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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2008 12:14:55 GMT -7
I'm looking at replacing the rectifier tube in my Maz 38 senior head with reverb. I'll keep the one that came with it as an extra. I'm looking at the KCA site and wanted to get opinions.
The first one:
ANOS Amperex GZ34/5AR4 $85
and:
NOS JAN Philips/Sylvania 5AR4 (mislabeled 5V4GA) $70
Will either of these be better than whats in my Maz head now? Does anyone have any opinions on which one of these choices would be best if they are both better than the stock rectifier tube?
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Post by dock66 on Mar 11, 2008 12:47:30 GMT -7
I got two NOS J/S (mislabled 5V4GA) from Mike,to me they are better than the stocked rec.
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Post by mitch8686 on Mar 11, 2008 13:36:03 GMT -7
Any NOS rec tube will be better than a stock new production one. As far as the two you listed above, I haven't used either so I can't offer a true opinion, but I'd personally go for the mislabeled one since it's new and the Amperex is "almost new". I know Mike tests them and all, but I'd trust a new one more. Just my .02 plus, it's cheaper. Like I said, either will be WAY better than whatcha got in both reliability and longevity. I doubt you'll have to change it for a long time, if ever.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2008 14:05:32 GMT -7
So is this KCA a good and reliable resource?
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Post by oldwoodak on Mar 11, 2008 14:21:12 GMT -7
FIVE STAR RATING ;D
Mike at KCA provides top rate stuff and the best service/support. Always quick and being a player himself knows the inside scoop. I've bought dozens of tubes from him over the years.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2008 19:13:19 GMT -7
FIVE STAR RATING ;D Mike at KCA provides top rate stuff and the best service/support. Always quick and being a player himself knows the inside scoop. I've bought dozens of tubes from him over the years. Thats good to hear.
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Post by mitch8686 on Mar 11, 2008 19:21:16 GMT -7
FIVE STAR RATING ;D Mike at KCA provides top rate stuff and the best service/support. Always quick and being a player himself knows the inside scoop. I've bought dozens of tubes from him over the years. +1 Mike's a great guy to deal with, always has responded to my emails within a few hrs. Product always shows up promptly too. A+++++++
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Post by dixiechicken on Mar 12, 2008 12:04:27 GMT -7
Yes Mike as KCA NOS is - as good as they get.
For good reason he's the first stop for a great many people when we are looking for NOS tubes. (His NOS prices seem generally quite fair too - compared to some vendors )
Cheers: Dixiechicken!
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Post by zimmer on Mar 13, 2008 12:48:00 GMT -7
Mike answered me within minutes yesterday morning.
Picking up an NOS 12AX7 RFT, and a pair of EL34s for the SRZ.
I've bought from him several times, and his recommendations have turned out great.
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Post by Fender Bender on Mar 13, 2008 12:56:30 GMT -7
Mike answered me within minutes yesterday morning. Picking up an NOS 12AX7 RFT, and a pair of EL34s for the SRZ. I've bought from him several times, and his recommendations have turned out great. I have the same experience. Answers mail very quickly both in the morning and the afternoon, which has been a bit suprising given the fact that I am on Central European Time... Btw, that RFT is a great tube. I love the sound of it in my Maz.
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Post by myles on Mar 13, 2008 14:11:20 GMT -7
So is this KCA a good and reliable resource? He is a fantastic resource and a killer tech as well.
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Post by zimmer on Mar 13, 2008 15:30:03 GMT -7
Hah! The tubes came today. Just like that!
Myles, should I be adjusting the bias if I stick a pair of new power tubes in the SRZ-65?
Edit: Nevermind. I guess I should, from looking through the old posts with the help of "search."
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Post by dixiechicken on Mar 14, 2008 4:40:07 GMT -7
"golfnut" - DC here! Check my soundclips here: mbsb.psy.umu.se/clips/clips.htmlScroll down to the red section - there I change tubes in my Route66 - among them the rectifier. Judge for yourself - what differences you can hear. Cheers: Dixiechicken!
