Mark IV guys

  • Thread starter Thread starter bizn
  • Start date Start date
Currently using SED tubes but believe it or not, the cheapo sovtek 5881's sound killer in the IV. Not my favorite tube with other amps but they sound HUGE in the MKIV and they are cheap ;)
 
I use whatever they had stuck in the amp when I bought it from Mesa! :lol: :LOL:

Steve
 
Just recently bought new tubes from Doug, here is what he suggested,

RUBY6L6GCMSTR's
V1 - Tung-Sol reissue 12AX7
V2 - High gain JJ ECC83S
V3 - Penta Labs 12AX7
V4 - Shuguang 12AX7C9
V5 - Sovtek 12AX7LPS

Havent had a chance to crank it yet with the new tubes, but so far on low volumes there is more gain than before.
 
I have some old 6L6 GE's that sound great in it. I use 5881's in it but like to mix them with 6L6's - better on the inside set. I have been meaning to try 6V6/6CA7 in it. I have some other 6l6's in it right now can't remeber which ones.
 
I have 4 JJ 6L6GC's in mine.

for preamp tubes this is what I have going from memory.
V1: GE 12AX7
V2: JAN Phillips 12AX7
V3: GE 12AX7
V4: Mesa labeled 12AT7
V5: RCA 12AX7

I really like RCA and GE preamp tubes with my mark IV and personally I can't stand JJ preamp tubes with the mark IV....
 
Mine came with JJ 6l6 GC's in it and it sounds great. I'm not a fan of JJ's in general, but this amp sounds too damn good as-is to start tinkering with tubes :yes:
 
Any of you guy know what preamp tubes mesa was using in the late 80's early 90's?
 
psychodave":bb5c1 said:
blackba":bb5c1 said:
I have 4 JJ 6L6GC's in mine.

for preamp tubes this is what I have going from memory.
V1: GE 12AX7
V2: JAN Phillips 12AX7
V3: GE 12AX7
V4: Mesa labeled 12AT7
V5: RCA 12AX7

I really like RCA and GE preamp tubes with my mark IV and personally I can't stand JJ preamp tubes with the mark IV....
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I tried a ton of NOS tubes and I ended up using:

RFT 12AX7 in V1
Chinese 12AX7 9th gen. in V2 and 3
Phillips 12AT7 in V4 (reverb Mark IVa)
Tungsram in V5 (PI)

I have found that there was not much of a difference in V2 and V3 to warrant the use of NOS tubes.
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I heard a difference when I tested them out one at a time. V1 makes the most difference. V2 helped the R2 channel. V3 helped the lead channel. V4 did nothing . V5 helped them all. I had the tubes so why not use them when I heard a difference. The mark IV is my main amp gotta go with the best...

I have a mark IVA too. I had all JJ tubes preamp and power amp and I almost sold the amp.
 
I liked JJ 6L6's for the pissed off vibe. I liked SED 6L6's for the smoother vibe.
 
The reason I ask is I was told recently that JJ 6L6's were biased too cold to use in a mark IV. I know I had heard of people using them, just wondering if there is a trick or something... :confused:
 
I was wanting to get a complete new amp, any suggestions?

much appreciated
 
bizn":919df said:
The reason I ask is I was told recently that JJ 6L6's were biased too cold to use in a mark IV. I know I had heard of people using them, just wondering if there is a trick or something... :confused:
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Just make sure you tell the tube dealer you are putting them in a mark IV and you should be fine. I got mine from Eurotubes, but I think mike at kcanostubes and the ever popular Doug at Doug's tubes have JJ 6L6GC's as well.

I had a bias pot added to my mark IVA. Stock the plate voltage was 481VDC and the inner tubes were 17.8mA and the outer tubes were 29.0mA.

I biased it up so that the inner tubes were 29.2mA and the outer set was 40.5mA. I can always turn down the bias to stock. I found it warmed the amp up a bit in sound, but I have yet to see anyone reporting on adding a bias pot to their mark IV. The mark IV is not biased as cold as a peavey 5150 is stock.
 
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