Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

UberMetalDood

New member
I'd like to see a thread dedicated to tube info. There are so many questions and discussions about tubes every day that it would be a great resource. There's just too much information that's scattered and you can almost always find what you're looking for, but it takes some time scraping the Internet. Therefore, I propose that we introduce a basic format for tube experts to chime in and fill in the blanks, and allow users to post in the discussion area their opinions. Feel free to improve on the format if you have better ideas.

I'm thinking it should be rather simple. For instance 6L6 tubes might be something like:

Tube Type: 6L6
Current/Voltage/... {whatever technical specification}: 500 V
Compatibility: 6L6; 5881; KT66
Variants: 6L6GC, 6L6WGC, etc...
Description: {"6L6 tubes are common in Fender and Mesa Boogie amplifiers, and known for an 'American sound'"..., "usually made in"... etc...}
Sonic Characteristics: {"6L6 tubes sound like...", "compared to ___ tubes, they sound...", etc...}
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

IRRC, 5881's are only compatible with 6L6WGC's. I understood that you couldn't use a 6L6WGC in a 6L6 amp without some serious tweaking, but I could be wrong.

But yes, a thread like that would be very helpful.
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

Why dont you take the initiative and start it? Then request it to be stickied. Make a few posts at the top of a thread that you can edit as people give information in the thread. Its not so nice to tell others I want a thread about xxxx so write it for me. But if you are willing to put some time in and create others will help with it. But you need to baby sit it and be willing to check references.
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

There's already lot's of valuable information out there that's much more reliable than a bunch of people posting advice on a forum who we have no idea if they actually know what they're talking about or not. Message boards are deadly for people reposting and parroting things they just read elsewhere posted by others. This is a pickup forum, not a tube forum.

Tubestore.com has TONS of info available.
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

Why dont you take the initiative and start it? Then request it to be stickied. Make a few posts at the top of a thread that you can edit as people give information in the thread. Its not so nice to tell others I want a thread about xxxx so write it for me. But if you are willing to put some time in and create others will help with it. But you need to baby sit it and be willing to check references.

I'm willing to do it but I'm not a tube expert. There are far more technical guys on this forum than I and several amp builders who know a lot more about tubes than I do. I suppose I'll try to get something started and see who contributes.

There's already lot's of valuable information out there that's much more reliable than a bunch of people posting advice on a forum who we have no idea if they actually know what they're talking about or not. Message boards are deadly for people reposting and parroting things they just read elsewhere posted by others. This is a pickup forum, not a tube forum.

Tubestore.com has TONS of info available.

You kind of missed the point. Surely there is tons of information on the net, but to concisely compile essential information into a thread would be helpful. You're wrong, by the way. This forum is called "Amplifier Central" for a reason. Go to TGP and they have similar forums on their board. If you don't like the idea then ignore it but you don't have to crap all over it because you don't have the vision to make something cool like that.
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

I'm all for this. We have a stickied gear review thread, and this type of thread would only make sense.

And for people saying "blah it is already out there". Sure, but so are gear reviews. Though there is the review thread for quick and easy access, like this potential sticky.

And does having one more sticky trying to help people hurt the Amp forum? It isn't like someone is forcing you to closely scan every post.
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

While on "Tubes" maybe someone can share Tubes 101 lesson on how to set tube bias and how to make such an adjustment?
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

While on "Tubes" maybe someone can share Tubes 101 lesson on how to set tube bias and how to make such an adjustment?

Its amp dependent. Some amps dont need biased as they are cathode biased some are fixed some have bots. Lesson 101 is simple know the amp your working on and if you dont know what your doing dont do it safety first as there are lots of components inside an amp that if you touch them that will "light up your life"
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

I'm all for this. We have a stickied gear review thread, and this type of thread would only make sense.

And for people saying "blah it is already out there". Sure, but so are gear reviews. Though there is the review thread for quick and easy access, like this potential sticky.

And does having one more sticky trying to help people hurt the Amp forum? It isn't like someone is forcing you to closely scan every post.

Cool. I'm going to get started when I'm done with finals tomorrow.

