Dr. Z goes through the various tube rectifiers used in his amps, why he uses them, and what the differences in application and performance are. www.drzamps.com
Without all the horrible sounds and generic blues licks, I've rarely heard a nice tone on there. That pedal show made me realise after buying bucket loads of pedal, that all I need is an amazing amp like a Dr Z a great guitar and great chops!😁🤘
@@DrZAmplification I got....I luv bought the jetta head...have S duncan antiquity Texas Hots...found the sound I was looking for.....finally...thank you
Thanks Doc! As usual that was one very nice free consultation... however I'm afraid you didn't cure my GAS illness, you even made it bigger! But don't worry, I think the EMS will take care of that :D
Thanks Doc Z, I have a 15watt Orange AD15 combo with 2xecc83 ,2xEl84, 1x Gz34(5AR4) and turned up past half way I can feel the squeeze and compression...it does have a 10" 100watt Celestion(8ohm) that I can't find a model no for but who cares it blows a lot of much bulkier and heavy stuff away just sitting on the stage looking like a practice amp. It is obvious that you believe that every single nut, bolt, wire, solder joint, valve etc etc all add up to achieving the unique tones that Guitar players seek(cos we are never happy with what we have or just have a type of ADHD that causes us to keep on searching) I confess that I have not had time to try your amps yet but I will...been stuck in "Fender-land" too long and it's time to broaden the horizon. Thanks DR Z.
I used to have this little silverface Champ that had to "catch it's breath" every time I slammed it with a big barre chord. I could clearly hear the power sag as the amp struggled to reproduce the chord, and then the "bloom" as the chord rang-out and the 5Y3 recovered. And the champ still had great punch and dynamic range up to a certain point of overload. You can think of rectifier sag as like a secondary compressor/limiter that works simultaneously with the compression of the preamp and power tubes as input is overloaded. I'd love to find a larger amp with the same characteristics as that Champ.
that effect may relate to single ended class A amps with small caps and big voltage drop in general, many people can't tell the difference between tube and ss rectifier in those amps)
Hey Doc, best vid yet - loved it - informative as ever ! I just retubed my early Maz 18 NR head with JJ EL844s and its really working for me. Are we saying that ALL of these rectifier tubes can be used in the Maz 18 ? So a 5V4 would reduce the output of the Maz 18 without any stress or damage to the circuit or transformer ? Thx again Z.
I have a about 15 NOS Mullard 5AR4's I bought 25 years ago for my 300B SET Hifi amps. They sound better than a Sovtek 5AR4 in my amps. But I think Sovtek sounds better in most Fender guitar amps that I've tried.
Could you do one on the contribution of power and output transformers to tone and feel? I'm starting to get a bit clearer on the workings of different stages of an amp thanks to your vids.
Several times it's mentioned incorrectly that the 5AR4 runs it's 5v amperage as "1.9 em aye" - to be correct it is 1.9 AMPS. Not "1.9mA" - For people learning this will clarify and correct this important aspect. Don't mean to be nit picky, just trying to help. Thanks for all of your informing videos!
On Monday I'm headed to Nashville to pick up my first Dr Z Carmen Ghia 1x12. I'm a utility musician for a country artist and I've always used a blues Jr. and was never happy with my sound. So I'm really looking forward to the tone volume knob set up. My question is do you thing the Carmen Ghia is gonna sound great for fiddle with a passive fishman pickup, and banjo with a active magnet style pickup,mandolin with active pickup? I'm really enjoying the videos. Thanks
That's a really hard question for me to answer because the input does not have a sensitivity switch like some of our amps do. if you manage to keep the output from your instruments lower, you should be able to get enough headroom, but it is hard to say without trying first.
Thank you. Have you ever encountered a 5y3 that was operating but making bad notes when turned up? I changed out a RCA backplate in Vibrochamp, might be almost 60 years old, amp started making funny sounds when volume turned up. Distorted non musical, lower volume. I had thought they either worked or not. I swapped it with another 5y3 and seemed to fix the problem. Thank you
It could have need a microphonic rattle you were hearing from the back of the amp. There is no audio signal passing through a rectifier, so it could have been the physical movement of the speaker shaking the rectifier.
I’ve had good luck with Weber copper caps in my hi-fi amps. Solid state replacements for tube rectifiers. Plug right into the tube socket. Works great as you can see in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cLIOW28RxXo.html
I'll let you know. I run all my stuff through a digitech ipb-10 so gain isn't gonna be a problem. I'm looking forward to clarity that I didn't have with the Blues jr.
