Dumble 183 and Quinn TKT

[Mr Dumble]

They sound very much alike, even though the Dumble has GEs in the preamp, and the Quinn has Chinese tubes. The Dumble was very sensitive to preamp tubes, while the Quinn is more forgiving of them. The Dumble was also biased hotter which helped the note flipping. the quinn is more forgiving of that as well. Hmmm..

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... i&newref=1

Very good!

[boldaslove6789]

Tag, is this your Quinn EL34 or 6L6 TKT 183, and does this amp have the NOS parts (Sprague Q-lines, Beyshlags etc.)? Sounds great BTW.

Indeed my Quinn SDO-R 183 is also very sensitive to preamp and Pwr tubes. It's currently loaded with a Ge 12ax7wa in V1, Telefunken Smooth plate in OD, and Ge in PI, and a quad of Svetlana EL34's biased @ around 70mA.

[Mr Dumble]

Tag, is this your Quinn EL34 or 6L6 TKT 183, and does this amp have the NOS parts (Sprague Q-lines, Beyshlags etc.)? Sounds great BTW.

Indeed my Quinn SDO-R 183 is also very sensitive to preamp and Pwr tubes. It's currently loaded with a Ge 12ax7wa in V1, Telefunken Smooth plate in OD, and Ge in PI, and a quad of Svetlana EL34's biased @ around 70mA.

That recording is both the real 183 and the Quinn EL34 TKT (Serial #0) Just did it to show how similar they sound. The Dumble had GEs straight across the pre, and they sounded the best. I tried everything! My TKT seems to like the chinese tubes even more. The GEs sounded good, but I liked the chinese a bit more. I have mine biased cold at around 63 if I remember correctly. It really softens up the feel which I like. Glad you liked the clip, and thanks for checking it out.

[qtone]

Sounding very very good..

[qtone]

I just added some OLD GLASS to mine..
Ge 12 ax7 in v 1 perhaps Ge in v2 as well.
and Ge in PI.

Getting better everyday.

This is the same style amp as Greg Ds 183/102.
Thanks for the Tips Greg sounding greater by the day.

Tag yours sounds quite happy as well..
and all is very good..

[CHIP]

I thought I read where the Dumble #183 was biased at 29mA.
Isn't 63mA extremely high for EL34's with @ 450V on the plates?

[Structo]

The 63ma is for two tubes, so 31.5ma each

[talbany]

Quinn has Chinese tubes

For me most of the Chinese (Shuguang) are either violently mismatched or noisy..If you do run one through the tester that checks out high gain, low noise. and fairly well matched stick it in V1.. The clean will be nice and lively and add some sustain especially in OD!!..

BTW..The TAD High Grade 7025's (Shuguang) are suppose to be tested matched.. We ordered 4 and 2 were good...The other 2 went in the trash..

Tony

[alvarezh]

Hello Tony, before I proceed I wish to thank you for all the knowledge you kindly share with us around here.

On the subject of the TAD tubes, I presume the following to be a typo: you probably meant to type 7025 and it came out 7027 right?

If possible, could you share the brand/model number of the tube tester you are using? Also, who do you use (company) to calibrate it? You do it yourself? I have an old EICO 635 which is just really a GO/NO-GO gauge and I need to upgrade.

Thank you in advance.

[talbany]

Hello Tony, before I proceed I wish to thank you for all the knowledge you kindly share with us around here.

On the subject of the TAD tubes, I presume the following to be a typo: you probably meant to type 7025 and it came out 7027 right?

If possible, could you share the brand/model number of the tube tester you are using? Also, who do you use (company) to calibrate it? You do it yourself? I have an old EICO 635 which is just really a GO/NO-GO gauge and I need to upgrade.

Thank you in advance.

Horacio
Yes sorry 7025..Here is the digital tester I use..

http://www.maximatcher.com/

Tests,.. Measure preamp tubes for Gain, Transconductance and Noise
• Test any common dual or single
preamp triode
• Audition tubes with dual-RCA Direct Audio Output It has an external audio out so you can actually hear the noise inside the tube..Fairly reasonable!!
Hope This Helps..
BTW... If you do go with this tester you want to test 1 tube at a time for noise..If you load up the tester the noise level will be slightly higher for each tube...

Tony

[alvarezh]

Thank you Tony.

All the best.

[Structo]

Cool tester but $950?

[alvarezh]

I am with you Tom. It would be nice if they would make a single tube (preamp) tester for about $250.00-300.00, they would probably reach much more customers. They would certainly get me!

Cheers!

[Mr Dumble]

I thought I read where the Dumble #183 was biased at 29mA.
Isn't 63mA extremely high for EL34's with @ 450V on the plates?

Hey Chip.
I am going by memory and it was about a year ago, but i am pretty sure that is correct. When I went higher, it became very stiff feeling and seemed to lose some of the thckness. Maybe with a tele or strat it would sound better higher, but I just used my PRS when I was messing with it, because thats what i usually play now.

Here is a clip i did this morning of just the TKT all the way through. Posting it for no other reason than i was actually happy with my playing for once. No rushing for once!

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... 96769&q=hi


VERY GOOD!

[talbany]

To be totally honest a tube tester is a luxury but not a necessity to finding good tone.. Unless you are a manufacturer and selling/shipping out a bunch of amps you really do not need one..Before I got my tester I would put in the tubes I wanted to use.. Go first to the PI and see if it balances out..If not I would pull one of the other tubes until I found one that bloomed nicely..from there see how the amp sounds..If you want to tweak it start with V1 clean channel..Roll a few tubes through until you find the one you like..Crank the Vol and master and see how noisy it is..If it checks out and you like the tone move on the the OD..Roll a few tubes in OD side..You can crank the drive and level and master once again to check the noise floor..The process is time consuming..( I actually enjoy it).
For the clean channel I listen for a strong fairly high gain tube with a tight bottom strong mids and an articulate top end at gig like volumes..( JJ's have this quality which is why most use them as new tube) this usually equates to a tube with good gain and good transconductance you will hear it.. Try a guitar with both humbuckers and singles.. V1 for me is the most critical since it sets up the foundation for the OD side..I personally don't discriminate with what brand or type if I like the tone and noise floor it stays there..The OD side is easy since it's the last tube in the chain just use your ears and have fun with it..

Just because a tube tests OK does not mean you will like it in that particular amp and in that particular spot..That amp and your ears gets the final say so!!

Good Luck and above all HAVE FUN!!

Tony