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Post by johnnyl on Sept 6, 2005 17:02:04 GMT -7
Howdy Miles - My buddy's dad is an old engineer and gave me a few rectifier tubes. I'd like to switch out the Chinese 5AR4 that's in my SRZ-65. I've got a Sylvania 5V4G (looks like WWII era) and a Sylvania 5Y3WGTA (looks like 60's). Can you tell me about each of these and what I can expect if I pop one in.
Thank you Sir!
John
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Post by myles on Sept 7, 2005 8:25:39 GMT -7
Howdy Miles - My buddy's dad is an old engineer and gave me a few rectifier tubes. I'd like to switch out the Chinese 5AR4 that's in my SRZ-65. I've got a Sylvania 5V4G (looks like WWII era) and a Sylvania 5Y3WGTA (looks like 60's). Can you tell me about each of these and what I can expect if I pop one in. Thank you Sir! The other two rectifiers will drop the voltages too much. The 5Y3 would be hopeless in the 65. Lots of rectifier info on my GAB website .... there is a button somewhere on the first page that takes you right to the rectifier page..... actually here is the direct link.... www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/rectifiers.htmlBut .... I would get rid of the Chinese 5AR4/GZ34 as they can be unreliable and do not develop the current of the NOS rectifiers. The main problem is failure rate. A good NOS 5AR4 will last decades. John
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Oct 21, 2005 18:07:01 GMT -7
Myles, does the Dr use the GT5AR4 for the rectifier tube?
pg
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Post by myles on Oct 26, 2005 19:43:19 GMT -7
Myles, does the Dr use the GT5AR4 for the rectifier tube? pg Siometimes. He uses 5AR4s and 5Y3's in the Carmen Ghia. Sometimes the 5AR4's are GTs I think but maybe not. I have a lot of Z amps and I do not remember seeing a GT rectifier. Rectifiers do not have to be rated or matched. They are more of the sort of thing that works or doesn't. But... current rectifiers just meet spec. NOS rectifiers generally exceeded spec. Listen to a great Vox AC-30 with a Sovtek rectifier vs an NOS Mullard and you will see what I mean. The Doc knows how to pick tubes really well. His amps are dirt cheap and he tries his best to keep his prices down. He may just buy his rectifiers in bulk rather than pay for GT tested ones. He uses the GT KT66HP, E34LS, and EL84S in 5-6 ratings by the slew. He may just get a great price on bulk untested rectifiers and test them himself as they need no matching etc.
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Post by guitarman1 on Oct 27, 2005 13:17:30 GMT -7
Myles, does the Dr use the GT5AR4 for the rectifier tube? pg Siometimes. He uses 5AR4s and 5Y3's in the Carmen Ghia. Sometimes the 5AR4's are GTs I think but maybe not. I have a lot of Z amps and I do not remember seeing a GT rectifier. Rectifiers do not have to be rated or matched. They are more of the sort of thing that works or doesn't. But... current rectifiers just meet spec. NOS rectifiers generally exceeded spec. Listen to a great Vox AC-30 with a Sovtek rectifier vs an NOS Mullard and you will see what I mean. The Doc knows how to pick tubes really well. His amps are dirt cheap and he tries his best to keep his prices down. He may just buy his rectifiers in bulk rather than pay for GT tested ones. He uses the GT KT66HP, E34LS, and EL84S in 5-6 ratings by the slew. He may just get a great price on bulk untested rectifiers and test them himself as they need no matching etc. The only brand of rectifiers I've ever seen in Z amps were Sovtek. I agree with you Myles about the audible improvements NOS rectifiers can make. I swapped the Sovtek with a NOS Mazda in my Maz Sr. and the difference was very apparent.
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Post by myles on Oct 28, 2005 10:37:31 GMT -7
Was there a question or comment that I missed guitarman1?
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Post by guitarman1 on Oct 31, 2005 8:53:29 GMT -7
Was there a question or comment that I missed guitarman1? Sorry Myles. I tried to reply to a quote, but somehow your quote ended up in the quote I was replying to. To make it more confusing, my reply ended up in small print at the end of your quote. Weird software bug me thinks, or else a short between my keyboard and the floor.
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King B
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by King B on Nov 1, 2005 12:26:26 GMT -7
If I may also jump into the fray, I am considering replacing the tube rectifier in a Maz38 rev. with a solid state rectifier in order to increase the perceived clean headroom at volume... So - I'm asking those of you (especially Myles) with far more knowledge of such than I of the pros and cons, what to expect, and certainly whether I should..or if I should consider other alternatives (including leaving well enough alone). My goal is to completely obliterate my good friend and co-guitar picker in un-miced sessions with clean headroom (his gear - Mesa Mk4, Roland cube, Marshall 50 watter). Although I'm pretty much there already, thanks to the fantastic stock amp...still...it would be very cool to knock him outta the park with that one amp. Could there be a more noble cause I humbly ask?
