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The Un-Official Sadowsky SA200 Thread...

#244
DEVILMAN said:
...Beware all non-Tombowlus conformist, our militia is many...LOL!

~S~

PS: KT88's in an SA200 anyone?
Click to expand...

haha,

btw, i once tried having my sa200 wired up w/ 6550's, and i didnt really like it. sure, it was a nice, really dark sound, that had a nice strong punch about it. like a stronger yet not quite as hifi db359, if that makes any sense. but honestly, i liked the more midrangey, thicker furrier sounds of the original TAD EL34's. went along better w/ my HS210 and the sa410.
 
#245
jokerjkny said:
haha,

btw, i once tried having my sa200 wired up w/ 6550's, and i didnt really like it. sure, it was a nice, really dark sound, that had a nice strong punch about it. like a stronger yet not quite as hifi db359, if that makes any sense. but honestly, i liked the more midrangey, thicker furrier sounds of the original TAD EL34's. went along better w/ my HS210 and the sa410.
Click to expand...

What type of 6550's?

I guess what you're saying is the swap defeated the sole purpose of the SA200. I've also looked at KT77's, but I think any larger pwr. tube will not give the sparkle this amp is renown for.

~S~
 
#247
jokerjkny said:
they were just svetlana's, but yea, the TAD EL34's are simply perfect in this amp.
Click to expand...

I've been up in the air & talked to Mr. Sadowsky about taking the KT88 plunge with mine. I really wanted a little more headroom & some more lows(sub-A tuning), but I honestly think you'll take away more from this beauty than gain from the bigger tubes(as you've done/know/tell already).

cheers,
Steve
 
#250
I'm curious if anyone has replaced tubes in their sa200. When I picked mine up, the preamp tubes needed replacing immediately as there was quite a bit of "whooshing" noise coming through the amp that had nothing to do with an input signal.

I'm also getting a bit of intermittent static crackling - could this be the power tubes crying for help?!

For those of you who have replaced tubes or even just rolled in and out for sonic trials, would you post your findings for concerned dudes like me?

I THINK the amp is going to sound great! :hmm:
 
#251
artiseasy said:
I'm curious if anyone has replaced tubes in their sa200. When I picked mine up, the preamp tubes needed replacing immediately as there was quite a bit of "whooshing" noise coming through the amp that had nothing to do with an input signal.

I'm also getting a bit of intermittent static crackling - could this be the power tubes crying for help?!

For those of you who have replaced tubes or even just rolled in and out for sonic trials, would you post your findings for concerned dudes like me?

I THINK the amp is going to sound great! :hmm:
Click to expand...

could be a host of things.

but given that it is a tube amp, most qualified techs should be able to suss out the problem for you.
 
#254
artiseasy said:
Yep - I'm sure you're right about that Joker.

But before I take it in, I'm wondering if anyone has replaced their EL34s and what your experience was in doing so. And has anyone tried 6L6s in this amp?

Ian
Click to expand...

look back into this thread, and you'll see my findings w/ a set of svetlana 6550's. they're my fav power tube for a variety of other amps, but in this amp, just too muddy and dark.

if anything, the EL34's are in this amp for a reason. perfect balance of fat low end, thick furry middle, and hifi top.

and if anything to that anything, i've learned that if an amp is voiced w/ a particular tube, its best to stay with said tube.
 
#256
gbarchus said:
Picking up my NEW SA200 on Saturday:hyper: There's another one available but it's in Tokyo. ...also two SA410 cabs.

Gale
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Wow, grats! How on earth did you find a new SA200? That is a good score.

And, FWIW, I highly recommend that anyone with an SA200 try it out with two SA410's. One SA410 is nice, the SA410/SA210 rig is really cool, too, and more hi-fi sounding (in a good way). But two SA410's puts the SA200 into wrecking-ball mode! :bassist: :bassist: :bassist:

Tom.
 
#257
"How on earth did you find a new SA200?"

Tom, As you may know, the SA200 was to be originally marketed in Japan only. There are still a few of them sitting in stores here.

It was difficult for me to make the leap since it cost about twice as much as I paid for my used, mint condition Eden VT300A. But after reading this thread, I decided life was too short.

I'm still thinking about the SA410 but it's MORE expensive than in the States. I DO, however, have two 1X15 cabinets with AlNiCo JBLs that I hope will get the sound I'm looking for. Before I was powering them with a Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp (w/an octet of EL34s) and an Alembic F2-B.

alembic.jpg


Gale
 
#259
gbarchus said:
"How on earth did you find a new SA200?"

Tom, As you may know, the SA200 was to be originally marketed in Japan only. There are still a few of them sitting in stores here.

It was difficult for me to make the leap since it cost about twice as much as I paid for my used, mint condition Eden VT300A. But after reading this thread, I decided life was too short.

I'm still thinking about the SA410 but it's MORE expensive than in the States. I DO, however, have two 1X15 cabinets with AlNiCo JBLs that I hope will get the sound I'm looking for. Before I was powering them with a Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp (w/an octet of EL34s) and an Alembic F2-B.

alembic.jpg


Gale
Click to expand...

That is a sweet looking rig! Very nice. :cool:
 
#260
Tom,

I would never have thought to use EL34 power tubes for bass until I got a good deal on my used Marshall 100/100 watt power amp. 6L6 tubes have been my favorite since the blackface, Fender Showman "old days," but I really enjoyed using the Marshall.

I picked up the SA200 today and can wait to try it with my JBL cabinets ... and compare it to my VT300 which I will have to sell to pay for this. The shop (in Tokyo) has an SA410 but they want about $1250 for it. I tried to negotiate the price but they wouldn't budge as the retail price in Japan was $2200.

Gale
 

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