Off Topic V1 Tube Suggestions for MB Mark V

[mandoismetal]

I recently returned my Mark V with all Tung Sol 12AX7's and find that my tone is a bit thinner and has a lot more sizzle in the top end.

Any suggestions to fatten up the tone and smooth out the top?

Thanks in advance!

 

[mandoismetal]

I meant retubed not returned.

 

[Warg Master]

The stock Mesa tube in mine sound good. I do keep going back and forth between the Stock tube and a JJ ecc83 gold pin in the V1 position though. The Gold pin is fat, round and full...

That being said, I currently have the stock tube in there.....

 

[Guitardom]

I got matched sets from eurotubes.com for mine. I have "high gain" matched 12ax7's for ports 1-3. It sounds great IMHO.

 

[acwild]

I'm just curious as to how hard it is to re-tube this amp. My tubes are healthy but I've read that they're hard to reach. They don't look too bad to get at IMO but I've also been cautioned that I could get zapped so I should bring it to a tech. I flip amps so much that I've never had one long enough to need new tubes. It looks like my Mark V is staying though.


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[DrewH]

The pre-amp tubes can be a pain but its not impossible. Aligning the pins in the sockets can be tricky but I found that getting the individual tube covers back on with those ridiculous springs is the toughest part.

 

[acwild]

The pre-amp tubes can be a pain but its not impossible. Aligning the pins in the sockets can be tricky but I found that getting the individual tube covers back on with those ridiculous springs is the toughest part.

Is a tool necessary or can this be done by hand. I forgot that I did try to remove a tube from an amp and broke it's stem.


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[DrewH]

Is a tool necessary or can this be done by hand. I forgot that I did try to remove a tube from an amp and broke it's stem.


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All can be done by hand. Its been a while since I retubed a mark 5 but I believe you rotate the covers until they pop out, yank the tubes, insert new ones, and pop the covers back on. Its literally a 15 minute job.

 

[acwild]

All can be done by hand. Its been a while since I retubed a mark 5 but I believe you rotate the covers until they pop out, yank the tubes, insert new ones, and pop the covers back on. Its literally a 15 minute job.

Thanks for the info!
Back to the original topic... I'm very happy with the stock tubes.

 

[Guitardom]

Thanks for the info!
Back to the original topic... I'm very happy with the stock tubes.

Finding the right taste in tubes takes this amp from a perfect 10 to an even better 12 very quickly. I even have a matched quad of KT77's and 6l6's I swap when I need a different vibe for a band as it's mainly a studio amp.

 

[acwild]

Finding the right taste in tubes takes this amp from a perfect 10 to an even better 12 very quickly. I even have a matched quad of KT77's and 6l6's I swap when I need a different vibe for a band as it's mainly a studio amp.

Aw crap! You're going to get me in trouble. Don't you know that ignorance is bliss?
Ok, you've piqued my curiosity. I guess I can justify getting some tubes as "spares." Based on what the OP said, I guess I can skip the Tung Sol 12AX7's.

 

[Guitardom]

Aw crap! You're going to get me in trouble. Don't you know that ignorance is bliss?
Ok, you've piqued my curiosity. I guess I can justify getting some tubes as "spares." Based on what the OP said, I guess I can skip the Tung Sol 12AX7's.

I can't speak for anyone else's rigs, experiences, and needs. I tubed mine up to maximize my metal experience! The clean and tweed are still wonderful. You still have the variax ability as well to "mellow" it a bit. I also like the kt77's instead of the 6l6's when I need it less metal and more rock. It's not a huge difference, but enough to help find "that" tone your after once in a while.

I got the Mark when they were first released (head serial is in the 40's) and eurotubes who I used for all of my Rectos had not dealt with it yet. We sent a barrage of emails back and forth trying to voice it for my needs an what they now about the previous Marks. It worked out great. They now have tube sets ready to go for it in different configurations. I have done 4-5 amps theough them with nothing but great results. Again, this is my humble opinion. Ymmv.

 

[acwild]

Usually I go to channel Two for "less metal, more rock." While I like it, it's not quite perfect so I would be curious as to what else this amp is capable of. The kt77s aren't tubes that I'm familiar with.


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[Guitardom]

Usually I go to channel Two for "less metal, more rock." While I like it, it's not quite perfect so I would be curious as to what else this amp is capable of. The kt77s aren't tubes that I'm familiar with.


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Easiest way to explain is a variation and replacement of the el34.