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Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 13:01:00 -0500
From: The Bernadettes
Subject: Re: bassman!!!

> Mark Burness said:

> rectifier,
> it gives you more power and a more responsive amp. The "best" tube
rectifier
> IMO is the GZ34/5AR4, (tighter sound, less voltage drop, less drop in bias
> current) but I can't find one that lasts any decent length of time in my
amp.
> Almost all the RI owners I know have had GZ34/5AR's blow on them too,
often
> taking the fuses with them. The 5U4G has been totally reliable in my amp
but
> drops 10W off the output and the saggier envelope makes the amp sound much
> quieter. A 5Y3GT is more compressed still but will have a relatively short
> lifespan in a Bassman, if you like it you could always carry a spare &
spare
> fuses. The latter 2 options will be fine for practicing/quieter
situations.
> For optimum performance you will need your amp rebiasing by a tech as
> changing the rectifier will change the bias current (I prefer to run mine> 35mA, 15-20mA will give a drier/crunchier sound with less feedback). It's
a
> good idea to get the amp biased correctly anyway.>

Mark,
Are you using current manufactured Asian/Eastern European rectifiers? I've
never had a problem using US made NOS rectifiers, whether
5AR4's, 5U4's, 5R4's or 5Y3's. Currently produced Asian 5AR4's are
notoriously unreliable. If you aren't using US made NOS 5AR4's, spend
the big bucks on them. Yeah I know they are expensive (about 4X as much)
compared to the newer Asian/EE rectifiers, but they more than
make up for it in reliability. The guitar player in my band has been
running a NOS 5AR4 in his RI Bassman for over 5 years with no
problems, I have had one in my BF Vibrolux Reverb for 3 years with no
problems. IMO, most of the currently produced Asian/Russian
rectifiers are pretty crappy compared to the vintage NOS US produced
rectifiers. If ya haven't already, give the NOS rectifiers a try.

Marty,
BTW, congrats on the new amp. As far as covers go, definitely go with
the Tuki covers. Those were the heavily padded Cordura covers
I was using on my amps when you came and saw us in Connecticut awhile back.
Great covers, much better than the original Fender covers.

Don D.