JTM30 bias and other tubes?

[fastfolkert]

I just acquired a JTM30 in, like it seems, the original condition. Unmodded and with original tubes. (5881)
It works and sounds good to my ears. I have not yet done any measuring inside.
However, I have two questions:

1 – I may stick with the 5881’s (perhaps throw in a new pair), but what I read here is that the bias (-39.1V) is fairly “hot”. I might add another 4 to 8 V zener to set it a little cooler. What is the approximate current through that zener-stack? (I have some 400 mW zeners at hand)

2 – I have a few NOS Philips EL34. Is it possible to put these in, and if yes, what do I need to do (set bias? Other?).

When I decided what tubes I use I will most likely keep it that way, so I think I do not really need a bias-pot.
TIA!

Schematics: Marshall Schema's

[Justin Thomas]

I know that eventually you will be asked to measure the current through the tube eventually, so if you know how... and what aschematic shows and what is true may be quite different. The bias voltages are relatively meaningless without knowing the current, plate voltages, etc, so we'd just be guessing. And given the (in)consistency of current production tubes... Don't worry about what others say is too hot or too cold. If the amp works and sounds good (or better) AND doesn't self-destruct, it's fine.

That said, I'm assuming those are Sovtek 5881WXTs in the amp. If you replace them with the exact same kind (Sovtek 5881WXT), there's a chance you'll never have to adjust the bias again. Those things are damn-near close to "the indestructible tube" as we ever got. Don't confuse them with
NOS 5881s or the new Tung-Sol reissues or the 5881/6L6WXT. Check the innards of the tubes, and if they match, you're set.

As far as EL34s go, I'd take every precaution I could before plugging THOSE in... which to me would be a bias pot AND making sure my power transformer won't burn up from too much heater current draw... also may require some rewiring of the tube socket, grid and screen resistor values, etc.

Justin

[Justin Thomas]

Also: seems you have two identical threads in the same forum? Just grab one and stick with it. I recommend the other one, because Enzo is answering that one...

Justin

[fastfolkert]

Also: seems you have two identical threads in the same forum? Just grab one and stick with it. I recommend the other one, because Enzo is answering that one...

Justin

I know, my mistake. Sorry. The mods can lock one of them.

[fastfolkert]

Thx, specifically for the EL34 warning.
My 5881's I have at home are indeed those "indestructable" Sovteks.

[fastfolkert]

OK, I did some measurements in the JTM30, with "known good" Sovtek 5881:

R between CT and A1, resp. A2: 76.9 and 78.2 Ohm
V anode-cathode: 420 V
V between CT and A1, resp. A2: 3.18 and 3.14 V

Yielding:
anode current resp. 41.4 and 40.2 mA
bias power resp. 17.4 and 16.9 W

Which is approx. 56% of Pmax (30W).
Vbias at the zeners was -40,4 V

The amp sounds great (IMHO) and does not cut out or so. Inside it looks like new and it is unmodded.
The only thing is dat at very low volume (master at 1), there's a trace of distortion audible. Kind of cross-over-like sound.
At higher volumes (bedroom-volume and up) it's not noticeable anymore.
Perhaps this is normal for a JTM30? (which you do not buy for sparkling cleans anyway...)

[fastfolkert]

Update: the "distortion" I heard was due to a speaker that made a mechanical sound. Not coil-rubbing in the magnet but something else, perhaps the wires.
I replaced it with a matching Eminence Legend speaker and the amp sounds awesome to me; gigged with it already and worked flawlessly.
I'm a happy camper ;-)

[Tone Meister]

I'm late to the party, but I can tell you from experience the power transformer in the JTM30 will not accommodate the increased heater current requirements of an EL34. We have used 6L6GC (conservatively biased with bias pot mod) successfully with two different JTM30s, and they both have been running for several years that way. But I think 6L6GC would be the absolute limit of that PT.

I have searched in vain for a drop in upgraded PT for the JTM30 and never found one. At some point, there are only some many "upgrades" that make sense with an amp at this price point.

[fastfolkert]

I'm late to the party, but I can tell you from experience the power transformer in the JTM30 will not accommodate the increased heater current requirements of an EL34.

Thx. for the info. I did two rehearsals and one gig so far with the Sovtek 5881 biased at approx. 40 mA/17 W each. The tone is good for me, the idle dissipation is not too high and I plan to leave it that way.
Maybe sometime in the future I'll mod the boost channel (a tad too fizzy for me).

[nickb]

BYW, 5881 is rated at 23W, not 30W. I used a couple of Russian military biscuit base 6P3S. They are identical to the in construction to the aged 5881's I took out.

[fastfolkert]

BYW, 5881 is rated at 23W, not 30W. I used a couple of Russian military biscuit base 6P3S. They are identical to the in construction to the aged 5881's I took out.

I have the 5881WGC, which I thought was 30W..??

[Leo_Gnardo]

I have the 5881WGC, which I thought was 30W..??

A little history:

5881 was the name applied starting late 1980's, by distributor New Sensor (Sovtek, Electroharmonix) to USSR made wafer-based beam power tubes that resembled 6L6's in an effort to get USA buyers to accept them. "Hey remember those fine (real, New Jersey made) TungSol 5881's from the 50's-60's? Huh? Well buy these because, uh, they're short. And you probably won't respond to 6P3S. So we're calling them Sovtek 5881, later we'll put on a long base and call 'em 5881WXT. How's that? Buy 'em!" Turns out the Russian imports were indeed fine tubes and could stand a lot of use and abuse, with real plate ratings far beyond 23 watts.

To expand the confusion now there are JJ and (Russian) TungSol 5881's, smaller envelope versions of 6L6's. Chinese too, Ruby has 'em 6L6GCMS. If you like a good tube in a small glass bottle, I'm favoring the JJ 5881 lately, delivers excellent power & tone, no clanking bonking mooing microphonic noises, no premium price, just good stuff . What the real plate rating of any of these is, ?????

[nickb]

I have the 5881WGC, which I thought was 30W..??

It's 23W - see later. Now here's the twist. I thought I'd hop over to new sensor's web site a grab the datasheet but the site has gone!

http://www.svetlana.com/ and http://newsensor.com/ - no DNS entry. Electro-Harmonix | EHX.com | Effect Pedals, Vacuum Tubes, Pro Audio is still up. Anyone know what's going on here?


UPDATE:

In the absence of a data sheet, the way to be sure is to measure the length of the plate. A 23W 5881 is 34mm the 6L6 is roughly 42mm. Here a piccie of a 6L6WXT, a 5881 WXT and a 6p3.

[fastfolkert]

Thanks for the insight guys!
In that case I'm biasing the 5881WGC's at 75% Pmax.