Hi Michael, I have a couple of questions for you. I have a Mesa Boogie Tremoverb amp combo 100 watt amp. I converted it to have two adjustable bias pots in the 6L6 mode as well as the EL34 mode. It was fixed bias as you know already with Mesa amps. Never really been a big fan of this amp but I still have had it since 1994. My question is, this amp comes with dual rectifiers 5U4GB rectifier valves. Can you substitute two GZ34 rectifier valves in place of the stock rectifiers? Would it cause too high of voltage on the plates? Just curious why they use two 5U4GB rectifier valves, but in their Heatbreaker amp they use only one GZ34 rectifier at 100 watts. My other last question is, I have been using a 5V4 rectifier in my Brian May Special Edition amp that only uses the normal channel. The amp only has a volume knob, that's it. So far the 5V4 is working just fine. It came with a GZ34 rectifier valve. Just wondered if this is safe for a Vox AC30 guitar amp. I was curious if one of these 5V4 Rectifiers could be used in my Ceriatone JTM45 bluesbreaker amp? It comes stock with the GZ34 rectifier valve. The Tube Store says not to use a 5V4 in a JTM45 Marshall amp. I don't know why. Could you give me some advice on all of this confusion about rectifiers? Thanks Michael Newell from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
You would have to ask Mesa about their design choices. A 5U4 has a larger plate voltage drop than a 5AR4 which is closer to solid state rectifier. Switching between a 5AR4 and a solid state rectifier would not be an appreciable difference, so that is likely why they used a 5U4 in the rectifier series.The 5V4 will lower the plate voltage and current, and cause more stress on the power supply caps in a fixed bias amp like a JTM45,. That's why they don't recommend it. A VOX is under a lower plate load and a different bias configuration.
My amp tech is doing a JTM build for me, I'm in the middle of ordering our tubes and I'm wondering if there is a difference in sound/tone with different rectifier tubes. I don't want to blow the extra money on a Matsushita if it makes no difference in the sound.
There's no difference in sound because no audio passes through a rectifier tube. However, different rectifiers will have measurable differences in the overall voltage available to amp, which will effect the top end and bass response. The most important part of a tube rectifier though is RELIABILITY. So that is much more important than the nuances of a few volts here or there between brands.
@@DrZAmplification OK, so NOS won't make a tone difference. That Mullard reissue seems good as well, in it's description (website) is mentioned something about how it powers up in a way that is gentler on the power tubes.
What would i have to do to change a 59' supro Coronado with a two 10" baffle that was changed to a 12" baffle while using a 2 ohm original transformer into a new 8 ohm speaker and switching a fu4 into a gz34 tube rectifier? Basically what would i have to do to make them changes work? Pls anything you can shoot my way id greatly appreciate
@@DrZAmplification well there was a rather known Coronado that had the baffle changed to a single 12 it has the same stock transformer thats why i was asking what would i havecto do to make it work or would it just work on its own (the 2ohm transformer into 8ohm speaker) the amp also had a gz34 put in it as opposed to the fu4 stock tube.... im guessing it would drop alot of volume or something like that? Long story short it was once broke and a guy at a shop back in the day said "i could put these part's in they would make it work" im prolly not asking the question right but i hope you get it bc i would like to try the mod myself. Tks for the help either way
Modern amps have only a 6.3 volt filament supply, so those two triode's heaters are wired in parallel for 6.3 v. If they were wired in series, then you would need a 12.6 volt supply.
Dr. Z how and where can I place an order for one of your Z amps? I'm looks for something like a 100Watts Hi-Fi ( I don't need the cabinet -Just bare bone Chassis build!
Hi dr. Z, i was watching one of your amas about rectifier tubes. I have a Maz 18 Junior with Reverb and was wondering if the 5V4 rectifier tube would be a good replacement for the gz34. You mentioned the 5v4 had More Voltage sag so it might be a little bit more touch sensitive. Is this a safe swap! LOVE THE AMP!
@@jimbob7332 It it's probably sharing another chassis with another model amp that does use a rectifier or has been modded with a solid state rectifier internally.
@@DrZAmplification would a 5y3 be used in a champ (5F1 circuit) as well? Both my tweed and deluxe are using GZ34 and I feel like the touch can be a little harsh or “stout” as you put it in this video.
Your video says it's safe to swap your Carmen Ghias 5y3 rectifier to a 5v4, my question is, would I need to have the amp re-biased professionally or is it safe to just swap the rectifier out with no worries? Thank you for your time!
The American expression of tubes are far more logical than the European counterparts. I just bought my first z this week after fantasizing over them for 15 years (because they are hard to get in Australia)
And 5AR4 is a rectifier tube. It is not part of the signal path. It is there to change AC power to DC for the power supply. So no audio signal passes through it.
@@DrZAmplification I didn't know that. I'm learning. Are rectifiers always necessary? For instance I saw your 12AX7 vs EF86 video which intrigued me, as in hifi circles, a particular preamp/headphone amp I'm keen on uses an EF86 input tube via an adapter. I think the output tube, for headphones, is a 6NS7. I'd have to look it up again. There isn't a rectifier tube, though there may be a solid state one. I don't know. You could say I'm confused about tube audio circuits but very interested in them for both instrument amplification & playback systems. I have been wondering why, for example, Fender or Mesa amps use a rectifier &, for example, Marshall or Orange amps didn't? Thanks for the knowledge.
