VALVE AMP BIASING

IN THE LAST DECADE WE HAVEseen huge advances intechnology which haveprofoundly changed the way wework. Despite the rise in solid-state and digital modellingtechnology, virtually every high-profile guitarist and even recordingstudios still rely on good olfashioned valves.

What is a valve?Hopefully, a brief explanation willgive you a full understanding ofwhat is happening inside your ampand the enigma that engulfs theterm known as biasing. A valve ismade up of a minimum of fourcomponent parts: the heater,cathode, grid and plate. They areall housed in a sealed, airlessvacuum and this is why theAmericans call them vacuum tubes.

The heater warms the cathode,which when heated allows theelectrons to flow from the cathode(negatively charged) to the plate(which is positively charged). Thegrid is situated between thecathode and the plate.By applying

a signal to the grid it causes acurrent to flow from the cathode tothe plate. The grid is also known asthe control grid, as by varying thevoltage on the grid you can controlhow much current is passed fromthe cathode to the plate. This isknown as the grid bias of your amp the correct bias level is vital to theoperation and tone of the amplifier.

By varying the negative grid bias the technician can correctly set up your amp for maximumperformance, thus ensuring thatthe valve is operating correctly. Thevalve therefore operates literally asa valve regulating the current flowfrom the cathode to the plate thats why in England we call it a valve.

What is bias? The amplifier bias, and theproblems associated with it,confuses many musicians If youthink of a kitchen tap as avalve and the

water as an electrical current, youwill never be confused again. Whenyour tap is turned off you get nowater flowing through. With youramp if you have too much negativevoltage on the grid you will stopthe electrical current from flowing.This is known asover-biased and the amp will produce an unbearabledistortion at allvolume levels.

If you turn your tap full onyou get a huge rushof water. If youramplifier does not haveenough negative voltage atthe grid then you will find youhave an under-biased amplifier.This allows too much current topass through the valve and willcause it to burn out quickly andyou will lose punch and clarity in

your sound.

Types of biasYou can now see that

the bias of theamplifier affectsits tone. More

interestingly, the type of bias

arrangement that the amplifier

manufacturer choosesalso affects the sound.

Generally there are twotypes of bias arrangement

used in guitar amplifiers. Acathode bias amplifier has a

resistor going from the cathodeto ground. This resistor is set to

provide the correct current draw ofthe valve by setting the negativevoltage. This enables the tech to

alter the negative grid voltage byreplacing the resistor to gain the current draw required.Cathode bias amplifiers havebecome very sought after. Theyhave a sweet organic sound thathas a rich harmonic sustain andthey produce a powerfulsoundstage. Examples of these are most of the original 1950s

Fender tweed amps such as theDeluxe and, of course, the

legendary Vox AC30.In a fixed bias amplifierthe cathode is

grounded and aseparate negative

voltage isapplied to the grid of

the outputvalve. Some

amplifiermanufactures, such

as Marshall, fit a little trim-pot on the negativepower supply. This allows for easyresetting of bias when the outputvalves are changed.

In Mesa/Boogie amps no suchtrim-pots are fitted but, contrary topopular belief, by changing a fewresistors, bias on these amps can beadjusted. I would always fit a trimpot where possible on theseamplifiers as it will give you morevalve choice in the longer term andalso make it easier for a tech to setthe bias. These amps generally havehigh outputs and more headroomthan cathode bias amplifiers;examples being Marshall and Boogie.

Matching anddual matchingNow we need to understand theterms matched and dual

How have valve amps survived over 30 years of change? Derek Rocco explains why they are still a vital ingredient in music making, and talks you through the mysteries of biasing

Biasedinformation

VALVE AMP BIASING

GUITARIST FEBRUARY 2001 139

matched (which are significantlydifferent) when replacing outputvalves. Output valves will normallylast around two years, but higherquality British and American valvescan last a least twice as long, due to better components and build quality.

We are often bombarded withscience and weird and wonderfulmethods of how to match valves.Simply, the term matched meansthat when a fixed amount ofnegative voltage is applied to thegrid, the valve will allow a certainamount of current to flow throughit. The amount of current allowedby each individual valve can varysignificantly, and therefore bymatching, or grouping those withthe same current draw readings wecan ensure that the amplifier isdrawing evenly with a similarcurrent draw from each valve.

So, having the valves matched (alldrawing the same current), givesthe amp technician the opportunityto correctly set the negative gridvoltage so the amplifier functionscorrectly. If the valves were notmatched, as the technician sets thenegative grid voltage, they wouldall draw different amounts ofcurrent therefore making itimpossible for the amplifier to beset-up correctly.

It is very important tounderstand, however, that thismethod of matching, based on thecurrent draw, is only half the task.Because valves also have differentoutput levels, when you fire upyour guitar through the amplifier,valves with different outputs willlead to the amplifier soundingunbalanced with uneven distortion.

This is why at Watford Valves, forexample, we drive the output valves

under working conditions and loadto measure the output of the valve.This is measured in milliamps pervolt and ensures that the valves alsohave the same output. Thisprocedure enables us to identifyand supply valves with verydifferent characteristics. Forexample, valves with a higheroutput will generally distort sooner,and valves with a lower output willtake longer to distort. Valvesmatched on current draw andoutput levels are termed as dualmatched. They will give you a richerharmonic sound, as they allworking evenly, and theyll preventpremature component wear.

When do I need tore-bias?Having the bias checked shouldalways happen when you changeyour output valves. Valves that aremade today are not as consistent asthose produced in the early days ofvalve production. We quitecommonly see great variancebetween valves from the samebatch. So to simply buy a matchedpair of EL34s, for example, even bythe same maker, is no guaranteethat they will work correctly as theymay draw more or less current anddiffer from the way in which theamp has been set-up.

The cost of using an amptechnician varies; some offer a full-service, others will just check thebias setting. The thing to rememberis that these guys see amps day-inand day-out and they can preventtrouble happening vital for allgigging musicians.

Valve choiceAnother often used term in relationto valves is New Old Stock (NOS).

This simply means that the stock isnew but is not of currentproduction. These valves aregenerally made by British, Germanand American factories such asMullard, Philips, GE and RCA. These factories, sadly, no longerproduce valves. But these valves are the highest quality available asthey were made with very strictproduction control and high quality components. They are well worth seeking out. They havea longer life, better tone andsuperb reliability.

In recent years weve seen theAmericans take over the controland distribution of a number ofRussian factories, giving rise to thenames Svetlana and Sovtek. TheTesla factory has also reformed asJJ. Their valves are very good. TheChinese-made ones, which plaguedmusicians for many years, nowseem in decline.

Why are valve ampsso popular?A valve amps sound istremendously flexible and can betailored to the individuals taste.Many valves like the EL34, 6L6GC,5881, KT66, KT77, KT88 and6550A all share the same baseconfiguration, yet they all havedifferent sounds and can be used in

the same amplifiers with only slightmodifications or simple biasalterations. The classic Marshall JTM 45 with KT66s, and Malcolm Youngs Marshalls fitted with 6550A are just a couple of examples.

I believe the main reason somany players still chose valve-driven product is down to tone. A valve has a clipping point thatprovides that rich distortion andsound which cant be replicated by a transistor. Undoubtedly somemanufacturers are now very closeto replicating the tone of a valveamp with alternate technology but with minimum impact on thevalve market.

The great manufactures ofyesteryear, like Mullard, Philips, GE and RCA all used different materials and techniques toproduce valves. In the same way that a great guitar shapes the tone and characteristics of your amplifier, so does a valve, so a lot of thought must be putinto buying valves and thecharacteristics desired.Musicians have kept valves alive

over the last 30 years and with thecurrent Russian and Eastern Blockvalves continuing to improve, thefuture looks good. Maybe in thesedays of samples and MP3 files we

Here are some useful numbers for technicians who undertakeamplifier biasing

BristolSoundburn AudioJessey James, 0117 955 5766

Beds Bucks & HertsS D ElectronicsSteve Dove, 01442 257269

EireP Keenaham amp repairsPeter Keenahan, 00353 1 671 8886

LondonT A ServicesTheo, 0208 881 1623

ManchesterThe Amp ClinicRoland Lumby, 0161 787 8082

Useful numbers

Preamp valves(front) power outputvalves (rear) next to a rectifier valve

GUITARIST FEBRUARY 2001 141

W HEN YOU BUY Amatched set of outputvalves for your amp younaturally expect them to be tested.In most cases output valves aresubjected to tests to ascertain thecurrent draw and heater continuity.These tests give a quick idea ofwhether a valve will work in aguitar amp or not, but they are along way from ideal.

The kind of punishment a valvegets put through in a real guitaramp being played loudly is a lot likethe gruelling training undergone bythe worlds toughest troops. Usingthis analogy, the majority of valvetesters put their output valvesthrough a days gentle march in the

army cadets. Watford Valves,however, with the aid of itscustom-built test rigs, puts thevalves under real workingconditions which is the equivalent of a hellish week with the US Navy Seals.

Custom-built rigsThese custom-built test rigs setWatford Valves apart from otherdealers, says Rocco. They allowcustom selection to guarantee thatthe valves are less likely to failwhen the going gets tough. Twoof the most common machines thatare used for testing valves weremade by AVO (which stands foramps, volts and ohms). The most

common tester, which was used bymost valve suppliers in the sixties,was the AVO Mark IV. This machinecan perform many functions on asingle valve. It was designed for

service stations to check whether avalve had the correct conformity tothe manufacturers specification.This enabled valve distributors tomatch valves on the current that it

InsideWatford Valves

Derek Rocco runs Watford Valves in the UK. Ben Bartlett pays him a visit...

INSIDE WATFORD VALVES

Valves at ease after Roccos rigorous testing

INSIDE WATFORD VALVES

GUITARIST FEBRUARY 2001 143

was drawing on the tester and sowas born the phrase matching. Inthe seventies, AVO launched theVCM-163 which was the firstmachine to allow the output of avalve to be measured accurately,along with the current draw.

