I'm looking to start changing the tubes in my Blackstar HT-5. (Doesn't necessarily have to be the same kind of tube, I have an amp-guy. A good, good amp-guy.) I was wondering if anyone could give me a guide to different tubes?
I'd been considering putting some EL84's in there since that should make it much brighter with crunchier distortion. Has anyone got suggestions on smoother distortion or etc?
Edit: I'm doing this about 7 months from now when the warranty goes so I don't have to use the same kind of tubes and I can have him install a soak, too. It's gonna be great. I figure I'll get him to plug a jack in the back so I can wire the soak to an expression pedal. (Not in the effects chain, it'd just go directly to the soak, y'know?)
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Power TubesCan anyone give me a guide?
Started by anachronism, May 20 2010 11:52 AM
10 replies to this topic
#1
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Posted 20 May 2010 - 11:52 AM
"Take that fucking sign down." -John Frusciante
"Well, it was put to me by "that guy" when I was, like, four. So I went into my parents' record collection and found a rock'n'roll compilation. And when my mom asked if I wanted to move to L.A., I said, "Yeah," because I knew that was where the rock stars were. I was seven. Then when I found punk and listened to the Germs, I started seeing how I was part of this. I remember being out on the baseball field when I was 11, and I felt like such an outsider. Standing there in right field, I started making up an angry punk song in my head, and I went home and wrote, like, 20 songs in a row. I realized it didn't even matter if I knew how to play guitar yet." -John Frusciante
"Well, it was put to me by "that guy" when I was, like, four. So I went into my parents' record collection and found a rock'n'roll compilation. And when my mom asked if I wanted to move to L.A., I said, "Yeah," because I knew that was where the rock stars were. I was seven. Then when I found punk and listened to the Germs, I started seeing how I was part of this. I remember being out on the baseball field when I was 11, and I felt like such an outsider. Standing there in right field, I started making up an angry punk song in my head, and I went home and wrote, like, 20 songs in a row. I realized it didn't even matter if I knew how to play guitar yet." -John Frusciante
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Posted 20 May 2010 - 10:16 PM
EL-34 and 6550 are my favorites.
1962 Strat - Sunburst
1965 Jaguar - Fiesta Red
2005 Strat Amvintage 1962- Fiesta Red w/ matched headstock
2007 Jag Amvintage 1962- Ice Blue w/ matched headstock
2007 Strat Amvintage 1962- Sunburst
2007 Tele Amvintage 1962- Antique Burst
2008 Squier Strat- Sunburst
2008 Firebird Custom Shop, Black and Chrome w/ matched headstock
2010 MJT S-Style Clone - a clone of my 1962, made so I wouldn't have to worry about theft of my original.
1965 Jaguar - Fiesta Red
2005 Strat Amvintage 1962- Fiesta Red w/ matched headstock
2007 Jag Amvintage 1962- Ice Blue w/ matched headstock
2007 Strat Amvintage 1962- Sunburst
2007 Tele Amvintage 1962- Antique Burst
2008 Squier Strat- Sunburst
2008 Firebird Custom Shop, Black and Chrome w/ matched headstock
2010 MJT S-Style Clone - a clone of my 1962, made so I wouldn't have to worry about theft of my original.
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Posted 22 May 2010 - 05:11 AM
bobthecow, on 20 May 2010 - 10:16 PM, said:
EL-34 and 6550 are my favorites.
What sort of tone do they give you? Care you elaborate?
"Take that fucking sign down." -John Frusciante
"Well, it was put to me by "that guy" when I was, like, four. So I went into my parents' record collection and found a rock'n'roll compilation. And when my mom asked if I wanted to move to L.A., I said, "Yeah," because I knew that was where the rock stars were. I was seven. Then when I found punk and listened to the Germs, I started seeing how I was part of this. I remember being out on the baseball field when I was 11, and I felt like such an outsider. Standing there in right field, I started making up an angry punk song in my head, and I went home and wrote, like, 20 songs in a row. I realized it didn't even matter if I knew how to play guitar yet." -John Frusciante
"Well, it was put to me by "that guy" when I was, like, four. So I went into my parents' record collection and found a rock'n'roll compilation. And when my mom asked if I wanted to move to L.A., I said, "Yeah," because I knew that was where the rock stars were. I was seven. Then when I found punk and listened to the Germs, I started seeing how I was part of this. I remember being out on the baseball field when I was 11, and I felt like such an outsider. Standing there in right field, I started making up an angry punk song in my head, and I went home and wrote, like, 20 songs in a row. I realized it didn't even matter if I knew how to play guitar yet." -John Frusciante
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Posted 25 May 2010 - 11:30 PM
EL-34 is a warmer tone with better mids. It is a good all around tube. The 6550 is a little scratchier sounding, more trebly distortion. My opinion is that it actually has a better range. But most of the time it is bad to put something different in the amp than the manufacturer advises... there are reasons they didn't put those in the amp in the first place.
