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Post by jessterr on Mar 3, 2006 18:58:26 GMT -7
Hey Myles,
Have a question. But first, thanks for your advice on the power tubes! I have a pretty good collection of NOS and lighlty used EL-84 tubes around here, and tried several this afternoon in the amp for the first time. No question, every set I tried gave a better sound than the original equipment Sovtek's, killed the "honky" sound and gave a brighter, clearer tone. One question, though: the Sovteks kept the output transformer nice and cool, but I noticed that with a NOS set in there the OT is starting to built up heat. I can still keep my hand on it, but after about an hour it's getting close to the point where it's uncomfortable. Think that will cause any damage to the amp? I'm going to order set of GT #6's but these NOS's sure do sound good........
Thanks, Jesse
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Post by prowler on Mar 3, 2006 19:34:36 GMT -7
Jesse...
Personally I'm torn with the whole NOS thing. On one hand I really want to try different NOS tubes & experiment. On the other hand I don't want to end up liking some NOS tubes so much that I can't do without them & what if some day I either cant find them anymore or the price has go so high that I don't want to shell out the $ for them.
That's why I tend to stick to new production tubes. Sure, NOS might sound better but if I just stay away from them I'll never know what I'm missing. Ignorance is bliss I suppose.
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Post by jessterr on Mar 3, 2006 20:56:22 GMT -7
Prowler,
Nooooooooooo............
Ignorance is not bliss. Knowledge is bliss. Painful sometimes, but bliss none the less.
Example - I have a few sets of Mullard EL-84's, which until today have set in their boxes undisturbed. In my experiments today I pulled them out along with a bunch of GE's, RCA's, Brimars, etc. I'll tell you this...I have never in my life heard anything like those Mullards. Oh, yeah, I have, actually. On some of the most memorable recordings of my younger years. Believe me, there are nothing like those Mullards, and once you have heard them, you will always know that whatever you are playing, you are playing with something less. I put the Mullards back in their boxes, and I may pull them out 15 years from now when maybe I will be capable of recording something worthwhile, as I still consider myself a hacker at the guitar. But until then, they stay in their boxes. And believe me, there is a difference. Man, is there a difference.
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Post by billyguitar on Mar 4, 2006 5:45:26 GMT -7
The nos tubes might and probably do sound better but if these amps eat them up every 6 months or so I can't go there. Someone will probably be able to make a better EL-84. Each new model seems to sound better or at least that's the trend. It wasn't too many years ago that none of the new EL84s were considered any good. I wouldn't want to spoil myself on old Mullards and then not be able to get them. In year 2000 I had a bit of a windfall on some money and bought a new Lexus GS430. I still only have 34,000 miles on it. I'm dreading the day when it needs replaced because there is no way I'm buying a car that expensive again. I'm going to be so spoiled that when I start driving an econo car again I'll really be in shock. I'll stick with new tubes so I don't get spoiled.
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Post by Curt on Mar 4, 2006 7:19:09 GMT -7
I have jj's in my ghia from Mike @ KCNOS and they were real reasonable, sound great to me. I like your take on that Billy, lots of truth there, I wish I had never picked up a truely fine expensive guitar......then I'd have my own "windfall" by now !!! I am ever on the search for "The one" and @ 43 it eludes me, I have some fine guits..but never the one.....arggg.
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Post by mazmaster on Mar 6, 2006 12:35:46 GMT -7
The GT EL84R is the Sovtek. It is dark and sort of makes the amp sound as if your grillcloth was made from a Pendelton shirt. The GT EL-84Y is the Ei tube. This can sound good in some amps but is not too reliable. The GT EL-84S is from the JJ plant but it goes through dynamic matching over the entire operating range of the tube rather than just a static match at idle. It is the most reliable and best sounding of the EL-84's in my point of view. I prefer #6 in any Z amp that uses the EL84 tubes. The Doc also seems to agree. Dittos on the GT-EL84-S #6! I have tried a GT-EL84-S #3, a JJ duet matched at "41" from The Tube Store, several Sovtek and EI duets from other suppliers and, IMO, the GT-EL84-S #6 is still the clear winner! The #3 was too soft, the Tube Store "41" was WAY too hard, the Sovteks were too harsh and the EIs were close to the JJs, but were not quite as complex. With a pedal overdriving the amp, the differences in these power tubes were just overwhelming. And, BTW, I may have bad-mouthed GT at times in the past, but am once again a very firm believer!!! The GT process and rating system is essential for getting the best tone out of the Maz 18! I even compared the GT-tested Sovtek 5AR4 against a JJ version, a Chinese version and Sovteks from other suppliers and the GT-5AR4 sounded the best! So, whatever GT is doing, it truly does make a difference!
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Post by myles on Mar 6, 2006 21:19:57 GMT -7
Thanks, Myles. Could you recommend where to buy the GT's, I've looked around but can't find where to specify the #6's. Musician's Friend has 3 options, would you know which of those would be appropriate? Just hit the GT website and look at the dealers ... there are probably quite a few in your area. If you want to do the mail order route you should be able to add comments in most mail order forms and I would just specify "#6 only".
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Post by jessterr on Mar 20, 2006 20:08:09 GMT -7
Thanks, Myles. Have a set on order.
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Post by anacephalic on Mar 24, 2006 15:27:24 GMT -7
My Rx came with groovetube 3s in it. I replaced them with NOS phillips miniwatts. I have two sets. both sound different from the GT and each other and take the edge off. One set sounds like it's not as new as advertised the other set sounds great. That said i'm probably going to go back to stock. I recently retubed my home stereo with NOS mullards in the pre. They sound great in some areas but in others the stock set up was the deal. Might as well go with what the amp was voiced with IMO.
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