Its clear that although these testers can prepare our troupes forbattle, they will not prepare themfor the conditions that the roadwill throw at them: SAS style-training will be needed. WatfordValves identified this problem atthe beginning of the nineties.

The company was originally set-up to provide local groups with areliable source of valves, but itbecame clear that specialistequipment was needed which wasnot available commercially. WatfordValves then embarked, withmilitary precision, on a researchand development programmewhich, by listening to some of themost-respected technicians in theindustry, has resulted in what theybelieve is the most advanced test-centre for valve evaluation.

On with the tests...The first rig Rocco shows to me isthe high plate volt rig which wasdesigned around Marshall andFender amplifiers. This rig is aworking amplifier which resemblesa serious assault course and onewhich all Harma valves, Watfordsown brand, have to pass. This unittests all output valves from 6V6GTto KT88 and applies to an EL34, forexample, 500V plate and screen.

This procedure sorts the chaff fromthe wheat any weakness or shortcircuits will cause the valve to fail.

The valves are also tested herefor cathode heater insulation. Theheater inside is a bit like aminiature electric-bar fire whichgets the cathode or negative plateup to operating temperatures. Ifthe insulation of this component ispoor the valve will hum unfortunately, itll be humming adifferent tune from the one youwant to play! This tester also has amicrophonic test for output valveswhich was designed around a

Fender Twin, as this is one of themany tests that the AVO simplycannot do.

Although our American chumscall valves vacuum tubes, thevacuum isnt always as perfect as it could be. If the valve isgassy it has too much air inside the life and the gain of the valve are significantly reduced,thus resulting in poor sound.Watford Valves prefers not to useChinese-made valves, believingthat a lot of them suffer from agas problem and that they have ahigh failure-rate.

Regular supplyThe second test-rig takes the rangeof the first rig a stage further withthe inclusion of digital meters anda signal generator. Here I see whyit is so important to regulate themains supply these digital metersare so accurate that a change inthe supply can change a valvesreading drastically. The principlehere is simple: there is no pointlearning to fire a pistol and thenbeing expected to use a semi-automatic. So, each valve has to be tested under real workingconditions to measure not only the current drawn but also theoutput of the valves.

This is vital, explains Rocco.Valves with the same currentdraw will have different outputs; if the valves have different outputs then they can sound oddand dramatically affect the soundand balance of the amp, therefore all output valves arematched on current draw andoutput/gain. These rigs have biassetting which are the same asBoogie, Fender and Marshall,

thus insuring more meaningfulreadings, unlike the AVO testers.

Brian MayRocco now informs us that theprototype rigs have beendeveloped into two modular blocks which handle 30 valves-per-block, each valve individuallytested for all the above parameters.In any army, some troops need tobe sent for special applicationtraining and in this case it does not get any tougher than the wayin which Brian May, for example,drives his valves in his AC-30. So

I couldve sworn that thatone just moved. TirelessRocco keeps watch

Solitary scrutiny on thistest rig equals top qualitytone and performance

Watford Valves was set up to help local groups. It soonfound there was a high demand for its specialist equipment

INSIDE WATFORD VALVES

what hellish device hasWatford Valves come up withto drag those screaming EL84sand make them come of age?

Conventual testing wassimply not enough, we had toreplicate what was actuallyhappening in Briansampexplains Rocco. Hesimply runs his valves so hardthat they are at the point ofdestruction this contributesto his famous trademarksound. The test rig had to bedesigned to replicate sustainednotes, single runs and powerchords. This was a mammothtask and we needed the best,so in came Dave Petersen thecountrys leading Vox expert.

Enter the full drive bursttester, the Hammer house ofhorror to all little EL84s. Thetester is a 10 valve AC 30 witha signal generator providingthe most destructive May-typesignal. A timer is includedwhich alters the signal fromshorts bursts to long sustainingnotes. This is the only tester ofits type in the world and wasdesigned and built in good oldBlighty. Only the strongestsurvive and while WatfordValves goal of supplying themost reliable valves for Voxamps has been achieved, thefailure rate is high as the EL84 graveyard proves.

Mission timeFinally, we come to a totallyunique tester. This drive testingrig puts the small ECC83/12AX7 through a real-lifemission. The ECC83/12AX7 isthe most commonly usedpreamp valve andunfortunately is the mostvariable. The tester runs thevalves under the sameconditions they would meet inyour amp. The valves are firstly tested for hum and

electrode noise any faultshere and the valve is given itsmarching orders.

They are then tested formicrophony. Now, microphonyis not just reserved for guitarpickups, your valves can starthowling too so the valves are

linked to an amplifier andspeaker and are checked tosee whether they would begood in a guitar amp. Thevalves are then tested for thebalance between the triodes.Most preamp valves are madeup of two separate halveswhich function best when theyhave the same value in termsof gain and output.

Once the chosen few havecome this far then the finaltest comes into play, the drivetest. This test measures theactual amplification of thevalve with the guitar signaldriven into it. Each half of thevalve is given a three digit

code. The valves at the higherend of the scale will break intodistortion a lot faster andprovide you with more gain;lower values mean that thevalves will stay cleaner as theyare harder to distort.

Next time you need to re-valve your amp, think on. Arethose new shiny bottles up toyour demands?

(Left) A Variac regulates the mains supply; (right)quality valves of yesteryear

The unique drive testing rig putsthe kit through a real-life mission

Well done my pretties, youve passed the test

G

A M P T E C H

VALVESU-Like

THE HUMBLE VALVE IS WIDELY ACCEPTED as the mostinfluential single component of a good guitar amp, but how dothese little glass bottles work and why are they so important. DaveHunter visits ace British distributor Watford Valves for a look at allthings tubular, including the Brian May testing rig...

B DISTORTION

VALVES?

ack in the mid-60s whentransistors appeared to be theamplification technology of thefuture, the guitar amp industrystarted trying to sell the publicon lines like .durability-low

maintenance-no tubes to burn out andreplace. Devoted music engineers andinsiders knew, of course, that much of it wasjust marketing speak: wrapping up acheaper-to-produce product as progressand technological advancement (90scomputer boom and planned obsolescence,anyone). Long-time Leo Fender cohort andlegendary engineer Forrest White resignedfrom Fender in December 1966 when CBSexecs tried to force his hand on solid stateproduction. Fender went ahead without him,and guitarists - in an era when Hendrix,Townshend, Clapton, Beck and others werereaching new heights of lusciously distortedvalve amp tone - fled from tranny amps intheir droves. These new amps were differentin a lot of ways, but the single mostsignificant omission? .

In order to lift the lid on these mysteriousglass bottles, TGM visited Derek Rocco ofWatford Valves in St. Albans. As one of theUKs premier valve retailers and the mostthorough valve tester in Europe, he waskeen to help us discover whats behindWatfords raison detre, and to unveil thecomplexity and variety of the valve market

as we approach the Millennium.

I think in a nutshell whats important is howthe valve distorts, says Rocco. When youpush a transistor into distortion, when itclips, it just shuts down - it doesnt seeanything at the peaks and troughs of thesine wave (figure 1). With a valve you getthat harmonic distortion happening as thevalve slowly goes into distortion. The more itdistorts the more it clips, giving thatcompression and distortion that everybodyloves.

Even with valve amp settings wedconsider clean, a certain amount of smooth,rounded distortion adds texture andharmonic richness to the sound, along withsome valve-induced compression whichmakes the tone feel more tactile andplayable, and warmer to the ear. Thats whyvalves have survived, adds Derek, and, Ithink, solely because of the guitar world.Weve got a huge valve hi-fi market now, butit was guitarists who recognised how greatvalves could sound when everything elsehad gone over to solid state.

Inside your amp the guitar signal is handledas a flow of electronic current; inside the

Valves

HARMONIC

TUBES?

valves themselves this takes the form ofelectrons flowing from the cathode to theplate (see figure 2 for the constituent parts)- all of which means little to us out ofcontext.

Basically, a valve amplifies the signal,explains Rocco. One way to look at it is toexamine why we call it a -valve-. TheAmericans call it a -vacuum tube- becausetheres a vacuum in that bottle, but what itbasically does is - and its probably a morelogical way of describing it - is its anelectronic valve. Just as your centralheatings water valve can limit the amount ofwater flowing through the system, electronicvalves can limit or increase the currentflowing through them.

As the major handlers of current flowwithin the amplifier, the valves play a big partin shaping the resultant tone. Valves withdifferent characteristics shape the sounddifferently; the ultimate conclusion of thisthinking is the fact that, while you can putany functioning valve of the right type in youramp and it will work, in order to get itperforming at its peak and sounding just theway you want it, it pays to put a little extrathought into your valve buying.

Even though the best valve manufacturers(mainly European and American) shut downin the 70s, 80s and early 90s as westernindustry - and, significantly, the military -turned more and more to solid statecomponents, a great number of generallyexcellent NOS (New Old Stock) valves

TESTING, TESTING

Fig. Inside a Preamp Valve2

remain available from makers like GE, RCA,Mullard, Brimar, Philips and others. All newlymade valves currently come from factories inEastern Europe or China. Not only dodifferent makes have somewhat differentcharacteristics, but wide tolerances withinthe industry often mean that even valves ofone type from the same factory can soundand perform very differently. In either case,as with any product turned out en masse,there are also a certain number of duffvalves in any batch to come off theassembly line; sadly, plenty of these seem toslip past the factory and/or wholesalers(sometimes, admittedly, limited) qualitycontrol and into the marketplace.

The only way to weed out the clunkers isto test them individually; and while

undertaking such quality tests, someretailers - Watford Valves and Groove Tubesamong the very few in the world - also testtheir valves along further parameters whichhelp to quantify their tonal characteristics.

