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Post by soulcall on Dec 27, 2006 17:54:14 GMT -7
Dear Professor,
Once I read on this forum that there was a tube replacement that would get my Maz 18 jr to distort at lower volumes.
Any ideas what that was? I couldn't find it in a search.
Happy Z owner
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Post by DRZ on Dec 28, 2006 13:53:03 GMT -7
Try a NOS 5V4 rectifier tube in place of the 5AR4. Less headroom, more sag and natural compression, and lower wattage.
No adjustments needed just plug -n- play.
I believe Mike K has a selection of nice ones at good prices.
KCA Tubes 703 430 3645
DR.Z
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Post by Don on Dec 28, 2006 15:38:40 GMT -7
Doc -
How about on the Ghia? Can the 5Y3 rectifier be replaced?
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Post by DRZ on Dec 28, 2006 17:41:53 GMT -7
Doc - How about on the Ghia? Can the 5Y3 rectifier be replaced? Sure it can but I don't feel any improvement will be heard. A 5AR4 in a Ghia is much to hard. A 5V4 is OK a bit more wattage and clean headroom. But a nice NOS 5Y3 GT is perfect IMHO. DR.Z
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wilzgt
Full Member
I plumb for Z-Tone !
Posts: 151
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Post by wilzgt on Dec 28, 2006 21:46:32 GMT -7
Doc-
How about a Mazerati? Replace 5AR4 with 5V4?
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Post by DRZ on Dec 29, 2006 3:51:35 GMT -7
Doc- How about a Mazerati? Replace 5AR4 with 5V4? Yes it will work. It will make a Mazerati sound more like a Bigger Ghia. DR.Z
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Post by mward on Dec 29, 2006 5:16:36 GMT -7
Will it work on a Route66? (Maybe you could just list all the amps it'll work on since eventually someone is going to ask.) Thanks.
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Post by DRZ on Dec 30, 2006 10:48:09 GMT -7
Will it work on a Route66? (Maybe you could just list all the amps it'll work on since eventually someone is going to ask.) Thanks. OK I have used 5U4GB's in RT 66's and I really liked the bloom and almost tweed like characteristic it gave the amp. Lowered power and headroom but increased sustain. Now time for a little rectifier primer by DR.Z. A 5U4 is the toughest rectifier on the amps Power Transformer. The filaments of a 5U4 are 5 Volts AC @ 3 AMP. Most designers cheapen out on this section of the PT and use a lower rating for say a 5AR4 and save copper ( i.e. CASH ) . ALL the PT I designed and use in my amps have 3 AMP Rectifier Filament taps from the 5001 in the Ghia to 9001 in the Delta 88. So a 5U4 can be safely used in any Z-Amp. Just remember it will lower plate voltage so on FIXED biased Z-Amps Bias will need to be re-adjusted. The 5U4GB sounds best in a 6L6/KT 66 amp IMHO, not so good in a EL-34/EL-84 based amp, but YMMV. Hint the new EVAN DR.Z 6L6 amp has a 5U4GB in it right now and do like what I'm hearing, this may change in the final release or not. I like 5V4's as they are in between the dynamic and higher powered 5AR4 and the spongy 5U4. I would use them more but they are hard to find these day's and no one makes a GOOD replacement. I like 5V4's in EL-84/EL34 amps especially for smooth BLUES tones. OK 5Y3's they supply the least amount of Voltage and Currant. A 5AR4 SHOULD supply 250 mA a 5Y3 supplies 125mA. The draw of 4 EL-84's is typically 120 mA at idle so NO room is left for any other tubes in the amp. In a 2 EL-84 or two 6V6 amp a 5Y3 is fine just be careful ,too much sag and too much heat. A 5Y3 tube heats up a lot as it's internal voltage drop and dissipates that drop as HEAT. As you can see all my amps are tube rectified, even the plug in SS amps Delta 88, KT 45 and 6545 are wired for and can except a tube rectifier as a plug in. I find that changing the rectifier type can make the biggest difference in an amps tone for the smallest amount of money. Just remember all changes in TONE are not for the best in all applications. Happy New Year DR.Z
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Post by billyguitar on Dec 30, 2006 13:54:44 GMT -7
This is great Doc! I need to print this out but actually you're saying the same things I've found out over the years. Thanks again for saying it in an easy to remember way.
Happy New Year to you too, Big Daddy!
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Post by mward on Dec 30, 2006 14:18:33 GMT -7
Okay, because I'm simple - I can use a 5U4 but I'll need to rebias the amp. Right? Time to order a bias-rite. There are NOS 5U4GBs all over ebay dirt cheap. Can't wait to try one.
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mds
Full Member
Posts: 205
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Post by mds on Dec 31, 2006 0:28:17 GMT -7
pretty cool Doc! I'm interested in trying Like 5% or something really significant/noticable? I like the idea of earlier breakup...thanks!
Mike
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Post by detuned on Dec 31, 2006 20:40:29 GMT -7
I learn something cool on this site pretty much every day...
