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Vintage threads from the first ten years

Re: RI Bluesbreaker mods...

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6/2/2000 3:56 AM

Re: RI Bluesbreaker mods...

Actually the rectifier tube can indirectly affect the sound of your amp......the Sovtek ones were supposedly having some kind of problem that caused a fuzzy harmonic to be superimposed on the sound of your amp. I've never encountered it but I read that the problem existed with some batches. The chinese ones tend to be mechanically unstable and rattle like hell. Some of the new manufacture ones are much saggier than the old stock rectifiers which can affect tone. You may prefer the sag to a more robust tube that doesnt drop as much voltage, but it's still not the same. For GZ34's there's nothing like a Mullard.......I've seen Mullard GZ-34's that were 25 or 30 years old still working fine. I havent had a Sovtek GZ34 last longer than 2 years so far.
PS

6/2/2000 7:09 PM

I have been using Sino brand (China) GZ34 tubes without any trouble for long time, more over I find them to produce higher output than English tube, why I do not know, but they seem to hold up OK, and I see nothing wrong with them, at $12.00 you can get 5-6 tubes for the price of one GZ 34 by Mullard
I ve heard that some Guru amp maker will not deliver the amp untill he can get it will a Mullard, I think it is Bull ^&*&^(*) Shit, and doesn't justify extra upcharge of $80 yes, they cost that much new these days, so go ahead keep Sovtek in bussiness and use chinese rec, tube
Mike

6/3/2000 8:08 AM

Mike,
I didnt say their was anything wrong with using the chinese tubes.....I use 'em too. You just have to sort through a bunch of them to find some that are not too rattly if you're going to put it into a combo. I always use a Mullard tube in every amp I build, but obviously that wont last forever. I'm still waiting for a current manufacture GZ34 that is anywhere near the high quality of a Mullard tube. BTW, I've never charged more than $25.00 for a Mullard GZ34, and when the day comes that I find I have to charge more than $25.00 for one, well that's the day I stop using them.
Peter S

6/4/2000 3:07 PM
Ian Anderson	Where do you get Mullard GZ34's for $25? - sounds a good deal! ... Ian

6/4/2000 4:30 PM
Peter S	I bought a several hundred of them before greedy people started jacking up the prices. I just about break even on them at $25.00 a piece. Since my amps have a lifetime warranty on them I have to use the best possible materials. Pete S

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