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Post by myles on Nov 1, 2005 13:34:09 GMT -7
Was there a question or comment that I missed guitarman1? Sorry Myles. I tried to reply to a quote, but somehow your quote ended up in the quote I was replying to. To make it more confusing, my reply ended up in small print at the end of your quote. Weird software bug me thinks, or else a short between my keyboard and the floor. Did you ever get your questions answered?
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Post by myles on Nov 1, 2005 13:37:05 GMT -7
If I may also jump into the fray, I am considering replacing the tube rectifier in a Maz38 rev. with a solid state rectifier in order to increase the perceived clean headroom at volume... So - I'm asking those of you (especially Myles) with far more knowledge of such than I of the pros and cons, what to expect, and certainly whether I should..or if I should consider other alternatives (including leaving well enough alone). My goal is to completely obliterate my good friend and co-guitar picker in un-miced sessions with clean headroom (his gear - Mesa Mk4, Roland cube, Marshall 50 watter). Although I'm pretty much there already, thanks to the fantastic stock amp...still...it would be very cool to knock him outta the park with that one amp. Could there be a more noble cause I humbly ask? I do not like SS rectifiers in the MAZ amps. The tube life is shorter, plate voltages are higher, tubes do not last as long and you lose the great feel and touch of these amps while gaining very little. Your clean headroom should be as much as your friend's 50 watt Marshall. You will have more dynamic range by far over the Roland amp. The Mk IV in the clean setting will have more clean headroom overall though but be a very different sort of amp to play let alone carry.
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King B
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by King B on Nov 1, 2005 13:55:02 GMT -7
Myles;
Thanks for your input. I am prone to experimentation, and it occasionaly turns to out to be ill-advised. As an aside, all the guys in our group have commented on how the Z stands out among the other amps - super clean and loud...it doesn't hurt that I'm playing a '57 strat through it - as the pickups are now closing in on 50 years old, they are nice and mellow.
btw - you have an excellent and informative website - and your gear is incredible.
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Post by myles on Nov 2, 2005 11:54:51 GMT -7
Myles; Thanks for your input. I am prone to experimentation, and it occasionaly turns to out to be ill-advised. As an aside, all the guys in our group have commented on how the Z stands out among the other amps - super clean and loud...it doesn't hurt that I'm playing a '57 strat through it - as the pickups are now closing in on 50 years old, they are nice and mellow. btw - you have an excellent and informative website - and your gear is incredible. Thanks for the nice feedback. As far as my gear, I'd say less than 1/5 is shown on my website. My wife hates it all as it takes up a lot of space in the house. I have a lot of studio gear out on loan, tons of stuff in the garage. Right now I also have a fair bit of stuff over at Carl Verheyen's for another CD and more is going to his place at the end of this week.
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Post by mosesblues on Dec 28, 2005 7:43:04 GMT -7
Myles,
Your support in this board (and others I frequent) is tremendous to us passionate fellows who seek a better understanding of the role of tubes in the amps we play and how to care for and optimize them.
Hope this is not a hijack - but rather an extension of the rectifier questions thread --
I've noticed alot of filament rattle in the JJ and Sovtek GZ34's that are in my Dr Z and other tube heads. When striking certain notes, I can hear the sympathetic filament rattle several feet away.
The amps all work fine, but I'm nervous about playing them at loud volumes - particularly the units with rattling rectifiers. Is this a danger to the amp? If so - Will a NOS GZ34 be less prone to such rattle?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Moses.
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Post by janinedoubly on Dec 28, 2005 9:56:15 GMT -7
I' ve been searching out used Mullard GZ34's and snagging them whenever I can. The difference between the Mullard's (or Amperex, Brimar or GE, they're all the same if they say "Made in Great Britain on them) and the Sovtek 5AR4's is pretty dramatic. The Mullard still retains the slightly compressed feel of the Sovtek, but they offer a noticeable increase in dynamic range while sacrificing none of the feel. Plus, its nice to know that the Mullard will probably never fail. Makes one feel good on the gig or in the studio. I keep a SS 5AR4 ONLY as a backup or last resort, cause I agree, it kills the feel of the Z amps. I've had good luck finding fully functional Mullard GZ34's in dead Fender amps and homemade/no name 60's amps. Grab 'em whenever its feasible. The Mullard should do wonders on a high horsepower amp like the SRZ-65.
