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Post by taylordaly on Sept 3, 2007 12:19:27 GMT -7
I should preface this thread by saying that I do love my new MAZ right out of the box...and like many of you will want to say: "if you like it now, why change it?"
I know, I know.
In the past I had a PV Classic 30 that I loved and then did a tube swap for and was amazed at the difference. Not that it was a huge difference, I just didnt really have any expectations. Figured tubes were one of those "only a few can really notice a difference" type deals. Not so.
So anyway, Im curious for any suggestions for swaps in my MAZ Jr. to improve on the already awesome foundation...be it preamps, power tubes, etc. Maybe an improvement for the reverb?
Ive been trying to read and search all the threads around here to find my answer and have become more confused than educated I think...so I figured I would just poll you guys and see what has worked for you.
I like a big round clean sound, with good headroom, but smooth breakup for bluesy stuff.
What sounds good for a change?
Thanks!
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Post by mitch8686 on Sept 3, 2007 13:40:03 GMT -7
First of all, change the rectifier tube to an NOS one. Just about any one will do ( Mullard, GE, RCA, Phillips, etc.) so long as its NOS. It will last pretty much the life of the amp and it will help prevent you from having a "Help Maz is dead and fuses blown" thread in the future. Keep the stock one as a spare. As far as power tubes go, keep the stock ones and replace as necessary with the Groove Tubes El 84 #6's new production. Maz's are hard on power tubes and Nos can yield an improvement. However, for the price, the Groove Tubes are hard to beat. Now for the tricky part, pre amp tubes. Well that really depends on what type of sound you want and what you're willing to spend. There are some decent new prod preamp tubes out there, but I can't tell a difference between them except that some are brighter than others. Nos is another story. I've used Mullard eec83's, RCA grey and black plates 12ax7's, Rca 5751's (which i really like, especially in the PI (V3 or V5 depending on if you have reverb or not). I also hear that Brimar 12ax7's are great but I havent had any of them. Basically, its about what you want your tone to be, like you said, more or less headroom, or whether you want to go brighter or darker with your sound. The most effective preamp tubes to change are the V1 and PI (again V3 or V5) slots, for me anyway. Well, I think thats enough for me. Anyway, if you want a real expert opinion, talk to Myles or Mike@KCANostubes and they can steer you in the right direction.
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Post by mitch8686 on Sept 3, 2007 21:49:10 GMT -7
Oh yeah, I forgot to give you my setup: V1- RCA 5751 blackplate, V2 Mullard eec83, PI RCA 5751 (same as V1 except w/ balanced triodes) all NOS btw. This setup just screams. It does eveything from blues to all out grind with the righ pedalboard setup. You see i see have no reverb so i cant help ya there as far as what to upgrade with. (again ask myles) Mullard or any other manufacturer GZ34 rec tube and stock power tubes is also my preferred setup. The overall sound when driven is very thick, articulate distortion with alot of grind when you need it-all controlled by the guitar vol.... Just take the time and find out what suits you the best. And dont forget (cause i assume you're not a newbie and if you are, welcome to the club) just have fun with it man. It still amazes me the kind of tone i can get from a "little" 18 watt amp... this thing flat out screams............ good luck brotha
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Post by jwr on Sept 4, 2007 12:12:51 GMT -7
Made my own RCA cables for the reverb with Canare cable and could hear a difference. If your handy with making cables I recommend the change.
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Post by taylordaly on Sept 4, 2007 12:21:43 GMT -7
Yup...Ive heard the difference in cables as well. Im using custom Canares from Mark at Lava Cable. Fantastic guy BTW and great to do business with.
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Post by chipstar75 on Sept 22, 2007 21:32:30 GMT -7
One of the biggest changes can be heard by simply replacing your phase inverter preamp tube , with one that has been matched from side to side. (Matched triods)
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Post by toneking on Sept 23, 2007 6:14:31 GMT -7
I really like the "New Production" short plate Tung-Sol's in the pre-amp, they have a nice gain structure and the "New Production" Mullard with matched triods for the PI.
The amp seems creamy with nice dynamics.
TK
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Post by Seńor Verde on Sept 23, 2007 7:39:48 GMT -7
Ei Elites in the first and second tube sockets and Phillips NOS 12AT7 in the phase inverter.
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Post by fishman on Oct 4, 2007 18:23:11 GMT -7
I vote for the NOS rectifier....a difference you can really hear right away, you won;t have to "strain" to hear the difference it will jump out at you... best "bang for the buck" noninvasive upgrade I have ever done...worked so well I bought others from NiteHawk to put in my other amps...
