Retubing a Transitional Blonde Bandmaster

[Quencho092]

I've had the same mesas in there for a year, and it's sounding weaker so i figure it's tube time. (the guy i bought it from had those in there)

What would suit this amp's strengths? It's a 1st generation BF circuit (AA763), so i'm guessing that 6L6GC's would be fine in here, but how would it sound to give it some 5881's or small bottle tubes? It will be running an ultra clean 15 inch Ceramic California (JBL tone with even less breakup...)

If i go big bottle, should i go JJ's?

Small bottle, TAD's for 6l6wgc's?

 

[Curly]

Re: Retubing a Transitional Blonde Bandmaster

well, you should verify that the circuit calls out for GCs. They are higher powered than GBs, and shouldn't be used in a circuit that calls for GBs.
So check the tube chart.

5881s were electronically similar to WGBs, BTW.

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Retubing a Transitional Blonde Bandmaster

And take some pictures, will ya? Those blond amps are the bomb. Are you using the Cali now or is it something you plan to get.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Retubing a Transitional Blonde Bandmaster

the tube chart has 6L6GC for the power tubes.

It's a special amp, compared to my DRRI being run clean, it has a much clearer bell like sound, which is surprising for a non reverb fender to outperform a reverb fender in cleans.

So i guess i should go big bottle here? JJ GC's?

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Retubing a Transitional Blonde Bandmaster

I use Mesa Mark Series amps these days, but these old Bassmans and Band Masters and Tremolux amps are still some of my favorite amps.

I gave up on the JJ 6L6 tubes after some problems with mechanical noise and microphonics; though the JJ EL84 is still my preferred tube of this type. I have had really good luck with the brand sold here in the States as "Winged C" or S.E.D. I really like these in my big Mesa 200-watt Mark III Coliseum Head I have. I also use them in a Mark IV combo in the Mesa Simul-Class 6L6/EL34 combination--the EL34s are also Winged Cs. They have been very reliable, and I like the tone very much.

I also have another Mark III Simul-Class combo currently with the same 6L6/EL34 combination--but this one has tubes with the EH brand. These are also very good sounding. Just don't ask me how they sound compared to the Winged C--it's pretty subtle.

The JJs I used though were darker, noisier and seemed to "blur" or "smear" the tone a bit--not as crisp and defined. That might be the sound you are looking for, but I didn't really care for it.

I can also recommend the EH-12AX7 preamp tube--these have worked very well for me. Mesa combos can be brutal on tubes--it's a lot of power in a small package. I did have one EH-12AX7 failure within one hour of installation, but the vendor replaced it under warranty.

I hope this helps.

Bill

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Retubing a Transitional Blonde Bandmaster

I had winged C SED's in my old peavey classic VTX, pretty solid tone, i really liked them.

Perhaps i'll just go with those, im not picky for tubes, i just like a solid tone, and reliability.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Retubing a Transitional Blonde Bandmaster

I'd get on Ebay and try to find some NOS RCA 6L6GC's. Or there's still plenty of those small bottle NOS Phillips 6L6WGB's around. Those sound nice in old Fenders. Lew