milo
New Member
Posts: 26
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Post by milo on Jul 3, 2008 4:06:49 GMT -7
I don't know if these were stock, but they are what came in my slightly used Z28. They have a larger bottle than any of the NOS 6V6 tubes I have on hand and the description on the GT website (6L6 characteristics) sounds like what I have heard about the JJ version.
Is this the tube that the later version of this amp was designed around? I popped a set of RCA VT-107s into it briefly last night and it seemed to lose some of it's sparkle and volume, but it was just a quick experiment and I didn't have time to check the bias. Generally I really like these in my 5E3 clone.
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Post by thesjkexperience on Jul 4, 2008 9:35:10 GMT -7
I liked the Tung-Sol better in my 5e3 because the JJ was too clear sounding, and not a lot of harmonics. I finally found some Ken-Rad tubes from the 40's that are the exact tone I have been looking for. A bit expensive at $85, but they are a bargain when you factor in how long they last. I havent had a set of new production power tubes that have lasted more than 9 months.
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milo
New Member
Posts: 26
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Post by milo on Jul 4, 2008 12:10:04 GMT -7
I generally haven't been real happy with the JJ 6V6 tubes that I've used in the past in my older amps, but if this GT is actually a JJ it sounds really good in the Z28.
My Princeton Reverb and 5E3 Clone both sound too sterile with the JJ 6V6, but I've got several sets of old production tubes for those. I was just as surprised that my favorites from those amps didn't sound quite as good in the Dr Z. I guess that I really shouldn't be too surprised since it would make sense that if an amp were designed around a specific new production tube it would probably be better voiced for those than for a NOS version, especially if it differs as much from an original as I've heard that the JJ 6V6 does.
I've got one old pair of Tung-Sols but one is going microphonic. These were my favorite in my PR until then. Now I've been swapping between a pair of VT107 and some old Sylvanias and I like both of those in the PR and 5E3.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Jul 4, 2008 13:56:19 GMT -7
The GT 6V6S is a JJ. The amp was originally designed around the GT 6V6R, which was made by Electro Harmonix.
The RCA's you mentioned would probably sound really good in the Z28, but they will bias up differently than the JJ's. I'm sure the bias would have been way off when you heard them.
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Post by myles on Jul 15, 2008 11:19:38 GMT -7
The GT 6V6S is a JJ. The amp was originally designed around the GT 6V6R, which was made by Electro Harmonix. The RCA's you mentioned would probably sound really good in the Z28, but they will bias up differently than the JJ's. I'm sure the bias would have been way off when you heard them. Phil, You are correct ... the GT 6V6S is indeed the JJ 6V6. I do not use the JJ version in classic amps as they sound more like a 6L6 to me than a smooth 6V6. I will use the JJ in high voltage amps such as a Jim Kelly amp or in some Fargen amps. In some of the new cathode biased 6V6 quad amps such as a Tone King Metor or Rivera Venus 6 the JJ holds up nicely. Now if you have a Mesa Boogie Mark 1 try this .... drop the voltage to the low voltage mode ... stick in a quad of 6V6 tubes and be sure NOT to flip the voltage switch to the normal position ... plug the internal 8 ohm speaker into the 4 ohm jack to compensate for the different plate impedance of the 6V6 and voila .... you might find the other thing these amps can do other than the Carlos Abraxis tone. The JJ is a strong edgy tube that works for some things but I prefer a lot of other tubes. If it was my own amp I'd just call Mike at KCA and have him send me some kind of NOS 6V6 duet and be done with it
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