Mesa retubing: What can I use?

[tone]

Hi guys.
Since Mesa's have a fixed bias without an adjustment pot, I was hoping someone could steer me in the right direction for new tubes. I understand you can use anything in the preamp with no problems, but you need to use only power tubes that are rated in the Mesa specs zone right? How do I know which brand of tubes I can use? I know I can use any Mesa tube, and can just ask eurotubes or something for mesa spec'd tubes, but I wanted to know what to look for myself.

I've heard that the Groove tube ratings match up with Mesa color codes. Is this true? Does anyone have the chart that shows these ratings so I can see what is useable in my amp?

I'm looking for EL34's for a Stiletto.

Thanks!

 

[Guitarist]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

Once I put Groove Tube 6L6GE's rated at 4, which is about the normal distortion rate IRRC, in my Single Rectifier, and those sounded great.

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

i have groove tubes that are rated at 7 in my dual rectifier. but it is an older model and the tubes in there now are what came in it when i bought it, so i don't really know how the bias in the older models compare to that of the current production models.

but if you email bob at ww.eurotubes.com, he oculd help you out (not to mention that his tubes are pretty good too). he's been a big help to me in the past, even when i'm not placing an order from him.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

Another vote for bob at eurotubes...i had to retube two amps once, one being a fixed bias mesa 50cal+ combo and he fixed me up with some JJ's for both amps and they sound fantastic in both!

Plus im in Australia and it was great dealing with him from the other side of the world and had no fuss getting them here.

Great guy and great tubes!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

If it were my amp, I'd get Svetlana 6L6's, either winged C logo or the newer SED versions. If you want to tighten up the gain, get GT12AX7C's, at least for the first few positions. I like JJ power tubes, but don't care for JJ pre tubes......too clean sounding. If you do go with all JJ's, I think the ECC803S sounds good.
The ECC83's sound too tame in something like a Mesa.

 

[THE DUG]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

i have a stiletto deuce,i always buy tubes from thetubestore.com im running EH12AX7 and Svetlana EL-34 and EH 5U4.just tell'em what your putting the tubes in and they will put a number on them so next time you just tell'em what number you had before.these are the same tubes groove tubes charge you a arm and a leg for,your just paying for them to paint their logo on them.ive done a comparison and when you look at the groove tube stuff they look alike and sound alike.anyway i love these in my stiletto, they totally blew away the stock mesa tubes!my stiletto does EVH Brown sound easy plus anyother marshally tone you can imagine but BETTER!!!! with these tubes.hope this helps.
~the dug

 

[tone]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

Thanks everyone!
The Dug, that sounds cool! Definately going to try those sooner or later. What settings,power settings, mode, etc. are you using for VH?

Here's another question for everyone. How are tubes rated to fall within mesa standards? Does it have to be a certain bias? If so, what is that bias? Anyone know where I can get the GT chart that show it's ratings and how they relate to mesa color code ratings?

Thanks!

 

[marvar]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

here is a chart posted on Myles Rose website
http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/index.html

Mesa scale Groove Tubes scale
Red 4
Yellow 4
Green 5
Gray 5
Blue 6
White 6

 

[THE DUG]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

im running the lead channel on the vintage lead setting w/rectifier on and spongy switch on with 50 watts= EVH! Do you have the owners manual?if so the vintage/brown suggestions will get you in the ballpark.ive been running the vintage lead channel and the british rythm settings on channel one,and man i still get goose bumps every time i turn her up!i love this amp!! as far as the tone goes,ive also got a seymour CC in the bridge of my LP i think that helps some too.i wonder what it would sound like with a nice bolt on charvel.it would have to rip!!!anyway let me know how those GT's work out for you.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

Just had to say 6L6S's from GT (5 rating) sounded great!

 

[tone]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

im running the lead channel on the vintage lead setting w/rectifier on and spongy switch on with 50 watts= EVH! Do you have the owners manual?if so the vintage/brown suggestions will get you in the ballpark.ive been running the vintage lead channel and the british rythm settings on channel one,and man i still get goose bumps every time i turn her up!i love this amp!! as far as the tone goes,ive also got a seymour CC in the bridge of my LP i think that helps some too.i wonder what it would sound like with a nice bolt on charvel.it would have to rip!!!anyway let me know how those GT's work out for you.

Thanks for the info! Yeah I have a manual. Do you have the original stiletto or the new series ll?

 

[tone]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

Hey THE DUG,
Have you tried popping in various preamp tubes? Also, there's some people complaining about the amp being flubby in the bass I think with the lead channel. Do you notice this?

 

[tone]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

bump

 

[tone]

Re: Mesa retubing: What can I use?

bump