What Tubes ya running in your Mod 50?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mailman1971
  • Start date Start date
Mailman1971

Mailman1971

Moderator
Just got the Mod 50, It came with the 5881's in it. I fired it up, sounded good and beefy. I had a new pair of KT77's that I just bought for another amp, I slapped them in the Mod 50, Biased at about 38. Sounded really good but on the "brittle" side?? Not sure.......maybe I had a few too many cocktails :lol: :LOL:
But I swapped them back out for the 5881's, re-biased and continued jamming. I always been a EL34 user for years so not sure why when I swapped out the 5881's if it was for just PURE INSTINCT?? I acually am finding the 5881's to be more full of TONE if that makes sense. I guess its all in the ears of the individual but any feedback you guys want to give or what you have tried in the amp would be a great help for me.

ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR THE "TONE"............ :rock:
 
I like the 5881's in the MOD50..and my RM50, but my tube of choice is SED6L6's.


I bought quite a few matched pairs of different tubes when I got the MOD50 and after experimenting, ended up back with the SED's (there is a thread floating around here somewhere).


SED6L6's are also my tube of preference in Mark series Mesa's.
 
I never tried them. I had a stint with KT-88's and they proved to be a little TOO MUCH and was too rumbly when playing loud. I then went back to EL34's. Now trying the KT-77's and the 5881. OVerall I love the tone of them modules and amp. Never going back to a Non MTS amp ever! :rock:
 
I also thought the KT77's were a little thin/brittle. Although they smoke in the Eggie clinic head. I've been happy with the Tung Sol 5881's and the Ruby EL34's. I've got some Tung Sol EL34B's on the way.......the first set blew!!

Jeff has been saying that the current production EL34's aren't quite up to snuff, but it's fun to try them anyway. I think the SED EL34's are also very good and have proven to be pretty reliable as well. That's the fun of this amp, just try 'em all!!

Honestly get a set of Tung Sol 5881's.....they really are awesome.
 
I have Sovteks in there right now and it just sounds killer. Really FAT sounding! Much different then the KT77's. Now when I bisas the tubes, the "left one" bias is a little higher than the right tube. But only one Bias adjustment spot. The left runs about 34 while the right is about 36. So when I adjust the right tube down, of course the left goes down as well. Any feedback on this? The Lynch box had a Bias adjustment spot for EACH tube. Wonder if one tube is just running a little hotter?? I have a lynch box Cab right now and was wondering if I went to a Egnater Cab if that would make a difference too. That Lynch Cab is so deep sounding. kills! :rock:
 
Just get them close. Seems like one is always a bit hotter than the other.
 
I just got in from a quick "jam" re-checked the bias since I been playing with the tubes in the past few days. They are close. One is about 34 the other is 36. Running 5881's in it. Trying to narrow down my tone. That HIGH GAIN module was tough to dial in. But I think I found the sweet spot. I can do without the Erect module, so I put it out on Ebay. Looking for a EG5 (Jeff ya out there??) :lol: :LOL:
 
I think I have some GTE34Ls in mine right now but the Tung Sol 5881s I like a lot and the JJ 6L6gc I like too :rock: I think it's in the amp :m17:
 
If you like the Sovtek 5881s, slap in the Tung-Sol 5881s. Just make sure to have a change of underwear nearby.
 
Now THIS is exactly why I went back to the Egnater amps!! Swapping tubes is as easy as changing modules.
The Self Bias feature is just too KILLER!!


New quote:
" I BOUGHT AN EGNATER.......AND I AM NOT LOOKING BACK!!" :worship:
 
The TungSol 5881s are awesome. I also like the SED6L6s, and you should also check out TAD 6L6WGCs and, if you can find them, some NOS JAN-Philips 6L6WGB. All great.
 
On the quest for the Tung Sol 5881's!!!

"Chasing the tone..........."
 
Mailman1971":vo3gqq72 said:
On the quest for the Tung Sol 5881's!!!