@@adambrown8867 All audio amplifiers (that I am aware of) use DC power, and need a rectifier to convert AC line voltage to DC. All the amps you mention use a rectifier of some sort, most modern amps use a solid state rectifier. Most of the ones use mention use a solid state rectifier. A few of our amps use solid state, one uses both, and the majority use a tube rectifier.
Aren't tube rectifiers obsolete? Personally I don't like voltage sag. I'm all about a fast attack. And solid state rectifiers can last for an extremely long time.
No, tube rectifiers are not obsolete purely because many people enjoy that voltage sag. Solid state rectifiers are indeed faster and provide a different feel.
The thing I’m looking for is a sag and feeling of control of the note.I have a 65 bandmaster...thinking of adding a rectifying tube to bypass solid state.Different feel and color ,than say on off you got what you got from solid state....IMPO...cheers thanks for the input.
You'll find that most vintage amplifiers with tube rectos tend to have most of their components intact because the tube recto ramps the voltage gradually to the output tubes rather than injecting quickly it like SS recto. When the tube recto sags, it also prevents excessive power from reaching the output tubes which also prolongs their life. Using tube rectos and no standby switch (a tuner pedal usually has a mute function) and your amp will last longer than a typical tube amp. They're not obsolete, they actually prolong the life of your amp.
Ive never tried these amp's Im dirt poor, got outa prison few month's ago. 2 year's I lost ev thing except my guitar. I got no amp's pedal's left. DRUG' will ruin your life. Im out, Im clean, but I got nothing, at 40 year's old.. People don't mess w drug's. It;s was surgery and doctor's that got me started. Ive no real amp now. But I used to hunt down old 60s amp's, because all these new amp's calling them self's "tube amp's" are trash. All these lil, say like my brother' who went to guitar center for a lil tiny low watt "tube" amp, He hate's it it's trash. I For year's I played at home and i thought tube amp's were for old music, old sound. Then I tried some old amp's. My God. Amazing. Even a crappy "harmony H303a 1962" low watt, jennsen spkr was so much better. made in Chicago. It's was amazing, I had no distortion circuit, so I used a boss turbo overdrive. W all the guitar and pedal knob's at 12 o clock I got the insane sag of spirit in the sky Norman Greebaum stuff. And I discovered all the EHX and many analog pedal's I hated on my solid state were totally different on this lil tube rectified class A Ev. one loved it. Real. 3d life like, just awesome. People need to know these other, "modern "tube" amp's at guitar center, AMS, musician's friend. Are all trash. You got to spend a lil more or you are wasting your money. These Cheap circuit board newer amp's w/ on board digital effect's crap are garbage. Im buying a Dr Z and when I come into some money. This dude know's his stuff, big time.
acoustic61 dont think you have much experience on what is good and what is not JJ are All hype..almost any Chinese tube will perform and sound ,as well as Russian tubes..Sovtec.get your self a set of all and do a sound comparison test..I did
Sorry but you lost me when you pulled out a JJ rect. tube. Those things make the voltage in all my old vintage Fenders too high. It's a fact I've swapped them in and out for other old school 5Y3s and its quite a difference. Not just on one amp but on a few - most notable on Fender Champs SF and Tweed. I don't build amps like you but after noticing this I googled it and many ppl with more knowledge than me are stating the JJ isn't really a 5Y3 at it's heart - it's too strong - and..blah blah..whatever but it runs the amps too hot basically. I noticed also that JJ preamp tubes are too hard sounding for my taste also. When you say JJ just copied the RCA design, I still think there's something different. I don't know what but 5 different Fender amps all tuned up can't be lying - I had a few JJ 5y3 to test and a bunch of old stock GE/RCA/Bendix etc.. 5y3s.
SORRY DOC, I WILL NEVER EVER AGAIN PUT A JJ TUBE IN ANYTHING I OWN....I HAD 6 SEPERATE INSTANCES OF DIFFERENT TUBES GO OUT IN MY AMPS... THEY WERE BRAND NEW..JUST PURE JUNK AND WHEN THEY WORKED {FOR A WHILE} THEY SOUNDED LIKE SHIT.....SVETLANAS, OR TAD RED BASE FROM NOW ON ONLY.
You can absolutely tell the difference in rectifier. It's not a tonal quality, as there is no guitar signal passing through it. It has to do with compression, sag, and how early the onset of distortion is (headroom). It's how the signal is amplified by virtue of the limiting characteristics of the rectifier that becomes very apparent when you change them.
@@JohnnyReading it's not particular a "hear" thing, as mentioned, there's no signal passing through the tube. It's a response (looser bass, less headroom, smoother transient response, compression/bloom). Try a few rectifiers out and experience it for yourself.
@@DrZAmplification Thanks for the clear explanation! I have a one question too. I have a tweed deluxe clone I bought recently and it has a Sovtek 5y3GT tube. I heard this tube is not a genuine 5y3 as it has quite different specs. Can I expect a change in headroom and earlier onset of distortion if I replace it with a NOS RCA 5y3GT? There's also a problem that the amp runs quite hot after long playing. Can it solve this problem too?
