Would this be cool?

[Scott_F]

Okay, here's an idea. I'm assuming to make this work you would need to be able to bias your own amp.

What if I had an amp that had a switch on the underside of the chassis, out of easy reach that would allow you to run 6V6 power tubes in an amp designed for 6L6 or El34 power tubes?

It would obviously take a rebias, but would you be interested?

For example, the Tweed Pro that I have is designed to run at 360v with 6L6 or 5881 or 6L6WGB's. That transformer also has a 330v option on it for running 6V6's. Would that cool to wire them both up with a heavy duty switch to allow you to choose?

You would obviously have to know how to bias the amp or you'd end up toasting a tube. I could also mount the swich in such a way that you'd have to completely pull the chassi to get acces the switch. Too much liability perhaps?

Kind of like having more options for later down the road if/when your tastes change? Not too difficult.

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: Would this be cool?

IMO, it's too complicated and wouldn't sell. A great idea, but that doesn't always translate into sales.

Along the same lines of thinking, I think that Mesa has the right idea by providing a switch that allows you to switch between EL-34's and 6L6's with no rebias. I'll probably never use it, but it creates flexibility that will help them sell to a larger audience.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Would this be cool?

Yeah! I like opitions. I imagine you could put the switch near the trim pot.
You have to open the amp up any way to re-Bias. Do 6L6's and EL-34's
pinout the same? I wouldn't want a switch like that on the outside of my
amp. To much margin for error or sabotage. But inside would work.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Would this be cool?

It sounds reasonable to me, especially on a Deluxe type amp, since many of those Deluxe clones actually sound better with 6L6's anyway. I used to have a Blues Pearl Texas Tornado Deluxe copy, and I'd just use 6V6's or 6L6's by rebiasing it. I didn't even realize
the voltage was different enough to need a switch. Doh!

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Would this be cool?

I like options....

I'd have more use for a 6L6/EL34 option, but that's probably a little different animal.

I'd say inside by the trim pot so you can rebias & hit the switch at the same time.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Would this be cool?

Some people will love this and some people will hate it...the guys that love it will use it all the time, the guys that hate will never use it. There are loads of amps that you can use different power tubes in after a rebias. I happen to LOVE that! If you put bias ports on the amp, making it much easier to adjust the bias then it would be an even better idea...

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: Would this be cool?

Some people will love this and some people will hate it...the guys that love it will use it all the time, the guys that hate will never use it. There are loads of amps that you can use different power tubes in after a rebias. I happen to LOVE that! If you put bias ports on the amp, making it much easier to adjust the bias then it would be an even better idea...

Agreed.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Would this be cool?

Agreed.

WHAT KIND OF CRAP RESPONSE IS THAT....WHERE DO YOU GET OFF GIVING STUPID USELESS INFORMATION LIKE THAT...WHY DON'T YOU TAKE YOUR STUPID OPINIONS & TAKE A FLYING LEAP..............













I thought you were staying out of these "other" rooms

:laugh2:

Sorry....I'm not gonna be at your Houston Amp Fest tomorrow, so I figured I'd kick ya' in the nads here & get it over with

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Would this be cool?

There are some 6V6's around that will stand pretty high voltages, provided the amp isn't up in the crazy-high-even-for-a-6L6 range. Switching to 6V6's is great way to get octal tone & more dirt at lower volumes. Search for "Plexi 6V6" (or is it 6V6 Plexi?) over at AX84 to read raving reviews of a 25-watt, Plexi-sounding amp.

If you pick your B+ right, all you should need add is a bias-select switch. Make it 3 position for 6V6, 6L6, or EL34.

However, I believe the output impedance needs change among these tubes, and explaining how to select the right load to your customers might be tricky.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Would this be cool?

The grid load resistors could be switchable for a 6L6 to EL-34, plus that use of the pin that 6L6's do not use but the EL-34 does.

For the 6V6, that switch could be set to change from the output voltage from 6L6 / EL-34 to the 6V6 combination.

Wouls sound cool and useable for different tones and club settings.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Would this be cool?

I got the new Carvin catalog in the mail yesterday..............big shock!

That new V3 amp of theirs has a bias switch on the rear: 100w/EL34 is up or down for 50w/6L6 or 5881s.

What is it that they're using to do this? Their prices are still "low"...is it crap or does it work???

 

[jeremy]

Re: Would this be cool?

i think thats a cool option scott, especially if you have bias points on the back of the chassis.

figure youd take a 40w amp down to maybe 20w or so? that would be sweet.

 

[itbepopples]

Re: Would this be cool?

I think it would be something worth mapping out and doing once and then offering it as an option. One thing I remember about the Randall MTS series that really impressed me was they put the entire bias adjust section on one of the panels of the amp. I realize that's like hand wiring a Road King and not worth the trouble but, it would be nice to be able to have as many bias related options as accessable as possible. 6V6 switch? Hell yeah!

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Would this be cool?

Great idea. It'd be cool if you could swittch without the need for biasing, though. Perhaps some kind of bias switching where it was still user adjustable for fine tuning, but switched for each tube type.

I love being able to switch between 6v6 and EL84 on my Blue Angel.

I also think that having both sets of output tubes onboard would be cool. It'd drive the price up, but would make for a flexible amp that's ready to go at all times.

 

[RiffRaff]

Re: Would this be cool?

I would love to find a reasonable priced amp designed around 4 6V6's - the victoria double deluxe is built like this but way out of my price range.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Would this be cool?

I would love to find a reasonable priced amp designed around 4 6V6's - the victoria double deluxe is built like this but way out of my price range.

I'm not sure what your budget is, but that is not a difficult amp to build. PM me if you are interested in pursuing it further.