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MESA 400 REPLACEMENT TUBES

#22
Well, the amp passed with flying colors. I used it for both gigs on Thurs, and Fri. Last night I did a gig up in Springfield, Mass., and it was a great night. I didn't hear anything out of the norm...although being new with the amp it is going to take me a while to dial in the right tones. She sure is a lot of amp. I'm very pleased with it. Knock on wood, but it looks like I may be able to hold off on re-tubing.
 
#23
danomite64 said:
I had a 400+; it does sound a lot like my 400. I bought a matched set of Elecro-Harmionix 6L6's and the EH 12AX7's, and it works fine. I was told by someone at Mesa that I would get more power if I sued 6550's, but they cost more, are harder to get, and the tone wouldn't be quite as nice as the 6L6's, and frankly, I don't think I'll ever need more power than what it gives me right now.
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You can load the 400+ with 6550s? That would just about double the wattage I think... Which would make it about 600 watts all tube. Looks like you don't have to spend $10k to get a Paul Jones tube head to get 600 tube watts, and damn that would be loud. :bassist:
 
#27
Hmm, the Sunn 300T i'm looking at has just been retubed/is been with Svetlana 6550's.. What sort of sound is that going to give me? I want warmth with a nice little bit of growl, but i'd like a nice, almost hi-fi top end that cuts.
I'd also like to o/d to be smooth and pleasant, not a harsh and gritty o/d unless I pushed it to full distortion etc.
Are they going to be allright?
 
#29
popinfresh said:
Are they going to be allright?
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Do some searches... they are the "Winged C" ones right? I'd been warned by a few techs & players to stay clear of them in my hunting for some clean and clear 6550 or KT88.

I'm sure if new, tested and biased... you should be fine for a long while though.

If I had a 300T needing new tubes, I'd put Sovtek KT88's (ones I bought from my head) or the Electro Harmonics 6550/KT88 (seem to be the same tube) in it. But that is just my opinion based on searching and asking and learning over a year+ for tubes for my ex Sunn Sceptre and then my Classic 400 (both used 6550/KT88 power tubes).

The Holy Grail is some NOS GE6550... I just prefer use 'current production' stuff.
 
#30
James - How did you find your 300T? When you used Sovtek/EH KT88's in it could it get an nice warm, yet almost hi-fi sound? I want warmth, and nice lows with a bit of growl. But I also want to be able to have a nice cutting top end, definently not sterile sounding though (I spose impossible from an all tube anyway) just something with a articulate top that's nice for slapping...
 
#31
popinfresh said:
James - How did you find your 300T? When you used Sovtek/EH KT88's in it could it get an nice warm, yet almost hi-fi sound? I want warmth, and nice lows with a bit of growl. But I also want to be able to have a nice cutting top end, definently not sterile sounding though (I spose impossible from an all tube anyway) just something with a articulate top that's nice for slapping...
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He doesn't have one I don't think...
 
#32
I said *if* I had a 300T (was one of the heads I was looking for when I switched to tubes).... I had an early 70s Sunn Spectre

I've got a Peavey Classic 400. I never bought the EH power tubes, they were a close second to the Sovtek KT88 I did buy. I've got a couple EH 12AX7/12AT7 driving my power section though. I put some JAN and a JJ 12AX7 in the pre.

Warm, Open, Clear, Articulate, 3 Dimensional... all discribe how my rig sounds to me. The tubes are just a piece of one part of the total package :bassist:

rereading my other post... the Sovtek and EH are different tubes. The EH 6550 & the EH KT88 look to be the same. Also the new reissued Tung Sol are said to be same as the Sovtek KT88 I bought
 
#36
Wow, this is the first that I have heard that the Mesa 400 will accept 6550's. I had always thought that the 400 used 6L6's only, and that the 400+ (with 12 6l6's versus 6) was twice as powerful. But a 400 with six 6550's would have right about the same output as a 400+ with twelve 6L6's. Interesting...

As for tubes, if you go the 6L6 route (which I wouldn't, if I were you), I concur with the recommendation for JJ's. If you go the 6550 route, I have had good luck (and tone) with the Svetlana's (Aguilar uses these). I am also lucky enough to have two matched NOS GE's in my Trace Elliot Twin Valve (thanks again, Steve!). I also have new (made in Russia) Tung Sol 6550's in my Eden VT-300A, and the low end out of this amp is just huge. I think that the Tung Sols have something to do with this. I have been told that they are closely related, if not identical to, the Sovtek KT-88's, which sell for a good bit less.

Hope this helps, Tom.
 
#37
The guy at Tube Depot didn't recomend JJ/Tesla tubes for a Mesa 400+. he said the voltage across the plate was very low compared to some of the other tubes (Sovtek and Electro-Harm). At first I thought it was a sales pitch to get me to buy more expensive stuff, but The Sovtek 6L6WXT+ tubes were cheaper than the JJ's. He said one of their staffers has a 400+ and has been thru all the tubes in the joint and the Sovteks worked best in the Mesa. Told me the JJ's would work, but the output wouldn't be as high as other tubes. I ended up with Sovteks for my power section and Electro's for my Pre's. I guess I'll find out how they sound tomorrow!!! I can't believe Mesa wants 450 bucks for thier "brand" of tubes :eyebrow:
 
#38
Masher88 said:
The guy at Tube Depot

*snip*

I ended up with Sovteks for my power section and Electro's for my Pre's. I guess I'll find out how they sound tomorrow!!!
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I deal with Chris @ tubedepot.com I recommend him to anyone who asks.... he knows his stuff and has a very no bull approach IMHO. I had mostly researched the tubes before hand and bought Sovtek for the power and EH for the driver, phase splitter, etc. I've got some JAN in the pre.
 
#39
tombowlus said:
Wow, this is the first that I have heard that the Mesa 400 will accept 6550's. I had always thought that the 400 used 6L6's only,

When I called Mesa, they said that it was designed for 6550s but you COULD use 6L6s. Huge props to the Mesa guys, they talked me through a lot of stuff on the amp when clearly I bought it used. I haven't changed tubes in my 400 yet, group I'm with, the 400 and the 4x10 has more than enough push.
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#40
Note to Masher:
The JJ's having a lower gain structure is ok with me as long as they're *clean.* The Mesa 400+ has plenty-o-power...

Note to all:
Yes, I have this in another thread, just looking for more opinions;) Thanks!


I have a Mesa 400+ that I liked a lot for electric bass. It has new Ruby power tubes in it, dunno what preamp tubes are in it. I can check and report back...I'm now playing primarily upright, and wish the Mesa were cleaner. Is it possible to swap in cleaner preamp tubes and clean up my mesa? Alternatively, I've been using an eden navigator with a qsc/plx power amp that I like a lot. The Eden has a single preamp tube, and while solid state, it is definitely not "sterile and hifi."
Can you guys help me find cleaner preamp tubes for my Mesa?
 

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