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Post by johnnyl on Dec 28, 2005 10:06:31 GMT -7
Wow, thanks dude. I put a Sovtek in my SRZ to replace the crappy Chinese one a few months ago and didn't notice much of a difference other than less noise when switching from standby. I just might try to snag one of those Mullards.
Johnny
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Post by myles on Dec 29, 2005 8:38:20 GMT -7
Myles, Your support in this board (and others I frequent) is tremendous to us passionate fellows who seek a better understanding of the role of tubes in the amps we play and how to care for and optimize them. Hope this is not a hijack - but rather an extension of the rectifier questions thread -- I've noticed alot of filament rattle in the JJ and Sovtek GZ34's that are in my Dr Z and other tube heads. When striking certain notes, I can hear the sympathetic filament rattle several feet away. The amps all work fine, but I'm nervous about playing them at loud volumes - particularly the units with rattling rectifiers. Is this a danger to the amp? If so - Will a NOS GZ34 be less prone to such rattle? Thanks in advance for your input. Moses. The NOS rectifiers were built with more care and they typically rattle less and have less issues. Mike at KCA has some great ones and 5Y3's are not at all expensive but the GZ34/5AR4 can be pretty pricy for NOS ones but the cost is offset by higher reliability and much longer life. They also produce nicer specs that are over the minimum rather that just at the minimum. In an amp like a Matchless DC-30 they make a big difference in the amp.
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Post by myles on Dec 29, 2005 8:45:30 GMT -7
I' ve been searching out used Mullard GZ34's and snagging them whenever I can. The difference between the Mullard's (or Amperex, Brimar or GE, they're all the same if they say "Made in Great Britain on them) and the Sovtek 5AR4's is pretty dramatic. The Mullard still retains the slightly compressed feel of the Sovtek, but they offer a noticeable increase in dynamic range while sacrificing none of the feel. Plus, its nice to know that the Mullard will probably never fail. Makes one feel good on the gig or in the studio. I keep a SS 5AR4 ONLY as a backup or last resort, cause I agree, it kills the feel of the Z amps. I've had good luck finding fully functional Mullard GZ34's in dead Fender amps and homemade/no name 60's amps. Grab 'em whenever its feasible. The Mullard should do wonders on a high horsepower amp like the SRZ-65. You are right on the money here. In many amps a "Brit" GZ34 works some amazing tricks. 175 is the spec current on a GZ34 at 550-0-550 and today's new ones barely meet that in most cases. I see a lot test at about 160 or so. In the "old days", the Mullard as well as the USA pieces were at 185-225. People say that the rectifier has no effect on the "tone" of an amp. This is very true in one aspect but if feel, playability, clean headroom, and output are a part of "tone" then I personally feel the rectifier has a lot to do with tone. Amps that ask a lot of their rectifier such as a Matchless DC-30 show a pretty dramatic change with a Mullard or GE. On the DC-30 there are even two rectifier positions so one may also opt for two 5V4's rather than one GZ34/5AR4. This dual rectifier setup has some other advantages as there is more current available before the rectifier sags yet it keeps the voltages in line with design. In any case, money spent for a good GZ34 is money well spent for the life factor alone.
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Post by myles on Dec 29, 2005 8:51:14 GMT -7
Wow, thanks dude. I put a Sovtek in my SRZ to replace the crappy Chinese one a few months ago and didn't notice much of a difference other than less noise when switching from standby. I just might try to snag one of those Mullards. Johnny There is little difference between the Sovtek and the Chinese. The Chinese is a bit less reliable in some cases. There is currently a Sovtek 5Y3 that we received for test and it throws out higher voltages than any GZ34. This is REALLY bad as it can smoke a lot of vintage amps. When I was first told this I asked if it were not just a Sovtek 5AR4 mismarked. I was told they did not think so. So ... I left my office and went to the factory and looked myself. Nope ... not mismarked .... a new design of "5Y3" that on the test equipment tossed out numbers like a GZ34 ready to explode. We put these on the back shelf where they still sit. The JJ GZ34 is a darn good rectifier. It is the most close to spec in test and consistantly meets and exceed spec as do the NOS ones. If you have one that rattles then replace it ... it is a fluke. JJ stuff is pretty stout and their glass is think and micas are really top notch. Physical microphonics with JJ tubes is pretty darn rare compared to the other new tubes out there.
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Post by johnnyl on Dec 29, 2005 14:57:25 GMT -7
Thanks Miles, I managed to pick up an RCA (Mullard made) last night on Ebay for about $40. Hopefully it'll work out better.
John
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Post by myles on Dec 30, 2005 11:46:29 GMT -7
Thanks Miles, I managed to pick up an RCA (Mullard made) last night on Ebay for about $40. Hopefully it'll work out better. John John, The RCA is a great one and in many cases was a rebranded Mullard.
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