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Post by daveyk on Oct 21, 2014 12:42:54 GMT -7
So what's the consensus on Rectifier tubes for the Maz 38? Will i end up saving money in the long run by buying an $80-100 NOS 5AR4 compared to new production rectifiers for $15-20 (depending on source). Is it more of a reliability thing when buying NOS 5AR4's compared to new production or is sound quality a big contributing factor as well? New Mullard 5AR4 reissues run about $40 a pop. Are these a lot more reliable that your $15-20 JJ's or similarly priced rectifiers? I don't play a ton right now, usually about 4 hours/week, sometimes more sometimes less so tubes usually last me quite a while. I also play relatively clean and use pedals to get more drive. Right now I'm running all JJ's (maybe one EH preamp, but I don't remember which preamp) and they seem to get the job done (they always have for me) just fine and I absolutely love the amp. I haven't changed tubes for about 2 years, so for how much/little I play it's about time.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Oct 21, 2014 12:54:13 GMT -7
Rectifier tubes don't (directly) affect the tone, so mostly it's about "reliability." NOS tubes are generally regarded as being rugged & reliable long-term; plus they were (also generally) built "within spec" moreso than today's new-production tubes.
Rule #1 of tube buying is: use a trusted vendor. A trusted vendor will test the tubes they sell (new-production or NOS), ensuring that you're getting a tube that performes within its intended range of operation. Now, whether the new-production tube will prove as reliable in the long-run, that's sort of a crap shoot.
I personally use new-production rectifier tubes (tested by my trusted tube vendor) in most of my amps. I save the big $$ for NOS tubes in spots that affect tone much more.. primarily the preamp spots.
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Post by daveyk on Oct 21, 2014 13:41:34 GMT -7
That's kind of what I figured. Maybe I'll invest a little in preamp tubes and see how that changes things around. Thanks for the quick reply!
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Post by "Z" Steve on Oct 21, 2014 13:55:00 GMT -7
As a side note, when I had my Maz 38 I kept a solid state rectifier in my chord & accessory case JUST IN CASE mine blew. Insurance!
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Post by mickey on Nov 8, 2014 7:09:20 GMT -7
A few years ago I bought an NOS Mullard 5AR4 for my Maz. This was purely for reliability, and it's been fine ever since. Mine came off eBay, though I checked out the seller carefully first. I do always carry a Sovtek GZ34 as a spare but I've never needed it and don't expect to. There's no actual tonal difference, but at first I wasn't so keen on the seemingly slightly tighter response of the amp with the Mullard, but I soon got used to it, and it may just have been my imagination anyway. I'd recommend getting one, then just fit it and forget about it, one less thing to worry about.
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Post by zpilot on Nov 8, 2014 17:57:31 GMT -7
In over 40 years of using old production rectifier tubes I have never had one fail. Some of those averaged 8 to 16 hours a week for 15 to 20 years. I changed the other tubes on a regular schedule but almost never the rectifier. So as others have said, go with NOS and you'll probably never have to worry about it.
If there is a change in the response of the amp it will be because of a difference in the B+ voltage between the different tubes. Even a change of 10 volts will be easy to discern.
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Post by mickey on Nov 9, 2014 1:21:52 GMT -7
In over 40 years of using old production rectifier tubes I have never had one fail. Some of those averaged 8 to 16 hours a week for 15 to 20 years. I changed the other tubes on a regular schedule but almost never the rectifier. So as others have said, go with NOS and you'll probably never have to worry about it. If there is a change in the response of the amp it will be because of a difference in the B+ voltage between the different tubes. Even a change of 10 volts will be easy to discern. Yes, I remember Myles saying at the time that the Mullard would be in spec, whereas the Sovtek almost certainly would not be.
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Post by BritInvasion on Nov 9, 2014 11:13:57 GMT -7
I had a 1960 tweed Fender Princeton that I sold about 2 years ago. It had the original rectifier tube in it. So it was 52 years old and working fine at that point. It's not just the money saved over time , but the aggravation. They always seem to unzip halfway into a gig.
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Post by strat59 on Nov 9, 2014 16:17:19 GMT -7
I had a 1960 tweed Fender Princeton that I sold about 2 years ago. It had the original rectifier tube in it. So it was 52 years old and working fine at that point. It's not just the money saved over time , but the aggravation. They always seem to unzip halfway into a gig. Frank's right.
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Post by daveyk on Nov 9, 2014 19:17:00 GMT -7
Great info guys. Thanks for your expertise !
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Post by Telemanic on Nov 22, 2014 16:20:41 GMT -7
If you put a nice Nos Gz34 in there you will likely never have to replace it. Tone difference? Not so much tone as "feel" difference. Usually a good nos rectifier will feel just a bit stiffer, or put another way,the amp will have better headroom. Wont sag until pushed a little harder. A personal taste thing......
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Post by guiltrip on Nov 23, 2014 8:07:33 GMT -7
Contrary to an earlier posting, recifier tubes do have a substantial affect on tone. Buy yourself a few different middle of the road brands and try for yourself....it's worth it. Sovtek, Sino, maybe a NOS. You'll find that NOS is not always better for sound quality....bet definitely is for reliability.
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