Whats driving me is the goal ofproducing the best-tested valves in theworld, says Rocco. Weve had theopportunity of working with people like BrianMay, Manic Street Preachers, Kula Shaker,Thunder, Lighthouse Family and others -touring musicians, who need to rely on thequality of the valves in their amps.

While tube testers have existed for aslong as tubes have been manufactured,Roccos drive to further quantify their qualityand characteristics led him to obtain - and insome cases, to have custom-built - valve

Fig. Valve vs. Solid State Distortion1

testers that go well beyond good valve/badvalve.

We had our preamp valve testerdesigned and built especially for us,explains Rocco. The resultant rig holds 50preamp valves of types such as ECC83(called 12AX7 in the USA), 12BH7, 12DW7and others, and runs them through morechecks than any other testing facility in theworld, even that used by famous Californiaretailer Groove Tubes. This is an actual,working amplifier with the same loadingsyoud find inside your guitar or bass amp,and we drive an actual signal into eachvalve. We put them through a range of teststhat are relevant to musicians. Theseinclude:

drive - the power/gain factordistortion - the point at which they cross

over into distortionhumbalance - valves like ECC83s are called

dual triodes because they contain two smallvalves within one bottle; for optimum

nn

nn

Connections

Derek Rocco mans the 50-valve big

rig in Watford Valves testing room.

PLATE (ANODE)

GRID

CATHODE

=FLOW OF ELECTRONS

CROSS-SECTIONVIEW

12AX7/ECC83 TYPEDUAL TRIODE VALVE

CLIPPING

CLIPPING

SIGNAL PEAK

SIGNAL PEAK

HARSH DISTORTIONOR NO SIGNALSINE WAVE:

SOLID STATE

SINE WAVE:VALVE

MUSICAL DISTORTION

WWW.WATFORDVALVES.COM

Digitally matched and gradedvalves for the music industry

Amp Helpline: Biasing

performance in the amplifier circuit the twohalves should be balanced

microphony - susceptibility to vibrationdisturbance and feedback

noise

The main thing were looking at, beyond thebasic function and whether the valve is noisyor not, is drive. The drive scale runs from 0to 300. For good, basic valves were lookingfor 170-180. For an excellent first drivervalve for a Marshall, say, you might wanteach half of the triode to be 250 - but youllfind out of a whole batch of good valves, notmany will read that high. We selected abatch of preamp valves for Kula Shakerrecently, and they were all 270 and 280!

Output (power amp) valves of the 6L6type (which includes 6550s, 5881s andothers) are run on another specialised rigwhich tests for gain, distortion, hum andmicrophony. These are driven at a whopping500+ volts, close to or above the levelsrunning within actual amps, to determinecurrent-draw levels for accurate matching(for the importance of output valve matching,see Biasing sidebar).

When it comes to pinpointing premiumexamples of the sweet-sounding, small-bottled EL84 output valves, however,Watford Valves are driven by a highercalling. We were supplying valves for BrianMays Vox AC30s, and we found they werefailing at an alarming rate, says Rocco.Brian runs his AC30s flat-out, with a treblebooster going into the front end, andanything but the sturdiest EL84s just canttake it.

To isolate valves that are up to the job,Watford built yet another custom rig, thistime with the help of TGM contributor andpremier Vox technician David Petersen.

David is brilliant, enthuses Rocco. Heworked out all the parameters for this testeraccording to whats actually going on insideBrian Mays amps. We power up 12 at atime, and while were burning them in underload a timer puts signal surges through themevery few seconds for an extended period oftime. Any weak ones will blow, and wellweed them out.

MAY

n

n

DAY

Batches of EL84s tested in this way havebeen sent to May for months now, to thegreat satisfaction of the man himself - andthe even greater relief of his amps.

To capitalise on their valve-testingexperience, Watford have recently launchedtheir own high-end range, branded asHarma Diamond Range valves. Our goal,Rocco admits, is to one day be ratedalongside Groove Tubes, but to still be ableto sell valves cheaper than they do -although many Harma valves are alreadytested to more stringent parameters. What

we want to achieve is an affordable way totest all our valves for quality, then the Harmarange will be a select valve that will combineconfidence in how its been tested with theknowledge that its different from anythingelse on the market.

The downside is, the more rigoroustesting we do the more valves we comeacross that fail our standards; so weveapproached it from the perspective of -whats the best sounding- rather than just -whats the cheapest or most readilyavailable wholesale valve-.

What a full range of testing allows us todo, however, is to offer quality guaranteeson all valves but, for a little more money,also offer valves that have been tested andgraded more rigorously - for more headroomor more distortion, use in Fenders orMarshalls, and so forth. That allows us totailor valves to a variety of specialistapplications and sounds.

For more information on Watford Valvesand the Harma Diamond Range, contact:Watford Valves 01923-893270, or visittheir Web site:

%www.watfordvalves.com

What is this thing called biasingthat were meant to have donewhenever we change power

valves, and whats it all about?

Think of your amp as the engine on anolder model car, explains DerekRocco. Changing the valves is like

putting in new spark plugs, points andcondenser, but in order for things to runsmoothly you still have to set the timing andidle control. Biasing simply sets theoperational level of your amplifiers outputvalves. Preamp valves, note, are self-biasing - and therefore excuse themselvesfrom the discussion from here on in.

All valves of the same type may be madeto the same general specs, but they comeoff the assembly line with slight variationsmeaning that, plugged straight in, they wontnecessarily draw the same current as thevalves youre replacing. The negative gridbias setting affects the current flowing fromthe plates of the power valves: increasingthe negative grid bias means less currentflows through the valve, while decreasing itmeans more current will flow. Why is thisimportant?

If you have too much current flowingthrough your valves you will run them andyour amp hot. This will result in burning thevalves out prematurely and can even riskamplifier and/or transformer damage, saysRocco. If your amp is running with notenough current flow then the valves will not

have enough time to correctly amplify thesignal, resulting in weak tone and a horribleun-musical distortion which is hard on theear.

The importance of correctly biasing youramp also brings us to the subject ofmatched power valves. Most amps providea single facility for bias adjustment, eventhough they may carry a pair or a quartet ofpower valves. Because the amp must be seta single negative grid bias level that bothvalves are happy with, its important toinstall matched sets with similar currentdraw levels. Slightly mismatched powervalves may work, but the push-pull circuitryin the amp will operate inefficiently, possiblyresulting in impaired tone.

Some amps are built with fixed-biascircuits - notably many by Vox andMatchless (the classic old and new Class Adesigns), some older Fenders, and evenearlier Mesa/Boogies - so they cant beadjusted anyway, though matching outputvalves remains vital to keep the push-pullcircuit at its peak.

NOTE: Biasing - which involves workingwith potentially lethal voltages - is aprofessional job only. Dont attempt ityourself without proper training, the correcttools and equipment, and full safetyprecautions. An amp tech should chargebetween 10-30 pounds to correctly biasnew power valves (and may include it aspart of a general service and re-valving job)

Tubes are tubes, right? Sadly, no.Guitar amps may function in theliteral sense with an appropriatetype from any manufacturer (thoughnot for long in some cases), but becausepreamp and output valves really are at thecentre of an amps tone, the soundproduced can alter beyond recognitionfrom make to make.

In simple terms, valves available to buytoday come from two distinct camps:current production examples, and NewOld Stock (NOS). The first aremanufactured in factories that are still upand running, while the second batchconsists of remaining stocks of valveswhich are still new in the sense thattheyve never been used, but weremanufactured long ago sometimes asfar back as the 50s.

Valve production in Western Europeand the USA ceased in the 1980s, bywhich time the technologies that primarilysupported it mainly military andcommunications uses had changed overfrom vacuum tube to solid state circuitry.Although valves were and still are used inbetter instrument amplifiers and somehigh-end audio, these markets justwerent enough to keep the high-costfactories running. From that point onward,

new valves were only manufactured inEastern Europe and China. With Chinarecently having ceased production,current manufacture comes only from theSovtek and Svetlana factories in Russia,JJ Tesla in the Slovak Republic, and EI inYugoslavia (though availability and qualityof EI are being hampered by wartimeembargoes, so we wont consider themhere).

Not a lot to choose from, youll agree.Fortunately considerable if ever-dwindling supplies of generally superiorNOS valves do remain, but if youvestudied your economics youll alreadyhave guessed that the laws of supply anddemand dictate that these desirableWestern European and US manufacturedcomponents will gradually commandhigher and higher prices as they sell outinto extinction.

Thats the reason you really need toknow what youre paying for and why. Inthe tests below, well look at the mostcommon and readily available currentproduction preamp valves and a basket ofstill relatively easily found NOS examples,along with a couple fetching astronomicalprices but worth considering asstandards of the type the legendaryMullard, for example.

TESTING: 12AX7/ECC83In order to test the full range ofapplications, the amplifiers used were a70s Fender Twin Reverb fitted withJBLs, a 70s Fender Twin Reverb fittedwith original Fender blue backspeakers, a Mesa/Boogie Mark IVcombo, a Marshall 100 Super Lead into a4x12" cab, an 80s Fender PrincetonReverb II and a vintage Vox AC10 withElac speakers. Guitars used included a1973 Fender Stratocaster, 1980 YamahaSA 2000S semi-acoustic and a 1980Gibson Les Paul Standard. Valves wereselected for low microphony and lownoise and rated for gain.

All of the valves below are of the12AX7/ECC83 double triode type(12AX7 being the US designation, ECC83the European). While you will find othervalve types in some parts of guitarpreamps, these are the most commonfirst gain stage choice and thereforehave the most effect on your amps driveand tone. Origin and Current or NOSmanufacture are indicated; GP stands forGuide Price and gives an approximaterange of prices commanded by eachvalve type on todays market. Forspecific prices and availability, checkwith retailers in our Connections sidebar.Any letters or numbers following themanufacturer name (such as WA orLPS) indicate sub-codes in the valvetype ie 12AX7LPS. Mullard ECC83,Mullard M8137 Box anode, RCA 7025and Telefunken ECC83 were used as thereference.

