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SVT-Classic Tube Replacement Help

S

Sir Clintus

Feb 13, 2009
4
0
37
Fort Smith
#1
I recently bought a Newer SVT-CL and when I bought it, a pair of the power tubes were bad and had them replaced at the music shop I purchased it from. This was to get it up an running for a gig I had up. Now I am wanting to replace all the tubes in the amp. I am fairly confident I can manage putting them in being an electrical engineering major.

Any advice on what tubes I should get both power and preamp?

Also I really like the look of the blue tubes is there any sound benefit to these tubes? Or are they the same and just look cool?

Thanks!
 
#2
Sir Clintus said:
I recently bought a Newer SVT-CL and when I bought it, a pair of the power tubes were bad and had them replaced at the music shop I purchased it from. This was to get it up an running for a gig I had up. Now I am wanting to replace all the tubes in the amp. I am fairly confident I can manage putting them in being an electrical engineering major.

Any advice on what tubes I should get both power and preamp?

Also I really like the look of the blue tubes is there any sound benefit to these tubes? Or are they the same and just look cool?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

What are blue tubes?
Why do you want to replace the tubes?

Does it sound fine? Does it work alright?
I think you should leave it as is if you answer yes to the two previous questions.
 
#3
Sir Clintus said:
I recently bought a Newer SVT-CL and when I bought it, a pair of the power tubes were bad and had them replaced at the music shop I purchased it from. This was to get it up an running for a gig I had up. Now I am wanting to replace all the tubes in the amp. I am fairly confident I can manage putting them in being an electrical engineering major.

Any advice on what tubes I should get both power and preamp?

Also I really like the look of the blue tubes is there any sound benefit to these tubes? Or are they the same and just look cool?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

On my SVT-CL, I installed all Tungsol tubes. The bottom end became much tighter...to my ears. Also, more definition and clarity. Again, to my ears.

G
 
#6
Sir Clintus said:
I recently bought a Newer SVT-CL and when I bought it, a pair of the power tubes were bad and had them replaced at the music shop I purchased it from. This was to get it up an running for a gig I had up. Now I am wanting to replace all the tubes in the amp. I am fairly confident I can manage putting them in being an electrical engineering major.

Any advice on what tubes I should get both power and preamp?

Also I really like the look of the blue tubes is there any sound benefit to these tubes? Or are they the same and just look cool?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
No good 6550's are only naturally blue right in the middle this is due to HT plasma.
Any other translucent color such as is sometimes sprayed on the outside of a tube is purely cosmetic and should be viewed with a great deal of suspicion.
I think you can find tubes that sound a lot better than the ones already sprayed blue and then spray them yourself any color you like.
Clear would be good.
I would wonder as to the darker the glass envelope the more radiant heat it might absorb. Not rocket science to realize that this is potentially rather bad practice in a high power tube amp.:spit:
GE Jan SPEC is the best 6550.
Mullard CV 4004 for 12AX7 is best and Mullard CV 4003 for the 12AU7
The real cognisenti will be far more impressed with that tube set.
no you cant afford it so it had better be Svetlana or Tung sol or EH
 
#7
I pulled the Sovtek tubes out of my SVT-CL and put in a well-matched set of Svetlana "Winged C" 6550 power tubes, along with all NOS preamp tubes, which are a combination of Amperex and RFTs. The results were nothing less than spectacular, and I'd highly recommend the Winged C tubes to any Classic owner.
 
#8
I put "Winged C" tubes in my CL, and they really sound good in an overdriven kind of way when pushed hard. The bottom end seems to have softened up a bit compared to the stock Sovteks.

From trying Sovtek, to Groove Tube Golds, to JJ's in the preamp, I like the JJ's best. They seem the most clear and quiet in comparison.
 

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