What power tubes will make my Mod 50 growl?

[MkIV]

I've been rehearsing for a couple of weeks with a new band and I find my MOD50 to be a bit to polite for my playing style and the sound of our music. So I was thinking about replacing my output tubes to see if it can get me closer to my sound ideals. I use Erect, SL2X and EG5 as my hi gain modules and the one that sounds best to me is actually the Erect - but it's just a tad to polished so to say, it doesn't have the bite that my old 2 ch Dual Recto had (stock Mesa tubes with 6L6 in the power amp). I have JJ 6V6's in it right now - I thought that a little bit of Power Amp distortion would help me, but that surely didn't do the trick...

Any suggestions on what to try? I have several 6L6's sets lying around (Mesa branded, Sovteks and some old NOS) so I will start to try them out. What other types of tubes do you think can do the trick for me? I've used EL34's and they sounded pretty nice, but they broke down quite fast...

 

[jlbaxe]

I have JJ E34L's they sound great and Svet 6550's. zak wild (Great Bite/Growl) , zztop, SRV and others use 6550's
KT77 gold lion and KT88 gold lion but I prefer the KT77's more and paired them up with JJE34L's in my RMod100 and they produce great tone for me.

The KT88 are suppose to be like the 6550 but im not really diggin them yet. Maybe I need to Bias them hotter.

 

[muudrock]

I've always favored the GT E34L in the Mod 50. Great EL34 body with a little more headroom than a standard EL34 and a little more sizzle too. The JJ is nice too. I think it's a little woolier.

 

[Buckeyedog]

I'd say give the Svet 6550's a shot.

 

[MkIV]

Thanks for the input guys. I just found a quartet of old East German EL34 (Hot Rods) I had laying around in the junk bin at my work shop - I'll give them a try at tomorrows rehearsal.

I'll definately give the 6550's a try too.

 

[EWSEthan]

Dont forget the old standard: Tung Sol 5881s.

 

[Valtiel]

I've been rehearsing for a couple of weeks with a new band and I find my MOD50 to be a bit to polite for my playing style and the sound of our music. So I was thinking about replacing my output tubes to see if it can get me closer to my sound ideals. I use Erect, SL2X and EG5 as my hi gain modules and the one that sounds best to me is actually the Erect - but it's just a tad to polished so to say, it doesn't have the bite that my old 2 ch Dual Recto had (stock Mesa tubes with 6L6 in the power amp). I have JJ 6V6's in it right now - I thought that a little bit of Power Amp distortion would help me, but that surely didn't do the trick...

Any suggestions on what to try? I have several 6L6's sets lying around (Mesa branded, Sovteks and some old NOS) so I will start to try them out. What other types of tubes do you think can do the trick for me? I've used EL34's and they sounded pretty nice, but they broke down quite fast...

I really don't think changing the power tubes will help you much here. And as far as im concerned, "growl" has a helluva lot more to do with *how* you play then what you are playing.

 

[yngzaklynch]

I just put Svet 6550Cs in my RM100KH. Major tone upgrade from the stock JJ6L6s.

 

[jmgman69]

I just put Svet 6550Cs in my RM100KH. Major tone upgrade from the stock JJ6L6s.

Agreed 1000% with this statement!!!

 

[Doubleneck]

I've been rehearsing for a couple of weeks with a new band and I find my MOD50 to be a bit to polite for my playing style and the sound of our music. So I was thinking about replacing my output tubes to see if it can get me closer to my sound ideals. I use Erect, SL2X and EG5 as my hi gain modules and the one that sounds best to me is actually the Erect - but it's just a tad to polished so to say, it doesn't have the bite that my old 2 ch Dual Recto had (stock Mesa tubes with 6L6 in the power amp). I have JJ 6V6's in it right now - I thought that a little bit of Power Amp distortion would help me, but that surely didn't do the trick...

Any suggestions on what to try? I have several 6L6's sets lying around (Mesa branded, Sovteks and some old NOS) so I will start to try them out. What other types of tubes do you think can do the trick for me? I've used EL34's and they sounded pretty nice, but they broke down quite fast...

I just ordered a pair of Svet 6550's, to pair up with the GT-E34L's in the MOD100. I'll let you know if they GROWL, when I get em.
That's exactly why I ordered them.

 

[MkIV]

I really don't think changing the power tubes will help you much here. And as far as im concerned, "growl" has a helluva lot more to do with *how* you play then what you are playing.

I kind of agree with you on that, but I got a lot of more "growl" or attitude from my old 2-ch Dual Recto than with my MOD50.

I did a lot of experimenting yesterday at rehearsal and the 6L6's did help alot but I'm not quite there yet. Tried some different speaker cabs as well as I was messing around. A Marshall 1961B with G12-65's a Marshall 1960B with G12T-75's and a Marshall 1982B with G12-80's. The 1982B seemed to be the "angriest" of the cabs but I felt the 1960B sounded a little better.

 

[aeroic]

I personally think speakers make the biggest difference in terms of "growl."

A K100 and a CL80 in a TM212 is a KILLER combo that is VERY versatile.

Eric

 

[richedie]

I think sooooo many variables factor into growl. Too many to list. I think one is your Erect is smoother than the Randall version of the real thing. That is what I like about it, because as a result it handles lead tones better. I always hated playing lead on a Rectifier. The Egnater Erect fixes that. The Randall was too much like the real thing, nice growl, but less of the Egnater smoothness. Eric is right, speakers make a difference but I tend to go with lower output tubes and speakers these days. I only play at home, small jam sessions and corner bars.....so I like less wattage. I think you get warmer, more organic tones. I find these days I like the WGS ET/65 and Veteran 30 combination the best. I also love the pair Eric likes - K100 and a CL80(I have the K85/CL80). I might get the WGS CL80 because it is US made and not the Chinese Celestion.

Supposedly KT88s are supposed to be more musical than 6550s but I do like the Svet 6550s. Much better than the TS 5881s.

I think you might get more growl from a modded Randall Recto.....but again so many things contribute, playing style, type of chord, LOL.....etc.

 

[GtrGear]

Svetlana Winged-C EL34.
Most growly/crunchy EL34 we have tried so far.
My favourite EL34.

 

[richedie]

Svetlana Winged-C EL34.
Most growly/crunchy EL34 we have tried so far.
My favourite EL34.

Did you try the SED Winged C or Tung Sol EL34?

 

[Perttu]

Svetlana Winged-C EL34.
Most growly/crunchy EL34 we have tried so far.
My favourite EL34.

Did you try the SED Winged C or Tung Sol EL34?

Is there a difference between Svetlana Winged-C EL34 and SED Winged C?

 

[RockStarNick]

Svetlana Winged-C EL34.
Most growly/crunchy EL34 we have tried so far.
My favourite EL34.

Did you try the SED Winged C or Tung Sol EL34?

Is there a difference between Svetlana Winged-C EL34 and SED Winged C?

Yes.

SED used to be called Svetlana. Somehow, they lost the rights to the name, and now, NEwSensor owns it.

So current Svetlana's are coming out of the russian sovtek factory.

THe SED's are being made in the same place where the old original Svetlana's were made.

 

[Perttu]

SED used to be called Svetlana. Somehow, they lost the rights to the name, and now, NEwSensor owns it.

So current Svetlana's are coming out of the russian sovtek factory.

THe SED's are being made in the same place where the old original Svetlana's were made.

Ok, thanks for info!

 

[richedie]

I think the best current production EL34s are SED Winged C, Ruby's, TS, and JJ.

 

[Perttu]

Have you tried these in MOD50 and how would you compare them?