Power tubes for Fender Twin Amp (Sovtek vs GT)

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nosurrender

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Hello,

I have a late 90's Fender Twin Amp (100 watt, black face). I'm looking to replace GT 6L6-GE tubes that I put in there a few years back (Guitar Center sales guy said I can put 2 different pairs there, so I got a set of 6-rating and a set of 4-rating tubes, and one of 6's just blew). I think original there were also GTs.

But, GTs are pretty expensive, so I'm thinking of replacing GTs with 4 matched Sovtek 6L6WXT+ (I can get Sovteks cheap).

Quesitons:
-- Will these Sovtek tubes work as well as GTs in this Fender amp
-- Do Sovtek have rating like GT does (I play rock, similar to Springsteen sound-wise)
-- Any other Sovtek tube model I should consider (i.e. Sovtek 6L6GB)?

Another question on my Twin Amp. The amp is giving loud crackling noise when Reverb is on (both clean and dirty channel)... but not always. Can go months between the accidents. Turning off/on, standby, 1/4 power, adjusting setting on reverb doesn't help. This happened after just few months of me buying this amp (brand new from Guitar Center). Fender repair facility couldn't find the problem (it wasn't audible when they tested it) -- so they declined to test electrical circuits. I tried re-tubing the amp, checked reverb contacts - no improvement. Any suggestions on this?

Thank a lot for your input on both topics!!

Kirill
 
I'm not going to pretend to be an authority on the Twin but here's a couple of things to consider.

Groove Tubes are simply rebranded Sovtek tubes. They've been picked over and hand-tested for whatever traits GT deems desirable. So I don't think you'll notice a big difference, if any, with Sovteks over GTs. If you have a particularly disciminating ear, you'll probably be able to pick them out in a blind test but the differences are going to be subtle.

I'm pretty sure that the rating that GT applies to each tube is just to be able to lump tubes with similar characteristics together so you can replace like tubes with like tubes without rebiasing the amp.

Sorry I don't have any advice on the reverb issue. If you've retubed and it still happens, then its obviously not a tube gone bad. I had a similar problem with my amp and it turned out to be one of my stomp boxes that gets sensitive to static electricity in the cold, dry months of the year. Next time you hear the static, try unplugging the cable from the amp's input and see if it persists. At least that'll narrow down if its the amp or something before the amp in your chain.
 
I somewhat agree.....The standards of testing that groove tubes use will pretty much guarantee a better sounding amp. Their matching is much more exact.

You are paying for higher quality control. Based on the standards GT sets, their tubes will out perform Sovtek.
I've never had a GT go out on me, EVER.
I only been playing for about 10 years. 14-24, first tube amp around 16.
I have had, Sovtek, Electroharmonix, and Mesa all go on me.

I've also heard that Sovtek and Mesa and GT are all the same tube, again QA.

this all being said...I've never had a JJ-tesla go on me either.

I run JJ-Tesla in my 6l6/5881 amps, I run GT in the EL84 amps.
I always run GT in my pres. 12ax7 12 au7s...
 
1 more thang!

how often do you put tires on your car....once a year or two....tubes are like tires, don't run them till they blow.

my amps get around 2 hours a night worth of use, 6 days a week.........sometimes more when in sessions.
 
GT is now owned by Fender- even before the buy-out, they had a very cozy relationship. That does not make GT's better tubes, or even better matched to Fender amps. And I, too, have heard that GT makes none of their own stuff. If you can find a way to QC sovteks before you buy (my main man has a tube tester and assist me whenever I need it) you could do well and save some money going Sovteks.

Most common reverb problem I have experienced has been "reverb crash:" a LOUD thunder clap coming from the amp. My Deluxe Reverb sometimes does when NO ONE is even near it. Problem is caused by reverb tank springs getting sprung, and touching the sides of the tank. Sounds like your problem MAY be that- I am suprised at Fender for not finding it if that is the cause- I'd go back to them with my copy of the repair order if that proves to be the cause, and politely ask for a refund of the repair cost to fix it- or contact them before repairs are done, would be a better approach.
 
thank you so much for all the replies!!

Well, if Sovtek are listing tubes as matched, then it should be close in characteristic. Unless that is just a marketing gimmick :)

iownrocknroll, I had about 20-30 hours on these tubes -- bought this amp a while back, tried to repair it, tried to re-tube it, then just got a new Marshall and shelved my Fender for a few years. One of the tubes has white powder inside and white residue on the walls, and glass part is not tightly connected to plastic base of the tube (rattling).

stevieb, here's a link to the video showing the sound: http://www.30daysout.com/shared/fender-twin-amp-2.avi

I took the reverb apart, springs look good, contacts look good. Unfortunately, the amp is beyond the warranty period.
 
That AIN'T no reverb crash! Dunno WHAT it is, except UGLY!
 
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