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Post by BritInvasion on Feb 5, 2013 20:26:41 GMT -7
I was just surfing Humbuckers site and I noticed they sell Mesa tubes. Apparently they are well tested and very consistent according to their site. Anyone using these ( especially the EL-84's and rectifiers )? Opinions?
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Post by BritInvasion on Feb 7, 2013 8:04:28 GMT -7
Crickets chirping. Not too popular I guess LOL!
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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on Feb 7, 2013 9:37:05 GMT -7
Mesas, at least the ones I've seen, are rebranded Sovtecs that they or someone has tested, matched etc. to their specs. You can see the Sovtec lettering under the Mesa. I've used them and they sounded good and lasted for me. I should add I like Sovtec EL84s. Too me warmer and less higher mid peak than JJs. I guess I should also add I really don't like JJ EL 84s.
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Post by wraparound (Steve) on Feb 7, 2013 9:47:09 GMT -7
First of all the warranty is a real benefit as long as you use a tube enough during the six month period. They used to carry the EL34 from the old Svetlana (winged C) factory. I had a set of those and they performed and lasted in my old Hiwatt very nicely. Then they stopped using them as a source. They used to carry the 6L6 GC STR (Sylvania) NOS, but alas, they no gots any more. They still show a limited number of actual Siemens EL34 which is a great tube. I did not care for the Chinese 6V6 they stock, but they just were not up to my application. In in a fixed bias amp they may be fine. Interesting, I bought a duet of those and held the smoke colored bottle up to some intense light (i was just curious), under the smoke color which I assumed was to make the tube look like an old RCA, I could see the very faint remnants of a RUBY logo! Could Mesa have snagged some of the leftovers from a certain run at the factory, or had they been screened in error. We'll never know, and I may have had the only pair like that to be fair! I do think RUBY does a nice job for a modern tube source. The Chinese and Russian preamp tubes I got from Mesa were OK (a typical mixed bag of stuff). Perhaps a quick call down to Humbucker may give you some added info that would be useful. I reasoned that Mesa would at least be consistent if they were hanging the response of their amp line on them. In reality, the margins outweigh the problems they deal with, and not many people are going to follow up a tube with warranty returns.
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Post by southmusic70 on Feb 7, 2013 10:14:38 GMT -7
I've never used their 6V6s, but I've used their 6L6s, EL84s, 12AT7s, and 12AX7s (also their SPAX7) and haven't had any problems in over 10 years.
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Post by doctorice on Feb 7, 2013 18:14:47 GMT -7
I've had no problems with Mesa-branded EL84s. No experience with other tube types.
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Post by mangoman on Feb 7, 2013 18:35:53 GMT -7
I used one of their rectifiers in Maz Jr just to see what it would do to the feel without having to drop extra cash on a NOS one. Liked it a lot.
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Post by BritInvasion on Feb 8, 2013 8:27:57 GMT -7
Thanks for the input guys. I knew they were re-branded , I didn't know if they did extra testing themselves and wondered if they were reliable. Might give 'em a try when I retube again.
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Post by deaconblues on Feb 12, 2013 15:47:26 GMT -7
The Mesa warranty makes them at least worth a try.
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Post by deaconblues on Feb 12, 2013 15:55:52 GMT -7
sorry, double post.
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Post by myles on Mar 1, 2013 14:12:14 GMT -7
Mesa octal output tubes are nicely tested. I have a bit of an explanation of their color code at www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/Rating.html They DO NOT match their EL84 output tubes. Steer clear of them. Contrary to some thinking, cathode biased amps expect tubes that are matched and within factory design spec. The bias circuit in these amps can only operate properly within a rational range.
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Post by BritInvasion on Mar 4, 2013 18:08:10 GMT -7
Thanks so much for the information Myles! Really good to know what the deal is.
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Post by Dan F"i"fe on Mar 4, 2013 18:14:26 GMT -7
Thanks Myles good info!
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Post by LT on Mar 6, 2013 19:32:23 GMT -7
I've had great luck with Mesa tubes in my Mesa amps, but haven't tried them in others.
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Post by deaconblues on Apr 3, 2013 6:49:34 GMT -7
Thanks for the info, Miles.
So, no matching of Mesa EL84's, eh?
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Post by myles on Apr 3, 2013 10:19:41 GMT -7
Thanks for the info, Miles. So, no matching of Mesa EL84's, eh? If there is no color code there is no matching
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Post by bhayn007 on Apr 8, 2013 17:49:00 GMT -7
I have a Mesa Nomad 45 that I purchased in 2000. I've never replaced the Mesa preamp 12ax7 tubes since I've owned it and have only 2x changed the el84's. I would say they hold up VERY well. The Nomad is a combo with casters that I have rolled everywhere. I've gigged this amp extensively and have put it through 6 years of music school. (it's been beat up!). Sure, at this point they suffer in tone and could use replacing.
I'm now back playing it as I wait for replacement 7189's for my Z Wreck that I've played on for 10 months.
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Post by myles on Apr 8, 2013 20:34:35 GMT -7
Preamp tubes don't wear very fast. I have tested original tubes in amps from the 50s that still test better than new production tubes test today. If they still sound fine leave them alone.
EL84s on the other hand in cathode biased amps will need replacement on a regular basis.
