The long awaited GAS attack!

[Bloozcat]

Thats it, Im definatley getting one, do you think I should put those JJ's tubes from eurotubes.com, people say those are very good. Also after your done with all the testing of the tubes could you list the ones you found to sound best in the amp, thanks.

I'll be sure to list my final choices on the pre-amp tubes.

As to the JJ tubes. I'm not sure how any 6L6GC tube will work in this amps circuit. There has been only one other BC 30 owner that I know of who has experimented with tube changes. There may be others out there, but so far I haven't seen their information posted anywhere. He said that the 6L6GC that he tried did not correct the sterility issues with the second channel. It may have just been his choice of tube. I think that this circuit needs a pair of power tubes that are designed like the 5881, but with a higher voltage rating to handle the 410 plate volts that this amp puts out (note: This is as reported by a poster on another site. I have not been able to verify this myself). At least that's the way it would appear given that the Philips 6L6WGB's that I put in have performed so well. I'll do some checking to see if any 6L6GC's out there will fit the needs of this amp. In the mean time hopefully there will be others posting around the web with their experiences.

The tone of this amp has been a surprise to say the least. While I was expecting tweed or brown face tone, this amp delivers something more in line with AC30 tone (at least on channel two).

 

[duhvoodooman]

I love it when a plan comes together...!

Wow, it sounds like your new Epi Blues Custom 30 really came to life after the tube change! Glad to hear that, because your initial impressions made for pretty discouraging reading. After Epiphone did so many things right with the BC30, it's a shame they would handicap the amp like that with inferior tubing. You were fortunate enough to have the right NOS tubes on hand to cure its ills, but what is Joe Average Guitarist to do? I wonder if an appropriately selected set of JJ's from Bob Pletka would hold similar benefit? You might want to consider shooting him an e-mail with your findings, so he can get a jump on identfying a Blues Custom Retube Kit like he offers for so many other amps. Based upon your experiences, I suspect there may be a lot of new BC30 owners--at least those with discriminating ears--who aren't going to be happy with the stock tone and will be looking to make an upgrade. And $200 worth of NOS tubes probably isn't an option for most of them!

In any case, thanks for sharing your experiences with all us Fretters, and all the time you put into these very informative postings. Sounds like you're going to have many well-deserved hours of pleasure playing through your "Bloozified" BC30!

 

[Bloozcat]

Well, I haven't given up on the reissue Tung-Sol 5881's just yet DVM. I've been reading of some usages of 6L6WB's in the 450 Volt range. The 5881 was originally designed as a ruggedized 6L6WB, so maybe the new Tung-Sol has some promise yet as well. There are other 6L6 types to consider also. The highly regarded Shuguang Shortbottle Blackplate 6L6WGC was some real promise. At $35.00 a matched pair from Lord Valve, they're affordable. Before the emergence of the reissue 5881 Tung-Sol, this tube was the "go to" tube for all "true" 5881 applications (old tweeds and brownfaces). Add to that the Tung-Sol 12AX7's and anyone can afford a tube change - with NOS quality level tubes. I'm just perplexed though, as to why Epiphone chose such a poor tube as the Sovtek 5881. Surely it had to be more that the ridiculously low price of the tube ($22.00 a matched pair). Maybe it was their desire to say "5881 output tubes" in their advertisement.

I was pretty fortunate to have had on hand both the Philips 6L6WGB's and the Philips 5AR4...as well as some "left over" NOS pre-amp tubes. I actually bought the Philips output and rectifier tubes about two years ago in anticipation of buying/building a tweed amp at some point in time. I knew they wouldn't be around forever, and that the price was going to skyrocket at some point, so I bought while the prices were "reasonable" (everything's relative). Fortunately for all of us there are people like Mike Matthews at New Sensor who not only saw the handwriting on the wall, but acted upon it as well. I think the reissue Tung-Sols and Mullards that they market are just the beginning of what's to come. Soon, NOS will be just be the territory of a few quirky audiophile types and museum curators. Who knows, maybe in a couple of years we'll be talking about a new "golden age" in vacuum tubes. I'm hopeful....