Thanks Doc!
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Post by taswegian on Dec 31, 2006 23:34:42 GMT -7
Am I the only one who noticed this little gem in the middle of this great information! Now that ought to get some Z lovers salivating! Hint the new EVAN DR.Z 6L6 amp has a 5U4GB in it right now and do like what I'm hearing, this may change in the final release or not.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2007 9:40:51 GMT -7
Am I the only one who noticed this little gem in the middle of this great information! Now that ought to get some Z lovers salivating! Hint the new EVAN DR.Z 6L6 amp has a 5U4GB in it right now and do like what I'm hearing, this may change in the final release or not. I noticed it too taz. Definitely salivatin'. DougG
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Post by billyguitar on Jan 1, 2007 9:50:10 GMT -7
I did too. I'm wanting to know more about this. Lately I've been thinking about getting some the old Fender amps out again becase of the 6L6 thing. Q: Who or what is Evan?
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Post by DRZ on Jan 1, 2007 10:01:29 GMT -7
Q: Who or what is Evan? [/quote]
My newest Grandson, and the namesake of my new 6L6 design.
I'll post more about it as it develops.
I do have a working proto-type in house, and I have one circuit to finalize.
God I do love 6L6 amps, ever since the days of Terry Kath and his modded Bogen PA, to SRV and dual 6l6 Fenders, they sure get and hold your attention.
DR.Z
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Post by jwr on Jan 1, 2007 11:08:46 GMT -7
Well thats the best news I could wish to hear in the New Year!!
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Post by tjstrat on Jan 1, 2007 11:43:07 GMT -7
Sorry Doc... But you mean Terry Kath, right? His early Chicago and CTA stuff had murderous tone, and he used a Bogen on the CTA album, at least...
The solo on "25 or 6 to 4" still makes the hair on my neck stand up.
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Post by DRZ on Jan 1, 2007 12:10:54 GMT -7
Sorry Doc... But you mean Terry Kath, right? His early Chicago and CTA stuff had murderous tone, and he used a Bogen on the CTA album, at least... The solo on "25 or 6 to 4" still makes the hair on my neck stand up. Your right TJ my bad. Too much New Years Cheer I guess Terry Katz was an old Insurance man of mine, Terry Kath is the CTA guitarist with kick arse tone. DR.Z
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Post by billyguitar on Jan 1, 2007 12:44:09 GMT -7
How about Free Form Guitar. A friend of mine in high school said the band teacher said that sounded like a truck grinding gears going up a long grade. Pretty funny! Doc: What's the concept of the amp? I know you'll do something original. You've mentioned a tweed Super before. Still along that line or more brown or blackface? Fixed bias? 35 watts or so?
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Post by Curt on Jan 1, 2007 12:56:37 GMT -7
This amp "Evan" is on my mind EVERY day......I just can not wait to learn more. I want to play one sooooooo badly.
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Post by tjstrat on Jan 1, 2007 16:46:47 GMT -7
Sorry Doc... But you mean Terry Kath, right? His early Chicago and CTA stuff had murderous tone, and he used a Bogen on the CTA album, at least... The solo on "25 or 6 to 4" still makes the hair on my neck stand up. Your right TJ my bad. Too much New Years Cheer I guess Terry Katz was an old Insurance man of mine, Terry Kath is the CTA guitarist with kick arse tone. DR.Z Kath was also always my favorite Chicago vocalist, although they too often left him to throw in soulful wordless yowls and let Cetera and Lamm sing most of the leads. But for the first couple years of my playing, thanks to Kath and McLaughlin, my leads were pretty much devoid of the old rock licks and cliches... and full of really bad up and down scales played as fast as I could play them...
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Post by Jim @94 Amps on Jan 3, 2007 17:13:59 GMT -7
I've been listening to "Evan" all week... I love my job!
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Post by billyguitar on Jan 3, 2007 19:00:53 GMT -7
i wish i could say that and I'm half owner of a business. i always wanted a gear related job.
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Post by Curt on Jan 3, 2007 20:26:42 GMT -7
I've been listening to "Evan" all week... I love my job! That's just cruel !!!
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Post by Jim @94 Amps on Jan 4, 2007 16:35:10 GMT -7
ha ha i know, but i had to rub it in
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Post by skydog958 on Jan 4, 2007 17:59:11 GMT -7
We forumites should get an advance screening for Evan. Maybe a sound clip, maybe a demo amp to pass around to the other Z brothas... ;D
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Post by detuned on Jan 4, 2007 18:48:08 GMT -7
I'm not sure whether a sound clip would be a tasty preview, or cruel torture...
:-)
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Post by Lefty on Jan 4, 2007 21:13:30 GMT -7
07-07-07
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Post by skydog958 on Jan 6, 2007 11:57:55 GMT -7
Nice!! Thanks for the drop, Lefty!
Now all I wanna know is when will the black/red weave be ready so I can buy a cab to match my SRZ?
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