"Chasing the tone..........."
Click to expand...
:lol: :LOL: ,Everytime I flip the switch of the Mod,the tone is there :worship:
 
Hard to find a set of power tubes I really don't like with the MOD50 so far:

JJ E34L
JJ 6V6
JJ 6L6
GT6L6S
Tung-Sol EL34B
JJ KT-77
JJ EL84 (Yellow Jackets)
Sovtek 5881
Tung-Sol 5881

..the TS 5881 sounds very different to the Sovteks though...I wouldn't even compare them in the same class.

On balance, I think the Sovteks suit the amp best though...just the right mixture of everything to sound good with different modules...IMO
 
That to me is just whats so cool about this class of amp. Swapping the tubes and bias yourself. Not having to drop it off to the music store for 50 bucks and week of lost jamming time. Or trying to bias the amp by tearing it apart and risking getting electrocuted!! :cry:
haha! In my old Randall I was dabbling with the KT-88's and they sounding GREAT at low volume, but when we kicked it up to gig level........WOW! IT was rumbling the place apart! :D
I went back to the EL34's. Sweetend it up. But I like the 5881's in the Mod 50. Just the right "UMPH" to make you crap your pants when shredding!! :rock:
Damn I love this amp!!
 
Yeah Mailman, ain't it great about the ease of tube swap/bias?? It's almost kind of a "bad" thing for me as I end up playing around with power tubes/swaps so much instead of playing my guitar!!

Mod 50 was great at the gig last night. Crowd was lame, but it is the end of school, early summer, storms moving in, graduation parties, etc. OK, enough of the excuses!!

Bassman/SL2. Sounded killer as usual. Bassman channel 2 with Buckers gives a really nice crunchy tone. Love it. SL2 is just ridiculous as well. As much as I love channel A, that B is just amazing. May have to mod the A to B!! Ha Ha!

Honeymoon is long past and I still don't "want" for any other amps.........well, except maybe the REBEL :thumbsup: :lol: :LOL: :D :rock:
 
I first had the Randall Lynch box and that was when I was "hooked" on the MTS. It was 100 watter, so I had the 4 powertubes and loved to swap them all the time, various combos, etc. Sold that off and bought a Cameron modded amp that George Lynch used on tour. That thing was AWESOME!!! Sold the Lynch box off........Believe it or not, as sweet as the Cameron was.........I was DYING to get back to the MTS!! SO I sold the Cameron off too!! When I saw the Egnater Mod 50 pop up on the forum......I didnt hesitate!! Sooooo much fun and I am actually SATISFIED with my amp for the 1st time in 25 years of playing!! This thing does it all and the Egnater modules blow out the Randall's. They sounds like "A real Amp" and that SL2 module is by far my favorite!! But the EG4 is making a strong comeback!!!
Loving it!!!!
:rock:
 
Man, I've always loved EL34's, but I think I'm finding I prefer the 5881 in this amp now. I've been down swapping around and the 5881's give it a bit more clarity. Not quite so thick in the mids, yet you can still thicken it up with the mid knob. So far I only have the Tung Sol and Sovtek 5881's. Now I'm curious about maybe the SED6L6s. Oh the fun!!
 
I ordered mine with the stock 5881's Frank at Egnater told me that they are the "stock" tubes because they found them to be very stable and versatile. The 5881's are just 6L6 tubes built to military spec. Very durable and good for both clean and overdrive tones. As far as reliability we shouldn't forget that amps like the Mod 50, Bogners, Soldano's and other high gain amps run hot, and tubes wont last as long as they would in a Fender amp. I allways change my power tubes at least every year. Preamp tubes every 2 years.

As far as EL34's not being reliable these days, I have found that when I was using Bogners they recommended Svetlana power tubes...both EL34's and 6L6's. I had both of those tube types in my Bogners and they were allways very reliable...lasting about a year for each set.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top