5150 Issue...

Re: 5150 Issue...

JRSOLDJA said:
yea, unfortunatly my other head is back home a few states away. But MF is sending me a new JJ 12ax7. I just feel its weird that none of these tubes are labeled also..
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Unlabeled tubes aren't necessarily suspicious. But unlabeled tubes in a brand name amp seems unusual. I don't think I've seen that before. This is an EVH head, right? They use JJ tubes. I could see the tubes labeled as JJ, or EVH or any tube screening company (Ruby, GT, TAD etc). I could see JJ or the tube distributor sending the tubes, without labels, to EVH or to whatever screening company they use and then having them labeled there. But it's weird to me that there wouldn't be some label on the tubes in that amp. Not impossible or anything, just doesn't seem usual. Hell, even the Bugera head I own has Bugera re-labeled tubes. Maybe it's just an EVH thing. You could always call them and ask.
 
Re: 5150 Issue...

Darg1911 said:
Unlabeled tubes aren't necessarily suspicious. But unlabeled tubes in a brand name amp seems unusual. I don't think I've seen that before. This is an EVH head, right? They use JJ tubes. I could see the tubes labeled as JJ, or EVH or any tube screening company (Ruby, GT, TAD etc). I could see JJ or the tube distributor sending the tubes, without labels, to EVH or to whatever screening company they use and then having them labeled there. But it's weird to me that there wouldn't be some label on the tubes in that amp. Not impossible or anything, just doesn't seem usual. Hell, even the Bugera head I own has Bugera re-labeled tubes. Maybe it's just an EVH thing. You could always call them and ask.
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Yessir it is a pretty much new EVH III Head. meaning like 30 days or so old. I know they're suppose to have JJ tubes, thats why I'm thinking the guy that had the head before me bought it....took the new tubes out...put some crap ones in and sent it back. But that is a good idea...I'll try to call or email them just to be sure. Thanks man!
 
Re: 5150 Issue...

About the tubes with no logos, this is direct from Howard Kaplan (the designer of the EVH amps)...


"All JJ 's. We remove the labels because we screen and select all the JJ tubes that go into all EVH amps. The PA tubes should have a gain rating on the base."


I think that's a fairly new thing since my 50w (It's an early Vietnam build low 400s serial number) has JJ logos on the tubes still.
 
Re: 5150 Issue...

Stay with it, that is a great head. It start to come alive about 2.5 to 3 on the volume. The clean sounds better and better when turned up louder and louder. Also check out those FJA mods when you get a chance on youtube or facebook.
 
Re: 5150 Issue...

XSSIVE said:
About the tubes with no logos, this is direct from Howard Kaplan (the designer of the EVH amps)...


"All JJ 's. We remove the labels because we screen and select all the JJ tubes that go into all EVH amps. The PA tubes should have a gain rating on the base."


I think that's a fairly new thing since my 50w (It's an early Vietnam build low 400s serial number) has JJ logos on the tubes still.
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They'll probably end up labeling the tubes with EVH print at some point. Great reply, that ought to solve the mystery.
 
Re: 5150 Issue...

XSSIVE said:
About the tubes with no logos, this is direct from Howard Kaplan (the designer of the EVH amps)...


"All JJ 's. We remove the labels because we screen and select all the JJ tubes that go into all EVH amps. The PA tubes should have a gain rating on the base."


I think that's a fairly new thing since my 50w (It's an early Vietnam build low 400s serial number) has JJ logos on the tubes still.
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Right on, thank you! That does make me feel a lot better. Mine is definitely a newer one..made in Mexico. Havent checked the serial number yet. I should have the new preamp tube in about 3 days. I'll let ya know how it sounds when I get it. I played one of these at GC up in Vegas last month before I ordered the open box model and I thought it sounded killer! I wish I checked the tubes on that one when I was up there lol!
 
Re: 5150 Issue...

Might want to start buying an extra 12AX7 here and there when you have the extra money and build up a stash.

My wakeup call was when my JVM's reverb tube took a dump. Since then I've been building a stash and it's come in handy.
 
Re: 5150 Issue...

Gone_Shootin said:
Might want to start buying an extra 12AX7 here and there when you have the extra money and build up a stash.

My wakeup call was when my JVM's reverb tube took a dump. Since then I've been building a stash and it's come in handy.
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yea definitely a good idea!
 
Re: 5150 Issue...

The new 12ax7 came in yesterday. That was the only issue. I pulled the bad one out and there was a hairline crack on the bottom near the pins. And as far as the unmarked tubes...they sound like JJ's, work perfectly fine and this amp is siiiinging! The 5150 III puts the Ironheart I had to shame. Although the clean channel was probably a little sweeter on the Ironheart....
 
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