SYLVANIA (USA, NOS. GP: 9 16)Classic American valve which was fittedby all the great 60s amplifier companiessuch as Ampeg, Fender & Gibson. Thisvalve produces a rich, warm sound withexcellent balance; when distorted itproduces a fat sound with plenty of drivewithout loss in top end clarity. In theFender amps the valve produces a clean,bright response which is great forfingerpicking. Single coils sound full withno harshness and plenty of detail.

In the Boogie a sweet, crisp cleansound is easily attained, plus a classicrock sound with a little mid-forwardness(which we like). Because of the high-gainnature of the Boogie, however, itsimportant to select valves for lowmicrophony. Early 1960s production; anideal choice for all vintage Fenders.

GE-JAN (Joint Army Navy) WA (USA, NOS. GP: 8 25)This rugged American military spec valveis of immense quality its the samevalve fitted as standard in 70s Fenders.The GE valve is famous for its big, crisp

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TUBETastingA Players Guide: Pt1 Preamp ValvesJUST AS DIFFERENT STRINGS OR PICKUPS WILL DRASTICALLY alterthe sound of your guitar, different makes of even the same typeof valve can radically change your amps tone and affect itsreliability. British dealer and premier tube tester Derek Roccoof Watford Valves shares his taste tests with us

sound stage and bright top endresponse, something which reallybreathes life into Fenders. This valvesupplies that authentic Fender twang; itsbrighter than the other American valvesand also works really well in the Vox bygiving it a clearer top end response.When the valve distorts it has a richharmonic feel and chime. Even underheavy Boogie distortion the bass andmidrange detail are superb. Thoroughlyrecommended.

SOVTEK WA(Russia, current. GP: 3.50 6)Low to medium gain with the samesound quality and less gain than the WB.When distorted, the WA doesnt have thedetail or balance of NOS stuff this valveseems to be pushing everything throughthe mid band. When pushed hard thesound compresses very early, too. Butits good for general repairs.

SOVTEK WB(Russia, current. GP: 5 8)Low to medium gain with lowmicrophonics. Clear, bright sound,

although it lacks the clarity and definitionof NOS valves, and it and distorts earlierthan the WA. The sound is the same asthe WA, but far better than the Chinese12AX7 no snap, crackle and pop.

SOVTEK LPS (Russia, current. GP: 8 10)The new Sovtek 12AX7LPS is now inproduction in Russia. This valve is ofmedium to high gain and has a specialspiral filament which greatly reduceshum when operating in amplifiers withAC heaters. This is certainly the best12AX7 that Sovtek have come up with.

In guitar amps we noticed that thelevel of microphonics are higher than theWB, but this would also be consistentwith the higher gain of the tube. It gives abright and clean sound, but not as sharpas the GE (below). When distorted, itretains its control and sounds sweet.Overall this is a very good sounding valve a decent choice for audio or guitar.

PHILIPS-JAN WA(USA, NOS. GP: 7 14)Low-noise American military valve made

in the famous Sylvania plant inEmporium, Pennsylvania. It retains theclassic warm, solid sound of the earlySylvania but has less drive. This provesuseful in the Boogie as the lower gain ofthe valve gives less microphonics.Midrange is very musical with all theclarity of the Sylvania.

The bottom end is superb: incomparison to the Sylvania it sounds alittle tighter and better defined, which iswelcomed in the Marshall amps. Thebass is not as deep as the Mullard butthe Philips does have that instant British-style tone. In the Fender amps all thetone that you would expect is there. Thisis a superb valve and an instant upgradefor all modern amps.

MULLARD(GB, NOS. GP: 35 60)This legendary British valve is the mostsought-after ECC83/12AX7 type of alltime. The key is the way the valvedistorts. The Mullard reproduces exactlywhat is driven into it with greatmusicality, combining smooth drive withbalanced low microphonics andreproduces every subtle detail with a rich

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Sovteks lower-gain WA

The real McCoy: British and US-madeNOS valves by GE, RCA and Mullardare the stuff of ampaholics dreams

A more desireable Sovtek WB

sound stage. When overdriven the valvehas a 3-D effect which makes it reallysing and it sounds amazing in a Boogie.The noise level even at full saturation isvery low, while the bass response hasgreat kick without loss of definition. Wecame to the conclusion that this wasgoing to be a hard act to follow.

BRIMAR CV4004(GB, NOS. GP: 11 24)British military spec valve with half-flangeanode giving instant British rock.Exceptional balance and sound stagingwith great drive. It hasnt got the richharmonic distortion or the unique 3Deffect of the Mullard and under fulldistortion doesnt have the same bite,but the presentation is relaxed andmusical, which none of the new ECC83types can match. This valve does every-

thing it should do excellently.

CHINESE(Sold under various brands,recently discontinued. GP:4 7)Chinese 12AX7s tended to befitted by all the major ampmanufactures while they werein production. On the plusside they have good gain andlow microphonics, which suitsthe Boogie and the Marshallamps. The drawback? Acomplete lack of tone, givingthe trademark wasp in a jamjar cheap overdrive sound.The treble is fizzy and thebass response gives a hazydistortion. Also, after only

short periods of gigging these valvestend to sound harsh and brittle. Sadly,we cant recommend these valves.

JJ TESLA (Slovak Rep, current. GP: 5 8)Watford Valves have recently re-evaluated this valve (some earlyproduction items produced excessivehum which rendered them useless). Thevalves gain characteristics place it in themedium to high gain range. The bottomend response is clean and clear; it has asolid structure which makes it free fromadverse microphonics. Tonally, theyreare great. The midrange has a slightblurring which seems to increase theharder you push it, while the top end issweet and clear and has nice sustain.Great for rock sounds, but not ideal forclean.

GE 5751(USA, NOS. GP: 6 12)This is a low-gain valve which producesall the classic GE sound stage andperformance as described with the12AX7WA version. The valve is very lowin distortion and very difficult to clip. Thisis an excellent valve for use in Fenders orany clean stage application, soundingbright and vibrant with plenty of detail.Its very well balanced indeed its veryeasy to get identically matched examples(where each of the twin triodes haveidentical characteristics). This valve is farbetter than any currently produced valvefor clean, pure Fender style twang.

RFT(former East Germany, NOS. GP: 8 14)This German valve used for a longperiod by Marshall is sometimesbranded Brimar, Siemens or Telefunken.It has a rich bass response, great drive, aclear and detailed midrange and is verylow in microphonics due to a thick glassenvelope. This valve distorts earlier thanthe USA types, but it shows less trebleresponse a characteristic which lends itto rock-style set ups. The rich harmonicdistortion, full of rich sustain with plentyof bass crunch, makes this a great valvein Marshall, Boogie and Vox amps.Definitely one for rockers and bluesplayers.

TESLA E83CC/ECC803S(former Czechoslovakia, NOS. GP: 18 24)The Czech replica of the famous

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Mullard: king of preamp tubes A military grade Brimar CV4004

Telefunken ECC803S, this valve hasthe large A frame getter and thickgrade glass which eliminatemicrophony. It also retains the goldpins and plate structure of theTelefunken (and is not the same asthe new JJ Tesla E83CC).

The first thing that strikes you isthat it is very quiet and displays nomicrophonics whatsoever. Itsbeautiful on female vocals in pro-audio applications as it has a supermidband, very fast and dynamic. Wechecked these against a privatestash of real Telefunken ECC803Sand now reckon that these areidentical in every way, including thesound (all it really lacks is thediamond mark). It has a rich bottomend, silky smooth treble and nicebalance.

In guitar amps the sound stage is big,with no rings and no pops just yourguitar. This valve seems very neutral, notcolouring the sound in any way, andwhen pushed into distortion it soundsreally rich with super-late compression.This is fabulous it just does what it issupposed to do: nothing more, nothingless.

SUPER TUBES: RESULTSThe first thing is that under these teststhe unanimous conclusion is that theNOS valves offer better sound qualitythan the current production types, butthis has to be balanced against cost andwhat your own budget will allow. Tonalityis in the ears of the listener and youmight find that a current production itemhas exactly what you are looking for. Sotry as many valves as you can until youfind the sound that suits you.

The Mullard ECC83 is the clearwinner, as its own superb charactershines through. Detail, sustain andperfect balance are second to none, but

what really wins the day is its superbthree-dimensional distortion characterand bass bite.

Otherwise, its a very close race forrunner-up. The RFT has a great rock toneand Mullard-style gain: it can be made todistort very easily and is most at home inMarshall and Boogie amps. With basscrunch in abundance, this is an idealvalve for rock players. The GE is themost American sounding due to itsbright nature. We love the sound stageand crisp distortion of this valve, and itscertainly a great all-rounder with lowmicrophony.

The Sylvania and Philips valves allshow a similar sound quality. TheSylvania have higher gain and higherdrive: this could lead to feedback incritical early gain stages if the valves areunselected for microphony. The Philipsseems to be tighter in the bass area butretains the classic mid-band warmth and it sounds really good in Fender amps.

The Brimar CV4004 is a classicBritish-sounding valve. Refined andbalanced, it does everything it should,

and very well. Mind, its not asaggressive as the Mullard, the GE orthe RFT.

Of the current production items,in terms or pure sound quality theJJ Tesla is the best. The current JJTesla valves (used heavily byGroove Tubes) are higher gain thanones from the early productionyears. They generally have a goodsound with a forward presentation,though when pushed really hardthey can sound a little rough aroundthe edges. The audio boys may notlike this but it does sound good inguitar amps.

