Tubes ! think I need to get new ones

geirisk8@mac.co · 4th March 2007, 02:22 AM

Hi, I have a Marshall JCM800 MKII 2204 50watt '88 amp with a 1960 300w cabinet.

I've had this amp for a few years and love it.

I have some questions about tubes. I'm using EL34 tubes but I think they're wearing out because the sound isn't as good as it was before. The sound consits of ALOT of treble (although the treble and prescence knobs are turned all the way down).

I'm thinking of buying new ones but I was also thinking. Are there any other types of tubes I can buy and will the amp have a different sound ?

Thanks..

FFTT · 4th March 2007, 03:03 AM

Throw a quad of JJ's in there.

corworld · 4th March 2007, 03:28 AM

to the JJ's, unless you want to spend $$$ on NOS tubes

BOWIE · 4th March 2007, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geirisk8@mac.co

I have some questions about tubes. I'm using EL34 tubes but I think they're wearing out because the sound isn't as good as it was before. The sound consits of ALOT of treble (although the treble and prescence knobs are turned all the way down).
Thanks..

That's funny, treble usually attenuates as tubes age. I would expect you to hear less high freqs. Wonder if it really is the tubes... With that said I did once have a preamp tube that lost it's low end. Very strange. Usually I can get a rough idea of how old a tube is by it's high-frequency response and then confirm it on my tester.

Anyhow, I'd go with vintage tubes. No sense in spending thousands on gear only to have your tone ruined by shit tubes that saved you fifty bucks. Plus, old tubes last much longer.

woomanmoomin · 4th March 2007, 08:58 PM

No, I think the JJ/Teslas are pretty good too, at least for general rock purposes. Plus the quads are much cheaper. I've got the E34Ls (hi-spec EL34s, supposedly) in my Hiwatt and I like them a lot. Ought to be at home in a Marshall. I guess you could get some 'Winged C' Svetlanas or some NOS Teslas for a reasonable price. They're both great for Marshalls.

geirisk8@mac.co · 10th March 2007, 08:20 PM

Hey guys check out these two links

Tubes:
http://www.music123.com/Fender-6550-...-i226226.music

This amp is just like mine though the inputs are side by side and there's a "D.I." on the back.. otherwise it's the same:
http://mhuss.com/MyJCM/index.html

Now.. Can I use those tubes from music123 ? Because the guy on the other link says he has 6550's in his. Just speculating because I need new tubes...

Thanks

juledude · 13th March 2007, 03:34 PM

If you have a friend who can check/adjust the bias, that might save you the price of any new tubes.

As the other person said, I wouldn't expect the highs to come up with age.

Jule

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4th March 2007, 02:22 AM	#1
geirisk8@mac.co Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Iceland Posts: 116	Tubes ! think I need to get new ones Hi, I have a Marshall JCM800 MKII 2204 50watt '88 amp with a 1960 300w cabinet. I've had this amp for a few years and love it. I have some questions about tubes. I'm using EL34 tubes but I think they're wearing out because the sound isn't as good as it was before. The sound consits of ALOT of treble (although the treble and prescence knobs are turned all the way down). I'm thinking of buying new ones but I was also thinking. Are there any other types of tubes I can buy and will the amp have a different sound ? Thanks..

4th March 2007, 03:03 AM	#2
FFTT Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: A stoned throw from ground zero Posts: 2,932	Throw a quad of JJ's in there. __________________ Don't look at me in that tone of voice

13th March 2007, 03:34 PM	#7
juledude Gear Head Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Frazier Park California USA Posts: 55	Bias? If you have a friend who can check/adjust the bias, that might save you the price of any new tubes. As the other person said, I wouldn't expect the highs to come up with age. Jule __________________ Jule Potter http://www.juleamps.com All Tube - All Love

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4th March 2007, 03:28 AM	#3
corworld Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 180	to the JJ's, unless you want to spend $$$ on NOS tubes

4th March 2007, 08:58 PM	#5
woomanmoomin Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 1,024	No, I think the JJ/Teslas are pretty good too, at least for general rock purposes. Plus the quads are much cheaper. I've got the E34Ls (hi-spec EL34s, supposedly) in my Hiwatt and I like them a lot. Ought to be at home in a Marshall. I guess you could get some 'Winged C' Svetlanas or some NOS Teslas for a reasonable price. They're both great for Marshalls.

10th March 2007, 08:20 PM	#6
geirisk8@mac.co Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Iceland Posts: 116	Hey guys check out these two links Tubes: http://www.music123.com/Fender-6550-...-i226226.music This amp is just like mine though the inputs are side by side and there's a "D.I." on the back.. otherwise it's the same: http://mhuss.com/MyJCM/index.html Now.. Can I use those tubes from music123 ? Because the guy on the other link says he has 6550's in his. Just speculating because I need new tubes... Thanks