what do you have to do with tubes?
- Thread starter cream123
- Start date
shredaholic
New member
Re: what do you have to do with tubes?
For preamp tubes, just pop em in.
For power tubes - it depends. If your amp is cathode-bias (self biasing), you just pop em in. If it's fixed bias, you need to open up the amp and bias the tubes (or get a tech to do it).
For preamp tubes, just pop em in.
For power tubes - it depends. If your amp is cathode-bias (self biasing), you just pop em in. If it's fixed bias, you need to open up the amp and bias the tubes (or get a tech to do it).
krankguitarist
Krankitupologist
Re: what do you have to do with tubes?
If you're goin into it blind, get a tech to do it for ya and ask if you can watch...might give ya some helpful hints for the future.
If you're goin into it blind, get a tech to do it for ya and ask if you can watch...might give ya some helpful hints for the future.
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: what do you have to do with tubes?
Adjustable bias is where you can actually bias the amp using a bias pot isn't it? My Triple X has a bias pot beside the tubes, I thought that makes it adjustable bias.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought fixed bias means you don't have to open the amp or anything... you just put the tubes in, set the 6L6/EL34 selector to the right type and let it be (I guess for the Heartbreaker it's 6V6/EL84?)shredaholic said:
Adjustable bias is where you can actually bias the amp using a bias pot isn't it? My Triple X has a bias pot beside the tubes, I thought that makes it adjustable bias.
Assuming I'm correct, Mesas are fixed bias, and they have a bias select switch on the back to select the type of tubes you want to use, right?cream123 said:
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shredaholic
New member
Re: what do you have to do with tubes?
Adjustable bias = fixed bias
Fixed bias is a misleading name, but it's called that because once you turn the trimpot to that resistance level, it's fixed at that point until you touch it again. With a cathode bias amp, the cathode resistor automatically sets the bias current for the tube, in the way that the cathode resistor does for preamp tubes in all amps.
Metalman_666 said:
Adjustable bias = fixed bias
Fixed bias is a misleading name, but it's called that because once you turn the trimpot to that resistance level, it's fixed at that point until you touch it again. With a cathode bias amp, the cathode resistor automatically sets the bias current for the tube, in the way that the cathode resistor does for preamp tubes in all amps.
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: what do you have to do with tubes?
Sure, confuse everybody.
Its a MB Heartbreaker, just get MB rated tubes and you are good to go. Bob over at Eurotubes will send you the proper JJs for the amp.
If the Heartbreaker has a bias switch so you can use different types of power tubes just set the switch to the proper position for the tube type you get.
MB amps are normally fixed bias, there is no trim pot.
Sure, confuse everybody.
Its a MB Heartbreaker, just get MB rated tubes and you are good to go. Bob over at Eurotubes will send you the proper JJs for the amp.
If the Heartbreaker has a bias switch so you can use different types of power tubes just set the switch to the proper position for the tube type you get.
MB amps are normally fixed bias, there is no trim pot.
cream123
JustAskinologist
Re: what do you have to do with tubes?
alright so with my mesa boogie heartbreaker i just flip the power to tweed and put in the 6v6s on the 6l6 setting because they are the same setting. what's this rating you speak of? (sorry i'm so new at this!) those 6v6s at eurotubes are a steal!
alright so with my mesa boogie heartbreaker i just flip the power to tweed and put in the 6v6s on the 6l6 setting because they are the same setting. what's this rating you speak of? (sorry i'm so new at this!) those 6v6s at eurotubes are a steal!
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CapoFirstFret
New member
Re: what do you have to do with tubes?
eurotubes is the best place I know of..Bob is fast, a wealth of information, and just one of the politest guys ever. He'll do ya right everytime. As for tubes....ask him, Bob would know best...if there's anything he knows, it's tubes and tube amps!
eurotubes is the best place I know of..Bob is fast, a wealth of information, and just one of the politest guys ever. He'll do ya right everytime. As for tubes....ask him, Bob would know best...if there's anything he knows, it's tubes and tube amps!
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: what do you have to do with tubes?
Have you by any chance read the owner's manual for the Heartbreaker? That should explain a lot. The Heartbreaker CAN use 6V6 tubes, but you have to change some other settings, too.
You can download a Heartbreaker from www.mesaboogie.com in *.pdf format.
I would suggest taking it to a tech if you don't know what you are doing--you could ruin tubes, amps, ears, etc., in a big hurry.
Bill
Have you by any chance read the owner's manual for the Heartbreaker? That should explain a lot. The Heartbreaker CAN use 6V6 tubes, but you have to change some other settings, too.
You can download a Heartbreaker from www.mesaboogie.com in *.pdf format.
I would suggest taking it to a tech if you don't know what you are doing--you could ruin tubes, amps, ears, etc., in a big hurry.
Bill
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: what do you have to do with tubes?
If you use 4-6V6 tubes you must set the Heartbreaker to the Tweed setting and leave it there.
Just put the JJs in it and set the amp to Tweed and you are good to go.
Download the manual from the link above, it's only a couple of pages long but there is some good info there.
If you use 4-6V6 tubes you must set the Heartbreaker to the Tweed setting and leave it there.
Just put the JJs in it and set the amp to Tweed and you are good to go.
Download the manual from the link above, it's only a couple of pages long but there is some good info there.
Re: what do you have to do with tubes?
On the HEARTBREAKER just pop the 6V6 in and USE TWEED POWER ONLY like you said.
MAKE SURE YOU DO THIS... or you will hurt the amp. Make sure the setting is in the 6v6/6L6 setting.
I will tell you politely, that while you will get some nice tones with 6V6's - overall the EL34's and 6L6's sound best
also, be careful, the tube sockets are tight, repeated changes will damage tubes.
ALSO REMEMBER, if you use a 5u4G that you should only use HALF power 60w mode.
Personally I liked the EL34's best ORRRRRRRRR 2 YellowJackets with 2 6L6s made that amp something very nice and very unique
On the HEARTBREAKER just pop the 6V6 in and USE TWEED POWER ONLY like you said.
MAKE SURE YOU DO THIS... or you will hurt the amp. Make sure the setting is in the 6v6/6L6 setting.
I will tell you politely, that while you will get some nice tones with 6V6's - overall the EL34's and 6L6's sound best
also, be careful, the tube sockets are tight, repeated changes will damage tubes.
ALSO REMEMBER, if you use a 5u4G that you should only use HALF power 60w mode.
Personally I liked the EL34's best ORRRRRRRRR 2 YellowJackets with 2 6L6s made that amp something very nice and very unique
Re: what do you have to do with tubes?
Several years ago (my pre-admin days), I invited Bob to the Forum. He came by made a few posts and some a-hole flamed the heck out of him for some alleged transgression. He never came back. I think that was a shame.
CapoFirstFret said:
Several years ago (my pre-admin days), I invited Bob to the Forum. He came by made a few posts and some a-hole flamed the heck out of him for some alleged transgression. He never came back. I think that was a shame.
