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Post by deluxetwelve on May 8, 2019 21:22:12 GMT -7
I’ve always found my circa 2010 R66 to lack sparkle with humbuckers. I’ve got fairly new tubes, and am running bright sounding speakers. Even with the treble knob maxed it sounds shut in, especially at lower volumes. Could this be simply the way it is, or could a tube change eg in EF86 give me more top end? Or will it always be dark sounding?
PS my EZG50 and KT45 are fine by comparison.
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Post by sharkboy on May 11, 2019 18:52:45 GMT -7
The EF86 and the phase inverter are both candidates. I can’t tell from my couch which one it is, however. You could swap a PI from another amp, but if you’re like me, you get a bunch of each and try them.
FYI: I have a preference for amps with sparkle, and my ZWreck is still my favorite, but the Route66 is a close second and getting a lot of air time these days. It’s not super sparkly, but it’s not dark, either.
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Post by deluxetwelve on May 11, 2019 19:03:06 GMT -7
Thanks for the tip. I’ve got a couple of NOS EF86 coming in the post, and I’ll play around with the PI at the same time.
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Post by sharkboy on May 12, 2019 4:43:49 GMT -7
There is a huge variation- even within brand- for sound for an EF86, and I’ve found some combinations that don’t work well together, but sound good in other contexts. Brutally honest, I never liked the Winged C in any EF86 circuit prior to a Z, but I haven’t even fad the itch to replace that one. Even the power tubes contribute to sparkle, or lack thereof, sot it’s all fair game here.
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Post by eeyore on May 12, 2019 5:48:43 GMT -7
Try a BBE Sonic Stomp?
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Post by John on May 12, 2019 9:09:30 GMT -7
Could this be simply the way it is,
This may not be what you want to hear...but yes, it's the way the amp is. Others here are making some suggestions, and while they may make a little bit of difference (maybe)....the Route 66 is not a sparkle amp.
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Post by KeithA on May 12, 2019 9:19:11 GMT -7
Could this be simply the way it is,
This may not be what you want to hear...but yes, it's the way the amp is. Others here are making some suggestions, and while they may make a little bit of difference (maybe)....the Route 66 is not a sparkle amp.
I think I'd have to agree. You can get a little low on the volume knob, but once you turn up and the amp starts to pucker and bloom, the amp goes down a different fork in the road.
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Post by deluxetwelve on May 12, 2019 12:47:19 GMT -7
I’ll try the tube swap in any case. If nothing changes for the better I’ll just use it with my single coil Fenders.
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Post by deluxetwelve on May 13, 2019 20:14:25 GMT -7
Ok an interesting development. I just installed a NOS EF86 (Made in West Germany) and it has definitely given it a kick in the right direction. It’s not a blackface Fender sparkle of course but absolutely better treble and also a great sound. With the Telecaster I had to dial back the treble knob a good deal, and the Les Paul is now useable, albeit with the treble dimed almost max.
Oh and again I’m reminded that it’s such a loud, punchy amp.
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Post by perryr on May 15, 2019 18:54:09 GMT -7
My 66 has a GEC fine mesh EF86 and Telefunken 12ax7 which both help in the sparkle dept. 1970 Amperex 12ax7 (i66) with the dimpled disk getter is another great choice for a sparkly 12ax7, maybe better than the Tele... hum, gonna have to try that.
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