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Post by stevied on May 21, 2021 10:49:36 GMT -7
Hey everyone!
New to this forum but I've owned my Maz 18 for over 10 years now. I've always just used either JJ's, Mullard (re-issues) & Electro Harmonix in my Maz but was curious if anyone has tried any thing different that stood out? Been wanting to try NOS tubes in there but I'm not sure it's worth the money or not. Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated! TIA
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Post by runninwiththerevil (Matthew) on May 21, 2021 11:03:46 GMT -7
I had something come my way with a Jan GE 12ax7 in it. I've hung onto it and always try it in whatever I'm playing. I found it makes a nice difference in V1 of Dr Z's. I really liked what it did for the Ghia, it was nice in the Maz 18, seems to not have made a huge difference for the Maz 38.
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Post by Seńor Verde on May 21, 2021 13:07:46 GMT -7
I've given up on NOS. Bought many from several well respected sellers and most of the time they crap out much quicker than the new production tubes. For Z amps, I'd use what he suggests on the website. Of all my Z amps, I think only one of them has a different rectifier tube than he suggests, the rest are what he recommends.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on May 21, 2021 13:29:20 GMT -7
As has been said before, “When it comes to NOS tubes, we’re down to seeds and stems”. Guess the author...
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Post by KeithA on May 21, 2021 15:13:46 GMT -7
You might want to try the NOS 6n14n tubes that Doc currently installs in his el84 amps.
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Post by "Z" Steve on May 21, 2021 15:59:43 GMT -7
Another Steve! Welcome to the forum! As far as Z amps go I would use what is recommended by Z @ Dr.ZAmps.com. There was a season where it was a blast to try NOS tubes in our amps, but as mentioned above, the remaining stock on hand of NOS had been picked through and what is left is too pricey. It can be fun to try NOS in V1 or V2 to tweak the gain in an amp, but current production power tubes (if they are tested and matched) is a better way to go - especially cost wise. A NOS rectifier is a good idea as well, but, it is glass and there are no 100% guarantees. Enjoy your journey though - the Maz 18 is a great amp, and I would recommend picking up a set of 6n14n tubes from Perry here on the forum for your power amp section!
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Post by j4gitr (John) on May 21, 2021 16:19:41 GMT -7
I had something come my way with a Jan GE 12ax7 in it. I've hung onto it and always try it in whatever I'm playing. I found it makes a nice difference in V1 of Dr Z's. I really liked what it did for the Ghia, it was nice in the Maz 18, seems to not have made a huge difference for the Maz 38. I will second this statement. Beyond that, I haven’t found much worth the coin.
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Post by stevied on May 28, 2021 8:18:26 GMT -7
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. I will stick to what I currently use I guess..
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Post by stevied on May 28, 2021 8:19:28 GMT -7
Another Steve! Welcome to the forum! As far as Z amps go I would use what is recommended by Z @ Dr.ZAmps.com. There was a season where it was a blast to try NOS tubes in our amps, but as mentioned above, the remaining stock on hand of NOS had been picked through and what is left is too pricey. It can be fun to try NOS in V1 or V2 to tweak the gain in an amp, but current production power tubes (if they are tested and matched) is a better way to go - especially cost wise. A NOS rectifier is a good idea as well, but, it is glass and there are no 100% guarantees. Enjoy your journey though - the Maz 18 is a great amp, and I would recommend picking up a set of 6n14n tubes from Perry here on the forum for your power amp section! Thanks Steve! lol. I will go with what they recommend for now.
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Post by helmi on May 28, 2021 16:38:27 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum.
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Post by helmi on May 28, 2021 16:39:06 GMT -7
You might want to try the NOS 6n14n tubes that Doc currently installs in his el84 amps. Great tubes!
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Post by helmi on May 28, 2021 16:42:01 GMT -7
As has been said before, “When it comes to NOS tubes, we’re down to seeds and stems”. Guess the author... It’s got to be Poodle-man!
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on May 28, 2021 17:11:06 GMT -7
VERY good guess, but it was none other than our very talented amp maker - Doc. It was a couple of years ago (or so) on the forum.
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Post by dougguy on Jun 6, 2021 11:37:32 GMT -7
I have a lot of 12ax7s hanging around for whatever reason, years of replacing tubes in amps, just can't bring myself to toss them. I have some vintage glass, Bugle Boys, Electronic Secretary, etc, and I started swapping V1 tubes in a 50w Marshall clone, and most of them didn't really make a spectacular difference, they all worked, some had more gain than others, then I started in on the pulls.