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Post by bhayn007 on Apr 9, 2013 19:47:31 GMT -7
Just bought 2 sets of Mesa EL84's today. They do come color matched in pairs. Looks like I'll be needing a replacement though as one of them runs REALLY hot and is causing some distortion after 10 minutes of heating up. (I should have knocked on wood)
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Post by myles on Apr 10, 2013 9:44:17 GMT -7
Thanks for posting this bhayn007. Looks like they saw the light. Was is the color rating of the tubes you have where one is running hot? The Mesa color scale can be seen here: www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/Rating.htmlHopefully one was damaged in shipping or something otherwise this is not a good indication of matching as a side note. If you are close to me in the Los Angeles area I would be happy to trace them at no charge to see how matched or mismatched they are and to see how close they are to design spec.
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Post by KeithA on Apr 10, 2013 11:50:57 GMT -7
Thanks for posting this bhayn007. Looks like they saw the light. Was is the color rating of the tubes you have where one is running hot? My local Long & McQuade shop stocks Mesa tubes regularly and they've always had the colour codes on them from what I recall? Keith
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Post by bluzman on Apr 10, 2013 12:25:27 GMT -7
I have had good luck over the years with their 6L6 tubes.
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Post by myles on Apr 10, 2013 12:55:33 GMT -7
Thanks for posting this bhayn007. Looks like they saw the light. Was is the color rating of the tubes you have where one is running hot? My local Long & McQuade shop stocks Mesa tubes regularly and they've always had the colour codes on them from what I recall? Keith Keith, In the past they only coded their octal based tubes.
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Post by KeithA on Apr 10, 2013 13:18:30 GMT -7
My local Long & McQuade shop stocks Mesa tubes regularly and they've always had the colour codes on them from what I recall? Keith Keith, In the past they only coded their octal based tubes. Ah...gotcha Keith
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Post by bhayn007 on Apr 10, 2013 15:45:37 GMT -7
Thanks for posting this bhayn007. Looks like they saw the light. Was is the color rating of the tubes you have where one is running hot? The Mesa color scale can be seen here: www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/Rating.htmlHopefully one was damaged in shipping or something otherwise this is not a good indication of matching as a side note. If you are close to me in the Los Angeles area I would be happy to trace them at no charge to see how matched or mismatched they are and to see how close they are to design spec. Thanks for the offer Myles! That's cool of you. I'm in Portland, OR though so that might be tough. I installed one green set and one grey set. One of the outer grey tubes was the one acting up. It was fine and sounded amazing for about 10 minutes. Then one of the two outer tubes started burning hot and I got bad distortion. Before anything could happen I quickly switched to standby. I've contacted Mesa to see if I can be sent a new tube. Luckily they offer a hell of a warranty.
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Post by myles on Apr 11, 2013 7:36:16 GMT -7
Thanks for posting this bhayn007. Looks like they saw the light. Was is the color rating of the tubes you have where one is running hot? The Mesa color scale can be seen here: www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/Rating.htmlHopefully one was damaged in shipping or something otherwise this is not a good indication of matching as a side note. If you are close to me in the Los Angeles area I would be happy to trace them at no charge to see how matched or mismatched they are and to see how close they are to design spec. Thanks for the offer Myles! That's cool of you. I'm in Portland, OR though so that might be tough. I installed one green set and one grey set. One of the outer grey tubes was the one acting up. It was fine and sounded amazing for about 10 minutes. Then one of the two outer tubes started burning hot and I got bad distortion. Before anything could happen I quickly switched to standby. I've contacted Mesa to see if I can be sent a new tube. Luckily they offer a hell of a warranty. Green and grey are the most close to design spec. I would suspect the problem was due to handling / shipping damage which is not uncommon. Mesa testing is very good so a mismatch would not be a likely issue. So.... happy playing
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Post by bhayn007 on Apr 11, 2013 12:13:48 GMT -7
When you say green and gray are "most close to design spec", do you mean they are interchangable?
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Post by jlc on Apr 12, 2013 7:04:15 GMT -7
I have a Mark IV, it run EL 34 in combination with 6L6's or just 4 6V6's, i have used the 6V6's since 2000, almost ashamed, but not really. i use the amp in rotation with the others, so they will naturally last longer, and i can dial in the best jazz tone with the 6v6's going (to my old ears).
I am using mesa tubes in a Gibson amp, Mesa Mark IV and Dr Z EZG. I like their extra effort of testing and since i have had such reliable good tone, sticking with them, and humbucker sells them. OH and Humbucker does their phenomenal packing job to help prevent the UPS issues.
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Post by myles on Apr 12, 2013 7:11:35 GMT -7
When you say green and gray are "most close to design spec", do you mean they are interchangable? No. If you mix them they are no longer matched. Go back and read my link to the rating page on my website.
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jrossjams
Full Member
Closet Bluesman- Maz 18 Jr Combo
Posts: 138
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Post by jrossjams on Jul 2, 2013 22:18:41 GMT -7
I purchased a brand spanking new Dr Z Maz 18- my second one i have owned as I had traded out of my first. Within a two week span - the JJ's that were in there crapped out- I replaced them with Mesa's - sounded a bit harsh to my ears- and then one of them had an issue- but at least the delear gave me a new pair as they were only 3 months old. I ended up getting some from the Tube Doc website (whatever ons they recomended- they were not Mesa's brand.- and they are doing ok- the Mesa's are kept as backup.
My old Maz has the original tubes when I purchased it second hand in 2000.... I played that amp for 10 years with one once of issues... decided to Retube ( used Mesa's) and started having issues ( not the tubes).....had issues with the amp from then on - finally traded out of it.
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