Mizati20
Active member
6550's in it... you need to smack yourself and get some immediately...
that is all......
that is all......
MARK2C
Member
For Reals ???
agmaldonado
New member
Waiting for EL-34s to go, then I shall have them! 
Mizati20
Active member
Honestly... totally opened up the amp and got rid of SO much compression Mark... honestly the bite mod isn't even necessary... 6550's do everything you need...
bronz79
New member
Mizati20":3crsm7v0 said:
I agree100% .
MARK2C
Member
Mizati20":828om2gl said:
That's what I've been telling you !!!!!
Thanks for believing Kit.
Ventura
Well-known member
I've been a fan of 6550's since the day Peter started shipping the heads with them. I know he's retracted this now due to reliability issues and such, but the 6550's seriously light up when the amp's past noon on the MV. I think they're incredible tubes - and wouldn't replace them with anything but the same when this quad dies.
Peace,
V.
Peace,
V.
FourT6and2
Well-known member
Don't you have to remove the tube retainer things to fit 6550s? Lame. I'm too lazy and I'm happy with how my VH4 sounds with EL34's.
Mizati20
Active member
FourT6and2":68c7ndu4 said:
You don't HAVE to... I was in a pinch and didn't have time to take them out, so I just flatened them and it works perfectly fine, honestly I had EL34s in the amp before and the 6550's really blow them away, but I know how it is to be happy with something and not wanna change it, but trust me, if your EL34's ever give out, order 6550s!!!
PaulyPanacea
Active member
6550s = 
racerevlon
Active member
I just recently purchased a VH4 and it has El34's in it. I was told by Peter S. that the amp originally shipped with those tubes as Diezel had moved away from 6550's due to reliability issues and are now using Chinese EL34-BHT. However, since everyone here seems to be of the opinion that the 6550's are the way to go, and at one time they WERE the tube-of-choice for the VH4, I think I'm gonna have to take the plunge. Any recommendations? GT? EH? Tung-Sol? Svetlana? I'm currently looking at a Low (1-3) set of GT-6550's. Anyone have any experience/preference? Any information is greatly appreciated as I'm REALLY looking forward to getting this amp sounding killer.
Cheers,
Race
Cheers,
Race
Mizati20
Active member
racerevlon":1puoc6do said:
I only have experience with the WInged =C= and Ruby's... they seem to be sold out all over the place though... maybe try The Tube Depot... but honestly man, my VH-4 has the EL34's back in it as I sold the Herbert I was stealing the 6550's from, and needless to say I'm ordering 6550's ASAP!!! LoL, they REALLY make the amp incredible sounding, no lie!
PaulyPanacea
Active member
SED Winged Cs are the way to go. Great tone & super reliable. I have heard the Rubys are great..but havent had a chance to try em. 
Peter Diezel
Well-known member
Sorry, I have to say that we have only big trouble
with the 6550. The latest issue is that the retainers
scratch the glas till it gets a hole and air comes inside
the tube.
If the amp is biased correctly it gets very hot.
If You have an older amp the screen grid voltage
will be too high and destroys the tube. The data sheet
states 400 volt, but no problems till 450 volts. Older
models have up to 480 volts.
Please understand that I cannot recommend the tube.
Of course some of You guys like the sound.
Sincerely,
Peter
with the 6550. The latest issue is that the retainers
scratch the glas till it gets a hole and air comes inside
the tube.
If the amp is biased correctly it gets very hot.
If You have an older amp the screen grid voltage
will be too high and destroys the tube. The data sheet
states 400 volt, but no problems till 450 volts. Older
models have up to 480 volts.
Please understand that I cannot recommend the tube.
Of course some of You guys like the sound.
Sincerely,
Peter
mortega76
New member
Anyone have clips comparing the different tube types in action?
MARK2C
Member
PaulyPanacea":10krd8zo said:SED Winged Cs are the way to go. Great tone & super reliable. I have heard the Rubys are great..but havent had a chance to try em.
You can get SED 6550's from Ruby. It's order code is 6550C. Ruby also sells a Chinese 6550 the 6550ASTR which is a remake of the
GE 6550, but I have not tried them yet.
Like Papa said, the amps get a bit hot so don't go over 60mA a pair. Same for Herbert owners, you can grill a steak on them after 30 minutes.
PaulyPanacea
Active member
Peter Diezel":udz24id8 said:
Mizati20
Active member
Papa,
My VH-4 is a 2006, am I really gonna mess up my amp with 6550's biased at 60mA? What other tube would be closest to a 6550? Because after putting the EL-34's back in my amp I REALLY don't like them, how many different tubes can the VH-4 "safely" take? I'm ordering tubes today or tomorrow, anyone have any suggestions? I'm heartbroken that Papa says the 6550's aren't good for the head, why is it that some of the best things in life are "bad"?
My VH-4 is a 2006, am I really gonna mess up my amp with 6550's biased at 60mA? What other tube would be closest to a 6550? Because after putting the EL-34's back in my amp I REALLY don't like them, how many different tubes can the VH-4 "safely" take? I'm ordering tubes today or tomorrow, anyone have any suggestions? I'm heartbroken that Papa says the 6550's aren't good for the head, why is it that some of the best things in life are "bad"?
MARK2C
Member
Mizati20":14i43mt9 said:Papa,
My VH-4 is a 2006, am I really gonna mess up my amp with 6550's biased at 60mA? What other tube would be closest to a 6550? Because after putting the EL-34's back in my amp I REALLY don't like them, how many different tubes can the VH-4 "safely" take? I'm ordering tubes today or tomorrow, anyone have any suggestions? I'm heartbroken that Papa says the 6550's aren't good for the head, why is it that some of the best things in life are "bad"?
Wondering why I haven't hear back yet.
Don't waffle too long, I've got these ready to go.
D
DEWD
Member
I had some issues putting 6550's in my VH4. Once I got it straightened out though, I still thought EL34's sounded the best. 6550's just don't provide the mids and crunch on channel 3 that 34's do. It all depends on what you want though.