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Post by myles on Mar 14, 2008 8:28:37 GMT -7
Hah! The tubes came today. Just like that! Myles, should I be adjusting the bias if I stick a pair of new power tubes in the SRZ-65? Edit: Nevermind. I guess I should, from looking through the old posts with the help of "search." Unless they were the same tubes with the same rating, yes ... adjust the bias
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Mar 16, 2008 7:19:23 GMT -7
I PM'd Myles, but I'll ask my question here...
I just replaced the rec in my Maz 38. I put in a $16.00 Mesa GZ34/5AR4, purchased from The GC.
I figured my rec was about 3 years old... and the amp had been losing volume for some reason. My Ghia had been dwarfing the SR in volume even while running the SR. Unattenuated, and really cranked.
I first replaced all the EL84's... This made a big difference. So I decided to replace the Rec with the Mesa GZ34/5AR4 as well.
Everything seems to actually sound much better! Seems like the thundering volume and presence has returned. I now have to attenuate at bedroom level again.
During this remove/replace process, I noticed that there is potential to incorrectly install a rectifier. If not installed properly it will blow a fuse. The Mesa didn't blow the fuse it was actually the stock Sovtek that I removed. I first removed it, but wanted to put back in monetarily to go check on something. When I turned the amp on, she blew a 3amp. I moved the Sovtek around and she blew a 3amp again. So I took it out all together.
I got the Mesa in without issue and it's not blowing any fuses. Another thing I learned is if you're going to replace the rec, it's much easier removing the chassis from the cabinet.
So, my question is: Am I ok using this Mesa GZ34/5AR4 rec in the amp? Any foreseeable issues? I realize that plate current and voltage paired against the Power Transformer is an important item that the Dr. pairs... I'm hoping that I'm within specifications.
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Post by wilhelm on Mar 16, 2008 9:40:31 GMT -7
I think it´s no good choice to use a Mesa rec. I think it´s a russian or chinese one from new production. If you wanna be safe spend the money on a NOS rec. They last long and will have no problems with blowing fuses or other troubles. I did it on all Z-amps. I have the Sovtec´s as a spare. Myles will give you the right information. You can use either a GZ34 or 5UGB. The doc told us that using a 5UGB in all Z amps is safe.
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Mar 16, 2008 12:03:47 GMT -7
Thanks Wilhelm, I'll wait to hear from Myles.
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Post by myles on Mar 16, 2008 12:55:26 GMT -7
The Mesa rectifier is just a stock Sovtek GZ34, the stock rectifier in the MAZ 38.
It is fine.
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Post by Paul G on Mar 17, 2008 9:30:50 GMT -7
Thanks Myles, yet again you provide valuable input to the forum and are a gem to have around here.
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Post by Mr. 339 on Mar 28, 2008 10:38:46 GMT -7
Great Thread.
Ahhh rectifiers, let me count the ways. I am pretty much NOS whenever I can get them. I use NOS coke bottle 5y3's in my Ghia. Strangely enough the NOS recto didn't make the amp sound much different than the EH5y3 that was in there. At least the internal resistance values must have been close cuz the feel of the amp was similar with both.
With my Mazarati GT the GZ34 swap meet was much more fun. First off, the stock EH-GZ34 sounds fantastic. Fast, percussive and it made the amp loud. The JJ GZ43 was next. It was definitely different from the EH. Although I only used my ears, and not a voltmeter,there seemed to be less punch and top end with the JJ. Very strange. Things seemed a little more compressed too. I don't know if that was a function of a lower output voltage or what but I could hear the difference. That amp had a softer less aggressive feel with the JJ.
With all that said and done, I have ordered an OS Amperex gz34 made by mullard. Should be here in about a week. I cant wait to check it out against the current rotation.
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Post by myles on Apr 1, 2008 19:28:51 GMT -7
Hah! The tubes came today. Just like that! Myles, should I be adjusting the bias if I stick a pair of new power tubes in the SRZ-65? Edit: Nevermind. I guess I should, from looking through the old posts with the help of "search." If you use the same output tubes that were stock with the same rating if they were GT stuff then it is plug and play, no bias necessary.
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Post by myles on Apr 1, 2008 19:31:03 GMT -7
Here is some rectifier info - this was also part of the updated hard cover of Aspen Pittman's Tube Amp Book as I was one of the writing folks for the book and pulled a lot of my own stuff for the book. Here is the original version: www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/rectifiers.html
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