There were 3 Peavey branded 12ax7s from a Classic 30 and one of them was VERY chimey, very musical, and just a joy to listen to more than any of the others! Later I learned these were Shugiang 8th generation with 3 micas and square getters. I collected a few more of those exact same Peavey branded tubes, and another half dozen unmarked tubes, maybe I will get lucky and get another chimey one that wants to be a V1 in the Maz 18 Jr.
I think they may not have the gain structure that Dr. Z would like to see in V1, but they have a really great clear well defined tone. More later after I am done swapping around.
Tubeampstore has a chart for various Dr. Z models that they recommend mixing brands and list their picks for different positions in the amp. I thought it was pretty interesting.
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Post by easyed on Jun 6, 2021 16:13:25 GMT -7
New production Svetlana 12AX7s sound very good in V1 and V2 of a MAZ Jr.
I replaced the JJ EL84s that came in mine with a pair of Russian 6p14p tubes I purchased from Perry. Huge difference for the better.
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Post by oldandintheway on Apr 30, 2022 15:23:26 GMT -7
I have a ton of NOS tubes, most acquired from KCA back in the day. It can be fun tube rolling to see what happens. Only rarely do I find a really dramatic difference between the NOS stuff and carefully selected new manufacture. For the Maz 18, I settled on two things I have really liked. One I put a balanced NOS Mullard CV4004 (12ax7) in the PI slot. This was a very nice change, and altered the tone more than I expected. The Mullard definitely tamed the high end and enhanced the amps warmth. The other change that worked for me was a GE JAN 6072A (12AY7) in V1. It lets me run the back end of the amp a little hotter for the volume I want and still gives me the full range of growl in the preamp - the tone bypass and bridging the two inputs really let me do pretty much anything I want in the front end.
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Post by smolder on Apr 30, 2022 17:46:35 GMT -7
I’m well stocked (maybe a hoarder) on NOS and OS tubes, but I’ve been collecting them for over ten years. They make a big difference to me. When I buy an amp, I put in good old tubes. When I sell an amp I retube and bias with current. There is a reason the zwreck and zwreck amps ship with specific tubes… that might be a place to read up.
I likely would not re-tube a high gain amp this way… but I’d have to do some math. In addition to (arguably) sounding better, their longevity usually makes them a better investment over time.
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Post by helmi on Apr 30, 2022 19:04:07 GMT -7
I’ve learned in a short period of time, that taking the time to read up on different tubes helps a lot. plus, it’s extremely interesting. finding trust worthy sellers is a “hope and a prayer. One of the most interesting things I’ve learned is that many of the large tube makers, whose tubes command high prices, built many tubes for other company’s that they rebranded with their name, but are the same tube. many of these tubes sell for under the brand name prices. I would name some of these, but that would add competition to the hunt, and we can’t have that! (not for free, anyway-lol)
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Post by smolder on May 1, 2022 7:26:46 GMT -7
I’ve learned in a short period of time, that taking the time to read up on different tubes helps a lot. plus, it’s extremely interesting. finding trust worthy sellers is a “hope and a prayer. One of the most interesting things I’ve learned is that many of the large tube makers, whose tubes command high prices, built many tubes for other company’s that they rebranded with their name, but are the same tube. many of these tubes sell for under the brand name prices. I would name some of these, but that would add competition to the hunt, and we can’t have that! (not for free, anyway-lol) Agree on all fronts. If used tubes aren’t from a reliable source, tested and guaranteed, they are worth 10, 20 cents on the dollar of ‘retail’ prices. I’ve had good luck taking that gamble in many cases. To your later point, I have a half dozen RCA branded 6L6’s that are manufactured by GE.
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Post by nmz on May 1, 2022 15:20:23 GMT -7
As has been said before, “When it comes to NOS tubes, we’re down to seeds and stems”. Guess the author... It’s got to be Poodle-man! Commander Cody man, sheesh! lol
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Post by helmi on May 1, 2022 17:06:54 GMT -7
It’s got to be Poodle-man! Commander Cody man, sheesh! lol No, I think anything involving seeds and stems has to be the Poodle-man! lol
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on May 1, 2022 17:30:17 GMT -7
Commander Cody man, sheesh! lol No, I think anything involving seeds and stems has to be the Poodle-man! lol It was actually Doc, a couple of years ago. 😉
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Post by helmi on May 1, 2022 17:33:07 GMT -7
No, I think anything involving seeds and stems has to be the Poodle-man! lol It was actually Doc, a couple of years ago. 😉 I know it was Doc. just a little inside thing with the Poodle.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on May 3, 2022 14:04:58 GMT -7
Ah, what could the poodle possibly know about stems or seeds…😉
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