judge: When you hear differences it is due to higher or lower plate voltage but also rise time. Here is some stuff I wrote years ago, the updated version with better charts is in the hard cover Tube Amp Book by Aspen Pittman ( Groove Tubes ) www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/rectifiers.html
|
|
|
Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Sept 2, 2016 5:30:19 GMT -7
Thanks for the information Myles! We appreciate your chiming in on the Forum.
|
|
|
Post by bukowski on Sept 2, 2016 7:49:44 GMT -7
Hi just curious I've had an Raytheon (nos) 5y3gt in my Ghia for a long time ...8 plus years I'm guessing well over 1500 hrs of use .....question is any need to change ? or just keep a spare fuse (which I do) Rectifers do not wear out. They are either good or bad. I have had the same 5Y3 in my own Carmen Ghia even longer. If you gig with the amp, carry a spare rectifier, a spare (also known good, not just new) 12AX7 and 5751 (if your Ghia has a 5751 in V2). I also keep a spare duet of EL84's on hand. The rectifier can blow the fuse but so can output tube issues. Happy playing. Thanks Myles ....and yes carry back ups
|
|
|
Post by jamminjohn on Dec 30, 2023 15:05:08 GMT -7
Can a 5R4 be used instead of a 5U4 or 5AR4. I use them in my LP Tweed Twin.
JamminJohn
|
|
|
Post by jamminjohn on Jan 3, 2024 10:50:02 GMT -7
Nobody knows ?
JJ
|
|
|
Post by scottyc13 on Jan 3, 2024 16:19:56 GMT -7
Can a 5R4 be used instead of a 5U4 or 5AR4. I use them in my LP Tweed Twin. JamminJohn It depends on the current draw of the rectifier and how much capacitance it can handle in the first filter caps. The link below shows the 5R4 and 5AR4 needing 2 amps or less current but the 5U4 needing 3. So if your PT is set up for the 5U4, then there will be enough current for the other two. 300guitars.com/articles/rectifier-tube-voltage-drop-chart/But you also have to look at the first filter cap in the amp. The JJ 5AR4 can take a max of 60uF in the first filter cap. The JJ 5U4, only 40uF. I searched for the 5R4 and saw only values of max 4uF. That’s quite low. If your amps first filter cap is a lot higher, then the 5R4 may fail rather quickly. So I would bet this would not be a good substitute. You really have to know how the power tube section is set up to try different power tubes and rectifiers.
|
|