[Josh]

JCA20 sounds great. Not the most volume-knob responsive (although I've found that often changes with amps depending on whether higher-gain preamp tubes are in there), but it sounds great.

 

[7deadlysins]

JCA20 sounds great. Not the most volume-knob responsive (although I've found that often changes with amps depending on whether higher-gain preamp tubes are in there), but it sounds great.

Yeah, I know it won't be a super clean tone and more like a bit less overdriven tone, but I like the raw pushed clean tone too and use it quite often anyway. I'll probably swap the V1 for a Tung Sol, I usually don't do high gain tubes, though I do like JJs I usually swap the 12ax7s, or at least one or two of them for ECC38s.

 

[7deadlysins]

Ok, so apparently one of the tubes went bad and blew a fuse. Its back up and running now with the 6l6s back in it. Anyone know any EL34s that last longer than Mullards? I haven't even had the Mullards a year, and it hasn't got nearly as much use as it needs for them to go bad. :shrug: Do 6l6s just generally last longer than EL34s or something?

 

[Joey]

Sometimes tubes just randomly go. You'll have a tube that sounds great for 5 years, or you'll have a tube that blows after 3 months. Such is the nature of owning a tube amp I guess.

 

[7deadlysins]

Sometimes tubes just randomly go. You'll have a tube that sounds great for 5 years, or you'll have a tube that blows after 3 months. Such is the nature of owning a tube amp I guess.

Gotcha, yeah my first tube amp was a Peavey Valveking and the 6l6s in that were still going strong after I sold it. I owned it over 3 years, no problems or tube failure. I think maybe I should try something other than Mullards though, they sounded damn good but I would like something a bit more reliable.

 

[fvlt]

Sometimes tubes just randomly go. You'll have a tube that sounds great for 5 years, or you'll have a tube that blows after 3 months. Such is the nature of owning a tube amp I guess.

What he said.

Although 6L6s are generally a more rugged design than EL34s.

For EL34s, I'd recommend either SED (Winged =C=) if you want the skinnier, more middy sound EL34s are traditionally known for (and similar to what you had from that Mullard), or if you want something that's kind of midway between an EL34 and a 6L6 check out the JJ E34L.

 

[7deadlysins]

I'm looking at the E34Ls, I really liked the tone of the Mullard and am tempted to get more but I do remember reading about them not being really reliable and I would like a tube that is a bit more reliable.

 

[budda]

When my roadster died mid solo, a tube died and took the fuse with it. brand new power section and new fuse (with a spare fuse) and she's workin' as per usual.

 

[7deadlysins]

Anyone every try the E34Ls? I may give them a try... "This tube has all the tonal qualities of the JJ EL34 but it has an extended low end response, is a little punchier and more aggressive." sounds like a winner in my book! Can't really beat $28 for a matched pair either.

 

[noodles]

When my roadster died mid solo, a tube died and took the fuse with it. brand new power section and new fuse (with a spare fuse) and she's workin' as per usual.

That is by design, so the tube doesn't take out components on the board.

 

[Leon]

That is by design, so the tube doesn't take out components on the board.

:agreed:

 

[7deadlysins]

Dude from Eurotubes is going to pick me a set of E34L's that run a bit cooler so they will (hopefully) have a longer life span than the Mullards. :yesway:

 

[Soopahmahn]

Dude from Eurotubes is going to pick me a set of E34L's that run a bit cooler so they will (hopefully) have a longer life span than the Mullards. :yesway:

I'm not 100% sure it will work out that way. Mesa's are fixed bias (without modification), so I think any given tube of a certain type will draw roughly the same current in such a setup, unless the color coding literally translates into a resistance value. I could be wrong about that, but I've caught the Eurotubes guys saying silly things before so I'm not sure.

Mesas are biased very cold anyway, so they generally should exhibit good tube lifespan regardless of what you pop in there.

Regardless, I think Eurotubes are decent gentlemen, and you're getting some good quality tubes at a fair price. :yesway:

 

[7deadlysins]

I'm not 100% sure it will work out that way. Mesa's are fixed bias (without modification), so I think any given tube of a certain type will draw roughly the same current in such a setup, unless the color coding literally translates into a resistance value. I could be wrong about that, but I've caught the Eurotubes guys saying silly things before so I'm not sure.

Mesas are biased very cold anyway, so they generally should exhibit good tube lifespan regardless of what you pop in there.

Regardless, I think Eurotubes are decent gentlemen, and you're getting some good quality tubes at a fair price. :yesway:

Yeah, really can't beat $28 for a matched pair either way even if they only last as long as the Mullards, and if they give me a bit more low end than the Mullards i'll be satisfied.

 

[budda]

hit up the tube store :yesway:

 

[Vince]

Could be an internal fuse. If the thing didn't literally smoke and spit fire, it's probably not a huge deal.

He said it's a Mesa, not a Marshall. :spock:

 

[Soopahmahn]

He said it's a Mesa, not a Marshall. :spock:

I'm confused.

 

[Vince]

I've seen 2 Marshalls catch on fire.