Neophyte question...

[Jazz Rock]

After discovering what was hapenning in my guitar while entering the forum, I am now taking interest in the inside of my amp. Espacially now that I acquired a tube amp.

I found loads of interesting info on valves on the following website:

http://www.thetubestore.com/index.html

But I was wondering if you can change your power or pre-amp tubes for a different make tube, like replacing EL34s by 6l6s? Or is it physically impossible?

By the way, if you know other good sources of info on tube amps, I'm interested...

 

[casblah]

Re: Neophyte question...

You can replace your pre-amp tubes with any brand of 12AX7, and you won't have a problem. But don't try to plug a 6L6 into an EL34 socket. These output tubes are not interchangable with each other. You'd really need to change a lot of values inside your amp, for that to work, if at all.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Neophyte question...

Dude give me a call one day so we can hang out and I'll explain to you all this in la langue de Moliere

 

[Jag513]

Re: Neophyte question...

You can replace 12AX7's for 12AT7's, 12AY7's, or 5751's, but not other preamp tubes.

As for EL34-6L6, these are vastly different tubes, and wanting to replace one for the other requires, as casblah has mentioned, a lot of work on the amp.

 

[lateralus]

Re: Neophyte question...

its not a huge job, isnt just rebiasing for a different value? plus, there are converters out there that remove the whole biasing part. THD electronics make what they call "yellow jacket" converters... heres a spiel

Converts amps using 6V6, 6L6, EL34, 6550 or 7591 tubes to EL84's. Self-biasing, no adjustments or modification required. Converts from class-AB to class-a. Increases dynamic response and decreases power in most amps by about 60%. (Non-power reducing model available). EL84 Tubes Included.

$120-$140 (per pair)

ive never seen them, nor heard an amp with them installed. They had an article on them in the 2006 guitar world buyers guide. I dunno if you can get other models that convert to other models aside from EL84, but that might be an easy option

 

[Jag513]

Re: Neophyte question...

I don't know about the EL84's, but EL34's draw more heater current than 6L6GC's (1.5A vs. .9A I believe?). Unless you wire the amp to handle the extra heat, you could fry the transformers.

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Neophyte question...

I don't know about the EL84's, but EL34's draw more heater current than 6L6GC's (1.5A vs. .9A I believe?). Unless you wire the amp to handle the extra heat, you could fry the transformers.

Heatwise I don't want more, my little amp already get hot quite easily so if anything I would be looking for something rather coooool.

Nice new avatar Pierre. It would be good to catch up some day. Unfortunately before July it will be a bit hectic. Are you gonna be around in July?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Neophyte question...

Yep I'm staying here all holidays. I need a job and a relocation.

 

[BigDaddy]

Re: Neophyte question...

Sorry lateralus you are way off. I can see you read a lot but do not do any amp work.

Nothing is as easy as it seems.............no matter what the company says.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Neophyte question...

Ahhhh, the confusing world of tubes.