What Tubes Are Best?

  • Thread starter Thread starter blackscot
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blackscot

blackscot

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I'm wanting to switch out my Mesa Boogie DC-2, see if that will clean-up the tone any from the several-year-old tubes currently in use.

Should I just get replacement tubes through Mesa, or is something else better?

If the latter, where is a good source?

Thanks.
 
I'm told elsewhere that the lack of bias adjustment on Mesas limits me to using their tubes. True?
 
Where did you hear that? Please correct me if I'm wrong but this just doesn't sound right....

The bias control isn't in the tube itself, it's on the amp. Although they do sell tubes, I think any repair shop can provide you with standard replacements.
:confused::confused::confused::confused:
 
ido1957 said:
Where did you hear that? Please correct me if I'm wrong but this just doesn't sound right....

The bias control isn't in the tube itself, it's on the amp. Although they do sell tubes, I think any repair shop can provide you with standard replacements.
:confused::confused::confused::confused:
Click to expand...

I think what he is referring to is the story (and I've heard it as well, but I don't know if it is true) that Mesas (the amps) have a non adjustable bias that fits the hand picked tubes that they use, so if you use tubes that haven't been through their screening process, the bias will probably be wrong for them. I agree that a good amp tech should be able to either change the biasing or find other non-Mesa screened tubes that will work for you.
 
the problem is when people hear that it's a fixed bias they assume it means non adjustable... not true... although boogies can be a drag to rebias... a good tech can do this for you... it basicly involves substituting a couple resistors till you find the right combination... and if not obvious to you... only involves the output tubes on some amps... some are called self biasing or cathod biased... not an issue with them...
 
ggunn said:
.....Mesas (the amps) have a non adjustable bias that fits the hand picked tubes that they use, so if you use tubes that haven't been through their screening process, the bias will probably be wrong for them......
Click to expand...

That's how I understand it, based on info from the maker.

Anyway, I found a local source for Mesa tubes, so just went ahead with that for both the power and the pre's. Definite improvement -- the prior tubes were ancient.
 
blackscot said:
That's how I understand it, based on info from the maker.

Anyway, I found a local source for Mesa tubes, so just went ahead with that for both the power and the pre's. Definite improvement -- the prior tubes were ancient.
Click to expand...

Cool, but you don't need to worry about that for the preamp tubes since they don't get the bias voltage.
 
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