The Sovtek valves are certainlylow on microphonics and thatswhy theyre used by more ampmanufacturers than any other valve.The WB and LPS are the best for

guitar. The LPS seems to be cleaner andsharper than the other Sovteks, and whatyou lose in microphonics you get backdouble in terms of gain. This providesmore crunch, more drive and moremusical tone than any Sovteks before.Basically, the Sovteks do tend to sufferfrom a little midrange fuzz when pushedand lack the midrange detail of NOSvalves, but they offer top value for moneyand are available in quantity.

The simple rule to remember is that allthe valves do sound different and it maybe the least expensive valve that meetsyour needs. Once you have found yourpreference always get some sparesbecause in life these three things arecertain: death, taxes and the fact thatstocks of original vintage valves will dryup!

Next issue: current production and NOSoutput valves go under the tonemicroscope.

Further results and other tube typescan be seen on the Watford Valves website: www.watfordvalves.com

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81

V alves are available from a numberof established UK dealers, althoughprices vary according to supply,degree of testing and matching provided,and so forth. You can generally expect topay a quid or two more for guaranteedtested preamp valves than from job-lotwholesale style sellers; youll have todecide for yourself what the savings vsthe risk is worth to you. As these testsindicate, many current Eastern Europeanvalves in particular have occasionallyhigh failure rates, and even US and UK-built valves of near-mythical status cansometimes fail right out of the box.

Although many big valve dealers willre-brand units with their own logos (as

done by Groove Tubes, Ruby Tubes, andWatford Valves own Harma label) youshould always have access to accurateinformation on the original modelnumber and country of origin. Asdiscussed in our feature, all currentproduction valves will come from well-known lines built in a few establishedfactories, while remaining supplies ofNOS valves are also generally only fromfamiliar and traceable production runs ofyears past whatever new branding isgiven them. Many good guitar shopscarry stocks of valves, but for specialistUK suppliers try:Watford Valves 01923-893270 orwww.watfordvalves.com

CONNECTIONS

GEs robust, low-gain 5751 Chinese 12AX7: not a favourite

H aving sorted you out for preampvalves last issue, this installment ofTube Tasting turns the microscopeon the two major styles of largeoctal (that is, eight-pin) output valves.

Mainly an American valve in its originalform though examples were builtelsewhere, and of course currentproduction comes from Eastern Europeonly the 6L6GC and its relative the 5881are most closely associated with the bigFender amps rated at 40W or more,though they also feature in newer designsfrom Mesa/Boogie, Soldano and others.Its British cousin the EL34A (a somewhatsimilar valve but with slightly differentvoltage requirements and tonalcharacteristics) is the longest-runningvalve of choice for Marshall, Hiwatt andothers, and typifies the classic Britishsound. The two most popular smallervarieties of output valves the EL84 andthe 6V6GT will be examined next time inthe third and final part of this series.

As in our last issue, our tests willcompare both current production and NOS(New Old Stock) samples (turn back to Part1 for a fuller explanation of terminologiesand the history of Western verses EasternEuropean and Chinese valve production).GP stands for guide price and indicatesthe approximate price range you canexpect to pay for a single valve on the UKmarket (remember: most amps will require

either two or four output valves).

TESTING: EL34By evaluating current production EL34against NOS items, we hope youll beable to select the most suitable andreliable valve for your style of music.Weve placed the emphasis on currentproduction items which should be easyto get hold of and the good news is thequality of current production EL34s hasgreatly improved since the start of thedecade. Weve picked valves with lowmicrophony, low noise and similar gaincharacteristics, using the Mullard EL34as a reference valve. The same appliesnow as did years ago: if you want theultimate tone, simply buy the Mullard ifyou can find (and afford) them.

The amplifier we used was a Marshall100 Super Lead into a 4x12" cab loadedwith Celestion Vintage 30s. The guitarswere a 73 Fender Strat, a 1980 YamahaSA2000S semi-acoustic and a 1980 LesPaul Standard.

MULLARD SINGLE GETTER(GB, NOS. Guide Price: 60 90)The Mullard provides crisp ringingsustain and huge, tight bottom end withclarity which was unrivalled in this test.The Mullard has it all: the valves soundhuge with wide imaging and detail. When

the valve is pushed hard it soundsferocious with cutting bite. Power chordsrock the very foundations, and the valvenever loses control when saturated. Inhistory, not many valves can claim themantle of best audio valve and bestguitar valve: the Mullard still reignssupreme at both.

SOVTEK WXT(RUSSIA, current. GP: 6 12)The WXT is an upgraded Russian valvewhich replaces the EL34G & EL34G plus.The manufactures claim a unique gridblock design which improves electronflow and gives higher output apparently6 per cent higher than the competition.

With a rating of 25 watts platedissipation, this valve is a vastimprovement on its predecessors. It hasa higher anode current draw and highergain and is very stable. In reliabilityterms, the valve has stood the test on theroad in countless Marshall amps and inour high plate volt test, all 24 piecescome through with no problems.

The valve has good bottom endresponse which is nice and tight. Itdoesnt have a big sound stage like theMullard, instead offering a one-dimensional focus which is great for leadwork as it pushes the sound right out.When saturated, the distortion has afuzzy element great for grunge. Thetop end response can go a little grainyand get hard on the ear but generallytheres a nice top end chime. Wedrecommend this valve for use in allapplications.

SVETLANA (Russia, current. GP: 8 14)The Svetlana claimed by its makers togives the best performance underoverload conditions thanks to a specialplate material is used by many OEMmanufacturers including Marshall.Reliability is not a problem: this valve hasstood the test of time. In our endurancetest all the Svetlanas came through withflying colours. The thing that reallyimpressed us was that the readingsdidnt change. Svetlana definitely havethe ageing process sorted out.

The valve has a more linearperformance than cheaper options likethe Sovtek, and the bass response isbetter defined. The sound stage is alsobigger than the Sovtek, and gives theMarshall more of the trad British rocksound. This unit is very well balancedwith the midrange in correct focus, thetop end smooth and crisp. A great valveand, again, thoroughly recommended.

EI & EI 6CA7(Yugoslavia, current. GP: 8 14)Both of these Yugo valves failed theendurance test at an alarming rate even the 6CA7 versions which aresupposed to be specially tested by the

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TUBETastingA Players Guide: Pt2Output ValvesWITHOUT FUNCTIONING, GOOD QUALITY OUTPUT VALVES your5000 hand-built, point-to-point Scream-O-Tone combo is just somuch crackling plywood. This issue, Derek Rocco of WatfordValves shares with us his taste tests of the larger variety EL34and 6L6GC power tube varieties

manufacturer. The valves that did comethrough (about 7 out of 12) weredrawing up to 10ma less current thanwhen we started the tests. These wouldneed a serious burn-in process beforematching.

Those which survived burn-in lackedthe bottom-end response of the Mullard,Sovtek, Svetlana and Harma andsounded lighter and woollier. Theres anice top end response which is notharsh and easy on the ear, but themidrange response is recessedand very fuzzy when pushed.

Overall, these are not asgood as the Sovtek or Svetlanaif you want the classic rocksound and, basically, this valvejust isnt in the same league asthe others, with poor reliabilityand electrical construction.Best avoided.

JJ/TESLA (HARMAVersion)(Slovak Rep, current. GP: 8 15)The Harma is a speciallytested/selected valve ofEuropean manufacture. It hasthe widest frequency responseand the highest platedissipation (30 watts) of the

valves tested. It has a number of featuressuch as gold wound grids and heavygrade glass all making this a ruggedvalve for road use.

The bass response is big and bold andvery well balanced. The tone is brightand slightly forward-sounding, with asound stage thats big and quite Mullard-sounding and a mid response thats clearand sweet. When driven hard the valvenever loses control, with rich distortionblasting through. We really love the top

end response it makes aMarshall really sing, and itseasy on the ear. Reliability-wise, these are rock-solid: thebest current production EL34,bar none.

CHINESE(Sold under various brandnames, current. GP: 5 10)Chinese valves have a badname for reliability, beingelectrically inconsistent and ofpoor build quality. Somedealers are saying that theyveimproved, so we thought wedtry them again.

The results: as bad as ever.These are the only valves tohave ever blown more than

one fuse on our test rig. Even when youfind some that actually work they haveabsolutely no top end, sounding dull andunrefined. Frankly, the box and theprinting is worth more than the valveitself. Our advice? Dont bother.

EL34s: CONCLUSIONThe general standard of EL34s hascertainly increased since the start of thedecade. The battle ground comes downto three valves, all of which have theirown virtues: the Sovtek, Svetlana and theJJ/Tesla. The other valve manufacturescant currently compete.

The best-sounding current productionvalve is the JJ/Tesla (sold by WatfordValves as the Harma STR version). Thiswe found the closest to the Mullard insound quality and overall size. TheSvetlana also has a great Mullard-stylebottom end but is not as involving or asforceful as the Tesla. The Sovtek is agreat blues valve which overdrives nicelyand pushes out fierce, hot solos. Theycan sound grainy at the top end, but Idont mind that: after all, its rocknroll.

The Mullard is still king of the pile,followed by the Siemens. The gap isdefinitely getting closer, but its doubtfulthat the Mullard will ever be bettered.Mullard prices continue to rise, so if yourequire the ultimate then it wouldgenuinely pay to buy now. If financiallychallenged then then the JJTesla/Harma, Sovteks and Svetlana areall good choices which you can try untilyou find your favourite.

TESTING: 6L6GC6L6 types are one of the biggest-sellingvalves in American history, and are stillthe favoured choice of manymanufactures. We wanted to see if thecurrent production types could competewith some of the finest valves ever made.

The amplifiers used were a 70s FenderTwin Reverb fitted with JBL speakers, a70s Twin Reverb fitted with originalFender blue back speakers, and aMesa/Boogie Mark IV combo. Guitarsused were the same as for the EL34 tests.

