Tube Replacement for Classic 50 with 4 x 10s

[scottp]

Thanks to Cincys recommendation my amp sounds awesome I even tried a couple different tubes but kept going back to Cincys tube combo Cincy you the Man!!

[jhull54]

I wanted to chime in here about Cincy's tube suggestions. I have been a long time lurker a this forum.

I was really frustrated with the "splatty", spiky harshness of the OD channel in my C30. I tried different tubes in V2, an EQ pedal in the loop and in front, and knob twiddling for weeks. Got it usable, but never really happy with it.

I finally broke down and ordered Cincy's suggested tubes after reading about them in multiple forums.

What a difference it made in the OD. TBH, I think the inverter tube made the most difference, as I already had Cincy's suggested tube in V2, but regardless, the swap did the trick. Very very happy with the amp now.

[Classic30inCincy]

Thank you for your kind words......

PAF Classic Series Tube Kit wins over additional P-Team Member

[GaryB106]

Cindy, do you see it a sign a problem that the pre-amp tubes don't have a visible glow? As I said, they sound great to me, I was just wondering if they wouldnt last as long or that meant some other problem.

Thanks for everything

[Classic30inCincy]

Dim Light <--------> The Sovtek 12AX7LPS is known to have a very dim light while working properly.

[Golfnerd]

If the JJ's EL84 is unavailable, what would be a good substitute price and performance-wise?

[Classic30inCincy]

JJ's NOT Available = U B Livin' In Siberia

[ScottMarlowe]

Suitable subs are either ANOS/NOS American 6BQ5s or NOS Soviet Reflektor 6P14P. American ones are warm and very smooth, Old reflektors are very stong and punchy.

[Golfnerd]

Suitable subs are either ANOS/NOS American 6BQ5s or NOS Soviet Reflektor 6P14P. American ones are warm and very smooth, Old reflektors are very stong and punchy.

Well, I went poking around and found out that all of the EL84's are Sovtek and all the 12AX7's are Tung Sol. Since I am somewhat ham fisted - think Fred Flintstone - the tubes were somewhat difficult to get back in.

With that said, I am really liking the tone of the amp as is.

I do have the preamp part of Cincy's tube recommendation on the way.

[Santma]

Same here. I loved my classic 50 but after 15 years with the same tubes it started to go flat on me. I tried the recommended pre amp and power tubes and it came back to life. The only thing I'm noticing is more noise after the tube swap. Put the originals back and noise is gone. I was informed that these preamps are prone to noise and/or microphonics - ECC803S is particularly prone to vibration induced noise. Is anyone else experiencing this ? Regardless of what's happening I love the new tone.

[Dr_D]

Hey guys. I just bought the suggested set from tube Depot, but I was wondering if I should worry about biasing? Have any of you had problems with it? Thank you! Thanks for the info, btw... Awesome!

[ScottMarlowe]

Hey guys. I just bought the suggested set from tube Depot, but I was wondering if I should worry about biasing? Have any of you had problems with it? Thank you! Thanks for the info, btw... Awesome!

Nope, the Classic 50 is biased pretty cold. Unless you get a really hot running power tube there's nothing to worry about.

But like any new tube set, once you replace the old ones, turn the amp around, power it up, and play while watching the power tubes to make sure they're not red-plating. If they don't red-plate while playing loudish in the first 30 minutes you're fine.

Note that tubes, being electro-mechanical devices, often get broken in some way while being shipped, so it's possible to get brand new tubes that have issues right out of the package.

[ScottMarlowe]

Same here. I loved my classic 50 but after 15 years with the same tubes it started to go flat on me. I tried the recommended pre amp and power tubes and it came back to life. The only thing I'm noticing is more noise after the tube swap. Put the originals back and noise is gone. I was informed that these preamps are prone to noise and/or microphonics - ECC803S is particularly prone to vibration induced noise. Is anyone else experiencing this ? Regardless of what's happening I love the new tone.

The tube most likely to pickup noise and cause hissing is the V1 position (furthest from the power tubes.) I always run an NOS JAN (milspec) 5751 there if I can. You can get them on ebay for <$20 each when a lot of them goes by. To me they sound better than most modern tubes and have very very low noise ceilings.

[Dr_D]

Hey guys. I just bought the suggested set from tube Depot, but I was wondering if I should worry about biasing? Have any of you had problems with it? Thank you! Thanks for the info, btw... Awesome!

Nope, the Classic 50 is biased pretty cold. Unless you get a really hot running power tube there's nothing to worry about.

But like any new tube set, once you replace the old ones, turn the amp around, power it up, and play while watching the power tubes to make sure they're not red-plating. If they don't red-plate while playing loudish in the first 30 minutes you're fine.

Note that tubes, being electro-mechanical devices, often get broken in some way while being shipped, so it's possible to get brand new tubes that have issues right out of the package.

Thanks for the reply man. I got a matching quad set of these...

https://tubedepot.com/products/jj-el844 ... acuum-tube

[ScottMarlowe]

The EL844s get mixed reviews. There seems to be little middle ground, either ya love 'em or hate 'em.

If you wind up not liking them I highly recommend buying some NOS Soviet era 6P14Ps from fleabay. Tough as nails and a very bright, powerful, up front presentation to my ears. Classic 50s are very hard on power tubes.