newdr
New Member
Posts: 28
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Post by newdr on Aug 2, 2008 18:48:08 GMT -7
Hi folks, just got maz jr with verb. Sounded great but didnt seem to have a lot of volume. I put in a nos mullard gz-34 and its like twice as loud. the jr is from 2003 and it may have the original tubes..does this mean the recitifier was getting weak or is there really this much difference in the tubes? Probably going to retube the whole amp, just wondering if the NOS are really that much better.
Thanks,, Randy
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Post by taswegian on Aug 2, 2008 21:27:04 GMT -7
Probably the old rec was going weak. but the nice thing about the Mullard is it will probably last forever! I have a lovely steel based Mullard GZ34 from 1954 in my Route 66. It's one of my prized possesions.
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newdr
New Member
Posts: 28
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Post by newdr on Aug 3, 2008 13:46:40 GMT -7
Thanks, Im goiing to change them all..will probably take a while though,,the nos tubes can get expensive and I'm not exactly swimming in the dough. Thanks for info ...gotta say I love this amp.
Randy
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Post by nitehawk55 on Aug 3, 2008 16:15:55 GMT -7
If you see a 5V4GA rectifier at the right price try that in your Maz jr , slightly less output but earlier smoother OD which is really nice for blues . The JJ EL84's are a good tube and honestly I would not go the $$ for NOS with those . You may want to try some NOS pre amp but those can really be hit and miss . Mullards and Amperex short plate seem to be favourites as are some GE and RCA .
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Post by smolder on Aug 17, 2008 20:24:32 GMT -7
If you see a 5V4GA rectifier at the right price try that in your Maz jr , slightly less output but earlier smoother OD which is really nice for blues . The JJ EL84's are a good tube and honestly I would not go the $$ for NOS with those . You may want to try some NOS pre amp but those can really be hit and miss . Mullards and Amperex short plate seem to be favourites as are some GE and RCA . So if dropping to a 5V4Ga is a good in a maz jr... what would going all the way to a 5Y3G sound like. Frankly... I rarely get to dime my Z... so it might be nice to lower the overall output and further smooth the overdrive.
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Post by nitehawk55 on Aug 19, 2008 16:31:52 GMT -7
Never tried a 5Y3 in the maz and not sure how it would sound or if it will work at the voltages , I think it might run hot . No problem at all running 5V4's
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Post by zdogma on Aug 19, 2008 16:56:27 GMT -7
Never tried a 5Y3 in the maz and not sure how it would sound or if it will work at the voltages , I think it might run hot . No problem at all running 5V4's Yep its pretty hot, but seems to run OK. I've run a NOS RCA 5Y3 with no problems.
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Post by smolder on Aug 19, 2008 20:34:32 GMT -7
Well... I am assuming that it 'running a bit hot' is of concern when the amp is above half volume... unfortunatley... I don't get to open the maz up full boat (condo living at the moment). Dr Z's note gave it a sort of blessing. I will also try a 5U4G and a 5V4G. Thanks...
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Post by azatplayer on Sept 25, 2008 5:42:24 GMT -7
I tried a 5Y3 nos in mine, sounded pretty average. I run a Mullard f32 blackburn in mine. Worth evry one of the 20000 cents!
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Post by myles on Sept 25, 2008 9:41:16 GMT -7
Rectifiers do not get weak ... they either work or do not.
What was seen here was very typical .... new production rectifiers do not develop the voltage or current that was spec and expected from rectifiers 90% of the time. An NOS rectifer made by just about anybody will develop spec voltages, have the proper current capability and current drop and will last ten times longer, or more. NOS rectifiers will also be much more reliable in shipping or transit.
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Post by myles on Sept 25, 2008 9:43:33 GMT -7
Thanks, Im goiing to change them all..will probably take a while though,,the nos tubes can get expensive and I'm not exactly swimming in the dough. Thanks for info ...gotta say I love this amp. Randy NOS rectifers are actually cheaper as one good one will still work in your amp when the amp is passed on to your kids and grandkids. In the case of 5Y3 NOS rectifiers ... there are tons of them out there for $25 or less. There is a huge surplus.
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Post by myles on Sept 25, 2008 9:45:00 GMT -7
Never tried a 5Y3 in the maz and not sure how it would sound or if it will work at the voltages , I think it might run hot . No problem at all running 5V4's Yep its pretty hot, but seems to run OK. I've run a NOS RCA 5Y3 with no problems. Any rectifer will run very hot by design. Your 5Y3 will run as hot as a 5AR4 but that is expected and of no concern.
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Post by tookermel on Sept 30, 2008 7:01:53 GMT -7
Bob Pletka from Eurotubes describes his JJ GZ-34 to be the closest to the old Mullards as anything he's heard. Here's an actual piece of the description taken from his site:
"This tube is as close as it gets the old Mullard GZ34 that we all know and love! In fact the plate construction looks to be almost identical to my large base Mullards with the straight edge plates."
I have one of these as a backup for the rectifier in my Maz Jr. Right now I'm using the Philips/Sylvania 5AR4. I have a couple of questions, though, for those that might have some experience with these tubes in this amp. I hope I'm not hijacking.....these questions are related to interest in the Mullard.