We chose the famed RCA 6L6GC wasused as a reference. The JBL-fitted Twin with its piercing high end and overallvolume was used to establish if thevalves were microphonic.

RCA BLACK PLATE(USA, NOS. GP: 50 80)The RCAs handle every situation withgreat authority. From hard rock in theBoogie to steely Fender twang, thesejustify their legendary reputation andprovided an accurate reference standard.The bass is big with perfect balance anddefinition between top, middle andbottom. Sonic presentation is full andwhen the valve goes into distortion it

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Old-version Tesla EL34

Lotta bottle: 6L6GCs power a Mesa/Boogie Rect-O-Verb,above, while EL34s drive a Marshall head, below

A M P T E C H

remains sweet and musical. All the ampssound huge with RCAs and displayed nota hint of harshness, even whensaturated. These valves simply make youwant to play.

CHINESE(Sold under various brands, current.GP: 5 10)This valve is offered by many amplifiermanufactures and many designer valvecompanies. All we can say is: why? Afterfinding a choice foursome to fit the Twin(after 10 valves failed a simple burn-intest) the sound quality was still abysmal:harsh and brittle, with compression waytoo early. The bass is loose and fizzy andin the Fender with JBLs I found myselfthinking that a transistor amp wouldsound better then the amp went down.On examination we found thecathode/heater insulation was poor andthe valves were gassy, whichever brandname was placed on them. They alsowere pretty microphonic. It makes nocommercial sense for any dealer to stockthis valve as they simply cannot operateat normal guitar amp plate voltages. Ifyour amp has these valves installed,discard them at the earliest opportunity.

SOVTEK 5881/5881 WXT(Russia, current. GP: 5 10)This is the industry standard, fitted byFender, Marshall and Boogie. They havea warm tone but lacks the scale andharmonic detail of the RCA. Whenpushed hard the Sovteks tend to losecontrol and can sound muddy. The finedetail is blurrier than the other valves,especially with the JBL-loaded Twin. TheSovteks performed very well on themicrophony test, and only a few unitsfailed the burn-in test.

SOVTEK WXT Plus(Russia, current. GP: 7 12)This valve differs from the 5881 by havinglarger plate dimensions and improved

grids to allow higher power handling, andit performed very well in the microphonictests. The WXT Plus has more top endclarity than the 5881: the midrange is stillmuffled when pushed, while the bassresponse is much the same as the 5881,being soft and sweet. In all three ampswe noticed a little more detail and claritythan with the 5881, yet the WXT Plusvalves were not as good as the majorityof others in this test in the claritydepartment.

SYLVANIA(USA, NOS. GP: 20 30)These Sylvania valves late-60s andearly-70s production sound full andrich, and theyre solid as a rock: noproblems on the high plate volt tests andno problems with microphony. The bassis nice and tight with that classic warmsound associated with Sylvania. In theFender amps they sound a lot brighterthan in the Boogie but in no way are theyharsh. The midrange is not as detailed asthe RCA, but the valves are very punchyand forward sounding.

Imaging and presentation are far betterthan the Sovteks, too. These are a greatchoice for all applications if you wantthat real Fender twang.

GE (Early Type)(USA, NOS. GP: 22 32)The early type GE 6L6 has a morerounded appearance and is slightly

smaller than later production items. Thesound stage and imaging are huge,making the notes fly out of the amp.Bass is deep, rich and plentiful andequally as extended as the RCA; thefamous Strat voice is not lost even underdriven conditions. The top end has a rich,bell-like clarity which begs you to sustaina note. In the Boogie which came withpoor-quality Chinese 6L6 valves fittingthe GE gave an instantly richer, fatter,almost stack-like tone which I thoughtsounded better even than with the RCAs,while the JBL-fitted Twin shone withclarity and midrange sparkle. These GEsare one of the greatest 6L6s of all timeand come with our strongestrecommendation.

TUNG-SOL 5881(USA, NOS. GP: 35 45)This is the valve that gave the tweedFender Bassman its true voice. The bassis very tight, well defined and in yourface: the valve is well balanced and hasthe classic midrange twang. They giveless power than the Sylvania, GE or RCAbut have superb drive and great earlydistortion and actually make the ampsound bigger than it really is. A great-sounding valve that deserves its classicstatus.

PHILIPS WGB (& HARMA SB)(USA, NOS. GP: 10 20)This American-made military

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Valve heaven: an original RCA black plate 6L6GC

A Russian-made 5AR4 rectifierand EL84 (left & centre) flank anNOS small-bottle USA-made GE6L6GC (right), one of the clearfavourites of the tone tests

specification valve has all the tight bassand midrange clarity and twang of theTung-Sol and its something of abargain. The break up is very musicaland the dominant midrange response isuniquely classic Fender with noharshness. True, its a little less definedand aggressive than the Tung-Sol, butits warmer with a touch less bass.

This valve is superb in Fenders if youfancy midrange honk and early distortionat club volume levels. These valves arean ideal choice in reissue Bassmans,Boogies and Soldanos. The Harma SB-6L6 is a specially selected version of thePhilips.

HARMA STR(E. Europe, current. GP: 14 17)This is the best current production 6L6.The glass envelope is made from highquality heavy grade glass, making thevalve the most unmicrophonic of any wetested. The gold-plated grids and specialplate alloy give it improved platedissipation and greater stability at highvoltages.

When it comes to scale of sound, theHarma STR is second only to the GE. Thetreble response is full, smooth andcreamy, the sustain long and pleasingwith punch and definition. This valve is areal goodie: highly recommended.

SVETLANA (Russia, current. GP: 10 16)The Svetlana has a growing list ofprofessional users. The specs claim adesign based on the famousPhilips/Sylvania STR 387, and sureenough the extra thick mica spacer doesmake this valve less prone tomicrophony.

In all test amps the balance wasperfect just like the RCA bass is crispand clear but not as deep as the Harma.Distortion is sweet with good punch, andwhen pushed this valve avoids themuddiness of the Sovteks. We reckon itsthe best current production itemavailable behind the excellent HarmaSTR reviewed above.

PHILIPS/SYLVANIA STR 387(USA, NOS. GP: 22 32These 387 valves are famed for theirrugged construction and high voltagetolerances. In sound terms we coulddetect no difference between the 387and the Sylvania 6L6GC: indeed, thistube actually sounded brighter than itsearlier brother, which I felt was over-bright in the Twin fitted with JBLs.Overall, it has the same characteristicsas the Sylvania and would be a verydecent choice.

EAST EUROPEAN/HARMA STR KT66(Russia, current. GP: 28 35)This is a completely different valve fromthose built by Sovtek and Chinese

factories in recent years and(somewhat misguidedly)labelled KT66. This new run commissioned from RussiasReflector factory by a leadingUS tube retailer but now alsoavailable under the Harmabrand is accurately basedon the specs of the legendaryBritish GEC KT66, thatessential ingredient in somany early Marshall amps,including a rugged structureand gold-wound grids.

Tested somewhatseparately from the other6L6s in a vintage 59 FenderBassman, a reissue MarshallBluesbreaker and a reissue FenderVibrolux, this valve proves stunning in allapplications. Bass response is big, andthe sound is warm and very responsivethroughout the range. In the reissueBluesbreaker it was actually hard to hearany difference between these and anNOS pair of GEC KT66s (costing from65 95 each on todays market, whenyou can find em). Highly recommended.

6L6GC: CONCLUSIONWith 6L6 valves the first step is todecide how you want the amp to soundin relation to your style of music. Sometypes distort sooner, others stay tightand crisp and both can be consideredexcellent tubes in their own right. It alldepends on what youre looking for.

The Russian 6P3S and the Chinese6L6s are not worth fitting in guitar amps.Most of them dont work: the ones thatdo sound poor.

The Russian-built Sovtek valves aremore reliable and make good economicchoices for general repairs orreplacements, but they dont havecharacter or tonal definition to comparewith NOS units.

The top two current production6L6GCs are the Harma STR and theSvetlana. The Harma have a bigger GE-style presentation and are more vibrant,

easily ranking alongsidemany USA valves.

Of a slightly differentbreed but an electronicvirtual equivalent of the6L6 types, the new-model Russian KT66 isa welcome addition tothe current-productionmarket, and puts toshame many valvesmarketed as KT66s inrecent years. It you wantthe sound of an originalGEC KT66 but cant paythat kind of money, thisis the only realalternative.

The real stars of the NOS examplesare the early production GE and, notsurprisingly, the RCA black plate. TheGEs bass is not as deep as the RCAs,but would you really notice this with yourBoogie or Fender cranked up to eightyour favourite club? I think not. Thegreat thing about the GE is that the moreyou turn it up, the bigger it gets. TheRCA is better balanced, but I wouldgladly trade that for the more forward,slightly brighter sound of the GE. Thistube is pure rocknroll.

The Sylvania 6L6GC proved itselfanother great valve: warm, rich, full-bodied and an excellent choice for aFender Twin. With a Strat in the out ofphase position, this was just heaven.

But the real revelation was the US-made military spec Philips WGB/HarmaSB-6L6. It has less power than the otherUSA items, but an excellently detailedmidrange presentation and theadvantage of early break-up, giving big,fat distortion in a Twin Reverb withouttaking your head off and, in the Boogie,a nice crunch with any amount of pre-amp distortion. This valve is just the jobfor a club player.

Next issue: small bottle EL84 and 6V6output valves. Further results and othertube types on the Watford Valves website: www.watfordvalves.com

85

Chinese 6L6GC: discard them

78

M any guitarists are turning on tothe fact that heavenly sonics aremore easily achieved forrecording and small gigs bycranking up a great 15 or 20 watt ampthan by piling mattresses against thedoors, swaddling the walls in carpet liner,and trying to coax that 100W MarshallPlexi or Fender Twin Reverb into its tonezone while homicidal neighbours and thenoise police launch tear-gas into yourstudio flat. Because they mimic thetonalities of their respective olderbrothers but do so at significantly loweroutput levels, these smaller valves areresponsible for some of the finest tonesavailable without risking shattering youreardrums and your tenants agreement inthe swipe of a single power chord.

