Replacement Tubes for VH4

[Ventura]

Greetings...

I understand the company shift to 6550, but my VH4 came with SED Winged "C" power tubes. I am in the midst of replacing them with Tung Sol EL34B's and was wondering if anyone had any experience with these tubes.

Thanks,
V.

 

[PaulyPanacea]

I have used the Tung Sols. They are ok. If your amp came with the SED Winged C's , i would stick with them. They sounded more musical to my ears than the Tung Sols. Or you can change to the 6550's..which is really the way to go.

 

[Ventura]

Hey thanks for the prompt reply... If I do go the route of the Tung Sol tubes, did you find they needed any re-biasing or where they pretty well plug and play?

The reason I decided on the Tung Sol over the SED was the comparison chart off thetubestore.com stating their mechanical and microphonic issues were less than the SED Winged "C" brand. Different amp was used mind you, but I'm just trying to get all my ducks in a row

Peace,
V.

 

[soonforgot]

I put those Tung Sol EL34B's in my Hiwatt that i had and it sounded great. I cant afford to try all the different kinds of tubes but I did like these more than the standard EL34's my amp came with. I went off of that same review on Tubestore and I liked them.

I believe you should rebias everytime you change your tubes from what I have been told.

 

[Ventura]

Wicked - thanks... I guess I'll wait and see - if they rock, cool, if not, back to the SEDs.

V.

 

[PaulyPanacea]

anytime my friend. i always rebias when i put new tubes in. better safe than sorry. lemme know how u like the Tung Sols

 

[Ventura]

You do your own re-bias?? I'm not a chicken, just haven't done my own yet... Got the gear, so may as well figure it out.

Peace,
V.

 

[steve_k]

You do your own re-bias?? I'm not a chicken, just haven't done my own yet... Got the gear, so may as well figure it out.

Peace,
V.

Its easy (and safe)....as long as you don't touch the wrong thing with the probes

Steve

 

[PaulyPanacea]

If you look on the main page on the TECH CORNER, there are step by step instructions on how to do it. Its quite simple. But always..safety first...unless u like being zapped! And if you have any questions or concerns there are a TON of people on here who will lend some knowledge.

 

[Ventura]

WHERE'S THE TECH CORNER!?!?!?!?!??!?!!?

I know, I know...typical hack, but believe me, I'm solid - just need a little ASSistance - THX!!

Namaste,
V.

 

[DEWD]

I didn't dig the 6550's so much in the VH4 but they sounded great in the Herbert. IMO, the 6550's kind of dulled everything I like about the VH4. I'm sticking w/ EL34's.

 

[Joeytpg]

I didn't dig the 6550's so much in the VH4 but they sounded great in the Herbert. IMO, the 6550's kind of dulled everything I like about the VH4. I'm sticking w/ EL34's.

care to explain a bit more about what was it that you didn't like about the 6550 in the VH4 ?

 

[DEWD]

I didn't dig the 6550's so much in the VH4 but they sounded great in the Herbert. IMO, the 6550's kind of dulled everything I like about the VH4. I'm sticking w/ EL34's.

care to explain a bit more about what was it that you didn't like about the 6550 in the VH4 ?

I'm not the best at explaining tone but I'll try. To me they just smoothed everything out too much. The nice, thumping, tight lows were replaced by a wider/deeper low end and the crunchy mids that I love the VH4 for were gone. I thought channel 1 was better but 2-4 didn't sound nearly as good to me.

I thought the Herbert actually sounded quite a bit nicer with the 6550's though. They really compliment that amp.

 

[Duolos]

I didn't dig the 6550's so much in the VH4 but they sounded great in the Herbert. IMO, the 6550's kind of dulled everything I like about the VH4. I'm sticking w/ EL34's.

care to explain a bit more about what was it that you didn't like about the 6550 in the VH4 ?

I'm not the best at explaining tone but I'll try. To me they just smoothed everything out too much. The nice, thumping, tight lows were replaced by a wider/deeper low end and the crunchy mids that I love the VH4 for were gone. I thought channel 1 was better but 2-4 didn't sound nearly as good to me.

I thought the Herbert actually sounded quite a bit nicer with the 6550's though. They really compliment that amp.

Ahh...bias the tubes at 100mA per pair and turn up the volume You may need to slightly adjust your eq settings but what you are looking for is in there.

 

[RedB4Black]

I agree with the above. I prefer el34s in the VH4, but the 6550s were an improvement for the Herbert.

 

[DEWD]

I didn't dig the 6550's so much in the VH4 but they sounded great in the Herbert. IMO, the 6550's kind of dulled everything I like about the VH4. I'm sticking w/ EL34's.

care to explain a bit more about what was it that you didn't like about the 6550 in the VH4 ?

I'm not the best at explaining tone but I'll try. To me they just smoothed everything out too much. The nice, thumping, tight lows were replaced by a wider/deeper low end and the crunchy mids that I love the VH4 for were gone. I thought channel 1 was better but 2-4 didn't sound nearly as good to me.

I thought the Herbert actually sounded quite a bit nicer with the 6550's though. They really compliment that amp.

Ahh...bias the tubes at 100mA per pair and turn up the volume You may need to slightly adjust your eq settings but what you are looking for is in there.

Tried them at 90 and 100 mA. I did get to turn it up pretty good (10:00) but I didn't try them in a band mix. I'm not saying they sounded bad, it just wasn't my thing with the VH4. I'm sure there are others that probably like the 6550's more than EL34's. Plus, it's not like it's a huge drastic difference anyway.

 

[VoodooChild24]

So how exactly would the 6550 change the tonal characterstics of the VH4? Would it
make it heavier? smoother? cruchier? more saturated?

 

[RedB4Black]

^ I didn't think they did anything drastic - that couldn't be dialed out with an eq change. The big thing they did for the Herbert was make it alot tighter. The VH4 is already super tight, so I didn't notice any added benefit with the 6550s. I guess if the 6550s are a more stable tube, then that's the added benefit.

 

[DEWD]

^ I didn't think they did anything drastic - that couldn't be dialed out with an eq change. The big thing they did for the Herbert was make it alot tighter. The VH4 is already super tight, so I didn't notice any added benefit with the 6550s. I guess if the 6550s are a more stable tube, then that's the added benefit.

Yep. Those were my exact findings with the 6550's in the VH4 and Herbert.

Voodoo....

The 6550's just made the amp smoother to my ears and not as crunchy. I didn't notice much of a change in saturation.

 

[VoodooChild24]

Matt & DEWD, Thanks for the info. I'm kinda looking to put 6550 on my VH4. Don't get me wrong but I like the EL34s as well.