Its amp dependent. Some amps dont need biased as they are cathode biased some are fixed some have bots. Lesson 101 is simple know the amp your working on and if you dont know what your doing dont do it safety first as there are lots of components inside an amp that if you touch them that will "light up your life"

I agree. Biasing is a whole different animal. However, information like plate voltage and typical bias settings can be useful for determining bias values I think so there is some help in that.
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

The guys here don't like necro threads, but at the same time don't like others asking the same questions again, so what can be done? I think it's ok to ressurrect a necro thread if it's good and serves the purpose, like this one:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?238092-Tube-review-thread

Well a review is different than a reference guide. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. Are you attempting to point out that this idea and format has already been done because there is an old tube review thread? Reviews are fine and all but when you want to get concise technical info, a quick reference is much more useful than pouring through a ton of reviews. Also, reviews usually don't offer accurate technical specifications or installation tips.
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

There are a ton of sites that have this info. Tube data sheets are available all over the place and tell you everything about the tube in question. A thread like this is a pain to search and sift through. The people that need info like the plate voltage and such and actually know what that means don't generally need the other subjective stuff.
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

If you want to start the thread, I'll happily sticky it for you...
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

@trevorus. Since this is very much your area of expertise, are there any reference websites that you would recommend? Similarly, are there any sites that you believe are best avoided?

*

Last week, there was a thread about somebody considering the Sweetwater/Egnater amp build course. Price, several thousand Dollars.

The information gleaned on such a course is valuable for two reasons.
1) Sorting out valve amplifiers is somebody's livelihood.
2) Sorting out valve amplifiers is potentially lethal.

I subscribe to the notion that a little learning is a dangerous thing. As it used to say around the edge of the label on Stiff Records, "Don't **** About Or Else."
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

There are a ton of sites that have this info. Tube data sheets are available all over the place and tell you everything about the tube in question. A thread like this is a pain to search and sift through. The people that need info like the plate voltage and such and actually know what that means don't generally need the other subjective stuff.

Yeah.
All of the info the OP is asking for is already out there.
Type 6L6 tube data into your computer.
The info is not really that useful unless you build, is already put to memory, and a lot of variants would not be used by the "average" player changing tubes in his Fender Vox Marshall.
But if the Forum wants to host it, and the OP wants to put in the stick time.....I say Go For It and good luck.
best
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

Well a review is different than a reference guide. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. Are you attempting to point out that this idea and format has already been done because there is an old tube review thread? Reviews are fine and all but when you want to get concise technical info, a quick reference is much more useful than pouring through a ton of reviews. Also, reviews usually don't offer accurate technical specifications or installation tips.

The point is the content of the review thread fits right in here:

Sonic Characteristics: {"6L6 tubes sound like...", "compared to ___ tubes, they sound...", etc...}
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

The point is the content of the review thread fits right in here:

Sonic Characteristics: {"6L6 tubes sound like...", "compared to ___ tubes, they sound...", etc...}

OK, I got you. So take the best of the review information and compile it in the ref. guide.
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

@trevorus. Since this is very much your area of expertise, are there any reference websites that you would recommend? Similarly, are there any sites that you believe are best avoided?

*

Last week, there was a thread about somebody considering the Sweetwater/Egnater amp build course. Price, several thousand Dollars.

The information gleaned on such a course is valuable for two reasons.
1) Sorting out valve amplifiers is somebody's livelihood.
2) Sorting out valve amplifiers is potentially lethal.

I subscribe to the notion that a little learning is a dangerous thing. As it used to say around the edge of the label on Stiff Records, "Don't **** About Or Else."

The one site I use a ton is Duncan Amps, their tube search. It has a ton of info, and similar tube crossover, all that. The problem is, it means nothing to most people that play. The other issue is comparing tube sounds is so dependent on the amp they are in, and the speakers they are running through that comparisons are hard to impossible. If you're going to be changing tube types, you need to talk to the manufacturer or a tech. If you have this expertise anyway, you won't need such a thread.

If the OP wants to do the leg work, great, but there is so much possibility for bad or wrong information, or bad application of right information so as to be dangerous.


Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
 
Re: Sticky Request: Seymour Duncan Tube Guide

Some people aren't going to get it, or they will have a predisposition against it because they either lack vision or their idea of it is too rigid. It seems that there is enough interest and desire to create this reference despite the few naysayers, so I'll proceed as discussed. If it turns out good then we'll have something else great to offer on this forum. If it doesn't come out good then it's nobody's loss.
 
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