Related in constructional and soniccharacteristics to the larger 6L6 types,the 6V6GT is the classic small-bottleAmerican tube. Putting out from around 6to 15 watts each (depending on thecircuit and transformers) compared to itsbigger brothers 15 to 30 watt output, itendows Fender classics like the Champ,Princeton and Deluxe with an easy,smooth distortion and raw, rich texture but make no mistake: while a 6V6 will fit a6L6 socket, do not substitute them in anamp not designed to do so. Theconsequences could be very expensive.

Sonically aligned to the larger EL34though different in construction most

notably housed in a slim, baseless, 9-pinbottle the EL84 is a true British classic.Originally found most famously in vintageVox amps and taken up by everyone fromMesa/Boogie to Matchless to Orange toLaney in recent years, its a sweet andsparkling output valve with easycompression and crystalline highs.

As with Pts 1 & 2, our tests willcompare both current production andNOS (New Old Stock) samples; turn backto TGM vol 11 no 3 for a fuller explanationof terminologies and the history ofWestern verses Eastern European andChinese valve production. GP stands forguide price and indicates theapproximate price range you can expectto pay for a single valve on the UK market(remember: most amps will require eithertwo or four output valves).

TESTING: EL84To evaluate a range of EL84s, myself,Queen guitarist Brian May and Brianspersonal tech Greg Fryer loaded thevalves into a variety of Vox amps for twoseparate rounds of testing, under bothnormal playing conditions and thehardest of professional workingsituations. All valves were pre-selected tohave the same plate current andtransconductance. GE and Mullard EL84swere used as a reference.

Test 1: The amplifiers used were anoriginal Vox AC10 Twin fitted with Elac

speakers and an original Vox AC4: for testguitars used we chose a 1973 FenderStratocaster and a 1980 YamahaSA2000S semi-acoustic.

Test 2: The second tests were carriedout by Greg Fryer and Brian May atBrians home in the summer of 1998 andin rehearsals in preparation for his 1998world tour. The Vox AC30s were fittedwith Celestion Greenback, Vintage 30 andAlnico Blue speakers and Brians famedtreble boost was employed, too). Thiswork led to the development of our FullDrive test rig, with assistance from TGMamp expert and Vox guru David Petersen.

MULLARD (GB, NOS. Guide Price: 20 40)The Mullard excelled in the initial test andin the tests with Greg and Brian. Theyprovided crisp, ringing sustain and hugetight bottom end with clarity whichsounded larger than life, giving theimpression of space and immense detail.It never seemed to lose control evenwhen Brians treble boost was added;indeed, it seemed to get more punchyand dynamic. Bass, middle and treblewere all in proportion. We all agreed thisis a great valve and impressive instanding up to the massive punishment itreceives inside Brians flat-out AC30s.

EUROPEAN STR(European, NOS. GP: 10 15) This valve has always, in my opinion, gotas close to the Mullard as you could gowithout buying a Mullard. Its got rich,creamy mids with a GE-style soundstage, and the bottom end is tighter anddeeper than the Sovteks. Under normalsaturated conditions this valve alwayssounds in control, with sweet, cleartreble. Greg and Brian liked these valvesfor the aggressive edge and musical toneunder treble-boosted conditions.

SOVTEK (Russia, current. GP: 4 8)This current production valve is used bymany leading OEM including Laney andPeavey. Generally we find it has aroundhalf the anode current of a Mullard, andthe gain is also a lot lower, but soundwiseits better and more reliable than theChinese valves though it doesnt have agreat deal of bass, and when pushedhard it tends to go muddy. In a regularlygigged amp we suggest you buy two orthree sets, as theyll wear out. Great forrepairers and hobbyists, though.

SOVTEK EL84M(Russia, current. GP: 5 10)The EL84M is a Russian military surpluswhich is of more robust construction thanthe standard item, with current drawtypical of what we would expect for amilitary valve. In the amps this valvesounded fine with good balance, and themidrange was more detailed than its

A M P T E C H

TAKE A LOOK BEHIND THE WORLDS FAVOURITE recording ampslike Fender Champs and Deluxes, Vox AC15s and AC30s and themore diminutive Matchless models and youll find these sweetbut hot sounding small bottle tubes. This issue, Derek Rocco ofWatford Valves shares his tests of EL84 and 6V6GT varieties with a little help from some Brit-rock royalty

TUBETastingA Players Guide: Pt3 EL84 & 6V6GT

cheaper relation. With normal drive unitsthe valve sounded aggressive with deepbass; with Brians treble boost themidrange sound became very heavilycompressed. To my ear this soundedawful with the Greenbacks, got betterwith the Vintage 30s and sounded veryaggressive with the Blue speakers.

Not the refinement of the Mullard orPhilips, then, but it does push the soloright out which recessed the bass andtop under heavy distortion, and it has aunique mid-range honk that Greg andBrian both love. Recommended.

GE 6BQ5(USA, NOS. GP: 18 24)Many American-made units will carry a6BQ5 designation, the US code numberfor EL84 valves but theyre exactly thesame thing. The GE valves have alwaysbeen a favourite of mine and in the Voxamps they showed all the virtues: gain,balance and huge sound.

With the treble boost in place themiddle thickened up it soundedheavy and crisp without losingdefinition. With Brian playing thefamous Queen runs the valve wasextremely touch-sensitive. This is agreat valve and sounded superb inthe Vox AC30.

PHILIPS ECG(USA, NOS. GP: 15 24)In my own tests this was myfavourite EL84. The valve hasplenty of bottom end, sweet cleanmidrange, and a top end thatsbrighter than the Mullard. Whenpushed with a Real Tube Driver,Ibanez Tube Screamer or standarddistortion unit the valve has qualityand refinement, providing cuttingsolos just on the edge of mayhem.

The treble response is sweet and clearwith plenty of definition, but when Gregintroduced Brians treble boost the valvedid appear to go over the edge somewhat(the change happened in the midrangeresponse, which seemed to go wild:remember, though, that the treble boostadds huge gain at line level and isselected for certain frequencies, and thisshouldnt prove a problem for othermusicians in any set up). Here we aredealing with the classic trademark soundof a genuine guitar hero, and for hisapplications the Mullard, which excelledin this area, got the vote (and Brian canafford em). This is a great valve in allapplications.

JJ/TESLA (Slovak Rep., current. GP: 6 12)This valve was not part of the test withGreg and Brian, but its sound quality isgreat: a cross between the bright sweetsound of the Philips with the balls of theMullard. Its not as high gain as the STR

and therefore gives a little moreheadroom, plus a nice rich overdrivesound with clear top end response. Thebalanced presentation makes this anideal choice.

EL84 TEST RESULTSCue the familiar conclusion: all three of usagreed that the Mullard is the bestoverall valve, although the GE also scoresvery well due to its big sonic spectrum.These two valves can both be considereda true reference of the type. On the otherhand, they are very pricey and you mightfind it hard to justify the expensewithout your record company or someoneelse picking up the tab! Greg and Brianboth liked the European STR which in thetest we called NOS European (thoughbranded by Watford Valves as the HarmaSTR) as we arent 100 per cent sure of itsorigin. This is the closest in terms of toneto the Mullard and also the closest interms of specification. .

The Philips EL84 is the best soundingin the Vox as its rich, bright sound givesthe amp a cleaner edge. When the trebleboost is applied the valve goes into megadistortion which I love but the valvedoes not have the control of the Mullard.Of the current production items theJJ/Tesla sounds brighter and cleaner innormal operation than the Sovteks. Bothof these valves show good bass andtreble response under normal distortedsituations, but in treble boost mode theSovtek EL84M seems to handle thepunishment a little better. They do soundmuddy in comparison to the Mullards butthey never lose control, and they seembetter balanced than the JJ, which seemsto go very middly.

Overall, there are many good sounding,reliable EL84s on the market which cansuit all budgets and playing situations.

TESTING: 6V6GTThe 6V6GT is one of my favourite valves,but so many modern amps that use it donot have the tone of those classic tweedFender Deluxes one of the greatest

rocknroll amps of all time. We setout to find out why.

The amplifier used was a FenderPrinceton Reverb II Paul Riveramodel a good amp to evaluate6V6 , being capable of supplyingsome very crunchy modern soundsas well as vintage. To the 1973Fender Stratocaster and YamahaSA2000S we added a 1980 GibsonLes Paul Standard.

RCA 6V6GT/A(USA, NOS. GP: 18 25)These were used as the referenceand seem at home with single coilsor humbuckers. They produce a fat,controlled bass with a strong midcharacter. The valve has greatbalance and individual notes can

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MullardSovtekPhilips

be easily distinguished even under heavydistortion every slight variation of toneis accurately reproduced. When pushedhard the midrange character distortsbeautifully, with clarity and refinement.Valves from the 50s and 60s which arethe most sought after. This is a hard valveto beat.

MAZDA(France, NOS. GP: 10 14)These are a 1950s French military valvethat we decided to test at 500V DC plateand screen on our test rig (well abovetheir rated maximums). Five hours laterthey were rock-solid where others haddied a serious indication of the unitssolidity.

Fitted into the Princeton the Mazdarocks, the sonic spectrum big, thedistortion fat and punchy. The bassresponse is not as deep as the RCA,mind, and it does sound slightly edgy.When overdriven the valve has a raw,organic sound which I fell in love with; itseems better suited to the grungy side ofrock. With a Les Paul the sustain is fulland rich with no harsh edges you feelyoure playing a wall of amps, not just alittle Princeton. These babies are greatlittle blues valves and work well with thesemi-acoustic Yamaha in both single andhumbucking mode. The valve doesntlose punch or go muddy even wheneffects are introduced. We loved them.