The original tubes in the Silver Jubilee are El-34, I have no idea what John has in his amps now. My guess is the 6550 tubes. The majors used KT88 tubes I believe.
The original tubes in the Silver Jubilee are El-34, I have no idea what John has in his amps now. My guess is the 6550 tubes. The majors used KT88 tubes I believe.
1962 Strat - Sunburst
1965 Jaguar - Fiesta Red
2005 Strat Amvintage 1962- Fiesta Red w/ matched headstock
2007 Jag Amvintage 1962- Ice Blue w/ matched headstock
2007 Strat Amvintage 1962- Sunburst
2007 Tele Amvintage 1962- Antique Burst
2008 Squier Strat- Sunburst
2008 Firebird Custom Shop, Black and Chrome w/ matched headstock
2010 MJT S-Style Clone - a clone of my 1962, made so I wouldn't have to worry about theft of my original.
1965 Jaguar - Fiesta Red
2005 Strat Amvintage 1962- Fiesta Red w/ matched headstock
2007 Jag Amvintage 1962- Ice Blue w/ matched headstock
2007 Strat Amvintage 1962- Sunburst
2007 Tele Amvintage 1962- Antique Burst
2008 Squier Strat- Sunburst
2008 Firebird Custom Shop, Black and Chrome w/ matched headstock
2010 MJT S-Style Clone - a clone of my 1962, made so I wouldn't have to worry about theft of my original.
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Posted 26 May 2010 - 04:16 AM
I'm hearing a lot of complaints about the Blackstar tubes, so I thought it'd be worth trying something new. Sounds good now, but if all I have to do is change tubes to make it sound better why not? Not to mention that 12BH7's aren't exactly easy to come by.
"Take that fucking sign down." -John Frusciante
"Well, it was put to me by "that guy" when I was, like, four. So I went into my parents' record collection and found a rock'n'roll compilation. And when my mom asked if I wanted to move to L.A., I said, "Yeah," because I knew that was where the rock stars were. I was seven. Then when I found punk and listened to the Germs, I started seeing how I was part of this. I remember being out on the baseball field when I was 11, and I felt like such an outsider. Standing there in right field, I started making up an angry punk song in my head, and I went home and wrote, like, 20 songs in a row. I realized it didn't even matter if I knew how to play guitar yet." -John Frusciante
"Well, it was put to me by "that guy" when I was, like, four. So I went into my parents' record collection and found a rock'n'roll compilation. And when my mom asked if I wanted to move to L.A., I said, "Yeah," because I knew that was where the rock stars were. I was seven. Then when I found punk and listened to the Germs, I started seeing how I was part of this. I remember being out on the baseball field when I was 11, and I felt like such an outsider. Standing there in right field, I started making up an angry punk song in my head, and I went home and wrote, like, 20 songs in a row. I realized it didn't even matter if I knew how to play guitar yet." -John Frusciante
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Posted 26 May 2010 - 09:03 PM
sovtek el84 
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Posted 26 May 2010 - 09:32 PM
The EL84 sounds alot like a 6550 IMO.
I agree though, when looking, go with Tesla or Sovtek. Groove tends to be hit or miss.
I agree though, when looking, go with Tesla or Sovtek. Groove tends to be hit or miss.