 

[Nelskie]

In any case, thanks for sharing your experiences with all us Fretters, and all the time you put into these very informative postings. Sounds like you're going to have many well-deserved hours of pleasure playing through your "Bloozified" BC30!

Blooz - I also share DVM's appreciation for this very interesting and informative thread. Your extensive knowledge of tubes and tube amp circuitry, combined with your literary savoir fare, is an absolute joy to read. Hopefully, you'll soon cross that diamond with a pearl in regards to your BC's tube combination. As always, we all look forward to hearing about it. Keep up the great work!

 

[Bloozcat]

Thanks guys...

Your kind words are most humbling. I feel as though I know nothing next to others out here in cyberspace. I only hope that I share with others as many have shared with me. I'd know nothing if not for the time that others have spent in educating me. I guess that's what keeps me going...there's so much I don't know, but want to know. And what good is knowing if there's no one to share it with?

I think that everyone here has something to offer, and all share what they know with enthusiasm and great humor. That's what makes this site so great.

 

[duhvoodooman]

I'm just perplexed though, as to why Epiphone chose such a poor tube as the Sovtek 5881. Surely it had to be more that the ridiculously low price of the tube ($22.00 a matched pair). Maybe it was their desire to say "5881 output tubes" in their advertisement.

I suspect that was it, exactly. Give it a bit of that "vintage" cachet with the rectifier tube and the 5881's.

Soon, NOS will be just be the territory of a few quirky audiophile types and museum curators. Who knows, maybe in a couple of years we'll be talking about a new "golden age" in vacuum tubes. I'm hopeful....

I think that's a plausible scenario, BC. As NOS tube supplies dry up, a couple of things are happening, neither of them good:

• Obviously, by the law of supply & demand, prices go up. NOS tube prices are already beyond what most tube amp owners are willing to pay, and it ain't gonna get any better! And more & more of the NOS "legends" are no longer available at any price!
• Buying NOS tubes is getting riskier & riskier. Charlatans continue to spring up on the web at eBay and elsewhere, hawking NRCTN (not remotely close to new!) tubes as NOS, or selling blatant counterfeits. And genuine NOS tubes of questionable quality get sold because the financial incentive has gotten so high.

What it all boils down to is an attractive commercial opportunity for savvy entrepreneurs like Mike Matthews. The demand is obviously real, with amp owners willing to pay a premium price for NOS-quality tubes. Since so much of what's coming out of Asia and Eastern Europe is clearly of inferior quality relative to the much tighter tolerances that NOS tubes were held to, tube suppliers who can fill that void stand to make a mint! Mike obviously recognized that, and I have to believe there will be more like him. JJ has taken a strong step in that direction, but from some of what I've read, they're still a long way from the tube-to-tube quality and consistency of the best NOS tubes. It will definitely be interesting to see how all of this develops....

 

[Bloozcat]

The big variable in this new tube market is the Chinese...specifically, the Shuguang factoy. All of us who own the Epi Valve Jr. and now this BC 30 can attest to the build quality of these Chinese made amps. The Shuguang tube factory is starting to turn out some very, very good tubes. The build quality is now such that some models like the 6L6WGC is so well built it looks like an American made tube...and that's from Lord Valve who's seen a tube or two in his time. A little direction from someone in the west could put them in a position to compete directly with New Sensor's Tung-Sol and Mullard offerings. That competition could only be good for us at the retail end.

Time will tell, but at least there are alternatives emerging to save us from expensive NOS tubes. Heck, the next batch of pre-amp tubes I'm going to buy will be the Tung-Sol 12AX7's at $16.00 ea. That's a whole lot better than $30.00 a tube for NOS, and these Tung-Sols sound every bit as good as an old RCA Blackplate ( I like LV's description of them..."audio crack" ).