1. Since I have the JJ, would it be worth my while (IYO) to get the Mullard? Have any of you actually compared 'em? Should the JJ have more headroom than the Philips/Sylvania?
2. Does the Mullard help give about the most headroom possible in these amps?
Thanks in advance, -Tookermel
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Post by tookermel on Oct 28, 2008 7:11:55 GMT -7
Bump...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2008 17:31:49 GMT -7
Bob Pletka from Eurotubes describes his JJ GZ-34 to be the closest to the old Mullards as anything he's heard. Here's an actual piece of the description taken from his site: "This tube is as close as it gets the old Mullard GZ34 that we all know and love! In fact the plate construction looks to be almost identical to my large base Mullards with the straight edge plates." I have one of these as a backup for the rectifier in my Maz Jr. Right now I'm using the Philips/Sylvania 5AR4. I have a couple of questions, though, for those that might have some experience with these tubes in this amp. I hope I'm not hijacking.....these questions are related to interest in the Mullard. 1. Since I have the JJ, would it be worth my while (IYO) to get the Mullard? Have any of you actually compared 'em? Should the JJ have more headroom than the Philips/Sylvania? 2. Does the Mullard help give about the most headroom possible in these amps? Thanks in advance, -Tookermel You don't really hear a rectifier as much as you would feel the difference. NOS may make an amp sound louder but that is because, as has already been stated, they were better made (specs are where they belong) than any current production rectifier. With apologies to Bob at Eurotubes, that means current production JJs, too.
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Post by tookermel on Oct 29, 2008 5:59:14 GMT -7
Gotcha....all makes sense! Thanks!
-Tookermel
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Post by zdogma on Oct 29, 2008 6:06:04 GMT -7
Bob Pletka from Eurotubes describes his JJ GZ-34 to be the closest to the old Mullards as anything he's heard. Here's an actual piece of the description taken from his site: "This tube is as close as it gets the old Mullard GZ34 that we all know and love! In fact the plate construction looks to be almost identical to my large base Mullards with the straight edge plates." I have one of these as a backup for the rectifier in my Maz Jr. Right now I'm using the Philips/Sylvania 5AR4. I have a couple of questions, though, for those that might have some experience with these tubes in this amp. I hope I'm not hijacking.....these questions are related to interest in the Mullard. 1. Since I have the JJ, would it be worth my while (IYO) to get the Mullard? Have any of you actually compared 'em? Should the JJ have more headroom than the Philips/Sylvania? 2. Does the Mullard help give about the most headroom possible in these amps? Thanks in advance, -Tookermel You don't really hear a rectifier as much as you would feel the difference. NOS may make an amp sound louder but that is because, as has already been stated, they were better made (specs are where they belong) than any current production rectifier. With apologies to Bob at Eurotubes, that means current production JJs, too. I think the JJ's are closest to spec of the new production rectifiers, but they still have reliability issues compared to any NOS tube. I've had two die on me in the last two years, I've now switched all my GZ34's to NOS. Headroom is pretty similar between tubes if they meet spec, the old Sovteks and Chinese tubes quite often didn't. SO, if your rectifier is spec, you shouldn't notice that much difference between any brand.
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Post by tookermel on Oct 29, 2008 6:13:33 GMT -7
Cool......I DO give props to Bob and his service! He was great to work with! Nice guy.....I don't want anyone to think I'm degrading him.
(had to say that)
Anyway, I think I'll just stick to my mislabeled Phil/Sylv 5AR4 then.......that is, until I can afford a Mullard - might not be a hugh difference, but what the heck.....it's a Mullard! Booyah!!!
Thanks, -Tookermel
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2008 9:14:33 GMT -7
Cool......I DO give props to Bob and his service! He was great to work with! Nice guy.....I don't want anyone to think I'm degrading him. (had to say that) Anyway, I think I'll just stick to my mislabeled Phil/Sylv 5AR4 then.......that is, until I can afford a Mullard - might not be a hugh difference, but what the heck.....it's a Mullard! Booyah!!! Thanks, -Tookermel I have heard many good things about Bob. ;D
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Post by brad737 on Oct 29, 2008 9:17:13 GMT -7
I've ordered from Bob at Eurotubes a couple of times. He does provide great service. However, I think he praises JJ a bit too much at times, which is understandable because that's what he sells. And I do like some JJ tubes a lot. But not all of them are as great as he says. All in all though, he's a good seller with good prices. I would definitely recommend him.
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Post by myles on Oct 29, 2008 9:57:26 GMT -7
I've ordered from Bob at Eurotubes a couple of times. He does provide great service. However, I think he praises JJ a bit too much at times, which is understandable because that's what he sells. And I do like some JJ tubes a lot. But not all of them are as great as he says. All in all though, he's a good seller with good prices. I would definitely recommend him. Bob Pletka is a great guy but unless things have changed in the way they used to be he only sells JJ products so I would think his general trend would be to recommend JJ tubes in all cases.
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