Egnater MOD50 - Too bright...

[jimosity]

I just recently picked up a MOD50 after years with my M4/VHT rig...
The MOD50 is very bright/trebley.
What power tubes can I switch to in order to darken/fatten it up?

 

[drewiv]

JJs tend to darken out the tone, maybe some EL34s? What's in there now?

 

[jimosity]

It's got Sovtek 5881's in it now.

 

[drewiv]

I would say JJ EL34s would darken your tone, but might go beyond what you were looking for.

 

[bbaug14]

Check the V1A preamp tube in both. Before changing power tubes, I'd start there. A JJ will definitely darken up your tone a bit in this position.

 

[drewiv]

Check the V1A preamp tube in both. Before changing power tubes, I'd start there. A JJ will definitely darken up your tone a bit in this position.

That's certainly easier and will net lesser results. Baby steps are good, didn't even think of mentioning this. Good call.

 

[jimosity]

Not at home, can't find it in the manual; is it a 12ax7 in that V1A spot?
Hoping to run to the music store in a few minutes; wanted to pick one up.

 

[drewiv]

Not at home, can't find it in the manual; is it a 12ax7 in that V1A spot?
Hoping to run to the music store in a few minutes; wanted to pick one up.

Yes, a 12AX7 is in V1.

Here is a link to Egnater manuals M4/MOD100/MOD50 (not sure if preamp tubes are mentioned though
http://www.egnater.com/supportFAQ.html

 

[Buckeyedog]

Should be far from bright and trebly. Check your bias too. Is it on both modules or just one??

The chassis tubes can also have an impact.

 

[jimosity]

All my modules are too bright. I'll check the bias and if that doesn't help, I picked up some JJs and will try that. I also got some JJ EL34s.

 

[drewiv]

Swapping out the tube in V1 in the amp will work on all modules. From there you can swap out V1 in the module and see if that works, try different combos. I'm going to say the biggest overall change will happen swapping out the power tubes for JJ EL34s, I'd save that for last because that's going to be the biggest change in tone across the board.

 

[jimosity]

My other rig is an M4 into a VHT 2/90/2 with KT88's.
I assume I can put KT88's in it as well if I set the bias right? 42mA?
Would the EL34s be darker than the KT88s?

 

[drewiv]

My other rig is an M4 into a VHT 2/90/2 with KT88's.
I assume I can put KT88's in it as well if I set the bias right? 42mA?
Would the EL34s be darker than the KT88s?

I've never had good luck with KT88s in the modular amps, but I LOVE the VHT power amp (just sold mine) with the M4 - that's some qulity stuff! The KT88s don't act the same in the power section of the amps as they do in the VHT. I found the VHT had tons of head room, in the Randall RM100 it was just - weird. That said, I have never tried them in my Egnater MOD50 - maybe the power section runs differently? I've found the JJ EL34s to be one of the "darkest" power tubes I have used. I would say the KT88s aren't as bright as 6L6, but wouldn't qualify them as dark. I generally refer to KT88s as pretty "clean" power. If you try the KT88s in the MOD50, let me know how they work. I might go ahead and try it myself.

I can't recall the bias of the KT88s off the top of my head and the MOD50 manual doesn't account for them. I know they are high and 42-45 seems to ring a bell - I COULD BE TOTALLY WRONG, DO NOT TRUST ME ON THAT.

 

[drewiv]

My other rig is an M4 into a VHT 2/90/2 with KT88's.
I assume I can put KT88's in it as well if I set the bias right? 42mA?
Would the EL34s be darker than the KT88s?

I've never had good luck with KT88s in the modular amps, but I LOVE the VHT power amp (just sold mine) with the M4 - that's some qulity stuff! The KT88s don't act the same in the power section of the amps as they do in the VHT. I found the VHT had tons of head room, in the Randall RM100 it was just - weird. That said, I have never tried them in my Egnater MOD50 - maybe the power section runs differently? I've found the JJ EL34s to be one of the "darkest" power tubes I have used. I would say the KT88s aren't as bright as 6L6, but wouldn't qualify them as dark. I generally refer to KT88s as pretty "nuetral" power. If you try the KT88s in the MOD50, let me know how they work. I might go ahead and try it myself.

I can't recall the bias of the KT88s off the top of my head and the MOD50 manual doesn't account for them. I know they are high and 42-45 seems to ring a bell - I COULD BE TOTALLY WRONG, DO NOT TRUST ME ON THAT.