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Post by hdahs143 on Oct 4, 2007 22:46:44 GMT -7
5751 in V1 & V5. Smoothed the top end perfectly, and I just loved the way the amp sounded and responded.
A 5751 in the first slot of a Marshall works well to my ears as well.
Harold
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Post by play4jc on Oct 5, 2007 5:23:35 GMT -7
+1 on the rectifier tube change, got 2 NOS from Nitehawk, had 'em 2 weeks and changed it out last night, im real lazy, that was too amazing, it does jump out at you, wife was asking me when I was coming to bed I swear this is the only amp Ive ever owned that makes playing fun again
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Post by Stylemaster on Oct 5, 2007 5:40:30 GMT -7
+1 on the rectifier tube change, got 2 NOS from Nitehawk, had 'em 2 weeks and changed it out last night, im real lazy, that was too amazing, it does jump out at you, wife was asking me when I was coming to bed I swear this is the only amp Ive ever owned that makes playing fun again Were they Mullards? If so can you describe them: company label (Mullard, GE, RCA, etc.) and what code (example: f32 B9K3)? Did you or NightHawk test them or were they simply NOS?
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Post by fishman on Oct 5, 2007 7:21:29 GMT -7
perhaps it would be best to contact NiteHawk ....they were tested and verified I believe I have a 1968 and a 1970 Phillips made by Mullard . I believe that the tubes were never used at all , brand new...again, check with NightHawk for details and availability....money very well spent IMHO
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Post by Stylemaster on Oct 5, 2007 9:50:54 GMT -7
perhaps it would be best to contact NiteHawk ....they were tested and verified I believe I have a 1968 and a 1970 Phillips made by Mullard . I believe that the tubes were never used at all , brand new...again, check with NightHawk for details and availability....money very well spent IMHO I will check with Nitehawk out of curiosity. Don't particularly what to bug him about this stuff but he has been extremely helpful to me on this subject.
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Post by play4jc on Oct 5, 2007 17:55:37 GMT -7
Nitehawk sold me a Sylvania/Phillips egc 5AR4 GZ34 and a GE 5v4ga, I have the Phillips in there now, told me to play with that awhile then flip 'em out, Im sure he tested them, just know the Phillips break up real smooth, stock was a JJ, just a overall smoother tone, just got a new suhr strat today and just finished playing and the tone was unreal
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Post by azatplayer on Jan 7, 2008 5:32:36 GMT -7
You know ive had 4 El84 tube amps over the years, and dicked about retubing them all at some point with various brands. Honestly never heard the dramatic difference that you DO get with EL34's or 6L6's. Maybe its just my mileage varying but thats what i hear. My EL34 amsp however show stark contrasts between brands. Absolutely stark. Cool really.
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slunky
Full Member
I got a Halloween head
Posts: 172
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Post by slunky on Jan 9, 2008 9:44:13 GMT -7
I just, this morning, swapped out the rectifier in the Maz w/ the NOS JAN Philips/Sylvania 5AR4 (mislabeled 5V4GA)...wow! Really smoothed the amp out nicely. I'm ashamed it took me 4 months to order the damn tube from Mike!!
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Post by lowwatt on Jan 12, 2008 7:53:27 GMT -7
I just, this morning, swapped out the rectifier in the Maz w/ the NOS JAN Philips/Sylvania 5AR4 (mislabeled 5V4GA)...wow! Really smoothed the amp out nicely. I'm ashamed it took me 4 months to order the damn tube from Mike!! Yep. That's the only change to a Maz Jr. that i consider 100% necessary. Modern rectifiers are for the most part off-spec and unreliable. NOS rectifiers are still very affordable. One simple change and your amp sounds significantly better and becomes much more reliable. You probably won't even have to change that tube for the rest of your life. Just keep the crappy original as a backup in case.
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Jan 12, 2008 16:37:44 GMT -7
Jeez, I've tried a lot of things, but keep coming back around to the original of what it was shipped with. JJ's in V1/2 and Sovtek LPS in V3 (NR model). My ears just dig that a lot.
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Post by shizzaq on Aug 14, 2008 19:19:21 GMT -7
Raytheon Blackplates in V1 and V2. The amp now has more gain, more pleasent highs, and better distortion. I tried some smoothplate telefunkens but went back to the Raytheons.
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