1962 Strat - Sunburst
1965 Jaguar - Fiesta Red
2005 Strat Amvintage 1962- Fiesta Red w/ matched headstock
2007 Jag Amvintage 1962- Ice Blue w/ matched headstock
2007 Strat Amvintage 1962- Sunburst
2007 Tele Amvintage 1962- Antique Burst
2008 Squier Strat- Sunburst
2008 Firebird Custom Shop, Black and Chrome w/ matched headstock
2010 MJT S-Style Clone - a clone of my 1962, made so I wouldn't have to worry about theft of my original.
1965 Jaguar - Fiesta Red
2005 Strat Amvintage 1962- Fiesta Red w/ matched headstock
2007 Jag Amvintage 1962- Ice Blue w/ matched headstock
2007 Strat Amvintage 1962- Sunburst
2007 Tele Amvintage 1962- Antique Burst
2008 Squier Strat- Sunburst
2008 Firebird Custom Shop, Black and Chrome w/ matched headstock
2010 MJT S-Style Clone - a clone of my 1962, made so I wouldn't have to worry about theft of my original.
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 05:53 AM
Yeah.... I've had bad experiences with Groove Tubes. Sovtek are the way to go.
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Posted 27 May 2010 - 11:37 PM
You could try nos 40s/50s/60s tubes. There are places that sell them and they usually don't cost more than a new Russian or Chinese one. I have found that they sound better than the new tubes. A nos EL84 tube is not that hard to find, not sure about the other one though. Old radios often have El84s in them. For example I bought an old 50s Philips radio for NZ $10 with a good working Mullard EL84, and they are one of the best brands. Philips miniwatt tubes are great too. I also found 4 nos (ie, unused/original packaging)National Union 6v6gt/g tubes from the 40s for the same price as a new Sovtek 6v6gt. Look on your local internet auction website. I'm sure Ebay has a few bargains!
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Posted 28 May 2010 - 05:27 AM
Another good one is tung sol.
1962 Strat - Sunburst
1965 Jaguar - Fiesta Red
2005 Strat Amvintage 1962- Fiesta Red w/ matched headstock
2007 Jag Amvintage 1962- Ice Blue w/ matched headstock
2007 Strat Amvintage 1962- Sunburst
2007 Tele Amvintage 1962- Antique Burst
2008 Squier Strat- Sunburst
2008 Firebird Custom Shop, Black and Chrome w/ matched headstock
2010 MJT S-Style Clone - a clone of my 1962, made so I wouldn't have to worry about theft of my original.
1965 Jaguar - Fiesta Red
2005 Strat Amvintage 1962- Fiesta Red w/ matched headstock
2007 Jag Amvintage 1962- Ice Blue w/ matched headstock
2007 Strat Amvintage 1962- Sunburst
2007 Tele Amvintage 1962- Antique Burst
2008 Squier Strat- Sunburst
2008 Firebird Custom Shop, Black and Chrome w/ matched headstock
2010 MJT S-Style Clone - a clone of my 1962, made so I wouldn't have to worry about theft of my original.
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Posted 16 June 2010 - 02:24 AM
I want to know the difference in sound between different kinds of tubes.
e.g. what gives smoother distortion, what gives crunchier? What's brighter, what's warmer?
e.g. what gives smoother distortion, what gives crunchier? What's brighter, what's warmer?
"Take that fucking sign down." -John Frusciante
"Well, it was put to me by "that guy" when I was, like, four. So I went into my parents' record collection and found a rock'n'roll compilation. And when my mom asked if I wanted to move to L.A., I said, "Yeah," because I knew that was where the rock stars were. I was seven. Then when I found punk and listened to the Germs, I started seeing how I was part of this. I remember being out on the baseball field when I was 11, and I felt like such an outsider. Standing there in right field, I started making up an angry punk song in my head, and I went home and wrote, like, 20 songs in a row. I realized it didn't even matter if I knew how to play guitar yet." -John Frusciante
"Well, it was put to me by "that guy" when I was, like, four. So I went into my parents' record collection and found a rock'n'roll compilation. And when my mom asked if I wanted to move to L.A., I said, "Yeah," because I knew that was where the rock stars were. I was seven. Then when I found punk and listened to the Germs, I started seeing how I was part of this. I remember being out on the baseball field when I was 11, and I felt like such an outsider. Standing there in right field, I started making up an angry punk song in my head, and I went home and wrote, like, 20 songs in a row. I realized it didn't even matter if I knew how to play guitar yet." -John Frusciante
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