Hi.

I have some trouble finding new tubes for my amp.

First of all, it's a Mesa/Boogie .50 Caliber+ combo.

Now i know I need two matched 6L6 tubes, and if I was going to ask Mesa they'd say I had to buy genuine mesa tubes. The only problem is, that there's no one selling Mesa-stuff in Denmark. So far so good

So now I've found some different tubes and have some questions about them. I hope you guys can help me.

I found some Sovtek 6L6WXT+. Can I use them?
Also..... Those Sovtek tubes I've seen where packed in Tube Amp Doctor boxes, and on the tubes themselfs there was written TAD. Does any of you know if it is reel Sovtek tubes?

Evt. you can check http://www.tubeampdoctor.com and see if you get more out of it than I do.

Anyway - The name of the tubes where 6L6WGC. Mesa's tubes are called 6L6GC. Does the 'W' meen anything?

Also i wondered.... on the tubes there are some numbers. A number for PC: and TC:. What does those numbers meen? Are they important?

If you have any ideas or help for me (other tubes that I should by or anything), I would be really glad. It's the first time I have to change my tubes, and I know allmost nothing about it.

Sincerely
Vena Cava

I think you can substitute any tube for another as long as they are the same type. Mesa wants you to buy their tubes because they make money off of that as opposed to you going and buying them from GT or Sovtek. Sorry but I can't help you as to what the numbering or letter codes mean.

depending on the amp (i dunno if mesas do) you will have to get it biased.

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maybe you're better off this way...

if you're just replacing them with the same tube, you can most of the time get away without a bias adjustment.

i wouldn't bother buying mesa tubes, as said above, they just want your money. it's like buying dealer oil filters. much of a tube preference is personal, although "you get what you pay for" seems to hold fairly true in tubes.

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custom hand built tele-> tu-2 -> dynacomp-> jekyll & hyde -> de7 -> dd-20 -> holy grail reverb -> '65 fender bandmaster with matching 2x12 cab

did you know that if you used non-mesa tubes you void your warranty? how cool is that!? oh wait - it's not ... how do they know you've used other tubes? i have no idea ... that's just what the .50cal+ manual says ... there may barely be some sanity, aside from MESA being $-hungry bastards, to the "only use mesa tubes" theory ... if you read the nice article in the dual rec manual on the topic it states that mesa's tubes operate in a given range suited best for their non-adjustable amps ... so i wouldn't scoff the idea of mesa tubes alltogether ... i'd give em a shot, demo them alongside some non-mesa tubes ... i'd do it myself but i don't own a mesa ...

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scott's gear ~ hard rock --> metal

my best memories were forged in basements and garages ...

Mesa have designed their amplifiers in such a way that the bias is fixed, and all the tubes they sell are of a certain rating that matches the bias of the amplifier.

You can use other tubes in your amplifier, but you'll have to get some resistors changed in the amplifier to adjust the bias.

You can also get the amp modded to have a potentiometer to adjust the bias, which is what I'd recommend.

Both these actions would void the warranty, but if it's going to be a big pain in the arse getting mesa tubes for your amp, I'd do it.

And as far as tubes go, use JJ 6L6s, theres nothing better. Svetlana 6L6s are good too.