the ongoing question about power tubes in a mesa

[muttonchopsrule]

it's been almost a year since i got my dual rectifier, and it still has the same power tubes that the previous owner had in it.

i really like the tone i'm getting with what's in there right now (GT EL34's). if i were to by the same tubes from groove tubes with the same rating, then swapping them out work just fine, right?

the reason i ask is because of how people say that the tubes in the GT rating system very a lot within the same rating. so is there more to it than just ordering the tubes with the corresponding rating??? or is that it???

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: the ongoing question about power tubes in a mesa

it's been almost a year since i got my dual rectifier, and it still has the same power tubes that the previous owner had in it.

i really like the tone i'm getting with what's in there right now (GT EL34's). if i were to by the same tubes from groove tubes with the same rating, then swapping them out work just fine, right?

the reason i ask is because of how people say that the tubes in the GT rating system very a lot within the same rating. so is there more to it than just ordering the tubes with the corresponding rating??? or is that it???

Yep....If you like what you have in the GTs,just order the same tube and the same grade number tubes and pop those babies in there..

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: the ongoing question about power tubes in a mesa

awesome. thanks man.

 

[JLagoon]

Re: the ongoing question about power tubes in a mesa

Go with JJ tubes, man!

 

[Kev]

Re: the ongoing question about power tubes in a mesa

Go with JJ tubes, man!

I hear they are better :reporter:

 

[jalguitarman]

Re: the ongoing question about power tubes in a mesa

Just remeber you don't have any bais adjustment on a mesa. It is preset at the factory for optimum performance.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: the ongoing question about power tubes in a mesa

Just remeber you don't have any bais adjustment on a mesa. It is preset at the factory for optimum performance.

Though "optimum performance" Is wholly debatable .

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: the ongoing question about power tubes in a mesa

I looked at the EuroTubes page where Bob describes everything about biasing the tubes in an amp. It seems that he says a small difference in the plate voltage of each tube can make a big difference. Of course, assuming you order the same grade and tubes then you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[Guitarist]

Re: the ongoing question about power tubes in a mesa

Mesa recommends a hardness/rating of "5"...and lots of merchandise...and overpriced reverb tanks...and of course, their tubes.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: the ongoing question about power tubes in a mesa

The two most dramatic improvements in tone that I got from my Mesa rack were installing JJ tubes (16 total) in my Mesa rack and then installing EL34s into the Simuclass sockets.

Have Bob over at Eurotubes hook you up with the high gain preamp set and a quad of matched EL34s. You'll lose the harshness and gain a bunch of torque.

Balls to the wall my bro!

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: the ongoing question about power tubes in a mesa

thanks for all the replies guys.

i ended up getting the EL34's because GC didn't have the E34L's, but that'll work for me. i wanted to be able to pick up something that i can drop into my amp as soon as i get back home this week, and not have to deal with the whole mailorder thing.

the guy at GC was an idiot too! he looked at me like some sort of moron when i asked if they had E34L's, and when he was looking through their stock to see if they had them he dropped at least 4 sets on the floor from about 7 feet, and just put them back on the shelf for others to buy later without even checking them :smack: . then he tried to charge me $95 for a quartet when i specifically asked for a duet...this is why i avoid shopping at GC unless i know exactly what i'm after.

but anywho, the JJ E34L's are definitely what's going in there next...i have a few of their 12AX7's in my amp now and they are awesoeme.

cheers