SOVTEK (Russia, current. GP: 5 10)Sovtek have some good valves in theirline up, but sadly this in not one of them.It has trouble in old Fender Deluxes as itcannot handle plate voltages of muchabove 345V DC (indeed in tests manydied at 325V DC, so be warned). Thevalve is very harsh-sounding with aninferior bass response, and whenoverdriven it is very muddy. A goodmeasure of a valve is, do your ears hurtafter prolonged use? Boy, with this valveI was hurting.

STANDARD 6V6GTY(USA, NOS. GP: 16 24)With its brown base andsemi-smoked glass this looksidentical to the RCA units(and was possibly made bythem). The top end of thisvalve really sings; the moreyou throw at it, the more itwants. Killer Kossoff-likesustain is achievable with theamp really pushed, with noharshness. The bass isbigger than the Mazda andkeeps full definition even onfast runs. Balance is superb clear and precise and thevalve is at home with countryor jazz. Thoroughlyrecommended.

PHILIPS (USA, NOS. GP: 10 18)This is identical to the valves used byFender in the 70s and would have beenthe standard valve fitted to the Princetonwhen new. Its a lot brighter than theMazda or Standard and works very wellwith the Fender Strat. The amp soundsthinner, however, due to the sonicpresentation being not as large, and thesustain isnt as fat or as long-lasting asthe Mazda or Standard. The bass is notas well-defined, either, but the tone is stillrich and warm. A great rocknroll valve.

GE (LARGE & NUDE BASE)(USA, NOS. GP: 12 18)Watford Valves currently stock two typesof GE: one with the pins straight out thebottom like the Sovtek 5881 and one witha full base. Both valves have the largegrey box plate, and we found the soundquality to be identical when both areplaced together.

These have the characteristic GE sonicpresentation: big, fat and proud. The topend response is noticeably less than the

Philips, with midrange twang morepronounced than any other. Its a forward,in-your-face tube with great punch.Ideally suited to country or steel guitar.

ELECTRO-HARMONIX 6V6EH(Russia, current. GP: 5 10)A newer offering, this is a Russian unitcommissioned by Electro-Harmonix toduplicate the design of the RCA (alsosold as the Harma 6V6GT STR) and itholds its own surprisingly well against theclassic RCA. Compared to the bright,well-balanced Philips the 6V6EH alsoperforms well, with a nice top end sparklewhich is not quite as bright but still greatfor that out-of-phase Strat sound. Whenpushed hard it maintains control,sounding loud and clear. When fullysaturated the EH is not as crisp andround in the midrange, but starts to blur actually a great sound.

The EH doesnt have quite the hugesonic presentation of the Mazda nor itsrefinement and it breaks up somewhatearlier but this gives it a unique voicewhich will undoubtedly appeal to a lot of

people. The sustain is lovelyand singing sustain, thebreakup rich with plenty ofbottom end slam, balancingperformance with fine detail;whats more our tests so farprove its sturdy and well built.A great addition to the market.

WESTINGHOUSE 6V6GTA(USA, NOS. GP: 12 20)These valves are marked USAand come in the original box.These are for the Neil Youngfans with fantastic bassresponse due to the bass-forwardness of the valvessonic presentation. Whendistorted the bottom notes onthe guitar are in full focus

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A M P T E C H

Sovtek 6v6GTBrimar 6v6GTY/CV511 Philips 6v6GT

great for riffing or heavy Zep-style music.The top end is not as detailed, but sustainis good and clear; the midrange seems alittle recessed but Strat twang can still beproduced. This is definitely for hardrockers.

SYLVANIA 6V6GT/A(USA, NOS. GP: 10 16)This is a very warm-sounding valve thatsa little bass-light when compared to theStandard or Mazda. The midrangeresponse is this valves real voice, and theclarity and Fender twang shine through.Sustain is warm and rich, if again not asforward as the Mazda. When pushed hardthe bass seems to become less definedbut the valve still retains a very musicalsound.

BRIMAR 6V6GTY/CV511(GB, NOS. GP: 7 16)We have recently seen a lot of dealerstrying to make a market in these bysaying that they are a super hi-fi valveand great guitar valve, with high prices tomatch. If you want a hi-fi valve, the Mazdastamps all over this.

In guitar amps the Brimar is atraditionally British-sounding unit. Thebass response is lighter than the RCA,Mazda or Westinghouse and it has a verysmooth, laid-back sound with noharshness. It doesnt have the get up andgo of most of the other valves tested,which is a shame, though the clearmidrange never gets flustered, even withheavy rock. Rock solid stability and agood all round valve ideally suited,maybe, to jazzers.

VISSEAUX (France, NOS. GP: 10 16)This is another French military valve witha lot of the same characteristics of theMazda. It has rich sustain with good bass not as deep as the RCA, Standard orWestinghouse, but about the same as theMazda. Like the Brimar, the mids are verysmooth and controlled without theMazdas raw edge. The top end responseseems recessed compared to the Philipsor Mazda, but theres still plenty oftraditional Fender twang on tap andsustain superb, rich and clear. This valveis very well balanced and would be agood choice for all applications.

6V6GT TEST RESULTSThe first rule when fitting 6V6GTs is to

avoid the Russian 6p3s valve which anAmerican designer valve company re-brands as there own 6V6HD. In ourexperience this version is a poor unitwhich is also very hard to bias. This valveis also sold by many UK dealers under theguise of 6L6GC, 6L6GT and 6L6GB. Wedo not recommend fitting any of these.The more commonly seen Sovtek 6V6GTreviewed above is poor in the soundquality department, so the best alternative

by far for current production 6V6s is theRussian-made Electro-Harmonix 6V6EH,a laudable copy of the classic RCA. The6V6EH is one of the best valves of its typeto be produced since the 1960s: itprovides balanced performance with finedetail and offers credible performanceboth in clean and distorted modes. Thisvalve is important as it provides a current-manufacture 6V6GT that can be fullyrecommended, and gives the OEMs thechance to produce a great-sounding rockand blues amp that could put tone backat your fingertips so lets see them do it!

Taking in the entire field, however, theRCA is still the valve to beat, but twoothers come very close: the Mazda6V6GT and the Standard 6V6GTY, andthe former is not badly priced by anymeans either. The Mazda really rocks fromZep to Muddy Waters. It has a raw, wild

feel and makes you want to play theguitar and feel good and it makes iteasy to get a great sound quickly. TheStandard 6V6GTY does everything thatthe Mazda but with more control; push itharder and harder and it simply shoutsback, Give me more! Its huge bottomend response is clear as a bell. These are1958 production and are identical to theRCA that we used as a reference. Underheavy distortion the valve just seems toget bigger, with a sustain that is simplyremarkable.

The new Electro-Harmonix valve aside,this market remains dominated by NOSunits, but fortunately these out-of-production examples are generally lesscostly than NOS 6L6s or EL34s, with theMazda, Brimar, Philips and even GE withinreach of most players. Try a few setsbefore they are all gone.

81

These tests were conducted with thespecific aim of determining the finepoints of valve characteristics andperformance with the central goal of tellingyou which will be the best-sounding andlongest-lasting components for a variety oftastes and applications. Over the course ofthese three articles it might have lookedliked our reviews have been splitting hairsover certain matters comparing ultra fine-tuned sonic nuances which might be virtuallyundetectable to many players but as witheverything we do at TGM, if a product isworth testing, its worth testing thoroughly.

The difficulty that open field reviewspresents us, however, is that very often themore expensive items prove the superior.Thats been no different through the courseof these Tube Tasting features, where ninetimes out of ten (though by no meansalways) we found you get what you pay for.That leaves us in the awkward position ofappearing to suggest that in order to achieveany half-decent tone you need to re-mortgagethe house to invest in a quartet of Mullardsor RCAs. Not so. If your budget is limited, itwont always be advisable to spend largesums on valves which, by nature, willeventually burn out however good they are.(Think of them like fine wine: as soon as youstart enjoying them, theyre on a countdownto extinction. Then again, whats the fun of

leaving them racked up in the cellar? What adilemma)

Other more affordable types might beperfectly suitable to your needs, so dontfeel you must have the most expensiveoptions to be happy with your amp.Comprehensive testing available today canweed duff budget units from good, and manyaffordable current production valves fromSovtek, JJ Tesla and Electro-Harmonix amongothers can sound extremely good indeed. Ifyoure gigging your Vox AC30 three or fourtimes per week plus rehearsals with no bigrecord deal to foot the bills, its probably notworth risking burning up 160-worth ofMullard EL84s or 80-worth of Philips ECGson a pub full of sweaty punters who wontnotice the difference five pints into the set;but 40-worth of JJ/Teslas might soundrighteously rocking, and end up lasting youtwo years anyway (and if you want to treatyourself to the Mullards, maybe tuck themaway for recording and special occasions). Inshort, these things will blow up eventually,however good they are, so dont spendbeyond your means just for the sake of it.

Finally, thanks again to Derek Rocco andthe others from Watford Valves and beyondwho contributed to Tube Tasting, withoutwhom these features would not have beenpossible.

Dave Hunter

MUST YOU SPEND A FORTUNE?

1GROOVE TUBES

Le spcialiste amricain des lampes depuis 1979

2Les guitaristes dhier et daujourdhui ont un point commun : lutilisation des amplis lampes. Malgr les avances technologiques dans le domaine des amplis transistors, les guitaristescontinuent leur prfrer les amplis lampes. Quest-ce qui diffrencie la technologie lampes de latechnologie transistors ? Les lampes offrent un son et une sensation de jeu diffrente tout simplementparce quelles fonctionnent diffremment.

Quest-ce quune lampe ? Une lampe est un composan